Visual tracking using depth data
First Claim
1. A computer based method for tracking a target using a depth sensing camera, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a depth image of an area including the target to be tracked;
determining an edge of the target in the depth image; and
determining a best fit of a mathematically representable contour with respect to the determined edge corresponding to the target to be tracked, wherein determining a best fit comprises;
dividing the mathematically representable contour into a plurality of segments, each contour segment comprising an inner side corresponding to lower depth values and an outer side corresponding to higher depth values; and
matching an orientation of each contour segment against a corresponding edge segment of the determined edge in the depth image by comparing the depth values on each side of the determined edge segment and determining that the depth values on a side of the determined depth segment that overlaps with the inner side of the matched contour segment are lower than the depth values of a side of the determined edge segment overlapping with the outer side of the matched contour segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Real-time visual tracking using depth sensing camera technology, results in illumination-invariant tracking performance. Depth sensing (time-of-flight) cameras provide real-time depth and color images of the same scene. Depth windows regulate the tracked area by controlling shutter speed. A potential field is derived from the depth image data to provide edge information of the tracked target. A mathematically representable contour can model the tracked target. Based on the depth data, determining a best fit between the contour and the edge of the tracked target provides position information for tracking. Applications using depth sensor based visual tracking include head tracking, hand tracking, body-pose estimation, robotic command determination, and other human-computer interaction systems.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A computer based method for tracking a target using a depth sensing camera, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a depth image of an area including the target to be tracked; determining an edge of the target in the depth image; and determining a best fit of a mathematically representable contour with respect to the determined edge corresponding to the target to be tracked, wherein determining a best fit comprises; dividing the mathematically representable contour into a plurality of segments, each contour segment comprising an inner side corresponding to lower depth values and an outer side corresponding to higher depth values; and matching an orientation of each contour segment against a corresponding edge segment of the determined edge in the depth image by comparing the depth values on each side of the determined edge segment and determining that the depth values on a side of the determined depth segment that overlaps with the inner side of the matched contour segment are lower than the depth values of a side of the determined edge segment overlapping with the outer side of the matched contour segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable medium for tracking a target using a depth sensing camera comprising a computer program that when executed by a computer processor implements the steps of:
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receiving a depth image of an area including the target to be tracked; determining an edge of the target in the depth image; and determining a best fit of a mathematically representable contour with respect to the determined edge corresponding to the target to be tracked, wherein determining a best fit comprises; dividing the mathematically representable contour into a plurality of segments, each contour segment comprising an inner side corresponding to lower depth values and an outer side corresponding to higher depth values; and matching an orientation of each contour segment against a corresponding edge segment of the determined edge in the depth image by comparing the depth values on each side of the determined edge segment and determining that the depth values on a side of the determined depth segment that overlaps with the inner side of the matched contour segment are lower than the depth values of a side of the determined edge segment overlapping with the outer side of the matched contour segment.
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14. A system for tracking a target using a depth sensing camera, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a depth image of an area including the target to be tracked; means for determining an edge of the target in the depth image; and means for determining a best fit of a mathematically representable contour with respect to the determined edge corresponding to the target to be tracked, wherein determining a best fit comprises; dividing the mathematically representable contour into a plurality of segments, each contour segment comprising an inner side corresponding to lower depth values and an outer side corresponding to higher depth values; and matching an orientation of each contour segment against a corresponding edge segment of the determined edge in the depth image by comparing the depth values on each side of the determined edge segment and determining that the depth values on a side of the determined depth segment that overlaps with the inner side of the matched contour segment are lower than the depth values of a side of the determined edge segment overlapping with the outer side of the matched contour segment.
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15. A human-computer interaction system for visually tracking human movement comprising:
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an active depth sensor for capturing depth images of human body parts; a processing unit coupled to the active depth sensor for receiving the depth images, the processing unit comprising; an edge detection module; and a tracking module coupled to the edge detection module to determine a best fit of a mathematically representable contour with respect to one or more body parts to determine a position of the one or more body parts within the captured depth images, the tracking module further comprising computer instructions for; dividing the mathematically representable contour into a plurality of segments, each contour segment comprising an inner side corresponding to lower depth values and an outer side corresponding to higher depth values; and matching an orientation of each contour segment against a corresponding edge segment of the determined edge in the depth image by comparing the depth values on each side of the determined edge segment and determining that the depth values on a side of the determined depth segment that overlaps with the inner side of the matched contour segment are lower than the depth values of a side of the determined edge segment overlapping with the outer side of the matched contour segment.
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Specification