Background replacement for an image
First Claim
1. A method of replacing an original background of a scene with a predetermined replacement background, said method comprising the steps of:
- making a first infrared (IR) image of the scene at a first time with first IR radiation having a first intensity illuminating said original background;
measuring an intensity of IR radiation at each pixel of said first IR image;
making a second IR image of the scene at a second time after deactivating said first IR radiation, by illuminating a foreground of the scene with a second IR radiation having a second intensity less than said first intensity;
measuring an intensity of IR radiation at each pixel of said second IR image;
generating a mask distinguishing said foreground from said original background by comparing the intensities of IR radiation at each corresponding pixel between said first and second IR images;
making a digital visible light image of the scene at said second time by illuminating the scene with visible lighting; and
replacing, in said digital visible light image, said original background with said predetermined replacement background to produce a modified version of the digital visible light image by applying said mask to the digital visible light image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is useful in taking images for identification and other purposes without the requirement of a photobooth, regardless of the background of the image. The original background of the image is replaced with a preselected background. Two IR images with different intensities of IR illumination in the foreground and background regions of the scene, respectively, are compared for light intensity differences between corresponding pixels of the two images to form a mask differentiating between the foreground and background regions of the image. The mask is then applied to a visible light image of the scene and the preselected background is used to replace the original background.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of replacing an original background of a scene with a predetermined replacement background, said method comprising the steps of:
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making a first infrared (IR) image of the scene at a first time with first IR radiation having a first intensity illuminating said original background; measuring an intensity of IR radiation at each pixel of said first IR image; making a second IR image of the scene at a second time after deactivating said first IR radiation, by illuminating a foreground of the scene with a second IR radiation having a second intensity less than said first intensity; measuring an intensity of IR radiation at each pixel of said second IR image; generating a mask distinguishing said foreground from said original background by comparing the intensities of IR radiation at each corresponding pixel between said first and second IR images; making a digital visible light image of the scene at said second time by illuminating the scene with visible lighting; and replacing, in said digital visible light image, said original background with said predetermined replacement background to produce a modified version of the digital visible light image by applying said mask to the digital visible light image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. For a digital visible light image of a scene having a foreground and an original background, a method of replacing said original background with a predetermined replacement background, said method comprising the steps of:
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illuminating only the original background of the scene with one or more background lights of infrared radiation (IR) having a first intensity by directing the background lights towards the original background; taking a first IR image of the scene at a first time using a first digital imaging device; measuring and storing an intensity of each pixel of the first IR image; turning off the background lights, illuminating the scene with an active visible light source, and illuminating the scene with a front light of IR having a second intensity lesser than said first intensity; taking a second IR image of the scene at a second time using said first digital imaging device; measuring and storing an intensity of each pixel of the second IR image; creating a mask differentiating said foreground from said original background by a pixel-by-pixel comparison between said first and second IR images of said measured intensities; taking a visible light image at said second time with a second digital imaging device having the same virtual spatial location as said first digital imaging device for generating said digital visible light image; and creating a modified said digital visible light image by applying said mask to said digital visible light image to differentiate said foreground from said original background, and replacing said original background with said predetermined replacement background. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for taking a digital visible light image of a scene comprising a foreground and an original background, and replacing said original background with a predetermined replacement background, said system comprising:
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visible lighting for illuminating said scene; background IR (infrared) lighting for illuminating said original background with IR light having a first intensity; foreground lighting for illuminating said foreground with IR light having a second intensity lesser than said first intensity; a first imaging device for taking a first IR image of said scene at a first time when said background lighting is activated and said foreground lighting is deactivated, and for taking a second IR image of said scene at a second time when said background lighting is deactivated and said foreground lighting is activated; a second imaging device for taking said digital visible light image at said second time when said visible lighting is activated; and a processor for comparing corresponding pixels of said first and second IR images to create a mask differentiating said foreground from said original background in said digital visible light image, then replacing said original background with said predetermined replacement background after applying said mask to said digital visible light image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. Apparatus for digitally replacing part of an image of an original scene with a substitute, said apparatus comprising:
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means for illuminating different parts of a scene with different illumination sources which include infrared radiation during a predetermined time interval to create different contrast ratios among the different parts of the scene; means for acquiring and storing digital images of the scene during said predetermined time interval while subject to illumination from said different illumination sources; means for processing said digital images to identify the different parts on the basis of the variation in contrast ratios between the images; means for selecting said substitute for one of said different pans; and means for replacing said one of said different parts with said substitute in one of said digital images corresponding to a preselected one of said different illumination sources and generating a new digital image available for subsequent use. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification