Direct approach to image edge detection using differentiators

This work addresses employing a direct approach to edge detection without using masks. In the process it introduces two novel ideas, the direct approach and using IIR differentiators. Traditional edge detection relies on mask edge detectors based on FIR differentiators. The masks have to be small, thus the masks are based on low order FIR differentiators. It is well known that IIR digital filters outperform the same order FIR filters. Several differentiators are employed. The results show the superiority of the new approach.