Key signal generating apparatus and picture synthesis apparatus, and key signal generating method and picture synthesis method

• US 6,128,046 A
• Filed: 01/06/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Mitsunaga, Tomoo, Totsuka, Takashi, Yokoyama, Taku
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sajous, Wesner
• Application Number:
  US08/765,286
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 348/582, 348/590, 348/591, 348/592, 348/593, 348/594, 348/595, 348/596, 348/597, 348/598, 348/586, 348/585, 348/584, 348/587, 382/107, 358/182, 358/22, 358/183
• US Class Current: 348/590
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2622 Signal amplitude transition in the zone between image portions, e.g. soft edges
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/275 Generation of keying signals

Abstract

In this invention, when the portion from which a key signal α is to be generated of picture is caused to be foreground F, the portion except for the above is caused to be background B, and pixel value of pixels constituting that picture is designated at C, the key signal α is generated so as to satisfy the relational expression C'"'"'=(F-B)α'"'"'('"'"'(prime) represents differentiation). In more practical sense, a change detecting section 10 calculates change C'"'"' of pixel value between pixels constituting picture, and an F-B detecting section 30 calculates difference F-B between the foreground and the background. In addition, an integral value calculating section 40 divides the change C'"'"' by the difference F-B to integrate the result obtained by divisional operation to thereby determine key signal α. As a result, precise key signal can be obtained in this invention.

Claims

1. A key signal generating apparatus adapted for generating a key signal from picture,

key signal generating means for generating the key signal on the basis of the change of the pixel value outputted from the change detecting means;

wherein the key signal generating means is adapted so that in the case where alias takes place in the picture, it generates the key signal for allowing the influence of that alias to be reduced.

4. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the picture -consists of foreground picture and background picture,

wherein the apparatus further comprises difference detecting means for detecting difference between the foreground picture and the background picture to output difference information indicating that difference,

wherein the change detecting means outputs change information indicating change of the pixel value, and

wherein the key signal generating means generates the key signal on the basis of the difference information and the change information.

7. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the change detecting means outputs change information indicating change of the pixel value, and

wherein the key signal generating means integrates the change information within an integral range which is the range where the change information takes a predetermined threshold value or more to thereby generate the key signal.

8. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7,

wherein the key signal generating means integrates the change information along a predetermined integral path.

9. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 8,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected by the change detecting means.

10. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 7,

wherein the key signal generating means comprises:

range detecting means for detecting the integral range;

definite integral information generating means for integrating the change information along a predetermined integral path within the integral range to generate definite integral information of the change information within the integral range;

normalizing means for normalizing the change information by the definite integral information to output normalized information obtained as the result of the normalization; and

integration executing means for integrating the normalized information to thereby generate the key signal.

11. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected by the change detecting means.

2. A key signal generating apparatus adapted for generating a key signal from picture, the apparatus comprising:

change detecting means for detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating means for integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values outputted by said change detection means; and

key signal generating means for generating the key signal on the basis of an integrated value outputted by said integrating means;

wherein the key signal generating means is adapted so that in the case where motion blur takes place in the picture, it generates the key signal in which that motion blur is reflected.

3. A key signal generating apparatus adapted for generating a key signal from picture, the apparatus comprising:

change detecting means for detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating means for integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values outputted by said change detection means; and

key signal generating means for generating the key signal on the bases of an integrated value outputted by said integrating means;

wherein the key signal generating means is adapted so that in the case where alias takes place in the picture, it generates the key signal for allowing the influence of that alias to be reduced.

5. A key signal generating apparatus adapted for generating a key signal from picture, the apparatus comprising:

the change detecting means for detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating means for integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values outputted by said change detection means; and

key signal generating means for generating the key signal on the basis of an integrated value outputted by said integrating means;

wherein the picture consists of foreground picture and background picture,

wherein the apparatus further comprises difference detecting means for detecting difference between the foreground picture and the background picture to output difference information indicating that difference,

wherein the change detecting means outputs change information indicating change of the pixel value, and

wherein the key signal generating means generates the key signal on the basis of the difference information and the change information, and comprises;

normalizing means for normalizing the change information by the difference information to output normalized information obtained as the result of the normalization, and

integration executing means for integrating the normalized information along a predetermined integral path.

