Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) - Explanation with Example
1. Introduction to CNNs
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are specialized deep neural networks designed to
process grid-like data, such as images. They are structured to capture spatial hierarchies
and dependencies in data through convolutional operations, making them effective for tasks
like image and video processing. CNNs use layers that automatically learn to detect low-
level features (like edges) and combine them into higher-level patterns (like shapes or
objects).
2. Example of CNN with Step-by-Step Explanation
2.1 Input Image
Imagine an input image of a cat with dimensions 128x128x3, where:
- 128x128 represents the pixel height and width.
- 3 is the depth (corresponding to the RGB color channels).
Each pixel’s color value is represented by numbers, creating a grid of values as input for the
CNN.
2.2 Convolution Layer
In the first convolutional layer, filters (kernels) slide over the input image to extract
essential patterns. For example, a 3x3 filter slides across the image, producing a feature
map by performing element-wise multiplication and summing the results.
- Filters detect basic features like edges, colors, or textures.
- The output is a set of feature maps, each representing different aspects of the image.
2.3 Activation Function (ReLU)
After each convolution, we apply the Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation function. ReLU
sets any negative pixel values to zero, allowing the network to learn complex, non-linear
patterns by keeping only positive values.
2.4 Pooling Layer
Pooling layers reduce the spatial dimensions of feature maps, making computations
efficient and preventing overfitting. Max pooling is a common method:
- A 2x2 max pooling layer slides over the feature map, taking the maximum value from each
2x2 section.
- This results in a downsampled feature map that retains the dominant patterns but has
fewer pixels.
2.5 Stacking Convolutional and Pooling Layers
Several convolutional and pooling layers can be stacked to form a deep network. Each layer
captures increasingly complex patterns:
- Early layers capture edges and colors.
- Middle layers capture shapes and objects.
- Deeper layers recognize complex objects (like the features of a cat in this example).
2.6 Fully Connected Layer
The final layers are fully connected layers:
- Feature maps are flattened into a 1D vector.
- This vector is passed through fully connected layers, where each neuron connects to every
neuron in the previous layer.
These layers integrate all extracted features to make a classification or regression.
2.7 Output Layer
The last layer in a CNN is the output layer, often with a softmax activation that produces
probabilities for each class label. For example, for an image of a cat, the output layer might
predict:
- Class 'Cat': 0.85
- Class 'Dog': 0.15
The network would classify the image as a cat with an 85% confidence level.
3. Summary
CNNs are powerful for image recognition and processing due to their ability to capture
spatial and hierarchical features. From detecting edges to complex objects, CNNs apply
convolution, pooling, and fully connected layers to transform raw pixel data into meaningful
predictions. This capability underlies many modern AI applications, including autonomous
vehicles, medical imaging, and facial recognition systems.
