Patents Assigned to FotoNation Vision Limited
  • Publication number: 20080143854
    Abstract: Within a digital acquisition device, acquisition parameters of a digital image are perfected as part of an image capture process using face detection within the captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters. Default values are determined of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of the digital image. Values of one or more camera acquisition parameters are determined. Groups of pixels are identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image. Corresponding image attributes to the groups of pixels are determined. One or more default image attribute values are compared with one or more captured image attribute values based upon analysis of the image of the face. Camera acquisition parameters are then adjusted corresponding to adjusting the image attribute values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20080112599
    Abstract: A method for detecting redeye in a digital image comprises initially examining the image to detect redeyes, examining the image to detect face regions and, from the results of the preceding examinations, identifying those detected face regions each including only one detected redeye. Next, the identified face regions are examined, using less stringent search criteria than the initial examination, to detect additional redeyes in the face regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Peter Corcoran, Adrian Capata, Alexandru Drimbarean, Eran Steinberg
  • Patent number: 7369712
    Abstract: A method automatically corrects dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact regions are associated with extracted parameter values relating to the lens assembly when the images were acquired. A statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on the determining and associating. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions are corrected within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Adrian Zamfir, Vasile Buzuloiu, Danutz Ursu, Marta Zamfir
  • Patent number: 7362368
    Abstract: Within a digital acquisition device, acquisition parameters of a digital image are perfected as part of an image capture process using face detection within said captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters. Default values are determined of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of the digital image. Values of one or more camera acquisition parameters are determined. Groups of pixels are identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image. Corresponding image attributes to the groups of pixels are determined. One or more default image attribute values are compared with one or more captured image attribute values based upon analysis of the image of the face. Camera acquisition parameters are then adjusted corresponding to adjusting the image attribute values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7352394
    Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes the stored image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the stored image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Fotonation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. DeLuca, Yury Prilutsky, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Adrian Capata, Florin Nanu
  • Patent number: 7340109
    Abstract: A method of automatically correcting dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital camera includes determining that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within a first digitally-acquired image. The dust artifact regions are associated with one or more extracted parameters relating to a variable optical system of the digital camera when the first image was acquired. An associated statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on known correspondence between effects on dust artifact data of values of extracted parameters. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions within a second image acquired with said digital camera are corrected according to one or more different values of the extracted parameters relating to the variable optical system based on the associated statistical dust map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Adrian Zamfir, Vasile Buzuloiu, Danutz Ursu, Marta Zamfir
  • Publication number: 20080049970
    Abstract: A technique for detecting large and small non-red eye flash defects in an image is disclosed. The method comprises selecting pixels of the image which have a luminance above a threshold value and labeling neighboring selected pixels as luminous regions. A number of geometrical filters are applied to the luminous regions to remove false candidate luminous regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Florin Nanu, Stefan Peterscu, Adrian Capata, Constantin Vertan, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Eran Steinberg
  • Patent number: 7336821
    Abstract: A technique for detecting large and small non-red eye flash defects in an image is disclosed. The method comprises selecting pixels of the image which have a luminance above a threshold value and labeling neighboring selected pixels as luminous regions. A number of geometrical filters are applied to the luminous regions to remove false candidate luminous regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Florin Nanu, Stefan Petrescu, Adrian Capata, Constantin Vertan, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Eran Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20080043122
    Abstract: Within a digital acquisition device with a built in flash unit, the exposure of an acquired digital image is perfected using face detection in the acquired image is provided. Groups of pixels that correspond to plural images of faces are identified within a digitally acquired image, and corresponding image attributes to the group of pixels are determined. An analysis is performed of the corresponding attributes of the groups of pixels. It is then determined to activate the built-in flash unit based on the analysis. An intensity of the built-in flash unit is determined based on the analysis. Alternatively based on similar analysis, a digital simulation of the fill flash is performed on the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20080043121
    Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes the stored image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the stored image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Yury Prilutsky, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Adrian Capata, Florin Nanu
  • Publication number: 20080037827
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives a new acquired image from the image stream, the image potentially including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled (112) at a specified resolution to provide a sub-sampled image. An integral image is then calculated for a least a portion of the sub-sampled image. Fixed size face detection (20) is applied to at least a portion of the integral image to provide a set of candidate face regions. Responsive to the set of candidate face regions produced and any previously detected candidate face regions, the resolution at which a next acquired image is sub-sampled is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg, Stefan Petrescu, Alexandru Drimbarean, Florin Nanu, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20080037840
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives an acquired image from the image stream potentially including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled at a specified resolution to provide a sub-sampled image. An integral image is then calculated for a least a portion of the sub-sampled image. Fixed size face detection is applied to at least a portion of the integral image to provide a set of candidate face regions. Responsive to the set of candidate face regions produced and any previously detected candidate face regions, the resolution is adjusted for sub-sampling a subsequent acquired image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin, Alexandru Drimbarean, Florin Nanu, Stefan Petrescu
  • Publication number: 20080037838
    Abstract: A database includes an identifier and associated parameters for each of a number of faces to be recognized. A new acquired image from an image stream is received potentially including one or more face regions. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the acquired image to provide a set of candidate face regions each having a given size and a respective location. Using the database, face recognition is selectively applied to at least one of the candidate face regions to provide an identifier for a face recognized in a candidate face region. A portion of the image is stored including the recognized face in association with at least one image of the image stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Mihai Ianculescu, Petronel Bigioi, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20080037839
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives a new acquired image from the image stream, the image potentially including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled (112) at a specified resolution to provide a sub-sampled image. An integral image is then calculated for a least a portion of the sub-sampled image. Fixed size face detection (20) is applied to at least a portion of the integral image to provide a set of candidate face regions. Responsive to the set of candidate face regions produced and any previously detected candidate face regions, the resolution at which a next acquired image is sub-sampled is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg, Stefan Petrescu, Alexandru Drimbarean, Florin Nanu, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20080031498
    Abstract: A face recognition method for working with two or more collections of facial images is provided. A representation framework is determined for a first collection of facial images including at least principle component analysis (PCA) features. A representation of said first collection is stored using the representation framework. A modified representation framework is determined based on statistical properties of original facial image samples of a second collection of facial images and the stored representation of the first collection. The first and second collections are combined without using original facial image samples. A representation of the combined image collection (super-collection) is stored using the modified representation framework. A representation of a current facial image, determined in terms of the modified representation framework, is compared with one or more representations of facial images of the combined collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Gabriel N. Costache
  • Publication number: 20080019565
    Abstract: A method of adjustable spatial and/or temporal compression of an image including a face includes identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a digitally-acquired image. A first compression portion of the image including the group of pixels is determined. A second compression portion of the image other than the group of pixels is also determined. The first compression portion may be automatically compressed with higher-grade compression than the second compression portion to generate a compressed image including the face, or an option to provided the compressed image including the different grade compressions may be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventor: Eran Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20080013799
    Abstract: A method of generating one or more new spatial and chromatic variation digital images uses an original digitally-acquired image which including a face or portions of a face. A group of pixels that correspond to a face within the original digitally-acquired image is identified. A portion of the original image is selected to include the group of pixels. Values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion are automatically generated, or an option to generate them is provided, in a manner which always includes the face within the one or more new images. Such method may be implemented to automatically establish the correct orientation and color balance of an image. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20080013800
    Abstract: A method of generating one or more new spatial and chromatic variation digital images uses an original digitally-acquired image which including a face or portions of a face. A group of pixels that correspond to a face within the original digitally-acquired image is identified. A portion of the original image is selected to include the group of pixels. Values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion are automatically generated, or an option to generate them is provided, in a manner which always includes the face within the one or more new images. Such method may be implemented to automatically establish the correct orientation and color balance of an image. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20080013798
    Abstract: A face detection and/or detection method includes acquiring a digital color image. An active appearance model (AAM) is applied including an interchannel-decorrelated color space. One or more parameters of the model are matched to the image. Face detection results based on the matching and/or different results incorporating the face detection result are communicated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Mircea Ionita, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 7317815
    Abstract: A method of automatic or assisted recomposing of digital image processing uses face detection. Pixels that correspond to a face within a digital image are identified. A re-compositioned image is based on spatial or other parameters of the detected image, particularly in relation to the entire digital image or other portions of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran