Image processing apparatus and system executing predetermined image processing on image data shot by camera, and image recording medium recorded with image processing program

• US 6,765,608 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Array Printers AB, Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Kintou, Yasuhisa, Himeda, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US09/520,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.99, 348/211.4, 348/211.5, 348/211.6, 348/211.12, 348/239, 348/14.01, 348/14.08, 382/103, 382/115, 382/116, 382/117, 382/118, 382/181, 382/190
• US Class Current: 348/211.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a camera unit providing an image of a shot object, a marker detection unit detecting an object from the image output from the camera unit and comparing the configuration of the detected object with a predetermined configuration stored in a storage unit, and an image processing unit converting at least a partial region of the image output from the camera unit into an image differing from the output image when the configuration of the object is analogous to the predetermined configuration as a result of comparison by the marker detection unit. Since at least a partial region of the output image is converted according to the presence of an object in the output image, a particular region associated with the object, for example a region of a person in the image, can be converted.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image input unit capturing an image,

a detection unit to detect an object from the image captured by said image input unit,

a storage unit to store data regarding a predetermined configuration,

a comparison unit to compare a configuration of said object detected by said detection unit with said predetermined configuration data stored in said storage unit, and

an image processing unit to convert at least part of said captured image into an image differing from said captured image when the configuration of said object is analogous to said predetermined configuration as a result of the comparing.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detection unit detects a particular object included in said captured image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said particular object is a marker.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a distance measurement unit to measure a distance between said object and the image processing apparatus, wherein said image processing unit determines a region of the captured image to be processed according to the distance measured by said distance measurement unit.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connection unit to connect with a network, whereby the converted image is transmitted to said network.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores second predetermined configuration data differing from said predetermined configuration data.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said image processing unit converts said part of converted image into said captured image when the configuration of said object is analogous to said second predetermined configuration data stored in said storage unit.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing unit applies a mosaic process on said part of the captured image.

9. A computer readable recording medium in which is recorded a program to cause a computer to execute the steps of:

storing data regarding a predetermined configuration,

capturing an image,

detecting an object from said captured image,

comparing a configuration of said detected object with said stored predetermined configuration, and

converting at least part of said captured image into an image differing from said captured image when the configuration of said object is analogous to said predetermined configuration as a result of the comparing.

10. An image processing system comprising:

an illumination device to emit light,

an image input unit to capture an image including an object illuminated by said illumination device,

a detection unit to detect said illuminated object from the captured image, and

an image processing unit to convert part of the captured image corresponding to said illuminated object detected by said detection unit into an image differing from said captured image.

11. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said illumination device is configured to alter an illuminating range.

12. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said illumination device emits light including infrared light.

13. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said illumination device emits first light having a wavelength in an infrared region and second light having a wavelength in a visible region.

14. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said detection unit detects said illuminated object by comparing the image captured by said image input unit when said illumination unit emits light and the image captured by said image input unit when said illumination unit does not emit light.

15. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said illumination device emits light with a pattern, and said detection unit detects said illuminated object by detecting said pattern projected onto the object.

16. The image processing system according to claim 10, wherein said image processing unit applies a mosaic process on said part of the captured image.

17. A computer readable recording medium in which a program is recorded to cause a computer to execute the steps of:

capturing an image including an object illuminated with light of a predetermined wavelength range,

detecting said illuminated object from the captured image, and

converting part of the captured image corresponding to said illuminated object into an image differing from said captured image.

18. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image input unit capturing an image,

a detection unit detecting an indication of image conversion from the captured image, and

an image processing unit converting part of the captured image corresponding to the indication into an image different from said part of the captured image prior to the converting.

19. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image input unit capturing an image,

a storage unit storing data regarding a predetermined pattern,

a detection unit detecting the predetermined pattern in the captured image, and

an image processing unit converting part of the captured image corresponding to the detected predetermined pattern into an image different from said part of the captured image prior to the converting.