Determination of main object on image and improvement of image quality according to main object

• US 8,355,574 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Imai, Toshie
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US12/590,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 382/118, 382/165, 382/167, 382/274, 382/286, 382/291
• US Class Current: 382/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59

Abstract

A CPU 411 splits selected image data GD into a plurality of areas (pixel data groups), analyzing the image data GD in terms of area units, and determining the color range of the areas of the image data GD. The CPU 411 determines color range areas by associating adjacent areas of the same color range when determining the color range for the areas of the image data GD. The CPU 411 acquires position data for the color range areas that have been determined. The CPU 411 acquires position conditions (main object conditions) from ROM/HDD 413, and narrows the main object candidates to “sky, green, or people.” The CPU 411 finally determines the main object by comparing the position data of the color range color areas and the position conditions corresponding to the narrowed main object.

Claims

1. A method of image processing, the method comprising:

determining a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining of the main object is implemented by determining whether the image includes the human face;

acquiring properties of the determined main object;

acquiring correction conditions corresponding to the acquired properties; and

adjusting image quality of the main object using the acquired correction conditions, wherein a parameter used in adjusting the image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color, and

wherein each operation of the method of image processing is executed by one of a personal computer, a printer, or a display device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.

3. A method of image processing, the method comprising:

determining a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining of the main object is implemented by determining whether the image includes the human face; and

adjusting image quality of the main object using correction conditions corresponding to properties of the determined main object, wherein a parameter used in adjusting the image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color, and

wherein each operation of the method of image processing is executed by one of a personal computer, a printer, or a display device.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

a determining module configured to determine a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining module determines whether the image includes the human face;

a property acquirer configured to acquire properties of the determined main object;

a correction condition acquirer configured to acquire correction conditions corresponding to the acquired properties; and

an image quality adjuster configured to adjust image quality of the main object using the acquired correction conditions, wherein a parameter used by the image quality adjuster to adjust image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color, and

wherein the image processing apparatus is either a personal computer or a printer or a display device.

6. The image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.

7. An image processing apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

a determining module configured to determine a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining module determines whether the image includes the human face; and

an image quality adjuster configured to adjust image quality of the main object using correction conditions corresponding to properties of the determined main object, wherein a parameter used by the image quality adjuster to adjust image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color, and

wherein the image processing apparatus is either a personal computer or a printer or a display device.

8. The image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.

9. A computer program product for image processing comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable code therein for execution by either a personal computer or a printer or a display device, the computer readable code comprising;

computer readable code for determining a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining of the main object is implemented by determining whether the image includes the human face;

computer readable code for acquiring properties of the determined main object;

computer readable code for acquiring correction conditions corresponding to the acquired properties; and

computer readable code for adjusting image quality of the main object using the acquired correction conditions, wherein a parameter used in adjusting the image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color.

10. The computer program product in accordance with claim 9, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.

11. A computer program product for image processing comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable code therein for execution by either a personal computer or a printer or a display device, the computer readable code comprising;

computer readable code for determining a main object in an image generated by an image generating apparatus, wherein the main object includes at least a human face, and wherein the determining of the main object is implemented by determining whether the image includes the human face; and

computer readable code for adjusting image quality of the main object using correction conditions corresponding to properties of the determined main object, wherein a parameter used in adjusting the image quality is a highlight, a shadow, brightness, contrast, color balance, or memory color.

12. The computer program product in accordance with claim 11, wherein the correction conditions are different when the main object is determined as a night time scene and a human face and when the main object is determined as a human face.