APPARATUS AND METHOD OF IMAGE CAPTURE

• US 20080240518A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• 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: Russell, Mark Julian, Haynes, Simon Dominic, Kydd, Andrew David
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 comprises a first imaging device operable to capture an image feedback image, generator for generating a feedback image from a captured image for output to a display, a facial recognition unit operable to determine the position of a face within the feedback image, an image corruptor operable to corrupt the feedback image with respect to the position of a face within the feedback image as determined by the facial recognition unit, and an image capture initiator operable to initiate the capture of an output image subsequent to corruption of the feedback image.

Claims

1. An image capture apparatus, comprising:

a first imaging device operable to capture an image;

a feedback image generator for generating a feedback image from a captured image for output to a display;

a facial recognition unit operable to determine the 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; and

an image capture initiator operable to initiate the capture of an output image subsequent to corruption of said feedback image.

2. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, 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. An image capture apparatus according to claim 2, in which 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. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first imaging device comprises an auto-focus arrangement, and in which said image corruptor is responsive to said auto-focus arrangement to initiate corruption of said feedback image.

5. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, in which 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. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, in which 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. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

a second imaging device, and in which

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

8. An image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display for displaying said corrupted feedback image.

9. An image capture apparatus according to claim 8, in which said display is integral to that imaging device used to capture said output image.

10. An image capture apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a one-way mirror, and in which 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.

11. An image capture apparatus according to claim 8, in which said display is substantially adjacent to that imaging device used to capture said output image.

21. A data carrier comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer cause said computer to operate as an image capture apparatus according to claim 1.

23. A data signal comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer cause said computer to operate as an image capture apparatus according to claim 1.

25. Computer readable instructions 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 the steps of:

capturing an image using a first imaging device;

generating a feedback image from said captured image for output to a display;

detecting the position of a face within said feedback image;

corrupting said feedback image with respect to said detected position of a face within said feedback image; and

subsequently initiating the capture of an output image.

13. A method of image capture according to claim 12, in which said step of corrupting said feedback image comprises the placement of one or more graphic image elements within said feedback image.

14. A method of image capture according to claim 13, comprising the steps of:

recognizing one or more faces in said feedback image; and

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

15. A method of image capture according to claim 12, in which:

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

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

16. A method of image capture according to claim 12, in which said step of initiating said capture of an output image comprises timing the duration from said step in which said feedback image is corrupted until a predetermined duration is reached;

and then initiating capture of said output image.

17. A method of image capture according to claim 12, in which said output image is captured by a second imaging device.

18. A method of image capture according to claim 12, further comprising the step of displaying said corrupted feedback image.

19. A method of image capture according to claim 18, in which said step of 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.

20. A method of image capture according to claim 18, in which said step of displaying said corrupted feedback image comprises displaying said feedback image substantially adjacent to said imaging device used to capture said output image.

22. A data carrier comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 12.

24. A data signal comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 12.

26. Computer readable instructions that, when executed by a computer cause said computer to carry out the method of claim 12.