Image identification apparatus and method for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image

• US 8,363,911 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Princeton Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Kao, De-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Brian P
• Application Number:
  US12/427,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20090279791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/162 using pixel segmentation or colour matching

Abstract

An image identification apparatus for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image is disclosed. The image identification apparatus includes a transformation module, a first comparing module, a second comparing module and a determination module. The transformation module is used for transforming the predetermined image to a predetermined image data and transforming the image frame to a first image data. The first comparing module and the second comparing module are used for comparing the predetermined image data with the first image information and generating a first comparing result and a second comparing result. The determination module is used for determining the comparing result of the image frame and the predetermined image according to the first comparing result and the second comparing result.

Claims

1. An image identification apparatus for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image, comprising:

a transformation module, transforming the predetermined image to a predetermined image data and transforming the image frame to a first image data, wherein the predetermined image data comprises a first predetermined data and a second predetermined data, and the first image data comprises a first characteristic data and a second characteristic data;

a first comparing module coupled to the transformation module, comparing the first predetermined data with the first characteristic data to generate a first comparing result;

a second comparing module coupled to the first comparing module, comparing the second predetermined data with the second characteristic data to generate a second comparing result according to the first comparing result; and

a determination module coupled to the first comparing module and the second comparing module, determining the comparing result of the image frame and the predetermined image according to the first comparing result and the second comparing result,

wherein the transformation module transforms the image frame to the first image data with a waveform representation, wherein the first characteristic data is an image data between a first predetermined wavelength value and a second predetermined wavelength value within the first image data, and the second characteristic data is an image data between a third predetermined wavelength value and a fourth predetermined wavelength value within the first image data.

2. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first predetermined wavelength value is larger than the second predetermined wavelength value, the third predetermined wavelength value is larger than the fourth predetermined wavelength value and the second predetermined wavelength value is larger than the third predetermined wavelength value.

3. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first predetermined wavelength value is about 1000 nm (nanometers), the second predetermined wavelength value is about 800 nm, the third predetermined wavelength value is about 700 nm and the fourth predetermined wavelength value is about 400 nm.

7. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the first comparing result indicates that the first predetermined data is not matched to the first characteristic data, the determination module determines that the image frame is different from the predetermined image.

8. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein when the first comparing result indicates that the first predetermined data matches to the first characteristic data, the second comparing module further compares the second characteristic data with the second predetermined data to generate the second comparing result.

9. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein when the second comparing result indicates that the second predetermined data matches to the second characteristic data, the determination module determines that the image frame and the predetermined image are the same.

10. The image identification apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comparing a storing module coupled to the transformation module, the first comparing module and the second comparing module for storing the first predetermined data and the second predetermined data.

4. An image identification method for comparing an image frame with a predetermined image, comprising:

(a) transforming the predetermined image to a predetermined image data, wherein the predetermined image data comprises a first predetermined data and a second predetermined data;

(b) transforming the image frame to a first image data, wherein the first image data comprises a first characteristic data and a second characteristic data;

(c) comparing the first predetermined data with the first characteristic data to generate a first comparing result;

(d) comparing the second predetermined data with the second characteristic data to generate a second comparing result according to the first comparing result; and

(e) determining the comparing result of the image frame and the predetermined image according to the first comparing result and the second comparing result,

wherein when the first comparing result generated by the step (c) indicates that the first predetermined data is not matched to the first characteristic data, the image frame and the predetermined image are determined as different in the step (e) and wherein the step (b) transforms the image frame to the first image data with a waveform representation, wherein the first characteristic data is an image data between a first predetermined wavelength value and a second predetermined wavelength value within the first image data, and the second characteristic data is an image data between a third predetermined wavelength value and a fourth predetermined wavelength value within the first image data.

5. The image identification method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first predetermined wavelength value is larger than the second predetermined wavelength value, the third predetermined wavelength value is larger than the fourth predetermined wavelength value and the second predetermined wavelength value is larger than the third predetermined wavelength value.

6. The image identification method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first predetermined wavelength value is about 1000 nm, the second predetermined wavelength value is about 800 nm, the third predetermined wavelength value is about 700 nm and the fourth predetermined wavelength value is about 400 nm.

11. The image identification method as claimed in claim 4, wherein when the first comparing result generated by the step (c) indicates that the first predetermined data is not matched to the first characteristic data, the image frame and the predetermined image are determined as different in the step (e).

12. The image identification method as claimed in claim 11, wherein when the first comparing result generated by the step (c) indicates that the first predetermined data matches to the first characteristic data, the step (d) is performed.

13. The image identification method as claimed in claim 12, wherein when the second comparing result generated by the step (d) indicates that the second predetermined data matches to the second characteristic data, the image frame and the predetermined image are determined as the same in the step (e).

14. The image identification method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

utilizing a sensor for acquiring the image frame and the predetermined image before steps (a) and (b).

15. The image identification method as claimed in claim 12, further comparing:

(f) storing the first predetermined data and the second predetermined data.