IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,316,928
Granted Patent B2
US 12,316,928 · App. 18/356,326 · Granted May 27, 2025

Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

Inventor: Kosuke Nobuoka (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04N23/11G01J5/08G06T5/50H04N23/672G01J2005/0077G06T2207/10048
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 12,316,928
App. No.
18/356,326
Granted
May 27, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided an image processing apparatus. An obtainment unit obtains a first image that has been generated through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and temperature distribution information indicating a temperature distribution that has been detected based on an incident electromagnetic wave. A detection unit detects a subject and an obstacle that exists in front of the subject from the first image. An estimation unit estimates a temperature corresponding to the subject in the temperature distribution information based on a result of detection of the obstacle. An identification unit identifies a subject region that includes the subject in the temperature distribution information based on the estimated temperature.

Claims (31)

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising at least one processor and/or at least one circuit which functions as:

an obtainment unit configured to obtain a first image that has been generated through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and temperature distribution information indicating a temperature distribution that has been detected based on an incident electromagnetic wave;

a detection unit configured to detect a subject and an obstacle that exists in front of the subject from the first image;

an estimation unit configured to estimate a temperature corresponding to the subject, in front of which the obstacle exists, in the temperature distribution information based on a result of detection of the obstacle that indicates a type and density degree of the obstacle; and

an identification unit configured to identify a subject region that includes the subject in the temperature distribution information based on the estimated temperature.

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

the estimation unit estimates the temperature corresponding to the subject, in front of which the obstacle exists, in the temperature distribution information further based on a type of the detected subject and the result of detection of the obstacle that indicates the type and density degree of the obstacle.

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

the at least one processor and/or the at least one circuit further functions as a notification unit configured to provide notification of at least one of a position of the subject region in the temperature distribution information, a position of a region which is inside the first image and which corresponds to the subject region, the estimated temperature, and the result of detection of the obstacle.

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

the at least one processor and/or the at least one circuit further functions as a generation unit configured to generate a second image indicating the temperature distribution based on the temperature distribution information so that contrast in a predetermined temperature range including the estimated temperature is more enhanced than contrast outside the predetermined temperature range.

5. An image capturing apparatus, comprising:

the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 ;

an image sensor configured to generate the first image through photoelectric conversion of the incident light; and

a temperature distribution detector configured to generate the temperature distribution information by detecting the temperature distribution based on the incident electromagnetic wave.

6. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the at least one processor and/or the at least one circuit further functions as a control unit configured to perform focus control for the image sensor and the temperature distribution detector based on a state of focus in a region which is inside the first image and which corresponds to the subject region.

7. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the incident light includes visible light.

8. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein

the incident electromagnetic wave includes far-infrared light.

9. An image processing method executed by an image processing apparatus, comprising:

obtaining a first image that has been generated through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and temperature distribution information indicating a temperature distribution that has been detected based on an incident electromagnetic wave;

detecting a subject and an obstacle that exists in front of the subject from the first image;

estimating a temperature corresponding to the subject, in front of which the obstacle exists, in the temperature distribution information based on a result of detection of the obstacle that indicates a type and density degree of the obstacle; and

identifying a subject region that includes the subject in the temperature distribution information based on the estimated temperature.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to execute an image processing method comprising:

obtaining a first image that has been generated through photoelectric conversion of incident light, and temperature distribution information indicating a temperature distribution that has been detected based on an incident electromagnetic wave;

detecting a subject and an obstacle that exists in front of the subject from the first image;

estimating a temperature corresponding to the subject, in front of which the obstacle exists, in the temperature distribution information based on a result of detection of the obstacle that indicates a type and density degree of the obstacle; and

identifying a subject region that includes the subject in the temperature distribution information based on the estimated temperature.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2023
From: NOBUOKA, KOSUKE
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064687/0250 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-118871 · Jul 26, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240040215A1 · Feb 1, 2024
References Cited (6)
US 20140112537A1 · Frank · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20220044023A1 · Xue · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230360247A1 · Chew · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240089610A1 · Mårtensson · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP 2008174028A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016085739A · 2016 [cited by applicant]