Patents by Inventor Petronel Bigioi

Petronel Bigioi 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).

  • Digital image processing using face detection and skin tone information
    Publication number: 20170085785
    Abstract: A technique for processing a digital image uses face detection to achieve one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that corresponds to a face image within the digital image. A skin tone is detected for the face image by determining one or more default color or tonal values, or combinations thereof, for the group of pixels. Values of one or more parameters are adjusted for the group of pixels that correspond to the face image based on the detected skin tone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Peter CORCORAN, Igor BARCOVSCHI, Eran STEINBERG, Yury PRILUTSKY, Petronel BIGIOI
  • Partial face detector red-eye filter method and apparatus
    Publication number: 20170070649
    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 at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the 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: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Florin NANU, Eran STEINBERG, Stefan PETRESCU, Mihnea GANGEA, Adrian CAPATA, Mihai CIUC, Adrian ZAMFIR, Peter CORCORAN, Alexei POSOSIN, Petronel BIGIOI, Alexandru DRIMBAREAN
  • Image processing apparatus
    Publication number: 20170061639
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a normalisation module operatively connected across a bus to a memory storing an image in which a region of interest (ROI) has been identified within the image. The ROI is bound by a rectangle having a non-orthogonal orientation within the image. In one embodiment, the normalisation module is arranged to divide the ROI into one or more slices, each slice comprising a plurality of adjacent rectangular tiles. For each slice, the apparatus successively reads ROI information for each tile from the memory including: reading a portion of the image extending across at least a width of the slice line-by-line along an extent of a slice. For each tile, the apparatus downsamples the ROI information to a buffer to within a scale SD<2 of a required scale for a normalised version of the ROI.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Vlad GEORGESCU, Mihai Constantin MUNTEANU, Petronel BIGIOI, Corneliu ZAHARIA, Szabolcs FULOP, Gyorgy SIMON
  • Detecting facial expressions in digital images
    Publication number: 20170026567
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Catalina NEGHINA, Mihnea GANGEA, Stefan PETRESCU, Emilian DAVID, Petronel BIGIOI, Erik ZARAKOV, Eran STEINBERG
  • Digital image processing using face detection and skin tone information
    Patent number: 9516217
    Abstract: A technique for processing a digital image uses face detection to achieve one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that corresponds to a face image within the digital image. A skin tone is detected for the face image by determining one or more default color or tonal values, or combinations thereof, for the group of pixels. Values of one or more parameters are adjusted for the group of pixels that correspond to the face image based on the detected skin tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Igor Barcovschi, Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi
  • Face tracking for controlling imaging parameters
    Publication number: 20160330369
    Abstract: A method of tracking faces in an image stream with a digital image acquisition device includes receiving images from an image stream including faces, calculating corresponding integral images, and applying different subsets of face detection rectangles to the integral images to provide sets of candidate regions. The different subsets include candidate face regions of different sizes and/or locations within the images. The different candidate face regions from different images of the image stream are each tracked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Peter CORCORAN, Eran STEINBERG, Petronel BIGIOI
  • Face recognition performance using additional image features
    Publication number: 20160314346
    Abstract: A method of making an image in a digital camera comprises capturing a digital image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing a symbol (subject locator) onto the scene image representing at least a part of a human subject. The subject locator is scaled to a desired size and moved to a desired position relative to the scene image. Next a digital image of the user is captured, and at least the part of the user image represented by the subject locator is extracted. The part of the user image represented by the subject locator is scaled (before or after extraction) to substantially the same size as the subject locator and inserted into the first image at the position of the subject locator. In a second embodiment the method comprises displaying a preview image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing the subject locator on the preview image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Petronel BIGIOI, Gabriel COSTACHE, Alexandru DRIMBAREAN, Peter CORCORAN
  • Detecting facial expressions in digital images
    Patent number: 9462180
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Catalina Neghina, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Emilian David, Petronel Bigioi, Eric Zarakov, Eran Steinberg
  • Portrait image synthesis from multiple images captured on a handheld device
    Patent number: 9456128
    Abstract: A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from the movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Fotonation Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Piotr Stec
  • MEMS fast focus camera module
    Publication number: 20160277670
    Abstract: An auto focus camera module includes a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components, an image sensor coupled to or within the housing, a lens barrel within the housing that contains an optical train including at least one movable lens disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path, and a fast focus MEMS actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train including the at least one movable lens and configured to rapidly move said at least one movable lens relative to the image sensor to provide autofocus for the camera module in each frame of a preview or video sequence or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Petronel BIGIOI, Peter CORCORAN, Takanori MIKI
  • Partial face detector red-eye filter method and apparatus
    Patent number: 9412007
    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 at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the 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: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: FOTONATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea, Adrian Capata, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir
