Method and apparatus for processing image

• US 20060120712A1
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Seong-Hwan
• Application Number:
  US11/296,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20060120712A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/333
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/194 involving foreground-background segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 from stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for processing an image, in which an image is removed from the entire photographed image and synthesized with another image using distance information to a photographed object regardless of colors or patterns of the image. The method includes the steps of photographing images using two cameras, extracting distance information to a photographed object using a disparity between the images, and processing the images of the photographed object at a predetermined distance using the extracted distance information.

Claims

1. A method for processing an image, the method comprising the steps of:

photographing images using two cameras;

extracting distance information to a photographed object using a disparity between the images; and

processing the images of the photographed object at a predetermined distance using the extracted distance information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

mapping corresponding pixels in the images with respect to the same object;

calculating the disparity as a difference between positions of the corresponding pixels with respect to the same object in the images;

extracting the distance information to the photographed object using the calculated disparity;

removing the image of the photographed object at a predetermined distance using the extracted distance information; and

synthesizing another image into a portion corresponding to the removed image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the two cameras are spaced apart by a predetermined distance by making epipolar lines of the two cameras coincident.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the images are same-sized images acquired by photographing the same object at the same time.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein mapping of the corresponding pixels is performed by comparing correlations in units of a sub-block with respect to the images.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the distance information to the photographed image is calculated using distance information between centers of the cameras, focus length information of each of the cameras, and the disparity.

7. An apparatus for processing an image, the apparatus comprising:

two cameras for photographing images;

a pixel mapping unit for mapping corresponding pixels in the images photographed by the cameras with respect to the same object;

a distance information extracting unit for calculating a disparity between the images as a difference between positions of the corresponding pixels with respect to the same object in the images and extracting distance information to the photographed object using the disparity; and

an image synthesizing unit for processing the images of the photographed object at a predetermined distance using the distance information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the two cameras are spaced apart by a predetermined distance by making epipolar lines of the two cameras coincident.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the images are same-sized images acquired by photographing the same object at the same time.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pixel mapping unit maps the corresponding pixels by comparing correlations in units of a sub-block with respect to the images.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the distance information extracting unit calculates the distance information to the photographed object using distance information between centers of the cameras, focus length information of each of the cameras, and the disparity.

12. A mobile phone, comprising:

two cameras for photographing images;

a pixel mapping unit for mapping corresponding pixels in the images photographed by the cameras with respect to an object;

a distance information extracting unit for calculating a disparity between the images as a difference between positions of the corresponding pixels with respect to the same object in the images and extracting distance information to the photographed object using the disparity; and

an image synthesizing unit for processing the images of the photographed object at a predetermined distance using the distance information.

13. The mobile phone of claim 12, wherein the two cameras are spaced apart by a predetermined distance by making epipolar lines of the two cameras coincident.

14. The mobile phone of claim 13, wherein the images are same-sized images acquired by photographing the same object at the same time.

15. The mobile phone of claim 14, wherein the pixel mapping unit maps the corresponding pixels by comparing correlations in units of a sub-block with respect to the images.

16. The mobile phone of claim 15, wherein the distance information extracting unit calculates the distance information to the photographed object using distance information between centers of the cameras, focus length information of each of the cameras, and the disparity.