The set covariance function of a region \(W\) in the plane
is the function \(C(v)\) defined for each vector \(v\)
as the area of the intersection between \(W\) and \(W+v\),
where \(W+v\) is the set obtained by shifting (translating)
\(W\) by \(v\).
We may interpret \(C(v)\) as the area of the set of
all points \(x\) in \(W\) such that \(x+v\) also lies in
\(W\).
This command computes a discretised approximation to
the set covariance function of any
plane region \(W\) represented as a window object (of class
"owin"
, see owin.object
). The return value is
a pixel image (object of class "im"
) whose greyscale values
are values of the set covariance function.
The set covariance is computed using the Fast Fourier Transform,
unless W
is a rectangle, when an exact formula is used.
If the argument V
is present, then setcov(W,V)
computes the set cross-covariance function \(C(x)\)
defined for each vector \(x\)
as the area of the intersection between \(W\) and \(V+x\).