Digital image processing using face detection information

• US 8,126,208 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Steinberg, Eran, Prilutsky, Yury, Corcoran, Peter, Bigioi, Petronel
• Primary Examiner(s): Seth, Manav
• Application Number:
  US12/959,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382115-118, 382/254, 382/274
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/61 based on recognised objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/72 Combination of two or more compensation controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

A method of processing a digital image using face detection within the image achieves one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digital image. Default values are determined of one or more parameters of at least some portion of the digital image. Values are adjusted of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of the digital image including the image of the face and the default values.

Claims

1. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, the method comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the main digital image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing a fill flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

2. The one or more storage devices of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.

3. One or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming one or more processors to perform a method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, the method comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing an option for providing a suggested fill-flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

4. The one or more storage devices of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.

5. A method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing a fill flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.

7. A method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing an option for providing a suggested fill-flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.

9. A portable digital image acquisition device, including a lens and an image sensor for acquiring digital images, a processor, and one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming the processor to perform a method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, the method comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing a fill flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.

11. A portable digital image acquisition device, including a lens and an image sensor for acquiring digital images, a processor, and one or more processor readable storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, said processor readable code for programming the processor to perform a method of processing a main digital image using face detection to achieve a desired image processing parameter, the method comprising:

on an apparatus including a processor configured for image processing, generating in-camera, capturing or otherwise obtaining in-camera a collection of low resolution images including said face;

tracking said face within said collection of low resolution images;

based on said tracking, automatically identifying a group of pixels that correspond to an image of a face within the main digital image;

determining default values of one or more parameters of at least some portion of said main digital image;

adjusting values of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of one or more images of said collection of low resolution images including said face and said default values, and

automatically providing an option for providing a suggested fill-flash to digitally add exposure to brighten the group of pixels that correspond to said image of said face while not digitally adding exposure to nor otherwise brightening one or more other pixels within the main digital image.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises receiving and executing a manual command to remove a false indication of another face within the image based on a manual indication that the apparatus has automatically falsely identified another group of pixels as being a face.