Infra-red video key
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for displaying a composite image comprising:
- capturing an infra-red image of a viewer of the composite image, the viewer being in an ordinary environment;
capturing a visible light image of the viewer essentially congruent to the infra-red image;
providing an independent image;
replacing a portion of the visible light image with a portion of the independent image according to the intensity of the infra-red image; and
transmitting the resulting image to a display means, whereby the composite image comprising the independent image and the visible light image of the viewer is displayed.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus to isolate the video image of an object, usually a human being, from its background for use in forming a composite image. The viewer'"'"'s image, with its background, is captured in both visible light and infra-red. In the preferred embodiment, the visible light image is modified by replacing, from an independent visible image source, that area corresponding to the cold (non-viewer) areas of the infra-red image.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for displaying a composite image comprising:
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capturing an infra-red image of a viewer of the composite image, the viewer being in an ordinary environment;
capturing a visible light image of the viewer essentially congruent to the infra-red image;
providing an independent image;
replacing a portion of the visible light image with a portion of the independent image according to the intensity of the infra-red image; and
transmitting the resulting image to a display means, whereby the composite image comprising the independent image and the visible light image of the viewer is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for displaying a composite image of an independent image and a viewer of the composite image comprising:
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infra-red imaging means, to capture an image of the viewer, the viewer being in an ordinary environment;
visible light imaging means, to capture an image of the viewer essentially congruent to the infra-red image;
an independent image source, to provide the independent image;
replacement means, to replace a portion of the visible light image of the viewer with a portion of the independent image according to the intensity of the infra-red image; and
display means, whereby the composite image is displayed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification