IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,210,842
Granted Patent B2
US 11,210,842 · App. 16/658,285 · Granted Dec 28, 2021

Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium

Inventor: Kina Itakura (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G06T15/20G06T2215/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,210,842
App. No.
16/658,285
Granted
Dec 28, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The image processing apparatus that generates a virtual viewpoint image based on images obtained by capturing an image capturing area from directions different from one another by a plurality of image capturing apparatuses includes: a specification unit configured to specify a relationship between a sight direction from a virtual viewpoint corresponding to the virtual viewpoint image and an image capturing direction of an image capturing apparatus; a selection unit configured to select one or more image capturing apparatuses based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus; and a pixel value determination unit configured to determine a pixel value of the virtual viewpoint image by using a pixel value or pixel values of one or more images obtained based on image capturing by the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses.

Claims (62)

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

one or more memories storing instructions; and

one or more processors executing the instructions to:

specify a relationship between a view direction from a virtual viewpoint and an image capturing direction of an image capturing apparatus included in a plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing an image capturing area;

select one or more image capturing apparatuses from among the plurality of image capturing apparatuses based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus included in the plurality of image capturing apparatuses;

determine a first value of the image capturing apparatus based on an angle between the view direction from the virtual viewpoint and the image capturing direction of the image capturing apparatus;

determine a second value of the image capturing apparatus based on a resolution applied to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus and the first value of the image capturing apparatus;

determine a weight of each of the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses based on the determined first value and the second value; and

determine a pixel value of a virtual viewpoint image viewed from the virtual viewpoint based on a pixel value or pixel values of one or more images obtained based on image capturing by the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses and the determined weight.

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

the specified relationship indicates the angle between the view direction from the virtual viewpoint and the image capturing direction of the image capturing apparatus.

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

the one or more image capturing apparatuses are selected for each pixel of the virtual viewpoint image.

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

the one or more image capturing apparatuses associated with a pixel of the virtual viewpoint image are selected based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing at a position corresponding to the pixel by the image capturing apparatus included in the plurality of image capturing apparatuses.

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

the weight of an image capturing apparatus selected in a descending order of the second value is added and a weight of an image capturing apparatus not selected yet is determined as 0 in a stage where a sum of the added weights exceeds a predetermined value.

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

the weight is determined such that the higher both the first value and the second value of the image capturing apparatus are, the heavier the weight is.

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

the first value is determined such that the smaller the angle is, the higher the first value is.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors further execute the instructions to:

determine a third value of the image capturing apparatus based on a position of an object within the image capturing area such that the nearer to a center portion of a visual field of the image capturing apparatus the position of the object is, the higher the third value of the image capturing apparatus is.

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

the first value is determined based on the third value and the angle.

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

the first value is determined such that the higher the third value is and the smaller the angle is, the higher the first value is.

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

the second value is determined such that the higher the resolution of the image capturing apparatus is, the higher the second value is.

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

the second value of the image capturing apparatus is determined based on a product or a sum of the resolution and the first value of the image capturing apparatus.

13. The image processing method according to claim 1 , wherein

the resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus is determined based on a distance between an object captured by the image capturing apparatus and the image capturing apparatus and a focal length of the image capturing apparatus.

14. The image processing method according to claim 13 , wherein

in a case where the distance between the object captured by the image capturing apparatus and the image capturing apparatus is d and the focal length of the image capturing apparatus is f, and

the resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus is determined based on d/f.

15. An image processing method comprising:

specifying a relationship between a view direction from a virtual viewpoint and an image capturing direction of an image capturing apparatus included in a plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing an image capturing area;

selecting one or more image capturing apparatuses from among the plurality of image capturing apparatuses based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus included in the plurality of image capturing apparatuses;

determining a first value of the image capturing apparatus based on an angle between the view direction from the virtual viewpoint and the image capturing direction of the image capturing apparatus;

determining a second value of the image capturing apparatus based on a resolution applied to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus and the first value of the image capturing apparatus;

determining a weight of each of the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses based on the determined first value and the second value; and

determining a pixel value of a virtual viewpoint image viewed from the virtual viewpoint based on a pixel value or pixel values of one or more images obtained based on image capturing by the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses and the determined weight.

16. The image processing method according to claim 15 , wherein

the specified relationship indicates the angle between the view direction from the virtual viewpoint and the image capturing direction of the image capturing apparatus.

17. The image processing method according to claim 15 , wherein

the one or more image capturing apparatuses are selected for each pixel of the virtual viewpoint image.

18. The image processing method according to claim 17 , wherein

the one or more image capturing apparatuses associated with a pixel of the virtual viewpoint image are selected based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing at a position corresponding to the pixel by the image capturing apparatus included in the plurality of image capturing apparatuses.

19. The image processing method according to claim 15 , wherein

the weight of an image capturing apparatus selected in a descending order of the second value is added and a weight of an image capturing apparatus not selected yet is determined as 0 in a stage where a sum of the added weights exceeds a predetermined value.

20. The image processing method according to claim 15 , wherein

the weight is determined such that the higher both the first value and the second value of the image capturing apparatus are, the heavier the weight is.

21. The image processing method according to claim 15 , wherein

the first value is determined such that the smaller the angle is, the higher the first value is.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform an image processing method comprising:

specifying a relationship between a view direction from a virtual viewpoint and an image capturing direction of an image capturing apparatus included in a plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing an image capturing area;

selecting one or more image capturing apparatuses from among the plurality of image capturing apparatuses based on the specified relationship and a resolution relating to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus included in the plurality of image capturing apparatuses;

determining a first value of the image capturing apparatus based on an angle between the view direction from the virtual viewpoint and the image capturing direction of the image capturing apparatus;

determining a second value of the image capturing apparatus based on a resolution applied to image capturing by the image capturing apparatus and the first value of the image capturing apparatus;

determining a weight of each of the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses based on the determined first value and the second value; and

determining a pixel value of a virtual viewpoint image viewed from the virtual viewpoint based on a pixel value or pixel values of one or more images obtained based on image capturing by the selected one or more image capturing apparatuses and the determined weight.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2020
From: ITAKURA, KINA
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 053130/0108 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-199167 · Oct 23, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200126290A1 · Apr 23, 2020