IP Library Granted Patent US 10,999,498
Granted Patent B2
US 10,999,498 · App. 16/318,310 · Granted May 4, 2021

Image processing apparatus and image processing method

Inventors: Tetsuya Kikukawa (Tokyo, JP); Junichi Tanaka (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Corporation
H04N5/23229G06T3/4053G06T7/50G06T15/20H04N5/23238H04N13/00H04N13/111
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,999,498
App. No.
16/318,310
Granted
May 4, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that make it possible to generate a high picture quality texture image of a predetermined viewpoint using an omnidirectional image. A reception section receives a texture image and a depth image as well as a guide image to be referred to upon generation of a display image in which the texture image and the depth image are used. A drawing section compares a pixel value of the display image generated using the texture image and the depth image and a corresponding pixel value of the guide image with each other and executes a process for changing the pixel value in response to a result of the comparison. The present disclosure can be applied, for example, to a home server or the like that generates a display image of a predetermined viewpoint from an omnidirectional image.

Claims (49)

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to:

receive a texture image and a depth image of a first layer, a texture image and a depth image of a second layer, and a guide image;

generate a display image including an occlusion region of the first layer in a viewing range, wherein

the display image is generated using the texture image and the depth image of the second layer based on a change in a viewpoint from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, and

the first viewpoint is different from the second viewpoint;

compare a pixel value of the display image with a corresponding pixel value of the guide image; and

execute a process to change the pixel value of the display image in response to a result of the comparison.

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

the texture image and the depth image of the first layer include an omnidirectional image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the pixel value of the display image corresponding to an imaginary region of the texture image of the second layer with the corresponding pixel value of the guide image; and

change the pixel value of the display image in response to the result of the comparison.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the pixel value of the display image corresponding to the occlusion region of the texture image of the second layer with the corresponding pixel value of the guide image; and

change the pixel value of the display image in response to the result of the comparison.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the pixel value of the display image generated using the texture image and the depth image with the corresponding pixel value of the guide image; and

execute a blending process to blend the pixel value of the display image and the corresponding pixel value of the guide image at a given blend ratio in response to the result of the comparison.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the guide image includes depth information.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a resolution of the guide image is lower than a resolution of the texture image.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a frame rate of the guide image is lower than a frame rate of the texture image.

9. An image processing method, comprising:

in an image processing apparatus:

receiving a texture image and a depth image of a first layer, a texture image and a depth image of a second layer, and a guide image;

generating a display image including an occlusion region of the first layer in a viewing range, wherein

the display image is generated using the texture image and the depth image of the second layer based on a change in a viewpoint from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, and

the first viewpoint is different from the second viewpoint;

comparing a pixel value of the display image with a corresponding pixel value of the guide image; and

executing a process for changing the pixel value of the display image in response to a result of the comparison.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a processor configured to:

generate a texture image and a depth image of a first layer, a texture image and a depth image of a second layer, and a guide image; and

transmit the texture image and the depth image of the first layer and the texture image and the depth image of the second layer for generation of a display image including an occlusion region of the first layer in a viewing range, wherein

the display image is generated using the texture image and the depth image of the second layer based on a change in a viewpoint from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, and

the first viewpoint is different from the second viewpoint.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein

the texture image and the depth image of the first layer include an omnidirectional image.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the guide image includes a first image of a first camera used for the generation of the texture image and the depth image of the first layer.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the guide image further includes a second image of a second camera installed at a position different from a position of the first camera used for the generation of the texture image and the depth image of the first layer.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the guide image further includes depth information.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein a resolution of the guide image is lower than a resolution of the texture image.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein a frame rate of the guide image is lower than a frame rate of the texture image.

17. An image processing method, comprising:

in an image processing apparatus:

generating a texture image and a depth image of a first layer and a texture image and a depth image of a second layer, and a guide image; and

transmitting the texture image and the depth image of the first layer and the texture image and the depth image of the second layer for generation of a display image including an occlusion region of the first layer in a viewing range, wherein

the display image is generated using the texture image and the depth image of the second layer based on a change in a viewpoint from a first viewpoint to a second viewpoint, and

the first viewpoint is different from the second viewpoint.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 17, 2025
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073986/0571 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: KIKUKAWA, TETSUYA; TANAKA, JUNICHI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048081/0769 →