Abstract: The present invention provides a method for detecting a moving object and apparatus for the same. The image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k)! outputted by subtracter 4 are alternatively contained in image buffers 21 and 22. In subtracter 24, the image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k-1)! of one timing beforehand is removed from the image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k)! of the present time point. In addition, the image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k-1)! of one timing beforehand and the image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k)! of the present time point are compared using comparator 25. In this case, if image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k)! and image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k-1)! differ, the image data ?.DELTA..sub.ij (k-1)! of one timing beforehand is supplied to subtracter 26. The initial moving object image is excluded by subtracter 26. Consequently, it is possible to precisely distinguish the shape, size, etc. of a moving object without traces (afterimage) of the moving object at the present time point remaining in the final image data ?.DELTA..sub.

Abstract: When determining areas, a data for determining area Ds, including bit data D.sub.0 which shows whether the area to be processed or not, is stored in a frame memory for determining area 5. When carrying out image processing, the frame memory 5 outputs the data Ds in synchronization with the output of image data D form a A/D converter 3. A gate 4 outputs the image data D only when the bit data D.sub.0 is a value [1] representing the area to be processed. In Synchronization with the output of the data D, bit sequence D.sub.1 .about.D.sub.n is output as the additional data regarding to the area. In an image processing system(not shown), although the image processing is carried out for the whole of a frame memory, the image data D is not supplied except for the area shown by the bit data D.sub.0 so as not to be carried out the image processing. Therefore, only for the area shown by the bit data D.sub.0, the image processing is carried out in accordance with the bit sequence D.sub.1 .about.D.sub.n.

Abstract: An image signal which is output by a video camera is segregated into image data S2 and synchronous data S3 by the synchronizing segregation circuit 1. At each frame, image data S2 is sequentially stored in the image data multilayer memory 8 which consists of frame memories formed in a ring shape. When an anomalous phenomena which includes this image data S2 is detected by the anomalous phenomena detecting device 2, then for image data S2 and anomalous image data S4, from a time immediately before the occurrence of an anomalous phenomena until the elapse of a prespecified period of time, maintenance and storage in the multilayer memory 8 for image data and in the multilayer memory 7 for extracted anomalous image data by the start/stop control circuit 6. Following this, the image data S2 and the anomalous image data S4 from immediately before the occurrence of an anomalous phenomena until the elapse of a prespecified period of time is forwarded to storage device 10 by the data transfer circuit 9.

Abstract: An image processing device and method for detecting moving objects against complex moving backgrounds, and a rangefinder based thereon are disclosed. The device and method are applicable to rapid and selective evaluation of complex visual fields, without the need for extensive numerical processing. The disclosed image processing method comprises the steps of obtaining sequential video frame data; storing video data in memory for a consecutive series of video frames obtained over a predetermined time interval in the past at a predetermined sampling rate; obtaining a standard image by averaging the video data stored in memory for the predetermined time interval so as to obtain video data representing a composite image for the predetermined time interval; and subtracting the video data for the standard image from video data for a current video frame.