Detection and removal of blemishes in digital images utilizing original images of defocused scenes
Granted: August 30, 2011
Patent Number:
8009208
A method automatically corrects dust artifact within image acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly and a translucent lens cap. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact…
Digital image processing using face detection information
Granted: August 23, 2011
Patent Number:
8005265
A method of processing a digital image using face detection within the image achieves one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digital image. Default values are determined of one or more parameters of at least some portion of the digital image. Values are adjusted of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of the digital image including the image of the…
Digital image acquisition control and correction method and apparatus
Granted: August 23, 2011
Patent Number:
8005268
An unsatisfactory scene is disqualified as an image acquisition control for a camera. An image is acquired. One or more mouth regions are determined. The mouth regions are analyzed to determined whether they are frowning, and if so, then the scene is disqualified as a candidate for a processed, permanent image while the mouth is completing the frowning.
Optical alignment of cameras with extended depth of field
Granted: August 16, 2011
Patent Number:
7999851
A method for calibration of an imaging device that includes a sensor and optics for forming an image on the sensor. The method includes making a first image quality measurement, based on an output of the sensor, while imaging a first target at a first distance from the device and varying an offset between the optics and the sensor. A second image quality measurement is made while imaging a second target at a second distance from the device, which is different from the first distance, and…
Detecting redeye defects in digital images
Granted: August 16, 2011
Patent Number:
8000526
A method for detecting a redeye defect in a digital image containing an eye comprises converting the digital image into an intensity image, and segmenting the intensity image into segments each having a local intensity maximum. Separately, the original digital image is thresholded to identify regions of relatively high intensity and a size falling within a predetermined range. Of these, a region is selected having substantially the highest average intensity, and those segments from the…
Method and apparatus for selective disqualification of digital images
Granted: August 9, 2011
Patent Number:
7995795
An unsatisfactory scene is disqualified as an image acquisition control for a camera. An image is acquired. One or more eye regions are determined. The eye regions are analyzed to determine whether they are blinking, and if so, then the scene is disqualified as a candidate for a processed, permanent image while the eye is completing the blinking.
Red eye false positive filtering using face location and orientation
Granted: August 9, 2011
Patent Number:
7995804
An image is acquired including a red eye defect and non red eye defect regions having a red color. An initial segmentation of candidate redeye regions is performed. A location and orientation of one or more faces within the image are determined. The candidate redeye regions are analyzed based on the determined location and orientation of the one or more faces to determine a probability that each redeye region appears at a position of an eye. Any confirmed redeye regions having at least a…
Image processing method and apparatus
Granted: August 9, 2011
Patent Number:
7995855
A method of processing an image includes traversing pixels of an image in a single pass over the image. An inverting function is applied to the pixels. A recursive filter is applied to the inverted pixel values. The filter has parameters which are derived from previously traversed pixel values of the image. A pixel value is combined with a filter parameter for the pixel to provide a processed pixel value for a processed image.
Method of improving orientation and color balance of digital images using face detection information
Granted: July 26, 2011
Patent Number:
7986811
A method of generating one or more new spatial and chromatic variation digital images uses an original digitally-acquired image which including a face or portions of a face. A group of pixels that correspond to a face within the original digitally-acquired image is identified. A portion of the original image is selected to include the group of pixels. Values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion are automatically generated, or an option to generate them is…
Red-eye filter method and apparatus
Granted: July 5, 2011
Patent Number:
7973828
A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the…
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
Granted: June 28, 2011
Patent Number:
7970182
The detection of red-eye defects is enhanced in digital images for embedded image acquisition and processing systems. A two-stage redeye filtering system includes a speed optimized filter that performs initial segmentation of candidate redeye regions and optionally applies a speed-optimized set of falsing/verification filters to determine a first set of confirmed redeye regions for correction. Some of the candidate regions which are rejected during the first stage are recorded and…
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
Granted: June 28, 2011
Patent Number:
7970184
A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
Granted: June 28, 2011
Patent Number:
7970183
A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.
Advances in extending the AAM techniques from grayscale to color images
Granted: June 21, 2011
Patent Number:
7965875
A face detection and/or detection method includes acquiring a digital color image. An active appearance model (AAM) is applied including an interchannel-decorrelated color space. One or more parameters of the model are matched to the image. Face detection results based on the matching and/or different results incorporating the face detection result are communicated.
Method for establishing a paired connection between media devices
Granted: June 14, 2011
Patent Number:
7962629
A method for establishing a paired connection between first and second media devices across a network includes transmitting a first information message across the network including an identifier that includes a request to pair the first and second media devices. When a second information message is received from the second media device within a first predetermined time period, the first device retrieves an identifier of the second device and transmits a confirmation message across the…
Foreground/background segmentation in digital images
Granted: June 7, 2011
Patent Number:
7957597
An analysis and classification tool compares at least a portion of a captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the captured and reference images is taken with flash and the other is taken without flash. The tool provides a measure of the difference in illumination between the captured image and the reference image. The tool compares the measure with a threshold and segments a foreground region from a background region based on the measure.
Method and apparatus for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image
Granted: May 31, 2011
Patent Number:
7953250
A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image comprises acquiring a first image and analyzing the first acquired image to provide a plurality of characteristics indicative of image quality. The process then determines if one or more corrective processes can be beneficially applied to the first acquired image according to the characteristics. Any such corrective processes are then applied to the first acquired image. Red-eye defects are then detected in a second acquired…
Method and apparatus for detection and correction of flash-induced eye defects within digital images using preview or other reference images
Granted: May 31, 2011
Patent Number:
7953251
A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image acquiring one or more preview or other reference images without a flash. Any red regions that exist within the one or more reference images are determined. A main image is acquired with a flash of approximately a same scene as the one or more reference images. The main image is analyzed to determine any candidate red eye defect regions that exist within the main image. Any red regions determined to exist within the one or more…
Two stage detection for photographic eye artifacts
Granted: May 31, 2011
Patent Number:
7953252
A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.
Image blurring
Granted: May 31, 2011
Patent Number:
7953287
A method of blurring an image includes acquiring two images of nominally a same scene taken at a different light exposure levels. At least one region of one of the images includes pixels having saturated intensity values. For at least one of the saturated pixels, values are extrapolated from the other image. At least a portion of a third image is blurred and re-scaled including pixels having the extrapolated values.