6. A key signal generating apparatus as set forth in claim 5,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected by the change detecting means.

12. A picture synthesis apparatus adapted for receiving a first picture consisting of at least foreground picture and background picture, and a second picture consisting of at least background picture to synthesize the foreground picture of the first picture and the background picture of the second picture, the apparatus comprising:

change detecting means for detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the first picture;

integrating means for integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values outputted by said change detection means;

key signal generating means for generating a key signal on the basis of an integrated value outputted by said integrating means; and

synthesis means for synthesizing the foreground picture of the first picture and the background picture of the second picture by using the key signal generated by the key signal generating means.

13. A picture synthesis apparatus as set forth in claim 12, which further comprises difference detecting means for detecting difference between the foreground picture and the background picture of the first picture to output difference information indicating the difference,

wherein the change detecting means outputs change information indicating change of the pixel value, and

wherein the key signal generating means generates the key signal on the basis of the difference information and the change information.

14. A picture synthesis apparatus as set forth in claim 12,

wherein the change detecting means outputs change information indicating change of the pixel value, and wherein the key signal generating means integrates the change information within an integral range which is the range where the change information takes a predetermined threshold value or more.

15. A key signal generating method of generating a key signal from a picture,

the method comprising the steps of:

detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values; and

generating the key signal on the basis of an integrated value.

18. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 15,

wherein the picture consists of foreground picture and background picture,

the method comprising the steps of:

detecting difference between the foreground picture and the background picture to output different information indicating the difference; and

generating the key signal on the basis of change information indicating change of the pixel value and the difference information.

19. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 18,

the method comprising the steps of:

normalizing the change information by the difference information to output normalized information obtained as the result of the normalization; and

integrating the normalized information along a predetermined integral path to thereby generate the key signal.

20. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 19,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected.

21. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 15,

wherein, within an integral range which is the range where change information indicating change of the pixel value takes a predetermined threshold value or more, the change information is integrated to thereby generate the key signal.

22. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 21,

wherein the change information is integrated along a predetermined integral path to thereby generate the key signal.

23. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 22,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected.

24. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 21,

the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the integral range;

integrating the change information along a predetermined integral path within the integral range to generate definite integral information of the change information within the integral range;

normalizing the change information by the definite integral information to output normalized information obtained as the result of the normalization; and

integrating the normalized information to thereby generate the key signal.

25. A key signal generating method as set forth in claim 24,

wherein the predetermined integral path is a path along a direction in which change of the pixel value has been detected.

16. A key signal generating method of generating a key signal from picture, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values; and

generating the key signal on the basis of an integrated value;

wherein in the case where motion blur takes place in the picture, the key signal in which that motion blur is reflected is generated.

17. A key signal generating method of generating a key signal from a picture, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the picture;

integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values; and

wherein in the case where alias takes place in the picture, the key signal for allowing the influence of the alias to be reduced is generated.

26. A picture synthesis method of receiving a first picture consisting of at least foreground picture and background picture and a second picture consisting of at least background picture to synthesize the foreground picture of the first picture and the background picture of the second picture,

the method comprising the steps of:

detecting change of pixel value between pixels constituting the first picture;

integrating the change information indicating the change in the pixel values;

generating a key signal on the basis of an integrated value; and

synthesizing the foreground picture of the first picture and the background picture of the second picture by using the key signal.

27. A picture synthesis method as set forth in claim 26, the method comprising steps of:

detecting difference between the foreground picture and the background picture of the first picture; and

generating the key signal on the basis of difference information indicating the difference and change information indicating change of the pixel value.

28. A picture synthesis method as set forth in claim 26,

wherein, within an integral range which is the range where change information indicating change of the pixel value takes a predetermined threshold voltage or more, the change information is integrated to thereby generate the key signal.