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Linear convolvers can be used to perform a wide variety of important linear image processing functions. Therefore, vendors have provided a range of fast hardware linear convolvers. No comparable range of hardware is available to implement binary morphological operations, in spite of the fact that the importance of these operations is now widely recognized. Linear convolvers have sometimes been used to perform morphology in limited ways. This paper describes a general and flexible approach to the use of commercially available linear convolver hardware to carry out the operation of binary template matching, with binary erosion and dilation as special cases. The size of the structuring element (or template) is limited only by the size of the convolver kernel. Thus, while the typical morphology hardware is limited to 3 X 3 structuring elements, linear convolvers are available to implement structuring elements up to 16 X 16 in one video frame time. Furthermore, the same convolver hardware can be used for both linear and nonlinear operations during different frame times by simple software reprogramming.
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