Method and apparatus for improved depth-map estimation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for segmentation of an image, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring the image employing an image acquisition apparatus with a shallow depth of field, the focus of the image apparatus being on one or more foreground objects in the image;
clustering pixels from the one or more foreground objects in the acquired image into one or more segments;
determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from one or more prior images;
determining depth only for one or more of the one or more unstable segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold; and
updating a depth map by updating only the segments having their depth determined.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for segmenting an image are provided. An image acquisition and segmentation apparatus may include a sensor, a lens having a variable distance to the sensor, and a processor for acquiring an image and segmenting one or more segments from the acquired image. The lens may be moved relative to the sensor in accordance with a microelectronic machine in order to provide a shallow depth of field and a resulting blurred background, therefore easing a segmentation of one or more foreground objects in an acquired image.
235 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for segmentation of an image, comprising the steps of:
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acquiring the image employing an image acquisition apparatus with a shallow depth of field, the focus of the image apparatus being on one or more foreground objects in the image; clustering pixels from the one or more foreground objects in the acquired image into one or more segments; determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from one or more prior images; determining depth only for one or more of the one or more unstable segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold; and updating a depth map by updating only the segments having their depth determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An image acquisition and segmentation apparatus, comprising:
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a sensor; a lens having a variable distance to the sensor; and a processor for acquiring an image by the sensor and lens employing a shallow depth of field, the focus of the image apparatus being on one or more foreground objects in the image, clustering pixels from the one or more foreground objects in the acquired image into one or more segments, determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from one or more prior ages, determining one or more transitioning segments transitioning from an unstable to a stable segment from the one or more prior images, determining depth only for one or more of the one or more unstable segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold, and updating a depth map by updating only the segments having their depth determined. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification