Image segmentation system and method
First Claim
1. An image segmentation method for use with an occupant, a sensor for generating sensor measurements, and an ambient image including an occupant and the area surrounding the occupant, said image segmentation method comprising the following steps:
- receiving an ambient image represented by a plurality of pixels and a plurality of initial pixel values, wherein each said pixel has at least one said initial pixel value;
identifying one or more pixels as belonging to one of a plurality of pixel categories on the basis of one or more initial pixel values associated with the pixels being identified;
establishing a first revised pixel value for one or more pixels, wherein each pixel in the same pixel category has the same first revised pixel value;
setting a second revised pixel value for one or more of said pixels on the basis of one or more first revised pixel values that are associated with one or more pixels in the vicinity of the pixel being set; and
deriving a segmented image of the occupant from said first revised pixel value and said second revised pixel value.
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Abstract
The present invention relates in general to systems used to process images. In particular, the present invention is an image segmentation system and method used to isolate the segmented image of a target person, animal, or object from an ambient image which includes the target person, animal, or object, in addition to the area surrounding the target. The invention supports the ability of an airbag deployment system to distinguish between different types of occupants by providing such deployment systems with a segmented image of the occupant. The invention is particularly useful at night or in other environments involving inadequate light or undesirable shadows. The invention can use histograms and cumulative distribution functions to perform image thresholding. Morphological erosion and dilation can be used to eliminate optical “noise” from the image. Gap filling is performed on the basis of the “momentum” and “gravity” of regions of similar pixel values. An upper ellipse can generated to represent the upper torso of the occupant. The invention is highly flexible, and can be modified in accordance with the desired use.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. An image segmentation method for use with an occupant, a sensor for generating sensor measurements, and an ambient image including an occupant and the area surrounding the occupant, said image segmentation method comprising the following steps:
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receiving an ambient image represented by a plurality of pixels and a plurality of initial pixel values, wherein each said pixel has at least one said initial pixel value;
identifying one or more pixels as belonging to one of a plurality of pixel categories on the basis of one or more initial pixel values associated with the pixels being identified;
establishing a first revised pixel value for one or more pixels, wherein each pixel in the same pixel category has the same first revised pixel value;
setting a second revised pixel value for one or more of said pixels on the basis of one or more first revised pixel values that are associated with one or more pixels in the vicinity of the pixel being set; and
deriving a segmented image of the occupant from said first revised pixel value and said second revised pixel value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An image segmentation method for use with an occupant, a sensor for generating sensor measurements, and an ambient image of an occupant and the area surrounding the occupant, said image segmentation method comprising the following steps:
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receiving an ambient image represented by a plurality of pixels and a plurality of pixel values, wherein each of said pixels has at least one said initial pixel value;
recording aggregate initial pixel values in a histogram;
translating the histogram into a cumulative distribution function;
calculating an image threshold using the cumulative distribution function with a predetermined percentage of initial pixel values falling below the image threshold;
categorizing each pixel in the plurality of pixels into one of a plurality of pixel categories by comparing the image threshold to the initial pixel value for the pixel being categorized;
establishing a first revised pixel value so that each pixel in the same pixel category shares the same first revised pixel value;
modifying said first revised pixel value into a second revised pixel value in accordance with morphological heuristic;
determining a third revised pixel value from said second revised pixel value or said first revised pixel value with a momentum-based heuristic;
identifying regions of pixels based on the first revised pixel value, the second revised pixel value, and the third revised pixel value;
generating a fourth revised pixel value from the regions of pixels in accordance with a gravity-based heuristic; and
deriving a segmented image of the occupant with the fourth revised pixel value. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An image segmentation system for use with an occupant, a sensor for generating sensor measurements, and an ambient image of an occupant and the area around the occupant, said image segmentation system comprising:
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an image thresholding subsystem, including a plurality of pixels representing the ambient image, and an image thresholding heuristic, said image thresholding subsystem categorizing said plurality of pixels in accordance with said image thresholding heuristic; and
a gap processing subsystem, including a gap processing heuristic, a subset of vicinity pixels in said plurality of pixels, and a plurality of pixel values, said gap processing subsystem selectively setting said pixel values in accordance with said gap processing heuristic and said pixel values belonging to said pixels in said subset of vicinity pixels; and
wherein a segmented image is generated from said plurality of pixels. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification