Apparatus and method of image capture for facial recognition

• US 8,131,024 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Europe (Amsterdam) BV (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Haynes, Simon Dominic, Russell, Mark Julian, Kydd, Andrew David
• Primary Examiner(s): Repko, Jason M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Mia M
• Application Number:
  US12/057,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20080240518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 382/117, 382/118, 382/190, 382/195, 382/203, 382/209, 382/216, 348/77, 348/345, 348/161, 348/222.1, 348/207.99, 345/491, 345/581
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/10 using back-projection, i.e. blending artificial background with real foreground
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/54 with projector
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 using facial parts and geometric relationships

Abstract

An image capture apparatus includes a first imaging device operable to capture an image feedback image. A generator generates a feedback image from a captured image for output to a display. A facial recognition unit operates to determine the position of a face within the feedback image. An image corruptor operates to corrupt the feedback image with respect to the position of a face within the feedback image as determined by the facial recognition unit. An image capture initiator operates to initiate the capture of an output image subsequent to corruption of the feedback image.

Claims

1. An image capture apparatus, comprising:

a display;

a first imaging device operable to capture a first image;

a feedback image generator for generating a feedback image from said first image;

a facial recognition unit operable to determine a position of a face within said feedback image;

an image corruptor operable to corrupt said feedback image with respect to said position of a face within said feedback image as determined by said facial recognition unit to generate a corrupted feedback image for output to said display; and

an image capture initiator operable to initiate capture of a second image by said first imaging device or a second imaging device subsequent to corruption of said feedback image and said display of said corrupted feedback image;

in which;

said display is integral with that one of said first imaging device and said second imaging device which is used to capture said second image; and

said second image is not corrupted by said image corruptor.

2. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a graphic image element store, said graphic image element store being accessible by said image corruptor; and

said image corruptor being operable to;

access one or more graphic image elements from said graphic image element store; and

corrupt said feedback image by the inclusion of said one or more graphic image elements within said feedback image.

3. The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said image corruptor is responsive to said position of a face within said feedback image as determined by said facial recognition unit to position said one or more included graphic image elements within said feedback image.

4. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first imaging device comprises:

an auto-focus arrangement, wherein

said image corruptor is responsive to said auto-focus arrangement to initiate corruption of said feedback image.

5. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

said facial recognition unit is operable to detect a smiling face, and

said capture initiator is operable to initiate said capture of an output image in response to a detection of a smiling face by said facial recognition unit.

6. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image capture initiator comprises:

a timer arranged in operation to commence when said image corruptor first corrupts said feedback image, and to initiate said capture of an output image when said timer reaches a predetermined duration.

7. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second imaging device, wherein

said image capture initiator is operable to initiate said capture of an output image by said second imaging device.

8. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying said corrupted feedback image.

9. The image capture apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a one-way mirror, wherein

said display is a projector, said display being operable to project said feedback image onto said one-way mirror placed in front of that imaging device used to capture said output image.

10. The image capture apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said display is substantially adjacent to that imaging device used to capture said output image.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to operate as an image capture apparatus according to claim 1.

12. A method of image capture, said method comprising:

utilizing a display;

capturing a first image using a first imaging device;

generating by a data processing device a feedback image from said first image;

detecting by said data processing device a position of a face within said feedback image;

corrupting by said data processing device said feedback image with respect to said detected position of a face within said feedback image to generate a corrupted feedback image for output to said display; and

subsequently initiating capture of a second image by said first imaging device or a second imaging device, subsequent to corruption of said feedback image and said display of said corrupted feedback image;

in which;

said display is integral with that one of said first imaging device and said second imaging device which is used to capture said second image; and

said second image is not corrupted by said image corruptor.

13. The method of image capture according to claim 12, wherein corrupting said feedback image comprises:

the placement of one or more graphic image elements within said feedback image.

14. The method of image capture according to claim 13, further comprising:

recognizing one or more faces in said feedback image; and

determining placement of said one or more graphic image elements in relation to said one or more recognized faces.

15. The method of image capture according to claim 12, wherein,

said detecting said position of a face within said feedback image comprises detecting whether said face is smiling, and

said initiating said capture of an output image is responsive to whether a smiling face is so detected.

16. The method of image capture according to claim 12, wherein said initiating said capture of an output image comprises:

timing the duration from when said feedback image is corrupted until a predetermined duration is reached; and

subsequently initiating capture of said output image.

17. The method of image capture according to claim 12, further comprising:

displaying said corrupted feedback image.

18. The method of image capture according to claim 17, wherein said displaying said corrupted feedback image comprises:

projecting said feedback image onto a one-way mirror placed in front of that imaging device used to capture said output image.

19. The method of image capture according to claim 17, wherein said displaying said corrupted feedback image comprises:

displaying said feedback image substantially adjacent to said imaging device used to capture said output image.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computer, cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 12.