Method and system for relocating hidden objects in images

• US 6,950,563 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 09/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lfk-Lenkflugkã¶Rpersysteme GmbH (MBDA)
• Original Assignee: Lfk-Lenkflugkã¶Rpersysteme GmbH (MBDA)
• Inventors: Molocher, Bernhard, Niederhofer, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhavesh M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kassa, Yosef
• Application Number:
  US09/889,831
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 382/209, 382/216, 382/218, 382/278, 382/282, 382/284, 382/294, 382/169, 382/107, 382/213, 382/295, 358/501, 358/537, 358/538, 358/405, 358/450, 358/452, 358/448, 358/463
• US Class Current: 382/278
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/7515 Shifting the patterns to accommodate for positional errors

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for relocating objects in images. An object reference is correlated with image values. When the object is partially covered in the image, the image values which are located within the covered area in the image are replaced by grey scale values of the object before the correlation is carried out. A system for relocating objects in images is provided with a camera for filming the image, an imagery storage unit for storing an object reference and an imagery processor for replacing grey scale values which are located within the covered area, whereby said grey scale values are replaced by grey scale values of the object reference. The inventive system is also provided with a correlation unit which correlates the image with the object reference, whereby the image has been changed by the imagery processor.

Claims

1. A process for determining location of an object in an image by correlation of an object reference with image values, wherein:

in case of a partial obstruction of an object in a coverage area within the image, image values that lie within the coverage area are replaced by gray values of the object, before correlation is performed; and

a reference image is subjected to interference windowing in order to replace the image values within an interference mask with gray values of the object.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the reference image is subjected to object windowing to obtain an object reference.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein an image of the complete object is stored, and used to determine the position of object in case of a partial coverup.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein parts of the object that are obscured in the image, are replaced by parts of a stored reference.

5. Apparatus for locating an object in an image, comprising:

a camera for taking a picture;

an image data memory to store an object reference;

an image data processor programmed to replace gray values that are within an obscured area in the image, with gray values of the object reference; and

a correlation unit that correlates the image, altered by the image data processor, with the object reference;

wherein in case of a partial obstruction of an object in a coverage area within the image, image values that lie within the coverage area are replaced by gray values of the object, before correlation is performed; and

a reference image is subjected to interference windowing in order to replace the image values within an interference mask with gray values of the object reference.