Face detecting apparatus and method

• US 20050179780A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kikkawa, Teruki, Yoshikawa, Tomoyasu
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation

Abstract

A process time is shortened while a face detection precision is maintained high. A face detection unit for extracting a face area of a photographic subject from an image taken with a digital camera or the like includes a unit for acquiring focussing area information in an image area from image data and accessory information of image data regarding photographic conditions and the like, a unit for determining a face detection area in the image area in accordance with the focussing area information, and a unit for executing a face detection process not for a whole image area but partially for a face.

Claims

1. A feature detecting apparatus for extracting a feature of a photographic subject from an image, the apparatus comprising:

means for acquiring accessory information associated with image data;

means for determining a plurality of feature detection area in an image area of the image on the basis of the accessory information; and

means for executing a feature detection process in the feature detection areas according to a prescribed priority of order.

2. A face detecting apparatus for extracting a face area of a photographic subject from an image, the apparatus comprising:

means for acquiring accessory information associated with image data;

means for determining a plurality of face detection area in an image area of the image on the basis of the accessory information; and

means for executing a face detection process in the face detection areas according to a prescribed priority of order.

3. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for determining a face detection area includes means for acquiring focussing area information from said accessory information, and determines said face detection area on the basis of said focussing area information.

4. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said focussing area information includes “

range finding frame number” and

“

used range finding frame”

.

5. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said focussing area information includes “

coordinate values”

, and said means for determining a face detection area calculates the coordinate values of the face detection area on the basis of the “

coordinate values”

.

6. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said focussing area information includes photographic subject distance information, and said priority order is determined on the basis of the photographic subject distance information.

7. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for determining a face detection area determines a higher priority order as a photographic subject distance becomes shorter.

10. An image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus including the face detecting apparatus as recited in claim 2, a digital still camera and a display unit.

8. The face detecting apparatus for extracting a face area of a photographic subject from an image, the apparatus comprising:

means for acquiring accessory information associated with image data;

means for acquiring assistance mode information during photographing from said accessory information;

means for determines the face detection area on the basis of the assistance mode information;

and means for executing a face detection process in the face detection areas.

9. The face detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the assistance mode information is character string information indicative of photographic conditions, and said means for determining a face detection determines as the face detection area an area designating portrait photographing in a guide display displayed in an assistance mode on the basis of the character string information.

11. A feature detecting method for extracting a feature of a photographic subject from an image, the method comprising:

a first step of acquiring at least a portion of accessory information associated with image data;

a second step of determining a plurality of feature detection area in an image area of the image, on the basis of the information acquired at said first step;

a third step of investing a priority of order to the feature detection areas; and

a forth step of executing a feature detection process in the feature detection area according to the priority of order.

12. A face detecting method for extracting a face area of a photographic subject from an image, the method comprising:

a first step of acquiring at least a portion of accessory information associated with image data;

a second step of determining a plurality of face detection area in an image area of the image, on the basis of the information acquired at said first step;

a third step of investing a priority of order to the face detection areas; and

a forth step of executing a face detection process in the face detection area according to the priority order.

13. The face detecting method according to claim 12, wherein the information acquired at said first step includes at least one pieces of focussing area information in the image area and assistance mode information during photographing.