IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,457,408
Granted Patent B2
US 12,457,408 · App. 18/418,681 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Image processing apparatus, control method, and storage medium

Inventors: Shun Matsui (Tokyo, JP); Yoichi Takikawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
H04N23/611H04N5/265H04N5/272H04N23/11H04N23/13H04N23/45H04N23/65H04N23/84
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 12,457,408
App. No.
18/418,681
Granted
Oct 28, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a first image sensor unit configured to acquire a first image, a second image sensor unit having a characteristic different from that of the first image sensor unit and configured to acquire a second image, and a processor configured to generate detection information about an object based on the first image and to control driving of the second image sensor unit based on the detection information.

Claims (56)

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first image sensor unit configured to acquire a first image;

a second image sensor unit having a characteristic different from that of the first image sensor unit and configured to acquire a second image; and

a processor configured to:

generate detection information about an object based on the first image;

control driving of the second image sensor unit based on the detection information;

generate an output image using at least one of the first image and the second image;

generate a first processed image by processing the first image, analysis information by analyzing the second image, and a combined image by combining the first processed image and the analysis information;

generate area information indicating an image area corresponding to a particular object based on the first image; and

superimpose information notifying the image area corresponding to the area information on the first processed image based on the analysis information,

wherein the information notifying is a frame or an arrow, and

wherein the processor is configured to change a color or shape of the frame or the arrow in accordance with the analysis information.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first image sensor unit acquires a visible light image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second image sensor unit acquires an image including infrared light information.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second image sensor unit acquires an image including polarization information.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor drives the second image sensor unit in a case where a particular object is detected, and the processor does not drive the second image sensor unit in a case where the particular object is not detected by the processor.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate area information indicating an image area corresponding to a particular object based on the first image.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the second image sensor unit to acquire the second image only for the image area corresponding to the area information.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate:

a first processed image by processing the first image,

a second processed image by processing the second image, and

a combined image by combining the first processed image and the second processed image.

9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the combined image by blending the first processed image and the second processed image with certain weights.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the combined image by replacing at least part of the first processed image with the second processed image.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to generate:

area information indicating an image area corresponding to a particular object based on the first image, and

the combined image by combining the first processed image and the second processed image only for the image area corresponding to the area information.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor superimposes character information as the analysis information on the first processed image.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to change color information about the first processed image in accordance with the analysis information.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to generate:

area information indicating an image area corresponding to a particular object based on the first image, and

the combined image based on at least one of the detection information and the area information.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:

power on the second image sensor unit in a case where a particular object is detected by the processor, and

power off the second image sensor unit in a case where the particular object is not detected by the processor.

16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to drive:

the second image sensor unit at a high frame rate in a case where a particular object is detected by the processor, and

the second image sensor unit at a low frame rate in a case where the particular object is not detected by the processor.

17. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the second image sensor unit to acquire:

the second image at high resolution in a case where a particular object is detected by the processor, and

the second image at low resolution in a case where the particular object is not detected by the processor.

18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a third image sensor unit having a characteristic different from that of each of the first image sensor unit and the second image sensor unit and configured to acquire a third image,

wherein the processor is configured to control driving of the second image sensor unit and the third image sensor unit based on the detection information.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the processor is configured to drive:

the second image sensor unit in a case where a first object is detected, and

the third image sensor unit in a case where a second object different from the first object is detected.

20. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus including a first image sensor unit configured to acquire a first image and a second image sensor unit having a characteristic different from that of the first image sensor unit and configured to acquire a second image, the method comprising the steps of:

generating detection information about an object based on the first image; and

controlling driving of the second image sensor unit based on the detection information;

generating an output image using at least one of the first image and the second image;

generating a first processed image by processing the first image, analysis information by analyzing the second image, and a combined image by combining the first processed image and the analysis information;

generating area information indicating an image area corresponding to a particular object based on the first image, and

superimposing information notifying the image area corresponding to the area information on the first processed image based on the analysis information:

wherein the information notifying is a frame or an arrow, and

wherein a color or shape of the frame or the arrow is changed in accordance with the analysis information.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program configured to cause a computer to execute the method according to claim 20 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2024
From: MATSUI, SHUN; TAKIKAWA, YOICHI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 066658/0899 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2023-013790 · Feb 1, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240259667A1 · Aug 1, 2024
References Cited (9)
US 11381743B1 · Mahbub · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 12069399B2 · Patton · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 12277794B1 · Wang · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20120224019A1 · Samadani · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20190199926A1 · An · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20220237813A1 · Feng · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20230074386A1 · Zhang · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20240040215A1 · Nobuoka · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP 2005223605A · 2005 [cited by applicant]