Digital Image Processing Using Face Detection Information

• US 20100054533A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• 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 8,989,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/64 Circuits for processing colour signals H04N9/77 takes precedence; camera processing pipelines for processing colour signals H04N23/84

Abstract

A method of processing a digital image using face detection within the image achieves one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digital image. Default values are determined of one or more parameters of at least some portion of the digital image. Values are adjusted of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of the digital image including the image of the face and the default values.

Claims

1. 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 or providing an option to adjust 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.

2. The method of claim 1, the digitally-detected image comprising a digitally-acquired image and the initial parameter of the digitally-detected image comprising an initial parameter of the face image.

3. The method of claim 2, the one or more parameters including orientation, color, tone, size, luminance, relative exposure, relative spatial location, tone reproduction, sharpness, or focus, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, the method being performed within a digital camera.

5. The method of claim 2, 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.

6. The method of claim 2, 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.

7. The method of claim 1, the digitally-detected image comprising a digitally-captured image and the initial parameter of the digitally-detected image comprising an initial parameter of the face image.

8. The method of claim 7, the one or more parameters including orientation, color, tone, size, luminance, relative exposure, relative spatial location, tone reproduction, sharpness, or focus, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 7, the method being performed within a digital camera.

10. The method of claim 7, 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.

11. The method of claim 7, 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. 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 or providing an option to adjust 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.

13. The one or more storage devices of claim 12, the digitally-detected image comprising a digitally-acquired image and the initial parameter of the digitally-detected image comprising an initial parameter of the face image.

14. The one or more storage devices of claim 13, the one or more parameters including orientation, color, tone, size, luminance, relative exposure, relative spatial location, tone reproduction, sharpness, or focus, or combinations thereof.

15. The one or more storage devices of claim 13, the method being performed within a digital camera.

16. The one or more storage devices of claim 13, 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.

17. The one or more storage devices of claim 13, 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.

18. The one or more storage devices of claim 12, the digitally-detected image comprising a digitally-captured image and the initial parameter of the digitally-detected image comprising an initial parameter of the face image.

19. The one or more storage devices of claim 18, the one or more parameters including orientation, color, tone, size, luminance, relative exposure, relative spatial location, tone reproduction, sharpness, or focus, or combinations thereof.

20. The one or more storage devices of claim 18, the method being performed within a digital camera.

21. The one or more storage devices of claim 18, 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 one or more storage devices of claim 18, 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.