IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,538,015
Granted Patent B2
US 12,538,015 · App. 18/720,713 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory recording medium

Inventor: Kazuo Sugimoto (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
H04N23/651G06V40/161H04N23/611H04N23/667
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,538,015
App. No.
18/720,713
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are: an image acquisition unit that acquires an image captured such that a light emitting area in which light is emitted in a dark place is included in an angle of view; a determination unit that determines whether or not to switch a mode of power consumption in accordance with a light emitting state of the light emitting area included in the image; and a switching unit that switches the mode of power consumption in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.

Claims (31)

1 . An image processing apparatus comprising:

at least one memory that is configured to store instructions; and

at least one processor that is configured to execute the instructions to:

acquire an image captured such that a light emitting area in which light is emitted in a dark place is included in an angle of view;

determine whether or not to switch a mode of power consumption in accordance with a light emitting state of the light emitting area included in the image;

switch the mode of power consumption in the image processing apparatus in accordance with a determination result; and

acquire the image from a camera that generates the image by imaging an imaging target area such that the light emitting area is included in an angle of view, wherein

a frame rate of the camera in a first mode is higher than that of the camera in a second mode.

2 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:

determine to switch the mode of power consumption from the first mode to the second mode in which power consumption is less than that in the first mode, in a case where a size of the light emitting area included in the image is greater than or equal to a first threshold; and

switch the mode of power consumption from the first mode to the second mode in accordance with the determination result.

3 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:

perform a face recognition operation using a face image included in the image; and

stop the face recognition operation in the second mode.

4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:

determine to switch the mode of the power consumption from the second mode to the first mode in a case where the size is less than a second threshold; and

start the face recognition operation in a case of switching the mode of power consumption to the first mode.

5 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine to switch the first mode to the second mode in a case where a period in which the size is greater than or equal to the first threshold continues for a predetermined period or longer.

6 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a horizontal width of the light emitting area accounts for a predetermined ratio or more of a horizontal width of the image.

7 . An image processing method comprising:

acquiring an image captured such that a light emitting area in which light is emitted in a dark place is included in an angle of view;

determining whether or not to switch a mode of power consumption in accordance with a light emitting state of the light emitting area included in the image;

switching the mode of power consumption in accordance with a determination result; and

acquiring the image from a camera that generates the image by imaging an imaging target area such that the light emitting area is included in an angle of view, wherein

a frame rate of the camera in a first mode is higher than that of the camera in a second mode.

8 . A non-transitory recording medium on which a computer program that allows a computer to execute an image processing method is recorded, the image processing method including:

acquiring an image captured such that a light emitting area in which light is emitted in a dark place is included in an angle of view;

determining whether or not to switch a mode of power consumption in accordance with a light emitting state of the light emitting area included in the image;

switching the mode of power consumption in accordance with a determination result; and

acquiring the image from a camera that generates the image by imaging an imaging target area such that the light emitting area is included in an angle of view, wherein

a frame rate of the camera in a first mode is higher than that of the camera in a second mode.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2024
From: SUGIMOTO, KAZUO
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067741/0233 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250071414A1 · Feb 27, 2025
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