IP Library Granted Patent US 9,117,271
Granted Patent B2
US 9,117,271 · App. 13/644,309 · Granted Aug 25, 2015

Apparatus, method and recording medium for image processing

Inventors: Kensuke Habuka (Bunkyo-ku, JP); Go Abe (Bunkyo-ku, JP)
Assignee: Morpho, Inc.
G06T5/003G06T5/50H04N5/23254H04N5/23274G06T2207/10012G06T2207/20021G06T2207/20201
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,117,271
App. No.
13/644,309
Granted
Aug 25, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: a placement information acquisition section which acquires, for each image sensor, placement information of the image sensors with respect to the imaging section; a movement information acquisition section which acquires movement information of the imaging device; and an output area acquisition section which acquires, for every image sensor, position information of a second output area within the second frame image which corresponds to a first output area within the first frame image. The output area acquisition section acquires: a second output area of a base image sensor based on position information of a first output area determined by the placement information and based on the movement information; and a second output area of another image sensor based on the placement information of the base image sensor, the placement information of the other image sensor, and the movement information.

Claims (56)

1. An image processing apparatus which performs image processing of a plurality of frame images generated by an imaging device having a plurality of image sensors each continuously generating a first frame image and a second frame image in sequence, comprising:

a placement information acquisition section which acquires, for each image sensor, placement information indicating placement conditions of the image sensors with respect to the imaging device;

a movement information acquisition section which acquires movement information of the imaging device between the first frame image and the second frame image; and

an output area acquisition section which acquires, for each image sensor, position information of a second output area within the second frame image, the second output area corresponding to a first output area within the first frame image, wherein

the output area acquisition section acquires:

as a reference base, the second output area of a first image sensor from among the plurality of image sensors based on the position information of the first output area determined by the placement information and based on the movement information; and

the second output area of a second image sensor being different from the first image sensor, from among the plurality of image sensors based on the placement information of the first image sensor, the placement information of the second image sensor, and the movement information.

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

a determination section which determines for all the image sensors whether the position information of the second output area is positioned within the second frame image, wherein

when the position information of the second output area is not positioned within the second frame image, the output area acquisition section sets moving amount obtained by a difference between the position information of the first output area and the position information of the second output area to be smaller until the position information of the second output area is positioned within the second frame image in all the image sensors.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires the movement information from the first frame image and the second frame image generated in the first image sensor.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires the movement information by a gyro sensor.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires as the movement information a weighted average of the movement information acquired from the first frame image and the second frame image generated by the plurality of image sensors.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the first image sensor is selected out of the plurality of image sensors based on image pickup conditions.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein

the output area acquisition section uses an area other than the output area which is needed for provision of the plurality of image sensors as an area for use in correction with movement.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires the movement information from the first frame image and the second frame image generated in the first image sensor.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the first image sensor is selected out of the plurality of image sensors based on image pickup conditions.

10. The image processing apparatus according claim 8 , wherein

the output area acquisition section uses an area other than the output area which is needed for provision of the plurality of image sensors as an area for use in correction with movement.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires the movement information by a gyro sensor.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the first image sensor is selected out of the plurality of image sensors based on image pickup condition.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein

the output area acquisition section uses an area other than the output area which is needed for provision of the plurality of image sensors as an area for use in correction with movement.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the movement information acquisition section acquires as the movement information a weighted average of the movement information acquired from the first frame image and the second frame image generated by the plurality of image sensors.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the first image sensor is selected out of the plurality of image sensors based on image pickup condition.

16. The image processing apparatus according claim 14 , wherein

the output area acquisition section uses an area other than the output area which is needed for provision of the plurality of image sensors as an area for use in correction with movement.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the first image sensor is selected out of the plurality of image sensors based on image pickup conditions.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the output area acquisition section uses an area other than the output area being needed because of using the plurality of image sensors, as an area for use in correction with movement.

19. An image processing method for performing image processing of a plurality of frame images generated by an imaging device having a plurality of image sensors which continuously generate a first frame image and a second frame image in sequence, comprising:

a placement information acquisition step of acquiring, for every image sensor, placement information indicating placement conditions of the image sensors with respect to the imaging device;

a movement information acquisition step of acquiring movement information of the imaging device between the first frame image and the second frame image; and

an output area acquisition step of acquiring, for every image sensor, position information of a second output area within the second frame image which corresponds to a first output area within the first frame image, wherein

in the output area acquisition step,

as a reference base, the second output area of a first image sensor from among the plurality of image sensors is acquired based on position information of the first output area determined by the placement information and based on the movement information, and

the second output area of a second image sensor being different from the first image sensor, from among the plurality of image sensors is acquired based on placement information of the first image sensor, placement information of the second image sensor, and the movement information.

20. A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon an image processing program for operating a computer to perform image processing of a plurality of frame images generated by an imaging device having a plurality of image sensors which continuously generate a first frame image and a second frame image in sequence, the program causing the computer to function as:

a placement information acquisition section which acquires, for every image sensor, placement information indicating placement conditions of the image sensors with respect to the imaging device;

a movement information acquisition section which acquires movement information of the imaging device between the first frame image and the second frame image; and

an output area acquisition section which acquires, for every image sensor, position information of a second output area within the second frame image which corresponds to a first output area within the first frame image, wherein

the output area acquisition section acquires:

as a reference base, the second output area of a first image sensor from among the plurality of image sensors based on position information of the first output area determined by the placement information and based on the movement information; and

the second output area of a second image sensor being different from the first image sensor, from among the plurality of image sensors based on placement information of the first image sensor, placement information of the second image sensor, and the movement information.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE'S ADDRESS ON THE COVER SHEET PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 061404 FRAME: 0845. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Oct 18, 2022
From: MORPHO, INC.
To: MORPHO, INC.
Reel/Frame 061699/0083 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 9, 2022
From: MORPHO, INC.
To: MORPHO, INC.
Reel/Frame 061400/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 9, 2022
From: MORPHO, INC.
To: MORPHO, INC.
Reel/Frame 061404/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2014
From: MORPHO, INC.
To: MORPHO, INC.
Reel/Frame 033281/0572 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2012
From: HABUKA, KENSUKE; ABE, GO
To: MORPHO, INC.
Reel/Frame 029282/0377 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-220269 · Oct 4, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130083171A1 · Apr 4, 2013