Perfecting of digital image capture parameters within acquisition devices using face detection

• US 20060203107A1
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran, Prilutsky, Yury, Bigioi, Petronel, Corcoran, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/40 Circuit details for pick-up tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

Within a digital acquisition device, acquisition parameters of a digital image are perfected as part of an image capture process using face detection within said captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters. Default values are determined of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of the digital image. Values of one or more camera acquisition parameters are determined. Groups of pixels are identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image. Corresponding image attributes to the groups of pixels are determined. One or more default image attribute values are compared with one or more captured image attribute values based upon analysis of the image of the face. Camera acquisition parameters are then adjusted corresponding to adjusting the image attribute values.

Claims

1. Within a digital acquisition device, a method of perfecting acquisition parameters of a digital image as part of an image capture process using face detection within said captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters, comprising:

(a) determining default values of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of said digital image;

(b) determining the values of one or more camera acquisition parameters;

(c) identifying a plurality of groups of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image, and determining corresponding image attributes to said groups of pixels; and

(d) comparing one or more default image attribute values with one or more captured image attribute value based upon analysis of said image of said face; and

(e) adjusting said camera acquisition parameters corresponding to adjusting said image attribute values.

2. The method of claim 1, each of the steps being performed within a digital still camera.

3. The method of claim 1, each of the steps being performed within a digital video camera.

4. The method of claim 1, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing one or more of said plurality of groups of pixels that correspond to said image of said face.

6. A method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited in claim 5, the method being performed in response to false detection of regions as faces.

7. A method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited in claim 5, the method being performed in response to a determination to concentrate on less said image faces than faces identified in said identifying step.

8. A method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited in claim 5, the method being performed by increasing a sensitivity level of said face identifying step.

9. A method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited in claim 5, the method being performed by an interactive visual method.

10. An interactive visual method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited in claim 5, the method being performed using an image acquisition built-in display.

11. The method of claim 1, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.

12. The method of claim 1, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus which receives a relative value as to a detection assurance.

13. The method of claim 1, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus which receives a relative value as to an estimated importance of said detected regions.

14. The method of claim 13, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually modifying said relative value as to the estimated importance of said detected regions.

15. A method of digital image processing using face detection to achieve a desired image parameter, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within a digitally-detected image;

(b) determining initial values of one or more parameters of at least some of the pixels; and

(c) determining an initial parameter of the digitally-detected image based on the initial values; and

(d) automatically adjusting values of the one or more parameters of pixels within the digitally-detected image based upon comparison of the initial parameter with the desired parameter.

16. The method of claim 15, the method being performed within a digital camera.

17. The method of claim 16, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing a false indication of another face within the image.

19. The method of claim 16, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.

20. The method of claim 15, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

21. The method of claim 15, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing a false indication of another face within the image.

22. The method of claim 15, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.

23. Within a digital acquisition device, one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of perfecting acquisition parameters of a digital image as part of an image capture process using face detection within said captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters, the method comprising:

(a) determining default values of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of said digital image;

(b) determining the values of one or more camera acquisition parameters;

(c) identifying a plurality of groups of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image, and determining corresponding image attributes to said groups of pixels; and

(d) comparing one or more default image attribute values with one or more captured image attribute value based upon analysis of said image of said face; and

(e) adjusting said camera acquisition parameters corresponding to adjusting said image attribute values.

24. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, each of the steps being performed within a digital still camera.

25. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, each of the steps being performed within a digital video camera.

26. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

27. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing one or more of said plurality of groups of pixels that correspond to said image of said face.

28. The one or more storage devices of claim 27, the method of manually removing one or more detected faces being performed in response to false detection of regions as faces.

29. The one or more storage devices of claim 27, the method of manually removing one or more detected faces being performed in response to a determination to concentrate on less said image faces than faces identified in said identifying step.

30. The one or more storage devices of claim 27, the method of manually removing one or more detected faces being performed by increasing a sensitivity level of said face identifying step.

31. The one or more storage devices of claim 27, the method of manually removing one or more detected faces as recited being performed by an interactive visual method.

32. The one or more storage devices of claim 27, the method being performed using an image acquisition built-in display.

33. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.

34. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus which receives a relative value as to a detection assurance.

35. The one or more storage devices of claim 23, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus which receives a relative value as to an estimated importance of said detected regions.

36. The one or more storage devices of claim 35, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually modifying said relative value as to the estimated importance of said detected regions.

37. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of digital image processing using face detection to achieve a desired image parameter, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within a digitally-detected image;

(b) determining initial values of one or more parameters of at least some of the pixels; and

(c) determining an initial parameter of the digitally-detected image based on the initial values; and

(d) automatically adjusting values of the one or more parameters of pixels within the digitally-detected image based upon comparison of the initial parameter with the desired parameter.

38. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, the method being performed within a digital camera.

39. The one or more storage devices of claim 38, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

40. The one or more storage devices of claim 38, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing a false indication of another face within the image.

41. The one or more storage devices of claim 38, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.

42. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, the one or more parameters including overall exposure, relative exposure, orientation, color balance, white point, tone reproduction, size, or focus, or combinations thereof.

43. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually removing a false indication of another face within the image.

44. The one or more storage devices of claim 37, the face pixels identifying step being automatically performed by an image processing apparatus, the method further comprising manually adding an indication of another face within the image.