IP Library Granted Patent US 11,335,007
Granted Patent B2
US 11,335,007 · App. 16/888,418 · Granted May 17, 2022

Method to generate neural network training image annotations

Inventors: Duanfeng He (South Setauket, NY); Vincent J. Daempfle (Plainview, NY)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
G06T7/194G06N3/08G06T7/55G06V40/107
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,335,007
App. No.
16/888,418
Granted
May 17, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of generating neural network training image annotations includes training a first neural network to identify and segment hands in images using a first set of 2D images with hand portions segmented in each image; substantially simultaneously capturing both a second set of 2D images, and a third set of images including depth images, depicting hands holding a particular type of object; correlating each of the second set of images with corresponding images of the third set to identify and segment foregrounds from backgrounds in the second set of images; applying the trained first neural network to the identified foregrounds to identify hand portions of the foregrounds and segment object portions from identified hand portions; and training a second neural network, using the segmented object portions of the second set of images as training data, to identify the particular type of object in new images.

Claims (39)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

accessing a first set of images, wherein each image of the first set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a target object, and wherein for each two-dimensional image of the first set of images, a hand portion of the two-dimensional image is segmented from the remaining portion of the two-dimensional image;

training a first convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify and segment depictions of hands in digital images using the segmented hand portion of each of the first set of images;

capturing, by a two-dimensional camera, a second set of images, wherein each image of the second set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a particular type of target object;

capturing, by a depth-sensing camera, a third set of images, wherein each image of the third set of images is a depth image depicting a hand holding the particular type of target object, and wherein each depth image of the third set of images is captured substantially simultaneously as a corresponding two-dimensional image of the second set of images depicting the same hand and the same target object;

correlating each two-dimensional image of the second set of images with the corresponding image of the third set of images to identify a foreground and a background of each two-dimensional image of the second set of images;

segmenting, in each two-dimensional image of the second set of images, the foreground of the two-dimensional image from the background of the two-dimensional image;

applying the trained first CNN to the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the second set of images to identify a hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image and segment the remaining target object portion from the hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image; and

training a second CNN to identify the particular type of target object using the segmented remaining target object portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the second set of images.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

capturing a subsequent two-dimensional image by a two-dimensional camera; and

applying the second CNN to the subsequent two-dimensional image to determine whether the subsequent two-dimensional image depicts the particular type of target object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hand portion of each two-dimensional image of the first set of images is segmented from the remaining portion of the two-dimensional image manually.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the particular type of target object is a first type of target object, the method further comprising:

capturing, by a two-dimensional camera, a fourth set of images, wherein each image of the fourth set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a second type of target object;

capturing, by a depth-sensing camera, a fifth set of images, wherein each image of the fifth set of images is a depth image depicting a hand holding the second type of target object, and wherein each depth image of the fifth set of images is captured substantially simultaneously as a corresponding two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images depicting the same hand and the same target object;

correlating each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images with the corresponding image of the fifth set of images to identify a foreground and a background of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images;

segmenting, in each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images, the foreground of the two-dimensional image from the background of the two-dimensional image;

applying the trained first CNN to the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images to identify a hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image and segment the remaining target object portion from the hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image; and

training a third CNN to identify the second type of target object using the segmented remaining target object portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images.

5. A system, comprising:

one or more two-dimensional cameras configured to capture a first set of images, wherein each image of the first set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a particular type of target object;

one or more depth-sensing cameras configured to capture a second set images, wherein each image of the second set of images is a depth image depicting the hand holding the particular type of target object, wherein each depth image of the second set of images is captured substantially simultaneously as a corresponding two-dimensional image of the first set images depicting the same hand and the same target object;

one or more processors configured to interface with the two-dimensional camera and the depth-sensing camera; and

a non-transitory program memory communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to:

correlate each two-dimensional image of the first set of images with the corresponding image of the second set of images to identify a foreground and a background of each two-dimensional image of the second set of images;

segment, in each two-dimensional image of the first set of images, the foreground of the two-dimensional image from the background of the two-dimensional image;

access a third set of images, wherein each image of the first set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a target object, and wherein for each two-dimensional image of the third set of images, a hand portion of the two-dimensional image is segmented from the remaining portion of the two-dimensional image;

train a first convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify and segment depictions of hands in digital images using the segmented hand portion of each of the third set of images;

apply the trained first CNN to the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the first set of images to identify a hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image and segment the remaining target object portion from the hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image; and

train a second CNN to identify the particular type of target object using the segmented remaining target object portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the first set of images.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more two-dimensional cameras are configured to capture a subsequent two-dimensional image, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to:

apply the second CNN to the subsequent two-dimensional image to determine whether the two-dimensional image depicts the particular type of target object.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the hand portion of each two-dimensional image of the third set of images is segmented from the remaining portion of the two-dimensional image manually.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the particular type of target object is a first type of target object, wherein the one or more two-dimensional cameras are further configured to capture a fourth set of images, wherein each image of the fourth set of images is a two-dimensional image depicting a hand holding a second type of target object; wherein the one or more depth-sensing cameras are further configured to capture a fifth set of images, wherein each image of the fifth set of images is a depth image depicting a hand holding the second type of target object, and wherein each depth image of the fifth set of images is captured substantially simultaneously as a corresponding two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images depicting the same hand and the same target object; and wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the processors to:

correlate each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images with the corresponding image of the fifth set of images to identify a foreground and a background of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images;

segment, in each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images, the foreground of the two-dimensional image from the background of the two-dimensional image;

apply the trained first CNN to the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images to identify a hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image and segment the remaining target object portion from the hand portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image; and

train a third CNN to identify the particular type of target object using the segmented remaining target object portion of the foreground of each two-dimensional image of the fourth set of images.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2021
From: HE, DUANFENG; DAEMPFLE, VINCENT J.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056306/0204 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2021
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 056471/0868 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
Continuity (1)
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