IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,073,611
Granted Patent B2
US 12,073,611 · App. 17/561,299 · Granted Aug 27, 2024

Apparatus and methods for object detection using machine learning processes

Inventors: Upal Mahbub (San Diego, CA); Gokce Dane (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
G06V10/82G06V10/25G06V10/72G06V10/764G06V40/107
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,073,611
App. No.
17/561,299
Granted
Aug 27, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided to automatically detect objects within images. For example, an image capture device may capture an image, and may apply a trained neural network to the image to generate an object value and a class value for each of a plurality of portions of the image. Further, the image capture device may determine, for each of the plurality of image portions, a confidence value based on the object value and the class value corresponding to each image portion. The image capture device may also detect an object within at least one image portion based on the confidence values. Further, the image capture device may output a bounding box corresponding to the at least one image portion. The bounding box defines an area of the image that includes one or more objects.

Claims (53)

1. An image capture device comprising:

a non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing instructions; and

at least one processor coupled to the non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium, the at least one processor being configured to execute the instructions to:

obtain image data from a camera of the image capture device;

apply a trained machine learning process to the image data to generate an object value and a class value for each of a plurality of image portions of the image data;

determine, for each of the plurality of image portions, a confidence value based on the object value and the class value corresponding to each image portion; and

detect an object within at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions based on the confidence values.

2. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

output a bounding box corresponding to the at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions.

3. The image capture device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

perform at least one of automatic focus, automatic gain, automatic exposure, and automatic white balance based on the bounding box.

4. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein detecting the object within the at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions based on the confidence values comprises:

comparing at least one of the confidence values to a threshold; and

determining the object is within the at least one image portion based on the at least one comparison.

5. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning process comprises establishing a neural network.

6. The image capture device of claim 5 , wherein the neural network comprises a plurality of convolutional layers, a flattening layer, and a linear layer configured to generate at least one fully connected layer that provides the object value and the class value.

7. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

obtain temporal data characterizing at least one previously generated confidence value; and

apply the trained machine learning process to the temporal data to generate the object value and the class value.

8. The image capture device of claim 7 , wherein the temporal data further characterizes at least one previously generated bounding box.

9. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

apply the trained machine learning process to the image data to generate a keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data; and

output the keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data.

10. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to:

apply the trained machine learning process to the image data to generate a visible keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data; and

output the visible keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data.

11. A method for detecting an object within a captured image, comprising:

obtaining image data from a camera of an image capture device;

applying a trained machine learning process to the image data to generate an object value and a class value for each of a plurality of image portions of the image;

determining, for each of the plurality of image portions, a confidence value based on the object value and the class value corresponding to each image portion; and

detecting the object within at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions based on the confidence values.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

outputting a bounding box corresponding to the at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

performing at least one of automatic focus, automatic gain, automatic exposure, and automatic white balance based on the bounding box.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trained machine learning process comprises establishing a neural network.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the neural network comprises a plurality of convolutional layers, a flattening layer, and a linear layer configured to generate at least one fully connected layer that provides the object value and the class value.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

obtaining temporal data characterizing at least one previously generated confidence value; and

applying the trained machine learning process to the temporal data to generate the object value and the class value.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

applying the trained machine learning process to the image data to generate a keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data; and

outputting the keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

applying the trained machine learning process to the image data to generate a visible keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data; and

outputting the visible keypoint value for each of the plurality of image portions of the image data.

19. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations that include:

obtaining image data from a camera of an image capture device;

applying a trained machine learning process to the image data to generate an object value and a class value for each of a plurality of image portions of the image;

determining, for each of the plurality of image portions, a confidence value based on the object value and the class value corresponding to each image portion; and

detecting an object within at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions based on the confidence values.

20. The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations including:

outputting a bounding box corresponding to the at least one image portion of the plurality of image portions.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INVENTORS EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 59457 FRAME: 0956. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT . Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: MAHBUB, UPAL; DANE, GOKCE
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 067055/0599 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2022
From: MAHBUB, UPAL; DANE, GOKCE
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 059457/0956 →
Continuity (1)
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