AREA IDENTIFYING DEVICE, AREA IDENTIFYING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM

• US 20140098222A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: YAMAZAKI, Masaki, Shimoyama, Kenichi, Ito, Satoshi, Okada, Ryuzo, Seki, Akihito, Itoh, Yuta
• Granted Patent: US 9,445,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an area identifying device includes a projecting unit, an image capturing unit, a calculating unit, and an identifying unit. The projecting unit is configured to project a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement. The image capturing unit is configured to capture, in sequential order, multiple images of an area on which the pattern is projected, the image having a plurality of areas. The calculating unit is configured to calculate an amount of change of pattern appearances for each region in the multiple images. The identifying unit is configured to identify, as a reflective area, at least one area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated by the calculating unit.

Claims

1. An area identifying device comprising:

a projecting unit configured to project a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement;

an image capturing unit configured to capture, in sequential order, multiple images of an area on which the pattern is projected, the image having a plurality of areas;

a calculating unit configured to calculate an amount of change of pattern appearances for each region in the multiple images; and

an identifying unit configured to identify, as a reflective area, at least one area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated by the calculating unit.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identifying unit calculates differences between the reference amount of change of the pattern appearances and the respective amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated by the calculating unit, and identifies, as the reflective area, the image area having an amount of change of the pattern appearances for which the calculated difference is equal to or greater than a first threshold value.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the projecting unit projects the pattern while shifting the pattern in an oblique direction with respect to a coordinate system of the projecting unit.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the pattern is a geometrical pattern, and

the amount of change of the pattern appearances is a motion vector.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the geometrical pattern is formed from a lattice in which a plurality of transverse lines having random thicknesses are crossed at random positions.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the pattern is a gradation pattern, and

the amount of change of the pattern appearances is a brightness value difference.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the pattern is a sinusoidal pattern, and

the amount of change of the pattern appearances is a phase.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the identifying unit sets, as an unidentifiable area, the image area having the calculated amount of change of the pattern appearances that is equal to or smaller than a second threshold value.

9. An area identifying method comprising:

projecting a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement;

capturing, in sequential order, multiple images of an area on which the pattern is projected, the image having a plurality of areas;

calculating an amount of change of pattern appearances for each region in the multiple images; and

identifying, as a reflective area, at least one area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated at the calculating.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium containing a program executed by a computer, the program causing the computer to execute:

projecting a pattern so that the pattern performs a predetermined movement;

capturing, in sequential order, multiple images of an area on which the pattern is projected, the image having a plurality of areas;

calculating an amount of change of pattern appearances for each region in the multiple images; and

identifying, as a reflective area, at least one area having a different amount of change of the pattern appearances from a reference amount of change of the pattern appearances based on the predetermined movement, among the amounts of change of the pattern appearances that are calculated at the calculating.