  • Rearview imaging system for vehicle
    Publication number: 20160212354
    Abstract: A rearview imaging system for a vehicle includes at least one video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle for providing a wide angle horizontal field of view (FoV) rearwardly of the vehicle, and a display device in the vehicle at a position viewable by the driver. A video processor subdivides the camera FoV into three horizontally disposed sub-FOVs and displaying said sub-FoVs on visually separated side-by-side regions of the display device screen. The horizontal position and/or extent of at least one sub-FoV is variable as a function of the motion of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Piotr Stec
  • Face tracking for controlling imaging parameters
    Patent number: 9398209
    Abstract: A method of tracking faces in an image stream with a digital image acquisition device includes receiving images from an image stream including faces, calculating corresponding integral images, and applying different subsets of face detection rectangles to the integral images to provide sets of candidate regions. The different subsets include candidate face regions of different sizes and/or locations within the images. The different candidate face regions from different images of the image stream are each tracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Fotonation Limited
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi
  • Image Processing Method
    Publication number: 20160165129
    Abstract: A method of processing an image comprises: acquiring an image of a scene including an object having a recognisable feature. A lens actuator setting providing a maximum sharpness for a region of the image including the object and a lens displacement corresponding to the lens actuator setting are determined. A distance to the object based on the lens displacement is calculated. A dimension of the feature as a function of the distance to the object, the imaged object size and a focal length of a lens assembly with which the image was acquired, is determined. The determined dimension of the feature is employed instead of an assumed dimension of the feature for subsequent processing of images of the scene including the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandru Malaescu, Florin Nanu, Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • MEMS fast focus camera module
    Patent number: 9354486
    Abstract: An auto focus camera module includes a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components, an image sensor coupled to or within the housing, a lens barrel within the housing that contains an optical train including at least one movable lens disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path, and a fast focus MEMS actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train including the at least one movable lens and configured to rapidly move said at least one movable lens relative to the image sensor to provide autofocus for the camera module in each frame of a preview or video sequence or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION MEMS
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Takanori Miki
  • Face recognition performance using additional image features
    Patent number: 9323979
    Abstract: A technique is provided for recognizing faces in an image stream using a digital image acquisition device. A first acquired image is received from an image stream. A first face region is detected within the first acquired image having a given size and a respective location within the first acquired image. First faceprint data uniquely identifying the first face region are extracted along with first peripheral region data around the first face region. The first faceprint and peripheral region data are stored, and the first peripheral region data are associated with the first face region. The first face region is tracked until a face lock is lost. A second face region is detected within a second acquired image from the image stream. Second peripheral region data around the second face region are extracted. The second face region is identified upon matching the first and second peripheral region data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Digitaloptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Gabriel Costache, Alexandru Drimbarean, Peter Corcoran
  • Face searching and detection in a digital image acquisition device
    Publication number: 20160104032
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Applicant: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Eran STEINBERG, Petronel BIGIOI, Peter CORCORAN, Mihnea GANGEA, Stefan PETRESCU, Andrei VASILIU, Gabriel COSTACHE, Alexandru DRIMBAREAN
  • Optical system for an image acquisition device
    Publication number: 20160092731
    Abstract: An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises a filter comprising a central aperture arranged to transmit both visible and selected near infra-red (NIR) wavelengths and a peripheral aperture arranged to block visible wavelengths and to transmit the NIR wavelengths. An image sensor comprises an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to visible wavelengths and corresponding pixels sensitive to the NIR wavelengths. A lens assembly is axially located between the filter and the image sensor and comprises a plurality of lens elements. The lens elements are arranged to simultaneously focus NIR light received from a given object through central and peripheral apertures of the filter and visible light received from the object through the central aperture onto the sensor surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Dainty, Alexander Goncharov, Istvan Andorko, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Foreground / Background Separation In Digital Images
    Publication number: 20160078630
    Abstract: A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir, Adrian Capata
  • Modification of post-viewing parameters for digital images using image region or feature information
    Publication number: 20160065861
    Abstract: A method of generating one or more new digital images using an original digitally-acquired image including a selected image feature includes identifying within a digital image acquisition device one or more groups of pixels that correspond to the selected image feature based on information from one or more preview images. A portion of the original includes automatically generating values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion in a manner which includes the selected image feature within the one or more new images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran