Patents by Inventor Mihnea Gangea
Mihnea Gangea has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 8971628Abstract: Faces in images are quickly detected with minimal memory resource usage. Instead of calculating a Haar-like feature value by subtracting the average pixel intensity value in one rectangular region from the average pixel intensity value in another, adjacent rectangular region, a face-detection system calculates that Haar-like feature value by dividing the average pixel intensity value in one such rectangular region by the average pixel intensity value in the other such adjacent rectangular region. Thus, each Haar-like value is calculated as a ratio of average pixel intensity values rather than as a difference between such average pixel intensity values.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: George Susanu, Dan Filip, Mihnea Gangea
-
Patent number: 8923564Abstract: A method of detecting a face in an image includes performing face detection within a first window of the image at a first location. A confidence level is obtained from the face detection indicating a probability of the image including a face at or in the vicinity of the first location. Face detection is then performed within a second window at a second location, wherein the second location is determined based on the confidence level.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Mirel Petrescu, Andrei Vasiliu, Gabriel Costache, Alexandru Drimbarean
-
Publication number: 20140347514Abstract: A method and system for detecting facial expressions in digital images and applications therefore are disclosed. Analysis of a digital image determines whether or not a smile and/or blink is present on a person's face. Face recognition, and/or a pose or illumination condition determination, permits application of a specific, relatively small classifier cascade.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: November 27, 2014Inventors: Catalina Neghina, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Emilian David, Petronel Bigioi, Eric Zarakov, Eran Steinberg
-
Patent number: 8872887Abstract: An image acquisition device having a wide field of view includes a lens and image sensor configured to capture an original wide field of view (WFoV) image with a field of view of more than 90°. The device has an object detection engine that includes one or more cascades of object classifiers, e.g., face classifiers. A WFoV correction engine may apply rectilinear and/or cylindrical projections to pixels of the WFoV image, and/or non-linear, rectilinear and/or cylindrical lens elements or lens portions serve to prevent and/or correct distortion within the original WFoV image. One or more objects located within the original and/or distortion-corrected WFoV image is/are detectable by the object detection engine upon application of the one or more cascades of object classifiers.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Fotonation LimitedInventors: Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Mihnea Gangea, Piotr Stec, Peter Corcoran
-
Patent number: 8750578Abstract: A method and system for detecting facial expressions in digital images and applications therefore are disclosed. Analysis of a digital image determines whether or not a smile and/or blink is present on a person's face. Face recognition, and/or a pose or illumination condition determination, permits application of a specific, relatively small classifier cascade.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Catalina Neghina, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Petronel Bigioi, Emilian David, Eric Zarakov, Eran Steinberg
-
Publication number: 20140153780Abstract: A method of detecting a face in an image includes performing face detection within a first window of the image at a first location. A confidence level is obtained from the face detection indicating a probability of the image including a face at or in the vicinity of the first location. Face detection is then performed within a second window at a second location, wherein the second location is determined based on the confidence level.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2014Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: ERAN STEINBERG, PETRONEL BIGIOI, PETER CORCORAN, MIHNEA GANGEA, STEFAN MIREL PETRESCU, ANDREI VASILIU, GABRIEL COSTACHE, ALEXANDRU DRIMBAREAN
-
Patent number: 8692867Abstract: An image acquisition device having a wide field of view includes a lens and image sensor configured to capture an original wide field of view (WFoV) image with a field of view of more than 90°. The device has an object detection engine that includes one or more cascades of object classifiers, e.g., face classifiers. A WFoV correction engine may apply rectilinear and/or cylindrical projections to pixels of the WFoV image, and/or non-linear, rectilinear and/or cylindrical lens elements or lens portions serve to prevent and/or correct distortion within the original WFoV image. One or more objects located within the original and/or distortion-corrected WFoV image is/are detectable by the object detection engine upon application of the one or more cascades of object classifiers.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Mihnea Gangea, Piotr Stec, Peter Corcoran
-
Publication number: 20140056527Abstract: Faces in images are quickly detected with minimal memory resource usage. Instead of calculating a Haar-like feature value by subtracting the average pixel intensity value in one rectangular region from the average pixel intensity value in another, adjacent rectangular region, a face-detection system calculates that Haar-like feature value by dividing the average pixel intensity value in one rectangular region by the average pixel intensity value in another adjacent rectangular region. Thus, each Haar-like value is calculated as a ratio of average pixel intensity values rather than as a difference between such average pixel intensity values.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: George Susanu, Dan Filip, Mihnea Gangea
-
Patent number: 8649604Abstract: A method of detecting a face in an image includes performing face detection within a first window of the image at a first location. A confidence level is obtained from the face detection indicating a probability of the image including a face at or in the vicinity of the first location. Face detection is then performed within a second window at a second location, wherein the second location is determined based on the confidence level.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2007Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Mirel Petrescu, Andrei Vasiliu, Gabriel Costache, Alexandru Drimbarean
-
Patent number: 8605955Abstract: Classifier chains are used to determine quickly and accurately if a window or sub-window of an image contains a right face, a left face, a full face, or does not contain a face. After acquiring a digital image, an integral image is calculated based on the acquired digital image. Left-face classifiers are applied to the integral image to determine the probability that the window contains a left face. Right-face classifiers are applied to the integral image to determine the probability that the window contains a right face. If the probability of the window containing a right face and a left face are both greater than threshold values, then it is determined that the window contains a full face. Alternatively, if only one of the probabilities exceeds a threshold value, then it may be determined that the window contains only a left face or a right face.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea
-
Patent number: 8577097Abstract: Classifier chains are used to determine quickly and accurately if a window or sub-window of an image contains a right face, a left face, a full face, or does not contain a face. After acquiring a digital image, an integral image is calculated based on the acquired digital image. Left-face classifiers are applied to the integral image to determine the probability that the window contains a left face. Right-face classifiers are applied to the integral image to determine the probability that the window contains a right face. If the probability of the window containing a right face and a left face are both greater than threshold values, then it is determined that the window contains a full face. Alternatively, if only one of the probabilities exceeds a threshold value, then it may be determined that the window contains only a left face or a right face.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea
-
Patent number: 8520093Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a flash and optical system for capturing digital images. A face tracker identifies face regions within a series of one or more relatively low resolution reference images, and predicts face regions within a main digital image. A face analyzer determines one or more partial face regions within the one or more face regions each including at least one eye. A red-eye filter modifies an area within the main digital image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon based on an analysis of one or more partial face regions within the one or more face regions identified and predicted by the face tracker.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea, Adrian Capata, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir
-
Patent number: 8503800Abstract: A face illumination normalization method includes acquiring a digital image including a face that appears to be illuminated unevenly. One or more uneven illumination classifier programs are applied to the face data to determine the presence of the face within the digital image and/or the uneven illumination condition of the face. The uneven illumination condition may be corrected to thereby generate a corrected face image appearing to have more uniform illumination, for example, to enhance face recognition.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Leendert Blonk, Mihnea Gangea, Peter Corcoran
-
Patent number: 8422739Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Mihai Ianculescu, Petronel Bigioi, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
-
Patent number: 8391645Abstract: A method of automatically establishing the correct orientation of an image using facial information. This method is based on the exploitation of the inherent property of image recognition algorithms in general and face detection in particular, where the recognition is based on criteria that is highly orientation sensitive. By applying a detection algorithm to images in various orientations, or alternatively by rotating the classifiers, and comparing the number of successful faces that are detected in each orientation, one may conclude as to the most likely correct orientation. 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: GrantFiled: December 19, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Leo Blonk, Mihnea Gângea, Constantin Vertan
-
Publication number: 20130010138Abstract: A method operable in a digital image acquisition system having no photographic film is provided. The method comprises receiving a relatively low resolution image of a scene from an image stream, wherein the scene potentially includes one or more faces. At least one high quality face classifier is applied to the image to identify relatively large and medium sized face regions and at least one relaxed face classifier is applied to the image to identify relatively small sized face regions. A relatively high resolution image of nominally the same scene is received and at least one high quality face classifier is applied to the identified small sized face regions in the higher resolution version of said image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Alexandru Drimbarean, Adrian Zamfir, Corneliu Florea
-
Patent number: 8265388Abstract: A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image includes acquiring a first image, and analyzing one or more partial face regions within the first image. One or more characteristics of the first image are determined. One or more corrective processes are identified including red eye correction that can be beneficially applied to the first image according to the one or more characteristics. The one or more corrective processes are applied to the first image.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2011Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea, Adrian Capata, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir
-
Patent number: 8265399Abstract: A method of automatically establishing the correct orientation of an image using facial information. This method is based on the exploitation of the inherent property of image recognition algorithms in general and face detection in particular, where the recognition is based on criteria that is highly orientation sensitive. By applying a detection algorithm to images in various orientations, or alternatively by rotating the classifiers, and comparing the number of successful faces that are detected in each orientation, one may conclude as to the most likely correct orientation. 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: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Leo Blonk, Mihnea Gângea, Constantin Vertran
-
Patent number: 8254674Abstract: A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image includes acquiring a first image, and analyzing one or more partial face regions within the first image. One or more characteristics of the first image are determined. One or more corrective processes are identified including red eye correction that can be beneficially applied to the first image according to the one or more characteristics. The one or more corrective processes are applied to the first image.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe LimitedInventors: Florin Nanu, Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea, Adrian Capata, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean
-
Publication number: 20120207358Abstract: A face illumination normalization method includes acquiring a digital image including a face that appears to be illuminated unevenly. One or more uneven illumination classifier programs are applied to the face data to determine the presence of the face within the digital image and/or the uneven illumination condition of the face. The uneven illumination condition may be corrected to thereby generate a corrected face image appearing to have more uniform illumination, for example, to enhance face recognition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITEDInventors: Leendert Blonk, Mihnea Gangea, Peter Corcoran