Method and apparatus for acquiring image of internal structure, and computer product

• US 7,970,238 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Aoki, Takahiro, Watanabe, Masaki, Endoh, Toshio, Fukuda, Mitsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Mariam; Daniel G
• Application Number:
  US11/166,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20060204132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 382141-143, 382/145, 382147-149, 382/154, 382274-275, 382/282, 382/190, 382/284, 348/92, 348/125
• US Class Current: 382/282
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/0007 Image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/14 Vascular patterns

Abstract

An apparatus for acquiring an internal-structure image of an object from a plurality of images of the object photographed by a photographing unit includes a control unit that controls the photographing unit to obtain the images under different photographing conditions; and an extracting unit that extracts a portion common to the images as the internal-structure image.

Claims

1. An apparatus for acquiring an internal-structure image of an object from a plurality of images of the object, the apparatus comprising:

a photographing unit to photograph the object by capturing light reflected from the object, the light radiated from at least one of a plurality of light sources;

a control unit to control the photographing unit and the at least one light source to obtain a first image and a second image under different photographing conditions in which angles formed by the at least one light source, convexity/concavity on surface of the object, and the photographing unit are different; and

an extracting unit to extract a third image that is common to the first image and the second image, the third image corresponding to the internal-structure image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing conditions further include at least one of intensity of the light, wavelength of the light, and photographing time.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correcting unit to correct at least one of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting unit to extract an image portion commonly shown in the first and the second images corrected.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a characteristic extracting unit to extract a characteristic of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting unit to extract an image portion commonly shown in a plurality of images generated by extracting the characteristic of the first and the second images.

5. A method of acquiring an internal-structure image of an object from a plurality of images of the object photographed by a photographing unit, the method comprising:

photographing a first image of the object by capturing light reflected from the object, the light radiated from at least one of light sources;

controlling the photographing unit and the light source to change photographing conditions such that angles formed by the light source, convexity/concavity on surface of the object, and the photographing unit are different;

photographing a second image of the object by capturing the light reflected from the object; and

extracting a third image that is common to the first image and the second image, the third image corresponding to the internal-structure image.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein

the photographing conditions further include at least one of intensity of the light, wavelength of the light, and photographing time.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising correcting at least one of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting includes extracting an image portion commonly shown in the first and the second images corrected.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising detecting a characteristic of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting includes extracting an image portion commonly shown in a plurality of images generated by extracting the characteristic of the first and the second images.

9. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a computer program for acquiring an internal-structure image of an object from a plurality of images of the object photographed by a photographing unit, wherein the computer program causes a computer to execute;

photographing a first image of the object by capturing light reflected from the object, the light radiated from at least one of light sources;

controlling the photographing unit and the light source to change photographing conditions such that angles formed by the light source, convexity/concavity on surface of the object, and the photographing unit are different;

photographing a second image of the object by capturing the light reflected from the object; and

extracting a third image that is common to the first image and the second image, the third image corresponding to the internal-structure image.

10. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein

the photographing conditions further include at least one of intensity of the light, wavelength of the light, and photographing time.

11. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the computer program further causes the computer to execute correcting at least one of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting includes extracting an image portion commonly shown in the first and the second images corrected.

12. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the computer program further causes the computer to execute detecting a characteristic of the first and the second images, wherein

the extracting includes extracting an image portion commonly shown in a plurality of images generated by extracting the characteristic of the first and the second images.