IP Library Granted Patent US 10,013,609
Granted Patent B2
US 10,013,609 · App. 15/223,215 · Granted Jul 3, 2018

Image capturing apparatus and image processing method

Inventor: Mitsuhiro Ono (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
G06K9/0061G06K9/00255G06K9/629H04N5/23219H04N5/332G06K9/00281G06K9/00604G06K9/4652G06K9/4661
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 10,013,609
App. No.
15/223,215
Granted
Jul 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image capturing apparatus that can capture a visible light image and an infrared light image of the same object, the image capturing apparatus comprises a detection unit configured to detect a predetermined object in the visible light image, an extraction unit configured to extract feature information of a specific portion in the object detected in the infrared light image by the detection unit, and an estimation unit configured to estimate unique information of the predetermined object using the feature information extracted by the extraction unit.

Claims (35)

1. An image capturing apparatus that can capture a visible light image and an infrared light image of the same object, the image capturing apparatus comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect a face of a person as a predetermined object and a light-shielding portion covering the face in the visible light image;

an extraction unit configured to extract luminance information of a specific portion covered by the light-shielding portion in the face of the person detected in the infrared light image by the detection unit; and

an estimation unit configured to estimate unique information of the face of the person using the luminance information extracted by the extraction unit;

wherein

the extraction unit extracts luminance information of a pupil, an iris and a sclera of an eye included in the face of the person covered by the light-shielding portion, and

the estimation unit estimates an iris color as the unique information from a relationship between the luminance information of the pupil, the iris and the sclera.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a composition unit configured to combine the iris color estimated by the estimation unit with an eye region of the face of the person in the visible light image.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the extraction unit extracts the luminance information of the pupil of the eye included in the face of the person, and

the estimation unit estimates the iris color from a relationship between the luminance information of the pupil and the sclera and a relationship between the luminance information of the pupil and the iris.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the estimation unit estimates the iris color of the eye included in the face of the person or a race, based on a ratio of luminance information of the iris to luminance information of the sclera.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein

the estimation unit estimates the iris color of the eye included in the face of the person or the race, based on a ratio of a difference between the luminance information of the iris and the pupil to a difference between the luminance information of the sclera and the pupil.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a storage unit configured to store a table or metadata indicating a relationship between luminance information of the iris and the iris color or race,

wherein the estimation unit determines the iris color or the race based on the luminance information of the iris stored in the storage unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first image capturing unit configured to capture the visible light image, and a second image capturing unit configured to capture the infrared light image.

8. An image processing method of an apparatus that can capture a visible light image and an infrared light image of the same object, the method comprising:

detecting a face of a person as a predetermined object and a light-shielding portion covering the face in the visible light image;

extracting luminance information of a specific portion covered by the light-shielding portion in the face of the person detected in the infrared light image; and

estimating unique information of the face of the person using the extracted luminance information;

wherein

the extracting step extracts luminance information of a pupil, an iris and a sclera of an eye included in the face of the person covered by the light-shielding portion, and

the estimating step estimates an iris color as the unique information from a relationship between the luminance information of the pupil, the iris and the sclera.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method of an apparatus that can capture a visible light image and an infrared light image of the same object, the method comprising:

detecting a face of a person as a predetermined object and a light-shielding portion covering the face in the visible light image;

extracting luminance information of a specific portion covered by the light-shielding portion in the face of the person detected in the infrared light image; and

estimating unique information of the face of the person using the extracted luminance information;

wherein

the extracting step extracts luminance information of a pupil, an iris and a sclera of an eye included in the face of the person covered by the light-shielding portion, and

the estimating step estimates an iris color as the unique information from a relationship between the luminance information of the pupil, the iris and the sclera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2016
From: ONO, MITSUHIRO
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 040579/0631 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-157506 · Aug 7, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170039411A1 · Feb 9, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,361,728