Method and apparatus for locating an object of interest within an image
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a position of an object of interest from a plurality of images, comprising the steps of:
- obtaining at least one image from each of a plurality of cameras, each camera having an associated perspective of a subject of interest;
translating image data from the plurality of images to produce at least one virtual image of the vehicle interior, each virtual image having a desired perspective different from that of the associated perspectives of the plurality of cameras;
locating candidate objects within the at least one virtual image; and
analyzing the candidate objects according to a heuristic voting algorithm to identify the position of the object of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for identifying a position of a head of a vehicle occupant from a plurality of images of a vehicle interior. Image data is translated from the plurality of images to produce a virtual side view image of the vehicle interior. A largest grouping of pixels in the side view image having values within a desired range is identified. The grouping includes a plurality of pixel columns. A contour comprising uppermost pixels of each pixel column is produced and peaks are located within the contour. The contour peaks are analyzed according to a heuristic voting algorithm to identify a peak location associated with the head of the vehicle occupant.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a position of an object of interest from a plurality of images, comprising the steps of:
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obtaining at least one image from each of a plurality of cameras, each camera having an associated perspective of a subject of interest;
translating image data from the plurality of images to produce at least one virtual image of the vehicle interior, each virtual image having a desired perspective different from that of the associated perspectives of the plurality of cameras;
locating candidate objects within the at least one virtual image; and
analyzing the candidate objects according to a heuristic voting algorithm to identify the position of the object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for controlling an actuatable occupant protection system comprising:
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an image generator that generates at least two images of a vehicle occupant;
a virtual image generator that produces a virtual side view image of the vehicle occupant from the generated images;
a blob finder that selects a largest grouping of pixels in the virtual side view image;
a peak identifier that locates a plurality of peaks along the uppermost contour of the selected grouping of pixels; and
an arbitrator that selects one of the plurality of peaks according to determined characteristics of the peaks. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product, implemented in a computer readable medium and operative in a data processing system, controlling an actuatable occupant protection system, comprising:
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a virtual image generator that translates image data from a plurality of images to produce a virtual side view image of the vehicle interior;
a blob finder that identifies a largest grouping of pixels in the side view image;
a contour generator that identifies an uppermost contour of the largest grouping of pixels;
a peak identifier that locates peaks within the contour; and
a voting arbitrator that analyzes the contour peaks according to a heuristic voting algorithm to identify a peak location associated with the head of the vehicle occupant. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification