JP2002373330A - Device and method for processing image, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently improve resolution without making an image including blur due to motion to be an unnatural image. SOLUTION: An area specifying part 103 specifies the individual pixels of an inputted image to be those of a foreground region, a background region and a mixed region, generates regional information corresponding to specification results and supplies a region processing part 3001 with the regional information showing which each pixel belongs to among the foreground, background and mixed regions. The region processing part 3001 divides the inputted image into each of the foreground, background or mixed regions on the basis of the regional information supplied from the region specifying part 103 and applies edge enhancement processing to each divided inputted image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a method that consider a difference between a signal detected by a sensor and the real world. About the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image edge enhancement process is widely used as a process for increasing the sense of resolution of an image.

[0003]

However, when the processing of edge enhancement is applied to an image including motion blur, an unnatural image may be obtained. Further, if the degree of edge enhancement is set low so as to prevent such an unnatural image, the sense of resolution of the image does not sufficiently increase.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to sufficiently increase the sense of resolution without making an image containing motion blur an unnatural image. And

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a mixed area formed by mixing a foreground object component forming a foreground object and a background object component forming a background object based on input image data; Region specifying means for specifying a foreground region composed of a foreground object component and a non-mixed region composed of one of a background region composed of a background object component constituting a background object, and outputting region specification information corresponding to the specification result And edge enhancement means for enhancing the edge of the input image data in accordance with the area specifying information.

The area specifying means further specifies the covered background area and the uncovered background area, and outputs area specifying information corresponding to the specified result.
The edge emphasizing means can embody the edge of the input image data corresponding to the specified covered background area or uncovered background area.

The image processing method according to the present invention comprises, based on input image data, a mixed area in which foreground object components forming a foreground object and background object components forming a background object are mixed, and a foreground object component. A region specifying step of specifying a foreground region and a non-mixed region formed by one of the background regions composed of background object components constituting the background object, and outputting region specifying information corresponding to the specified result;
An edge emphasizing step of emphasizing an edge of the input image data in accordance with the area specifying information.

[0008] The processing of the area specifying step further specifies the covered background area and the uncovered background area, and outputs area specifying information corresponding to the specified result. The edge of the input image data can be emphasized corresponding to the area or the uncovered background area.

[0009] The program of the recording medium according to the present invention comprises, based on input image data, a mixed area formed by mixing foreground object components constituting a foreground object and background object components constituting a background object; An area specifying step of specifying a non-mixed area composed of one of a foreground area and a background area composed of a background object component forming a background object, and outputting area specifying information corresponding to the specified result; And an edge emphasizing step of emphasizing an edge of the input image data.

The processing of the area specifying step further specifies the covered background area and the uncovered background area, and outputs area specifying information corresponding to the specified result. The edge of the input image data can be emphasized corresponding to the area or the uncovered background area.

According to the program of the present invention, a foreground object component constituting a foreground object and a background object component constituting a background object are mixed on the basis of input image data, and a foreground region comprising a foreground object component. A region specifying step of specifying a non-mixed region constituted by one of the background regions composed of the background object components constituting the background object, and outputting region specifying information corresponding to the specified result; and And causing the computer to execute an edge emphasizing step of emphasizing the edge of the input image data.

The processing of the area specifying step further specifies the covered background area and the uncovered background area, and outputs area specifying information corresponding to the specified result. The processing of the edge emphasizing step includes the specified covered background area. The edge of the input image data can be emphasized corresponding to the area or the uncovered background area.

In the image processing apparatus and method, the recording medium, and the program according to the present invention, a foreground object component forming a foreground object and a background object component forming a background object are mixed based on input image data. A mixed region, a foreground region composed of foreground object components, and a non-mixed region composed of one of a background region composed of background object components constituting a background object are specified, and region specifying information corresponding to the specified result is output. The edges of the input image data are emphasized in accordance with the area specifying information.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. CPU
(Central Processing Unit) 71 is a ROM (Read Only)
Various types of processing are executed in accordance with a program stored in the memory 72 or the storage unit 78. RAM (Random Ac
The process memory 73 stores programs and data executed by the CPU 71 as appropriate. These CPU 71, ROM
The RAM 72 and the RAM 73 are mutually connected by a bus 74.

An input / output interface 75 is connected to the CPU 71 via a bus 74. The input / output interface 75 is connected to an input unit 76 including a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and the like, and an output unit 77 including a display, a speaker, and the like. The CPU 71 executes various processes in response to a command input from the input unit 76. Then, the CPU 71 outputs an image, a sound, or the like obtained as a result of the processing to the output unit 77.

The storage unit 78 connected to the input / output interface 75 is composed of, for example, a hard disk and stores programs executed by the CPU 71 and various data. The communication unit 79 communicates with an external device via the Internet or another network. In the case of this example, the communication unit 79 functions as an acquisition unit that captures the output of the sensor.

A program may be obtained via the communication unit 79 and stored in the storage unit 78.

The drive 80 connected to the input / output interface 75 includes a magnetic disk 91, an optical disk 9
2. When the magneto-optical disk 93, the semiconductor memory 94, and the like are mounted, they are driven to acquire programs and data recorded therein. The acquired programs and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 78 as necessary.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

It does not matter whether each function of the image processing apparatus is realized by hardware or software. That is, each block diagram in this specification may be considered as a hardware block diagram or a functional block diagram using software.

Here, the motion blur refers to a distortion included in an image corresponding to a moving object, which is caused by the movement of the object in the real world to be imaged and the characteristics of the image pickup by the sensor. .

In this specification, an image to be imaged, which corresponds to an object in the real world, is called an image object.

The input image supplied to the image processing apparatus is supplied to an object extracting unit 101, a region specifying unit 103, a mixture ratio calculating unit 104, and a foreground / background separating unit 105.

The object extracting unit 101 roughly extracts an image object corresponding to a foreground object included in the input image, and supplies the extracted image object to the motion detecting unit 102. The object extraction unit 101
For example, by detecting the outline of the image object corresponding to the foreground object included in the input image, the image object corresponding to the foreground object is roughly extracted.

The object extracting section 101 roughly extracts an image object corresponding to a background object included in the input image, and supplies the extracted image object to the motion detecting section 102. The object extraction unit 101
For example, the image object corresponding to the background object is roughly extracted from the difference between the input image and the extracted image object corresponding to the foreground object.

Also, for example, the object extracting unit 101
Is configured to roughly extract an image object corresponding to a foreground object and an image object corresponding to a background object from a difference between a background image stored in a background memory provided therein and an input image. It may be.

The motion detecting unit 102 calculates a motion vector of an image object corresponding to a coarsely extracted foreground object by using a method such as a block matching method, a gradient method, a phase correlation method, or a perrecursive method. The calculated motion vector and the position information of the motion vector (information for specifying the position of the pixel corresponding to the motion vector) are supplied to the region specifying unit 103 and the motion blur extracting unit 106.

The motion vector output by the motion detecting section 102 includes information corresponding to the motion amount v.

Further, for example, the motion detecting unit 102 calculates the motion vector of each image object together with the pixel position information for specifying the pixel in the image object by the motion blur removing unit 10.
6 may be output.

The motion amount v is a value representing a change in the position of an image corresponding to a moving object in units of pixel intervals. For example, the image of the object corresponding to the foreground is set to 4
When moving so as to be displayed at a position separated by pixels, the motion amount v of the image of the object corresponding to the foreground is
It is set to 4.

The area specifying unit 103 specifies each of the pixels of the input image as one of a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area, and for each pixel, selects one of the foreground area, the background area, and the mixed area. Information that belongs to
(Referred to as area information) is supplied to the mixture ratio calculation unit 104, the foreground / background separation unit 105, and the motion blur removal unit 106.

The mixture ratio calculation unit 104 calculates a mixture ratio (hereinafter, referred to as a mixture ratio α) corresponding to the pixels included in the mixture region 63 based on the input image and the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103. The calculated mixture ratio is supplied to the foreground / background separation unit 105.

The mixture ratio α is a value indicating a ratio of a component of an image corresponding to a background object (hereinafter, also referred to as a background component) in a pixel value, as shown in Expression (3) described later.

The foreground / background separation unit 105 includes the area specifying unit 10
3 and the mixture ratio calculation unit 104
Input image into a foreground component image composed of only components of the image corresponding to the foreground object (hereinafter also referred to as a foreground component) and a background component image composed of only the background component based on the mixture ratio α supplied from Is supplied to the motion blur removing unit 106, and the background component image is corrected by the correction unit 1
07.

The motion blur removing unit 106 determines a processing unit indicating one or more pixels included in the foreground component image based on the motion amount v and the area information obtained from the motion vector. The processing unit is data that specifies a group of pixels to be processed for adjusting the amount of motion blur.

The motion blur removing unit 106 includes the foreground component image supplied from the foreground / background separating unit 105 and the motion detecting unit 102.
The motion blur included in the foreground component image is removed based on the motion vector and its position information supplied from the unit and the processing unit, and the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed is output to the motion blur removed image processing unit 108. .

The correction unit 107 determines whether the background component image
The pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area is corrected. The pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image is calculated by removing the foreground component from the pixel value of the pixel of the mixed area before separation. Therefore, the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image is reduced in accordance with the mixing ratio α as compared with the pixel value of the pixel of the adjacent background area.

The correction unit 107 corrects such a decrease in gain corresponding to the mixture ratio α of the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area in the background component image, and converts the corrected background component image into the motion blur removed image. It is supplied to the processing unit 108.

The motion-blur-removed image processing unit 108 applies edge emphasis processing with a different degree of edge emphasis to each of the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed and the corrected background component image.

Next, an input image supplied to the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining image pickup by a sensor. The sensor is, for example, a CCD (Cha
(rge-Coupled Device) It consists of a CCD video camera equipped with an area sensor. The object corresponding to the foreground in the real world moves horizontally between the object corresponding to the background and the sensor in the real world, for example, from left to right in the figure.

The sensor captures an image of the object corresponding to the foreground together with the object corresponding to the background. The sensor outputs the captured image in units of one frame. For example, the sensor outputs an image consisting of 30 frames per second. The exposure time of the sensor can be 1/30 second. The exposure time is a period from when the sensor starts converting the input light into electric charges to when the sensor finishes converting the input light into electric charges. Hereinafter, the exposure time is also referred to as a shutter time.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of pixels.
In FIG. 4, A to I indicate individual pixels. The pixels are arranged on a plane corresponding to the image. One detection element corresponding to one pixel is arranged on the sensor. When the sensor captures an image, one detection element outputs a pixel value corresponding to one pixel forming the image. For example, the position of the detection element in the X direction corresponds to the position in the horizontal direction on the image, and the position of the detection element in the Y direction corresponds to the position in the vertical direction on the image.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a detection element such as a CCD converts input light into electric charges and accumulates the converted electric charges during a period corresponding to the shutter time. The amount of charge is substantially proportional to the intensity of the input light and the time during which the light is input. The detection element adds the electric charge converted from the input light to the electric charge already stored in a period corresponding to the shutter time. That is, the detection element integrates the input light for a period corresponding to the shutter time, and accumulates an amount of charge corresponding to the integrated light.
It can be said that the detection element has an integration effect with respect to time.

The electric charge accumulated in the detecting element is converted into a voltage value by a circuit (not shown), and the voltage value is further converted into a pixel value such as digital data and output. Therefore, the individual pixel values output from the sensor are obtained by integrating the spatially extended part of the object corresponding to the foreground or background with respect to the shutter time, and projecting the value projected into a one-dimensional space. Have.

The image processing apparatus extracts significant information buried in the output signal, for example, the mixture ratio α, by the accumulation operation of the sensor.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a moving foreground and an object corresponding to a stationary background. FIG.
(A) shows an object corresponding to a foreground with motion;
An image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a stationary background is shown. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the object corresponding to the foreground is moving horizontally from left to right with respect to the screen.

FIG. 6B shows one of the images shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a model diagram in which pixel values corresponding to two lines are developed in the time direction. The horizontal direction in FIG. 6B corresponds to the spatial direction X in FIG.

The pixel value of the pixel in the background area is composed of only the background component, that is, the image component corresponding to the background object. Pixels in the foreground area are
The pixel value is composed of only the foreground components, that is, the components of the image corresponding to the foreground object.

The pixel value of the pixel of the mixed area is composed of a background component and a foreground component. Since the pixel value of the mixed area is composed of the background component and the foreground component, it can be said that the mixed area is a distortion area. The mixed area is further classified into a covered background area and an uncovered background area.

The covered background area is a mixed area at a position corresponding to the front end of the foreground object in the traveling direction with respect to the foreground area, and an area in which the background component is covered by the foreground as time passes. Say.

On the other hand, the uncovered background area is a mixed area at a position corresponding to the rear end of the foreground object in the traveling direction with respect to the foreground area. Means the area where appears.

As described above, the image including the foreground area, the background area, or the covered background area or the uncovered background area is input to the area specifying unit 103,
The input image is input to the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 and the foreground / background separation unit 105.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the background area, foreground area, mixed area, covered background area, and uncovered background area as described above. In the case of corresponding to the image shown in FIG. 6, the background area is a stationary part, the foreground area is a moving part, the covered background area of the mixed area is a part that changes from the background to the foreground, The uncovered background area is a part that changes from the foreground to the background.

FIG. 8 shows, in the time direction, pixel values of adjacent pixels arranged in one line in an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a stationary foreground and an object corresponding to a stationary background. FIG. For example, as pixels arranged adjacently in one column,
Pixels arranged on one line can be selected.

The pixel values F01 to F04 shown in FIG. 8 are the pixel values of the pixels corresponding to the stationary foreground object. The pixel values B01 to B04 shown in FIG. 8 are the pixel values of the pixels corresponding to the stationary background object.

In the vertical direction in FIG. 8, time elapses from the top to the bottom in the figure. The position on the upper side of the rectangle in FIG. 8 corresponds to the time when the sensor starts converting the input light into electric charge, and the position on the lower side of the rectangle in FIG. Corresponding to the time at which the conversion of.
That is, the distance from the upper side to the lower side of the rectangle in FIG.
Corresponds to the shutter time.

Hereinafter, a case where the shutter time and the frame interval are the same will be described as an example.

The horizontal direction in FIG. 8 corresponds to the spatial direction X described in FIG. More specifically, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the distance from the left side of the rectangle described as “F01” to the right side of the rectangle described as “B04” in FIG. 8 is eight times the pixel pitch, That is, it corresponds to the interval between eight consecutive pixels.

When the foreground object and the background object are stationary, the light input to the sensor does not change during the period corresponding to the shutter time.

Here, the period corresponding to the shutter time is 2
Divide into two or more periods of equal length. For example, if the number of virtual divisions is 4, the model diagram shown in FIG. 8 can be represented as the model shown in FIG. The number of virtual divisions is set according to the amount of movement v of the object corresponding to the foreground within the shutter time. For example, the number of virtual divisions is set to 4 corresponding to the motion amount v of 4, and the period corresponding to the shutter time is divided into four.

The top row in the figure corresponds to the first divided period after the shutter is opened. The second row from the top in the figure corresponds to the second divided period from when the shutter has opened. The third row from the top in the figure corresponds to the third divided period from when the shutter has opened. The fourth row from the top in the figure corresponds to the fourth divided period from when the shutter has opened.

Hereinafter, the shutter time divided according to the amount of movement v is also referred to as shutter time / v.

When the object corresponding to the foreground is stationary, the light input to the sensor does not change, so that the foreground component F01 / v is equal to the value obtained by dividing the pixel value F01 by the number of virtual divisions. Similarly, when the object corresponding to the foreground is stationary, the foreground component F02 / v is equal to a value obtained by dividing the pixel value F02 by the number of virtual divisions, and the foreground component F03 / v is obtained by dividing the pixel value F03 by the virtual value. Equal to the value divided by the number of divisions, the foreground component F04 / v is
It is equal to a value obtained by dividing the pixel value F04 by the number of virtual divisions.

When the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the light input to the sensor does not change. Therefore, the background component B01 / v is equal to the value obtained by dividing the pixel value B01 by the number of virtual divisions. Similarly, when the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the background component B02 / v is equal to the value obtained by dividing the pixel value B02 by the virtual division number, and B03 / v is the pixel value B03 obtained by dividing the pixel value B03 by the virtual division number. B04 / v is equal to the value obtained by dividing the pixel value B04 by the virtual division number.

That is, when the object corresponding to the foreground is stationary, the light corresponding to the foreground object input to the sensor does not change during the period corresponding to the shutter time. Foreground component F01 / v corresponding to time / v, and second foreground component F0 corresponding to shutter time / v after shutter is opened
1 / v, the third foreground component F01 / v corresponding to the shutter time / v when the shutter is opened, and the fourth foreground component F01 / v corresponding to the shutter time / v when the shutter is opened. Is
It has the same value. F02 / v to F04 / v also have the same relationship as F01 / v.

When the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the light corresponding to the background object input to the sensor does not change during the period corresponding to the shutter time. A background component B01 / v corresponding to v, a second background component B01 / v corresponding to the shutter time / v when the shutter is opened, and a third component corresponding to the shutter time / v when the shutter is opened. The background component B01 / v has the same value as the background component B01 / v corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened. B02 / v to B04 / v also have the same relationship.

Next, a case where the object corresponding to the foreground moves and the object corresponding to the background is stationary will be described.

FIG. 10 is a model diagram in which the pixel values of the pixels on one line including the covered background area are developed in the time direction when the object corresponding to the foreground moves rightward in the figure. is there. In FIG. 10, the motion amount v of the foreground is 4. Since one frame is a short time, the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body,
It can be assumed that they are moving at a constant speed. In FIG. 10, the image of the object corresponding to the foreground moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame with reference to a certain frame.

In FIG. 10, the leftmost pixel to the fourth pixel from the left belong to the foreground area. In FIG. 10, the fifth to seventh pixels from the left belong to the mixed area that is the covered background area. FIG.
In, the rightmost pixel belongs to the background area.

Since the object corresponding to the foreground moves so as to cover the object corresponding to the background with the passage of time, the components included in the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the covered background area correspond to the shutter time. At some point during the period, the background component changes to the foreground component.

For example, in FIG.
M is represented by equation (1).

M = B02 / v + B02 / v + F07 / v + F06 / v (1)

For example, the fifth pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to one shutter time / v and a foreground component corresponding to three shutter times / v.
The mixture ratio α of the second pixel is 1/4. Since the sixth pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to two shutter times / v and a foreground component corresponding to two shutter times / v, the mixture ratio α of the sixth pixel from the left is , 1/2. Since the seventh pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to three shutter times / v and a foreground component corresponding to one shutter time / v, the mixture ratio α of the seventh pixel from the left is , 3/4.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and the foreground image moves at a constant speed so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, for example, the fourth object from the left in FIG. The foreground component F07 / v of the pixel of the first shutter time / v after the shutter is opened is shown in FIG.
It is equal to the foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left in 0 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Similarly, the foreground component F07 / v is the foreground component of the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 10 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. Of the pixel of
It is equal to the foreground component corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and the foreground image moves at a constant speed so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, for example, the third object from the left in FIG. The foreground component F06 / v of the pixel of the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is shown in FIG.
It is equal to the foreground component of the fourth pixel from the left, corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Similarly, the foreground component F06 / v is the foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left in FIG. 10 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. Of the pixel of
It is equal to the foreground component corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and the foreground image moves at a constant speed so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, for example, the second object from the left in FIG. The foreground component F05 / v of the pixel of the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is shown in FIG.
It is equal to the foreground component of the third pixel from the left corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Similarly, the foreground component F05 / v is the foreground component of the fourth pixel from the left in FIG. 10 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter is opened, and the fifth pixel from the left in FIG. Of the pixel of
It is equal to the foreground component corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and the foreground image moves at a constant speed so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, for example, the leftmost pixel in FIG. The foreground component F04 / v of the first shutter time / v from when the shutter is opened is the foreground component of the second pixel from the left in FIG. 10 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter is opened. be equivalent to. Similarly, the foreground component F04 / v is the third pixel from the left in FIG.
The foreground component corresponding to the third shutter time / v after the shutter is opened, and the foreground component corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v of the fourth pixel from the left in FIG. , Respectively.

Since the foreground area corresponding to the moving object includes the motion blur as described above, it can be said that the area is a distortion area.

FIG. 11 is a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels on one line including the uncovered background area are developed in the time direction when the foreground moves toward the right side in the figure. In FIG. 11, the foreground motion amount v
Is 4. Since one frame is a short time, it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is rigid and moves at a constant speed. In FIG. 11, the image of the object corresponding to the foreground moves to the right by four pixels in the next frame with reference to a certain frame.

In FIG. 11, the leftmost pixel to the fourth pixel from the left belong to the background area. In FIG. 11, the fifth through seventh pixels from the left belong to the mixed area that is the uncovered background. FIG.
In, the rightmost pixel belongs to the foreground area.

Since the object corresponding to the foreground, which has covered the object corresponding to the background, has been moved so as to be removed from the front of the object corresponding to the background with the passage of time, the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area At some point during the period corresponding to the shutter time, the component included in the value is changed from the foreground component to the background component.

For example, in FIG. 11, pixel values indicated by thick frames
M ′ is represented by equation (2).

M ′ = F02 / v + F01 / v + B26 / v + B26 / v (2)

For example, the fifth pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to three shutter times / v and a foreground component corresponding to one shutter time / v.
The mixture ratio α of the third pixel is 3/4. Since the sixth pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to two shutter times / v and a foreground component corresponding to two shutter times / v, the mixture ratio α of the sixth pixel from the left is , 1/2. Since the seventh pixel from the left includes a background component corresponding to one shutter time / v and a foreground component corresponding to three shutter times / v, the mixture ratio α of the seventh pixel from the left is , 1/4.

When the equations (1) and (2) are generalized, the pixel value M is represented by the equation (3).

[0087]

(Equation 1) Here, α is a mixture ratio. B is a pixel value of the background, and Fi / v is a foreground component.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed, and the amount of movement v is 4, for example, the shutter of the fifth pixel from the left in FIG. First foreground component of shutter time / v F01 /
v is equal to the foreground component of the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 11 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Similarly, F01 / v is the foreground component of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 11 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. ,
It is equal to the foreground component corresponding to the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed, and the number of virtual divisions is 4, for example, the shutter of the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. First foreground component F0 of shutter time / v
2 / v is equal to the foreground component of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 11 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Similarly, the foreground component F02 / v is equal to the foreground component of the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. 11 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed, and the amount of movement v is 4, for example, the shutter of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. First foreground component of shutter time / v F03 /
v is equal to the foreground component of the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. 11 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened.

In the description of FIGS. 9 to 11, the number of virtual divisions is four, but the number of virtual divisions corresponds to the amount of motion v. The movement amount v generally corresponds to the moving speed of the object corresponding to the foreground. For example, when the object corresponding to the foreground is moving so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame with respect to a certain frame, the motion amount v is set to 4. The virtual division number is set to 4 corresponding to the movement amount v. Similarly, for example, when the object corresponding to the foreground is moving so as to be displayed 6 pixels to the left in the next frame with respect to a certain frame, the motion amount v is set to 6, and the number of virtual divisions is , 6.

FIG. 12 and FIG.
The relationship between a mixed area including a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, or an uncovered background area, and foreground components and background components corresponding to the divided shutter times is shown.

FIG. 12 shows an example in which pixels of a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area are extracted from an image including a foreground corresponding to an object moving in front of a stationary background. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the object corresponding to the foreground is moving horizontally with respect to the screen.

The frame # n + 1 is a frame next to the frame #n, and the frame # n + 2 is a frame next to the frame # n + 1.

The pixels of the foreground area, the background area, and the mixed area, which are extracted from any of the frames #n to # n + 2, are extracted. FIG. 13 shows a model developed in the time direction.

The pixel value of the foreground area is composed of four different foreground components corresponding to the period of the shutter time / v since the object corresponding to the foreground moves. For example, the leftmost pixel among the pixels in the foreground area shown in FIG. 13 includes F01 / v, F02 / v, F03 / v, and F04 / v. That is, pixels in the foreground area include motion blur.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the light corresponding to the background input to the sensor does not change during the period corresponding to the shutter time. In this case, the pixel value of the background area does not include motion blur.

The pixel value of a pixel belonging to a mixed area composed of a covered background area or an uncovered background area is composed of a foreground component and a background component.

Next, when the image corresponding to the object is moving, the pixel values of pixels that are adjacently arranged in one row in a plurality of frames and are located at the same position on the frame are determined in the time direction. The following is an explanation of the model developed in. For example, when an image corresponding to an object is moving horizontally with respect to the screen, pixels arranged on one line of the screen can be selected as pixels arranged adjacently in one row.

FIG. 14 shows three adjacent pixels of three frames of an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a stationary background, the pixels being located at the same position on the frame. FIG. 4 is a model diagram in which values are developed in a time direction. Frame #n is the next frame after frame # n-1, and frame # n + 1 is the next frame after frame #n. Other frames are similarly referred to.

The pixel values B01 to B12 shown in FIG. 14 are the pixel values of the pixels corresponding to the stationary background object. Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the pixel values of the corresponding pixels do not change in frames # n-1 to n + 1. For example, the pixel in frame #n and the pixel in frame # n + 1 corresponding to the position of the pixel having the pixel value of B05 in frame # n-1 each have the pixel value of B05.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing three pixels adjacent to one another in three frames of an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a foreground moving to the right in the figure together with an object corresponding to a stationary background. FIG. 4 is a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels at the same position on a frame are developed in the time direction. The model shown in FIG. 15 includes a covered background area.

In FIG. 15, it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed, and the foreground image moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame. The quantity v is 4, and the number of virtual divisions is 4.

For example, the foreground component of the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F12 / v, and the second component from the left in FIG. The foreground component of the pixel of the second shutter time / v after the shutter is opened also becomes F12 / v. The foreground component of the third pixel from the left in FIG. 15 at the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the fourth pixel from the left in FIG.
The foreground component of the fourth shutter time / v after the shutter is opened is F12 / v.

The foreground component of the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v, and the second component from the left in FIG. The foreground component of the pixel at the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also F11 / v. The foreground component of the third pixel from the left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v.

The foreground component of the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F10 / v, and the second component from the left in FIG. The foreground component of the pixel at the fourth shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also F10 / v. The fourth shutter time of the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 from when the shutter has opened
The foreground component of / v is F09 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the background component of the second pixel from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B01. / v. The background components of the third pixel from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first and second portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are B02 / v. FIG.
The background component of the fourth pixel from the left of the middle frame # n-1 corresponding to the first to third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B03 / v.

In frame # n-1 in FIG. 15, the leftmost pixel belongs to the foreground area, and the second to fourth pixels from the left belong to the mixed area which is a covered background area.

The fifth through twelfth pixels from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 15 belong to the background area, and their pixel values are B04 through B11, respectively.

The first through fifth pixels from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 belong to the foreground area. Frame #n
The foreground component of shutter time / v in the foreground area of
One of F05 / v to F12 / v.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed, and the image of the foreground moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, frame #n in FIG. The foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left of the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is
F12 / v, the foreground component of the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also
It becomes F12 / v. The foreground component of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 15 at the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the fourth shutter time of the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. 15 since the shutter has opened. The foreground component of / v is F12 / v.

The foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v, and the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 15 is F11 / v. The foreground component of the pixel at the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also F11 / v. The foreground component of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v.

The foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F10 / v, and the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 15 is F10 / v. The foreground component of the pixel at the fourth shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also F10 / v. The foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F09 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the background component of the sixth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B05 / v Becomes 7 from the left of frame #n in FIG.
The background component of the first pixel at the first and second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B06 / v. The background components of the eighth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first to third portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are:
B07 / v.

In frame #n in FIG. 15, the sixth through eighth pixels from the left belong to the mixed area which is a covered background area.

The ninth to twelfth pixels from the left of frame #n in FIG. 15 belong to the background area, and the pixel value is
B08 to B11, respectively.

The first through ninth pixels from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 belong to the foreground area. flame
The foreground component of the shutter time / v in the foreground area of # n + 1 is one of F01 / v to F12 / v.

It can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed. Since the foreground image moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, frame #n in FIG. Of the ninth pixel from the left of +1
The foreground component of the first shutter time / v after the shutter is opened is F12 / v, and the foreground component of the tenth pixel from the left in FIG. It becomes F12 / v. The foreground component of the eleventh pixel from the left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the fourth shutter time since the shutter opening of the twelfth pixel from the left in FIG. The foreground component of / v is F12 / v.

The foreground component of the ninth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the second portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v, and as shown in FIG. From 1
The foreground component of the 0th pixel at the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also F11 / v. The foreground component of the eleventh pixel from the left in FIG. 15 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F11 / v.

The foreground component of the ninth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F10 / v, and from the left in FIG. 10th pixel, 4th shutter time / v after shutter opened
Is also F10 / v. Frame # n + in FIG.
The foreground component of the ninth pixel from the left in FIG. 1 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F09 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the background component of the tenth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B09 / v. The background components of the eleventh pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first and second portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are B10 / v. The background components of the twelfth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15 corresponding to the first to third portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are B11 / v.

In frame # n + 1 in FIG. 15, the tenth to twelfth pixels from the left correspond to the mixed area which is the covered background area.

FIG. 16 is a model diagram of an image in which foreground components are extracted from the pixel values shown in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows three adjacent pixels of one frame of three frames of an image obtained by capturing a foreground corresponding to an object moving to the right in the figure together with a stationary background. FIG. 10 is a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels at the same position are developed in the time direction. In FIG.
An uncovered background area is included.

In FIG. 17, it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and is moving at a constant speed. Since the object corresponding to the foreground is moving so as to be displayed on the right side by four pixels in the next frame, the motion amount v is 4.

For example, the shutter time / v of the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG.
17 is F13 / v, and the second shutter time / v of the second pixel from the left in FIG.
Is also F13 / v. The third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened for the third pixel from the left in FIG.
17 and the foreground component of the fourth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F13 / v.

The foreground component of the second pixel from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F14 / v, and the third pixel from the left in FIG. 17 is F14 / v. The foreground component of the pixel of the second shutter time / v after the shutter is opened also becomes F14 / v. The foreground component of the third pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F15 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the leftmost pixel of frame # n-1 in FIG.
Second to fourth shutter time / v after shutter opens
Is B25 / v. Frame # n- in FIG.
The background components of the second pixel from the left, the third and fourth portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are B26 / v
Becomes The background component of the third pixel from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 17 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B27 / v.

In frame # n-1 in FIG. 17, the leftmost pixel to the third pixel belong to the mixed area which is the uncovered background area.

The fourth through twelfth pixels from the left of frame # n-1 in FIG. 17 belong to the foreground area. The foreground component of the frame is one of F13 / v to F24 / v.

The leftmost pixel to the fourth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 17 belong to the background area, and the pixel value is
B25 to B28, respectively.

It can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed. Since the foreground image moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, frame #n in FIG. The foreground component of the fifth pixel from the left of the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is
F13 / v, and the foreground component of the sixth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the second shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is also
It becomes F13 / v. The foreground component of the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the fourth shutter time since the shutter opening of the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 The foreground component of / v is F13 / v.

The foreground component of the sixth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F14 / v, and the seventh pixel from the left in FIG. 17 is F14 / v. The foreground component of the second shutter time / v after the shutter is opened also becomes F14 / v. The foreground component of the eighth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F15 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the second to fourth shutter times of the fifth pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG.
The background component of / v is B29 / v. Frame # in FIG. 17
The background components of the sixth pixel from the left of n corresponding to the third and fourth shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened are B30 / v. Of the seventh pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG.
The background component of the fourth shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B31 / v.

In frame #n in FIG.
The seventh through seventh pixels belong to a mixed area that is an uncovered background area.

The eighth through twelfth pixels from the left of frame #n in FIG. 17 belong to the foreground area. flame
The value corresponding to the shutter time / v period in the foreground area #n is one of F13 / v to F20 / v.

The leftmost pixel to the eighth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17 belong to the background area, and have pixel values B25 to B32, respectively.

It can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed. Since the foreground image moves so as to be displayed four pixels to the right in the next frame, frame #n in FIG. Of the ninth pixel from the left of +1
The foreground component of the first shutter time / v after the shutter is opened is F13 / v, and the foreground component of the tenth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the second shutter time / v after the shutter is opened is also F13 / v. It becomes F13 / v. The foreground component of the eleventh pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the third shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened, and the fourth shutter time since the shutter opening of the twelfth pixel from the left in FIG. The foreground component of / v is F13 / v.

The foreground component of the tenth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F14 / v, and the eleventh pixel from the left in FIG. The foreground component of the pixel of the second shutter time / v after the shutter is opened also becomes F14 / v. The foreground component of the twelfth pixel from the left in FIG. 17 corresponding to the first shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is F15 / v.

Since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the ninth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17 corresponding to the second through fourth portions of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened. Is B33 / v. The 10th pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG.
The background component of the 4th and 4th shutter time / v is B3
4 / v. The background component of the eleventh pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17 corresponding to the fourth portion of the shutter time / v from when the shutter has opened is B35 / v.

In frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17, the ninth to eleventh pixels from the left belong to the mixed area which is the uncovered background area.

The twelfth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1 in FIG. 17 belongs to the foreground area. The foreground components of the shutter time / v in the foreground area of frame # n + 1 are F13 / v to F13 / v
16 / v.

FIG. 18 is a model diagram of an image in which foreground components are extracted from the pixel values shown in FIG.

FIG. 19 shows a correspondence between an image divided for each pixel belonging to a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area, and a model diagram in which pixel values of the pixels are developed in the time direction. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 19, the area specifying unit 103
Specifies a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area of the input image.

FIG. 20 shows an image of a foreground area, an image of a background area, a foreground component image of a covered background area, a background component of a covered background area, a foreground component of an uncovered background area, and an uncovered background. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a correspondence between an input image separated into background components of a region and a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels are developed in a time direction.

As shown in FIG. 20, the input image specifies a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area by the area specifying unit 103. The input image is a foreground / background separation unit 10
5, based on the specified foreground area, background area, covered background area, and uncovered background area, and the mixture ratio α detected by the mixture ratio calculation unit 104, the image of the foreground area, the covered background area , The foreground component of the uncovered background area, and the background area image, the background component of the covered background area, and the background component of the uncovered background area.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of an image divided into a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area. The area specifying unit 103 specifies a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area of the input image. The image processing apparatus can divide an input image into an image of a foreground area, an image of a background area, and an image of a mixed area based on area information indicating a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area.

As shown in FIG. 22, the foreground / background separation unit 10
5 is based on the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103 and the mixture ratio α supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104,
The image of the mixed area is separated into a foreground component image of the mixed area and a background component image of the mixed area.

As shown in FIG. 23, the background component image is composed of a background region image, a background component of a covered background region, and a background component of an uncovered background region. The foreground component image is synthesized with the foreground region image, the foreground component of the covered background region, and the foreground component of the uncovered background region. In the background component image, the pixel value of the mixed area is corrected, and in the separated foreground component image, motion blur is removed.

As shown in FIG. 24, the input image is divided into regions and separated into foreground components and background components. The separated input image is combined with the foreground component image and the background component image.

The motion blur included in the foreground component image is removed. In the background component image, the pixel value corresponding to the mixed area is corrected.

The foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed and the corrected background component image are individually processed.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for explaining image processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

In step S101, the area specifying unit 1
Reference numeral 03 specifies a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area of the input image based on the motion vector and its position information supplied from the motion detection unit 102 and the input image. The details of the area specifying process will be described later.

In step S102, the mixture ratio calculator 104 calculates the mixture ratio α based on the area information and the input image supplied from the area identifier 103. The details of the process of calculating the mixture ratio α by the mixture ratio calculator 104 will be described later.

In step S103, the foreground / background separation unit 105 outputs the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103 and the mixture ratio α supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104.
Based on the input image, the foreground region image, the background region image, the covered background region foreground component image, the covered background region background component image, the uncovered background region foreground component image, and the uncovered background Separate into the background component image of the ground area. The details of the image separation processing of the foreground / background separation unit 105 will be described later.

In step S104, the motion-blur removing unit 106 determines whether the foreground / background separation unit 105 has the motion vector and its position information supplied from the motion detection unit 102 and the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103. The motion blur of the supplied foreground component image is removed.

In step S105, the correction unit 107
Corrects the pixel value corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image supplied from the foreground / background separation unit 105.

In step S106, the motion-blur-removed image processing unit 108 performs edge enhancement processing for each of the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed and the corrected background component image, and the process ends. The details of the image processing executed by the motion blur removal image processing unit 108 will be described later.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention separates an input image into a foreground component image and a background component image, removes motion blur from the foreground component image, and removes the motion blur from the foreground component image. Image processing is executed for each image and background component image.

Hereinafter, the area specifying unit 103 and the mixture ratio calculating unit 1
04, foreground / background separation unit 105, and motion blur removal unit 1
06 will be described.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of area specifying section 103. 26 does not use a motion vector. The frame memory 201 stores an input image in frame units. In the frame memory 201, the processing target is frame #n
, The frame # n−2, which is the frame immediately before the frame #n, the frame # n−1, the frame #n, which is the frame immediately before the frame #n, the frame #n, the frame after the frame #n The frame # n + 1, which is a frame, and the frame # n + 2, which is two frames after the frame #n, are stored.

The still / movement determining unit 202-1 determines the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 2 at the same position as the pixel on the image, which is the target of specifying the area of frame #n, and the pixel value of frame #n. The pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 at the same position as the position of the pixel to be specified in the image is stored in the frame memory 2
First, the absolute value of the difference between the read pixel values is calculated. The static / movement determining unit 202-1 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the frame # n + 2 and the pixel value of the frame # n + 1 is greater than a preset threshold Th, When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference is larger than the threshold Th, a still / moving determination indicating a motion is supplied to the area determination unit 203-1. Frame #n
When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the pixel of +2 and the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th, the static / movement determining unit 202-1 determines whether or not the static Judgment is made to the area judgment unit 2
03-1.

The still / movement determining unit 202-2 determines the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 at the same position as the pixel on the image that is the target of specifying the region of frame #n and the pixel value of frame #n. The pixel value of the target pixel is read from the frame memory 201, and the absolute value of the difference between the pixel values is calculated. The static / moving determining unit 202-2 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the frame # n + 1 and the pixel value of the frame #n is larger than a preset threshold Th. If the absolute value of the difference is determined to be larger than the threshold value Th, a still / moving determination indicating a motion is supplied to the region determination unit 203-1 and the region determination unit 203-2. When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 and the pixel value of the pixel of frame #n is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th, the still / moving determination unit 202-2 indicates that the camera is still. The static / movement determination is supplied to the region determination unit 203-1 and the region determination unit 203-2.

The still / movement judging section 202-3 is located at the same position as the pixel value of the pixel which is the target of specifying the region of the frame #n and the position of the pixel which is the target of specifying the region of the frame #n on the image. The pixel value of the pixel of frame # n-1 is stored in frame memory 2
01, the absolute value of the difference between the pixel values is calculated.
The static / moving determining unit 202-3 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the frame #n and the pixel value of the frame # n-1 is greater than a preset threshold Th. If the absolute value of the difference is determined to be larger than the threshold Th, the static / moving determination indicating the motion is performed by the region determination unit 203-2 and the region determination unit 203.
-3. Pixel value of pixel of frame #n and frame
When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the pixel # n-1 and the pixel value is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th, the still / moving determination unit 202-3 performs the still / moving determination indicating stillness by the region determining unit 203-2. And to the area determination unit 203-3.

The still / moving judgment unit 202-4 determines the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n-1 at the same position as the position of the pixel which is the object of specifying the area of frame #n, and the pixel value of frame #n. The pixel value of the pixel of frame # n-2 at the same position as the position of the pixel which is the target of region identification on the image is stored in the frame memory 2
01, the absolute value of the difference between the pixel values is calculated.
The still / moving determination unit 202-4 determines whether the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the frame # n-1 and the pixel value of the frame # n-2 is greater than a preset threshold Th, When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the pixel values is greater than the threshold Th, a still / moving determination indicating motion is supplied to the region determination unit 203-3. Frame #n
When it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value of the pixel −1 and the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n−2 is equal to or smaller than the threshold Th, the static / moving determining unit 202-4 determines that the static The motion determination is supplied to the area determination unit 203-3.

The area determining section 203-1 is composed of the static / moving determining section 20.
When the still / movement determination supplied from 2-1 indicates stillness and the still / movement determination supplied from the still / movement determination unit 202-2 indicates movement, the pixel that is the target of region identification in frame #n Is determined to belong to the uncovered background area, and the uncovered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined is set to “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area.

The area determining section 203-1 is composed of the static / moving determining section 20.
When the still / movement determination supplied from 2-1 indicates a motion or the still / movement determination supplied from the still / movement determination unit 202-2 indicates stillness, the region is a target for area identification in frame #n. It is determined that the pixel does not belong to the uncovered background area, and “0” indicating that the pixel does not belong to the uncovered background area is set in the uncovered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.
Set.

As described above, the area judging section 203-1
The uncovered background area determination flag in which 1 ”or“ 0 ”is set is supplied to the determination flag storage frame memory 204.

The region determining section 203-2 is provided with the static / moving determining section 20.
When the still / movement determination supplied from 2-2 indicates stillness and the still / movement determination supplied from still / movement determination unit 202-3 indicates stillness, the pixel which is the target of region identification in frame #n Is determined to belong to the still area, and “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the still area is set in the still area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The area determining section 203-2 is provided with the static / moving determining section 20.
When the static / movement determination supplied from 2-2 indicates a motion, or when the static / movement determination supplied from the static / movement determination unit 202-3 indicates a motion, the region is a target for area identification in frame #n. It is determined that the pixel does not belong to the still area, and “0” indicating that the pixel does not belong to the still area is set in the still area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The area determining unit 203-2 outputs "
The still area determination flag in which “1” or “0” is set is supplied to the determination flag storage frame memory 204.

The area determining section 203-2 is provided with the static / moving determining section 20.
When the still / movement determination supplied from 2-2 indicates a movement and the still / movement determination supplied from the still / movement determination unit 202-3 indicates a movement, the pixel which is the target of the region identification in the frame #n Is determined to belong to the motion area, and “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the motion area is set in the motion area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The region determining section 203-2 is a static / moving determining section 20.
When the static / movement determination supplied from 2-2 indicates stillness, or when the static / movement determination supplied from static / movement determination unit 202-3 indicates stillness, it is a target for area identification in frame #n. It is determined that the pixel does not belong to the motion area, and “0” indicating that the pixel does not belong to the motion area is set in the motion area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The area determining unit 203-2 outputs "
The motion area determination flag in which 1 ”or“ 0 ”is set is supplied to the determination flag storage frame memory 204.

[0177] The area determination section 203-3 includes the static / movement determination section 20.
When the still / moving judgment supplied from 2-3 indicates a motion and the still / moving judgment supplied from the still / moving judging section 202-4 indicates still, a pixel which is an area identification target in the frame #n Is determined to belong to the covered background area, and “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the covered background area is set in the covered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The area determining section 203-3 is provided with the static / moving determining section 20.
When the still / movement determination supplied from 2-3 indicates stillness or when the still / movement determination supplied from the still / movement determination unit 202-4 indicates motion, the region is a target for area identification in frame #n. It is determined that the pixel does not belong to the covered background area, and “0” indicating that the pixel does not belong to the covered background area is set in a covered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined.

The area determining section 203-3 determines "
The covered background area determination flag in which 1 ”or“ 0 ”is set is stored in the determination flag storage frame memory 20.
4

The determination flag storage frame memory 204
Uncovered background area determination flag supplied from area determination section 203-1, still area determination flag supplied from area determination section 203-2, area determination section 203-
2 and a covered background area determination flag supplied from the area determination unit 203-3.

The determination flag storage frame memory 204
The stored uncovered background area determination flag, still area determination flag, moving area determination flag, and covered background area determination flag are stored in the combining unit 2.
05. Based on the uncovered background area determination flag, the still area determination flag, the motion area determination flag, and the covered background area determination flag supplied from the determination flag storage frame memory 204, the combining unit 205 Area information indicating that the area belongs to any of the covered background area, the still area, the moving area, and the covered background area is generated and supplied to the determination flag storage frame memory 206.

The determination flag storage frame memory 206
The area information supplied from the synthesizing unit 205 is stored, and the stored area information is output.

Next, an example of the processing of the area specifying unit 103 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS.

When the object corresponding to the foreground is moving, the position on the screen of the image corresponding to the object changes for each frame. As shown in FIG. 27, in frame #n, the image corresponding to the object located at the position indicated by Yn (x, y) is Yn + 1 (x, y) in frame # n + 1 which is the next frame. located at y).

FIG. 28 shows a model diagram in which the pixel values of the pixels arranged in one row adjacent to the motion direction of the image corresponding to the foreground object are developed in the time direction. For example, when the motion direction of the image corresponding to the foreground object is horizontal with respect to the screen, the model diagram in FIG. 28 shows a model in which pixel values of adjacent pixels on one line are developed in the time direction.

In FIG. 28, the line in frame #n is the same as the line in frame # n + 1.

In frame #n, the foreground components corresponding to the objects included in the second through thirteenth pixels from the left are the sixth through seventeenth pixels from the left in frame # n + 1. included.

In frame #n, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the eleventh to thirteenth pixels from the left, and the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area are the second to fourth pixels from the left. .
In frame # n + 1, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left, and the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area are the sixth through eighth pixels from the left.

In the example shown in FIG. 28, since the foreground component included in frame #n has moved by four pixels in frame # n + 1, the motion amount v is 4. The number of virtual divisions is
It corresponds to the movement amount v and is 4.

Next, changes in pixel values of pixels belonging to the mixed area before and after the frame of interest will be described.

In frame #n shown in FIG. 29 where the background is stationary and the foreground motion amount v is 4, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the 15th through 17th pixels from the left.
The pixel of the th. Since the motion amount v is 4, the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left in the immediately preceding frame # n-1 include only background components and belong to the background area. In the immediately preceding frame # n-2, the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left include only background components and belong to the background area.

Here, since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the pixel value of the fifteenth pixel from the left of frame # n-1 is the pixel value of the fifteenth pixel from the left of frame # n-2. Does not change from. Similarly, 1 from the left of frame # n-1
The pixel value of the sixth pixel does not change from the pixel value of the sixteenth pixel from the left of frame # n-2, and the pixel value of the seventeenth pixel from the left of frame # n-1 is frame # n- 17 from the left of 2
It does not change from the pixel value of the th pixel.

That is, the frame corresponding to the pixel belonging to the covered background area in frame #n
The pixels of # n-1 and frame # n-2 are composed of only background components, and the pixel values do not change. Therefore, the absolute value of the difference is almost zero. Therefore, frame # n-1 and frame # n-1 corresponding to the pixels belonging to the mixed area in frame #n
The still / movement determination for the pixel # n-2 is performed by the still / movement determination unit 202-4.
Is determined to be stationary.

Since the pixels belonging to the covered background area in frame #n include the foreground components, the pixel values are different from those of frame # n-1 consisting of only the background components. Therefore, the still / movement determination for the pixel belonging to the mixed area in frame #n and the corresponding pixel in frame # n-1 is determined to be a movement by the still / movement determination unit 202-3.

As described above, the region determination unit 203-3 is supplied with the result of the static / moving determination indicating the motion from the static / moving determining unit 202-3, and receives the static / moving determination indicating the stillness from the static / moving determining unit 202-4. When the result is supplied, it is determined that the corresponding pixel belongs to the covered background area.

In the frame #n shown in FIG. 30 where the background is stationary and the foreground motion amount v is 4, the pixels included in the uncovered background area are the second to fourth pixels from the left. Since the motion amount v is 4, in the next frame # n + 1, the second to fourth pixels from the left include only background components and belong to the background area. Further, in the next frame # n + 2, the second to fourth pixels from the left include only the background component and belong to the background area.

Here, since the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the pixel value of the second pixel from the left of frame # n + 2 is the pixel value of the second pixel from the left of frame # n + 1. Does not change from. Similarly, the pixel value of the third pixel from the left of frame # n + 2 does not change from the pixel value of the third pixel from the left of frame # n + 1, and the pixel value of the third pixel from the left of frame # n + 2 does not change. Does not change from the pixel value of the fourth pixel from the left of frame # n + 1.

That is, the pixels of frame # n + 1 and frame # n + 2 corresponding to the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area in frame #n are composed of only the background components and the pixel values do not change. The absolute value of the difference is almost zero. Therefore, the still / movement determination for the pixels of frame # n + 1 and frame # n + 2 corresponding to the pixels belonging to the mixed area in frame #n is performed by the still / movement determination unit 20
According to 2-1, it is determined to be stationary.

Since the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area in frame #n include the foreground components,
A case where only the background component in frame # n + 1 is included,
Pixel values are different. Therefore, the still / movement determination for the pixels belonging to the mixed area in frame #n and the corresponding pixels in frame # n + 1 is determined to be a motion by the still / movement determination unit 202-2.

As described above, the area determining unit 203-1 is supplied with the result of the static / moving determination indicating the motion from the static / moving determining unit 202-2, and receives the static / moving determining unit 202-1 from the static / moving determining unit 202-1. When the result is supplied, it is determined that the corresponding pixel belongs to the uncovered background area.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the determination conditions of the area specifying unit 103 in frame #n. The pixel of frame # n-2 at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined in frame #n on the image and the pixel of frame #n in the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined in frame #n The pixel of a certain frame # n-1 is determined to be still, and the pixel of the frame # n-1 and the pixel of the frame #n at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined of the frame #n on the image Is determined to be a motion, the area specifying unit 103 determines that the pixel to be determined in the frame #n belongs to the covered background area.

The pixel of frame # n-1 and the pixel of frame #n at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined for frame #n on the image are determined to be still, and the pixel of frame #n is determined to be still. When the pixel of the frame # n + 1 located at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined in the frame #n on the image is determined to be still, the region identifying unit 103 determines the frame #n Is determined to belong to the still area.

The pixel of frame # n-1 and the pixel of frame #n at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined for frame #n on the image are determined to be moving, and the pixel of frame #n And the pixel of frame # n + 1 located at the same position as the position of the pixel to be determined in frame #n on the image, is determined to be moving. Is determined to belong to the motion area.

The pixel of frame #n and the pixel of frame # n + 1 located at the same position on the image as the pixel to be determined of frame #n are determined to be moving, and the determination of frame #n is performed. The pixel of frame # n + 1 located at the same position as the position of the target pixel on the image, and the frame # n + located at the same position on the image of the pixel targeted for determination of frame #n When the two pixels are determined to be still, the region specifying unit 103 determines that the pixel to be determined in the frame #n belongs to the uncovered background region.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a result of specifying an area by the area specifying unit 103. In FIG. In FIG. 32A, pixels determined to belong to the covered background area are displayed in white. In FIG. 32B, the pixels determined to belong to the uncovered background area are displayed in white.

In FIG. 32C, the pixels determined to belong to the motion area are displayed in white. FIG.
In (D), the pixels determined to belong to the still area are displayed in white.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing, as an image, area information indicating a mixed area among the area information output from the frame memory 206 for storing the determination flag. In FIG. 33, pixels determined to belong to the covered background area or the uncovered background area, that is, pixels determined to belong to the mixed area, are displayed in white.
The area information indicating the mixed area output from the determination flag storage frame memory 206 indicates the mixed area and the part having the texture surrounded by the non-textured part in the foreground area.

Next, the area specifying process of the area specifying unit 103 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In step S201, the frame memory 201 acquires images of frames # n-2 to # n + 2 including the frame #n to be determined.

[0209] In step S202, the static / movement determination unit 2
02-3, the pixel of frame # n-1 and the pixel at the same position of frame #n determine whether or not it is still, and if it is determined that it is still, proceed to step S203, 2
Determines whether the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are still.

If it is determined in step S203 that the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are still, the process proceeds to step S204, and the area determination unit 20
Step 3-2 sets “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the still area in the still area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined. The region determination unit 203-2 supplies the still region determination flag to the determination flag storage frame memory 204, and the procedure proceeds to step S205.

At step S202, frame # n-1
Pixel and the pixel at the same position of frame #n are determined to be moving, or in step S203, the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are determined to be moving. In this case, since the pixel of frame #n does not belong to the still area, the process of step S204 is skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S205.

[0212] In step S205, the static / movement determination unit 2
02-3, the pixel of frame # n-1 and the pixel at the same position of frame #n are used to determine whether or not a motion is detected. 2
Determines whether or not there is a motion between the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1.

If it is determined in step S206 that the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are determined to be moving, the process proceeds to step S207, where the area determination unit 20 determines
3-2 sets “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the motion area in the motion area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined. The area determination unit 203-2 supplies the motion area determination flag to the determination flag storage frame memory 204, and the procedure proceeds to step S208.

In step S205, frame # n-1
Pixel and the pixel at the same position of frame #n are determined to be still, or, at step S206, the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are determined to be still. In this case, since the pixel of frame #n does not belong to the motion area, the process of step S207 is skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S208.

[0215] In step S208, the static / motion judging section 2
02-4, the pixel of frame # n-2 and the pixel at the same position of frame # n-1 are used to determine whether or not they are stationary. 202-
No. 3 determines whether or not the pixel of frame # n-1 and the pixel at the same position of frame #n are moving.

In step S209, frame # n-1
If it is determined that there is a motion between the pixel of the frame #n and the pixel at the same position in the frame #n, the process proceeds to step S210, and the region determination unit 20
Step 3-3 sets “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the covered background area in the covered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined. The area determination unit 203-3 supplies the covered background area determination flag to the determination flag storage frame memory 204, and the procedure proceeds to step S211.

At step S208, frame # n-2
Is determined to be a motion between the pixel of the frame # n-1 and the pixel of the same position of the frame # n-1, or in step S209, the pixel of the frame # n-1 and the pixel of the same position of the frame #n are
If it is determined that the image is stationary, the pixel of frame #n does not belong to the covered background area.
0 is skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S211.
Proceed to.

In step S211, the static / movement determining unit 2
In step 02-2, it is determined whether or not the pixel of the frame #n and the pixel at the same position of the frame # n + 1 are moving. 1
Determines whether the pixel at frame # n + 1 and the pixel at the same position in frame # n + 2 are still.

At step S212, frame # n + 1
If it is determined that the pixel of the frame # n + 2 and the pixel at the same position in the frame # n + 2 are still, the process proceeds to step S213, and the region determination unit 2
03-1 sets “1” indicating that the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area in the uncovered background area determination flag corresponding to the pixel whose area is determined. The area determination unit 203-1 supplies the uncovered background area determination flag to the determination flag storage frame memory 204, and the procedure proceeds to step S214.

In step S211, when it is determined that the pixel of frame #n and the pixel at the same position of frame # n + 1 are still, or in step S212, the pixel of frame # n + 1 and the frame #n With the pixel at the same position of +2,
If it is determined that the pixel is in motion, the pixel of frame #n does not belong to the uncovered background area,
Step 213 is skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S2
Proceed to 14.

At step S214, region specifying unit 1
03 judges whether or not the area has been specified for all the pixels of frame #n. If it is determined that the area has not been specified for all the pixels of frame #n, the procedure returns to step S202. The region specifying process is repeated for other pixels.

If it is determined in step S214 that the region has been specified for all the pixels of frame #n,
Proceeding to step S215, the combining unit 205 generates area information indicating the mixed area based on the uncovered background area determination flag and the covered background area determination flag stored in the determination flag storage frame memory 204, Furthermore, area information indicating that each pixel belongs to any of the uncovered background area, the still area, the moving area, and the covered background area is generated, and the generated area information is set in the determination flag storage frame memory 206. Then, the process ends.

As described above, the area specifying unit 103 calculates the motion area,
Region information indicating belonging to a stationary region, an uncovered background region, or a covered background region can be generated.

The area specifying unit 103 generates area information corresponding to the mixed area by applying a logical sum to the area information corresponding to the uncovered background area and the covered background area, and includes the area information in the frame. For each of the pixels that have been set, area information including a flag indicating that the pixel belongs to a moving area, a still area, or a mixed area may be generated.

When the object corresponding to the foreground has a texture, the area specifying unit 103 can specify the moving area more accurately.

The area specifying unit 103 can output area information indicating a moving area as area information indicating a foreground area, and output area information indicating a still area as area information indicating a background area.

Although the description has been made assuming that the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the above-described processing for specifying the area can be applied even if the image corresponding to the background area includes motion. For example, when the image corresponding to the background area is moving uniformly, the area specifying unit 103 shifts the entire image in accordance with this movement, and performs the same processing as when the object corresponding to the background is stationary. I do. Also,
When the image corresponding to the background area includes a different motion for each local area, the area specifying unit 103 selects a pixel corresponding to the motion and executes the above-described processing.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of area specifying section 103. Area specifying unit 1 shown in FIG.
03 does not use a motion vector. Background image generation unit 3
01 generates a background image corresponding to the input image, and supplies the generated background image to the binary object image extraction unit 302. The background image generation unit 301 generates, for example, a background image by extracting an image object corresponding to a background object included in the input image.

FIG. 36 shows an example of a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels arranged in one row adjacent to the motion direction of the image corresponding to the foreground object are developed in the time direction. For example, when the motion direction of the image corresponding to the foreground object is horizontal with respect to the screen, the model diagram in FIG. 36 shows a model in which pixel values of adjacent pixels on one line are developed in the time direction.

In FIG. 36, the lines in frame #n are the same as the lines in frame # n-1 and frame # n + 1.

In frame #n, the foreground components corresponding to the objects included in the sixth through seventeenth pixels from the left become the second through thirteenth pixels from the left in frame # n-1. Included in the 10th to 21st pixels from the left in frame # n + 1.

In the frame # n−1, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the eleventh to thirteenth pixels from the left.
The second pixel, which belongs to the uncovered background area, is the second to fourth pixels from the left. In frame #n, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left, and the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area are the sixth through eighth pixels from the left. flame
In # n + 1, the pixels belonging to the covered background area are the 19th to 21st pixels from the left, and the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area are the 10th to 12th pixels from the left.

In frame # n-1, the pixels belonging to the background area are the first pixel from the left and the fourteenth through twenty-first pixels from the left. In frame #n, the pixels belonging to the background area are the first through fifth pixels from the left and the eighteenth through twenty-first pixels from the left. In frame # n + 1, the pixels belonging to the background area are the first through ninth pixels from the left.

FIG. 36 shows a diagram generated by the background image generation unit 301.
FIG. 37 shows an example of the background image corresponding to the example of FIG. The background image is composed of pixels corresponding to the background object,
The image component corresponding to the foreground object is not included.

The binary object image extracting section 302 generates a binary object image based on the correlation between the background image and the input image, and supplies the generated binary object image to the time change detecting section 303.

FIG. 38 shows the binary object image extracting unit 3
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the second embodiment. Correlation value calculator 32
1 calculates a correlation between the background image and the input image supplied from the background image generation unit 301, generates a correlation value, and supplies the generated correlation value to the threshold processing unit 322.

The correlation value calculating section 321 is provided, for example, in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 39A, a block in the 3 × 3 background image centered on X ₄ and a center in Y ₄ corresponding to the block in the background image as shown in FIG. 3 × 3
Applying equation (4) to the block in the input image of
Calculate the correlation value corresponding to ₄ .

[0238]

(Equation 2)

(Equation 3)

(Equation 4)

The correlation value calculation section 321 supplies the correlation value calculated for each pixel as described above to the threshold value processing section 322.

[0240] Further, the correlation value calculation unit 321, for example, as shown in FIG. 40 (A), a block in the 3 × 3 of the background image around the X _4, as shown in FIG. 40 (B) To
3 centered on Y ₄ corresponding to the block in the background image
Equation (7) may be applied to a block in the × 3 input image to calculate the absolute difference value corresponding to Y ₄ .

[0241]

(Equation 5)

The correlation value calculation section 321 uses the difference absolute value calculated in this way as a correlation value and sets the threshold value processing section 322
To supply.

The threshold value processing section 322 compares the pixel value of the correlation image with the threshold value th0, and sets 1 to the pixel value of the binary object image if the correlation value is equal to or smaller than the threshold value th0. If the correlation value is larger than the threshold value th0, the pixel value of the binary object image is set to 0, and a binary object image in which 0 or 1 is set as the pixel value is output. The threshold value processing unit 322 may store the threshold value th0 in advance, or the threshold value th0 input from the outside may be used.
0 may be used.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of a binary object image corresponding to the model of the input image shown in FIG.
In the binary object image, 0 is set to the pixel value of a pixel having a high correlation with the background image.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing the structure of the time change detecting section 303. When determining the area for the pixel of frame #n, the frame memory 341 receives the frame # n- supplied from the binary object image extraction unit 302.
The binary object images of 1, frame #n, and frame # n + 1 are stored.

[0246] The area determination section 342
Based on the binary object images of frame # n-1, frame #n, and frame # n + 1 stored in
A region is determined for each pixel of #n, region information is generated, and the generated region information is output.

FIG. 43 is a view for explaining the determination by the area determination section 342. When the pixel of interest in the binary object image of frame #n is 0, the region determination unit 342
It is determined that the pixel of interest in frame #n belongs to the background area.

The pixel of interest of the binary object image of frame #n is 1, the corresponding pixel of the binary object image of frame # n-1 is 1, and the pixel of interest of frame # n + 1 is 2.
When the corresponding pixel of the value object image is 1, the area determination unit 342 determines that the pixel of interest in frame #n belongs to the foreground area.

When the pixel of interest of the binary object image of frame #n is 1 and the corresponding pixel of the binary object image of frame # n-1 is 0, the area determination unit 3
42 determines that the pixel of interest in frame #n belongs to the covered background area.

When the pixel of interest of the binary object image of frame #n is 1 and the corresponding pixel of the binary object image of frame # n + 1 is 0, the area determination unit 3
42 determines that the pixel of interest in frame #n belongs to the uncovered background area.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an example in which the time change detection unit 303 determines the binary object image corresponding to the model of the input image shown in FIG. Since the pixel corresponding to frame #n of the binary object image is 0, the time change detection unit 303 determines that the first to fifth pixels from the left of frame #n
It is determined that the th pixel belongs to the background area.

Since the pixel of frame #n of the binary object image is 1 and the corresponding pixel of frame # n + 1 is 0, the time change detection unit 303 uncovers the sixth through ninth pixels from the left. It is determined that it belongs to the background area.

The time change detection unit 303 determines that the pixel of frame #n of the binary object image is 1, the corresponding pixel of frame # n-1 is 1, and the corresponding pixel of frame # n + 1 is 1. Therefore, it is determined that the tenth to thirteenth pixels from the left belong to the foreground area.

The time change detection unit 303 covers the 14th through 17th pixels from the left since the pixel of frame #n of the binary object image is 1 and the corresponding pixel of frame # n-1 is 0. It is determined that it belongs to the ground area.

Since the pixel corresponding to frame #n of the binary object image is 0, the time change detecting section 303 determines that the 18th to 21st pixels from the left belong to the background area.

Next, referring to the flow chart of FIG. 45, the area specifying process of the area determination unit 103 will be described. In step S301, the background image generation unit 301 of the area determination unit 103 generates a background image by extracting, for example, an image object corresponding to a background object included in the input image based on the input image, and generates the background image. Image 2
It is supplied to the value object image extraction unit 302.

In step S302, the binary object image extraction unit 302 calculates a correlation value between the input image and the background image supplied from the background image generation unit 301 by the calculation described with reference to FIG. 39, for example. . In step S303, the binary object image extraction unit 302
Calculates a binary object image from the correlation value and the threshold value th0, for example, by comparing the correlation value with a threshold value th0.

In step S304, time change detecting section 303 executes a process of area determination, and the process ends.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 46, the details of the area determination processing corresponding to step S304 will be described. In step S321, the time change detection unit 303
Is determined in the frame #n stored in the frame memory 341 as to whether or not the pixel of interest is 0. In the frame #n, the pixel of interest is
When it is determined to be 0, the process proceeds to step S322,
The target pixel of frame #n is set to belong to the background area, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step S 321 that the pixel of interest is 1 in frame #n, the flow advances to step S 323, and the area determination unit 342 of the time change detection unit 303 stores the frame in the frame memory 341. In frame #n, the pixel of interest is 1, and
In the frame # n-1, it is determined whether or not the corresponding pixel is 0. In the frame #n, the pixel of interest is 1, and in the frame # n-1, the corresponding pixel is 0. If it is determined that the target pixel of the frame #n belongs to the covered background area, the process proceeds to step S324, and the process ends.

In step S323, in the frame #n, the pixel of interest is 0, or the frame #n
When it is determined that the corresponding pixel is 1 in n−1, the process proceeds to step S325, and the area determination unit 342 of the time change detection unit 303 focuses on the frame #n stored in the frame memory 341. Pixel is 1,
Also, in frame # n + 1, it is determined whether the corresponding pixel is 0 or not, and in frame #n, the pixel of interest is
If it is 1, and it is determined that the corresponding pixel is 0 in frame # n + 1, the process proceeds to step S326, where it is set that the target pixel of frame #n belongs to the uncovered background area. , The process ends.

In step S325, in the frame #n, the pixel of interest is 0, or the frame #n
When it is determined that the corresponding pixel is 1 at n + 1, the process proceeds to step S327, and the region determination unit 342 of the time change detection unit 303 sets the target pixel of the frame #n as the foreground region, The process ends.

As described above, based on the correlation value between the input image and the corresponding background image, the area specifying unit 103 determines whether the pixels of the input image are the foreground area, the background area, the covered background area, and the uncovered back area. It is possible to specify which of the ground areas belongs to, and generate area information corresponding to the specified result.

FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing another configuration of area specifying section 103. Area specifying unit 103 shown in FIG.
Uses the motion vector supplied from the motion detection unit 102 and its position information. The same portions as those shown in FIG. 35 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0265] The robust section 361 outputs the 2 frames of N frames supplied from the binary object image extracting section 302.
A robust binary object image is generated based on the value object image and output to the time change detection unit 303.

FIG. 48 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of robust unit 361. The motion compensating unit 381 compensates for the motion of the binary object images of the N frames based on the motion vector and the positional information supplied from the motion detecting unit 102, and generates the motion-compensated binary object image. Output to switch 382.

The motion compensation of the motion compensation unit 381 will be described with reference to the examples of FIGS. For example, when determining the region of frame #n, when the binary object images of frame # n-1, frame #n, and frame # n + 1 shown in FIG. 49 are input, the motion compensation unit 381 ,
Based on the motion vector supplied from the motion detection unit 102,
As shown in the example in FIG. 50, the binary object image of frame # n-1 and the binary object image of frame # n + 1 are motion-compensated and the motion-compensated binary object image is supplied to the switch 382. I do.

The switch 382 stores the motion-compensated binary object image of the first frame in the frame memory 3.
83-1, and outputs the motion-compensated binary object image of the second frame to the frame memory 383-2. Similarly, the switches 382 are third to N-1
The motion-compensated binary object image of the Nth frame is output to one of the frame memories 383-3 to 383- (N-1), and the motion-compensated binary object image of the Nth frame is output. To the frame memory 383-N.

The frame memory 383-1 stores the motion-compensated binary object image of the first frame, and outputs the stored binary object image to the weighting unit 384-1. The frame memory 383-2 is
The motion-compensated binary object image of the second frame is stored, and the stored binary object image is output to the weighting unit 384-2.

Similarly, each of the frame memories 383-3 to 383- (N-1) stores any one of the motion-compensated binary object images of the third to N-1st frames. Then, the stored binary object image is output to one of the weighting units 384-3 to 384- (N-1).
The frame memory 383-N stores the motion-compensated binary object image of the Nth frame, and outputs the stored binary object image to the weighting unit 384-N.

The weighting section 384-1 provides a predetermined weight to the pixel value of the motion-compensated binary object image of the first frame supplied from the frame memory 383-1.
The product is multiplied by w1 and supplied to the integrating unit 385. Weighting unit 38
4-2 is the 2 supplied from the frame memory 383-2.
The pixel value of the motion-compensated binary object image of the second frame is multiplied by a predetermined weight w2 and supplied to the integration unit 385.

Similarly, each of the weighting units 384-3 to 384- (N-1) is the third to the third memory supplied from any of the frame memories 383-3 to 383- (N-1). The pixel value of the motion-compensated binary object image of any one of the (N-1) th frames is multiplied by one of the predetermined weights w3 to w (N-1) and supplied to the accumulator 385. Weighting unit 384-N
Multiplies the pixel value of the motion-compensated binary object image of the N-th frame supplied from the frame memory 383-N by a predetermined weight wN, and supplies the result to the integration unit 385.

The accumulating unit 385 accumulates the corresponding pixel values of the binary object image, which are motion-compensated for the first to Nth frames and multiplied by one of the weights w1 to wN, respectively. A binary object image is generated by comparing the value with a predetermined threshold value th0.

As described above, the robust unit 361 generates a robust binary object image from the N binary object images and supplies the generated binary object image to the time change detecting unit 303. The configuration is shown in FIG. Even if the input image includes noise, the area specifying unit 103 can specify the area more accurately than in the case shown in FIG.

Next, the area specifying unit 10 shown in FIG.
The area specifying process 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Step S341 to step S
The process of step 343 is the same as step S301 to step S303 described in the flowchart of FIG. 45, and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0276] In step S344, the robust unit 361 executes robust processing.

[0277] In step S345, time change detecting section 303 executes the process of area determination, and the process ends. Details of the processing in step S345 are the same as the processing described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 46, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the details of the robust processing corresponding to the processing in step S344 in FIG. 51 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Step S36
In 1, the motion compensator 381 executes a motion compensation process for the input binary object image based on the motion vector supplied from the motion detector 102 and its position information. In step S362, the frame memory 383
Any of -1 to 383-N stores the motion-compensated binary object image supplied via the switch 382.

In step S363, robust unit 361 determines whether or not N binary object images have been stored. If it is determined that N binary object images have not been stored, robust unit 361 determines whether or not N binary object images have been stored. Back to
The motion compensation processing of the binary object image and the storage processing of the binary object image are repeated.

If it is determined in step S363 that N binary object images have been stored, the flow advances to step S364, where the weighting units 384-1 to 384-
Each of N is weighted by multiplying each of the N binary object images by a weight of any of w1 to wN.

At step S365, accumulating section 385
Multiplies N weighted binary object images.

At step S366, integrating section 385
Generates a binary object image from the integrated image, for example, by comparison with a predetermined threshold value th1, and the process ends.

As described above, the area specifying unit 103 shown in FIG. 47 can generate area information based on a robust binary object image.

[0284] As described above, the area specifying unit 103 obtains, for each of the pixels included in the frame, the area information indicating that the pixel belongs to the moving area, the still area, the uncovered background area, or the covered background area. Can be generated.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mixture ratio calculating section 104. Estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
Calculates an estimated mixture ratio for each pixel by an operation corresponding to the model of the covered background area based on the input image, and supplies the calculated estimated mixture ratio to the mixture ratio determination unit 403.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 calculates an estimated mixture ratio for each pixel by an operation corresponding to the model of the uncovered background area based on the input image, and determines the calculated estimated mixture ratio for the mixture ratio. To the unit 403.

Since it can be assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is moving at a constant speed within the shutter time, the mixture ratio α of the pixels belonging to the mixed area has the following properties. That is, the mixture ratio α changes linearly in accordance with the change in the position of the pixel. If the change in the pixel position is one-dimensional, the change in the mixture ratio α can be represented by a straight line. If the change in the pixel position is two-dimensional, the change in the mixture ratio α is represented by a plane. be able to.

Since the period of one frame is short, it is assumed that the object corresponding to the foreground is a rigid body and moves at a constant speed.

In this case, the inclination of the mixture ratio α is the inverse ratio of the amount of movement v of the foreground within the shutter time.

FIG. 54 shows an example of the ideal mixture ratio α. The gradient l in the mixing region having the ideal mixing ratio α can be represented as the reciprocal of the motion amount v.

As shown in FIG. 54, the ideal mixture ratio α
Has a value of 1 in the background region, a value of 0 in the foreground region, and a value exceeding 0 and less than 1 in the mixed region.

In the example of FIG. 55, the pixel value C06 of the seventh pixel from the left of frame #n is 7
Expression (8) can be expressed by using the pixel value P06 of the th pixel.

[0293]

(Equation 6)

In equation (8), the pixel value C06 is expressed as the pixel value M of the pixel in the mixed area, and the pixel value P06 is expressed as the pixel value B of the pixel in the background area. That is, the pixel value M of the pixel in the mixed area and the pixel value B of the pixel in the background area are respectively expressed by Equation (9).
And Expression (10).

M = C06 (9) B = P06 (10)

2 / v in the equation (8) corresponds to the mixture ratio α. Since the motion amount v is 4, the mixture ratio α of the seventh pixel from the left of frame #n is 0.5.

As described above, the pixel value C of the focused frame #n is regarded as the pixel value of the mixed area, and the pixel value P of the frame # n-1 before the frame #n is regarded as the pixel value of the background area. By considering this, Expression (3) indicating the mixture ratio α can be rewritten as Expression (11).

C = α · P + f (11) f in Expression (11) is the sum Σ _i Fi / v of the foreground components included in the pixel of interest. The variables included in equation (11) are the mixture ratio α and the sum f of the foreground components.

Similarly, FIG. 56 shows a model obtained by expanding pixel values in the uncovered background area in which the amount of motion v is 4 and the number of virtual divisions in the time direction is 4, in the time direction.

In the uncovered background area, similarly to the expression in the covered background area described above, the pixel value C of the frame #n of interest is regarded as the pixel value of the mixed area, and the frame #n after the frame #n n + 1
Equation (3) indicating the mixture ratio α can be expressed as Equation (12) by regarding the pixel value N of the pixel value as the pixel value of the background area.

C = α · N + f (12)

Although the background object has been described as being stationary, even when the background object is moving, the pixel value of the pixel at the position corresponding to the background movement amount v can be used. Equations (8) to (1)
2) can be applied. For example, in FIG. 55, when the motion amount v of the object corresponding to the background is 2 and the number of virtual divisions is 2, when the object corresponding to the background is moving to the right in the drawing, The pixel value B of the pixel in the background area is set to a pixel value P04.

Since the equations (11) and (12) each include two variables, the mixture ratio α cannot be obtained as it is. Here, since an image generally has a strong spatial correlation, adjacent pixels have substantially the same pixel value.

Since the foreground components have a strong spatial correlation, the equation is modified so that the sum f of the foreground components can be derived from the previous or subsequent frame, and the mixture ratio α is determined.

The pixel value Mc of the seventh pixel from the left of frame #n in FIG. 57 can be expressed by equation (13).

[0306]

(Equation 7) 2 / v in the first term on the right side of the equation (13) corresponds to the mixture ratio α. The second term on the right side of Expression (13) is expressed as Expression (14) using the pixel value of the subsequent frame # n + 1.

[0307]

(Equation 8)

Here, it is assumed that Expression (15) is established using the spatial correlation of the foreground components.

[0309] F = F05 = F06 = F07 = F08 = F09 = F10 = F11 = F12
(15) Expression (14) can be replaced by expression (16) using expression (15).

[0310]

(Equation 9)

As a result, β can be expressed by equation (17).

Β = 2/4 (17)

In general, assuming that the foreground components related to the mixed area are equal as shown in equation (15), equation (18) is obtained from the relationship of the internal division ratio for all the pixels in the mixed area.
Holds.

Β = 1-α (18)

If equation (18) holds, then equation (1)
1) can be expanded as shown in equation (19).

[0316]

(Equation 10)

Similarly, if equation (18) holds, then
Equation (12) can be expanded as shown in equation (20).

[0318]

[Equation 11]

In equations (19) and (20),
Since C, N, and P are known pixel values, the only variable included in Expressions (19) and (20) is the mixture ratio α. FIG. 58 shows the relationship between C, N, and P in Expressions (19) and (20). C calculates the mixture ratio α,
This is the pixel value of the pixel of interest in frame #n. N is
The pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 corresponding to the pixel of interest and the position in the spatial direction. P is the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n-1 corresponding to the pixel of interest and the position in the spatial direction.

Therefore, since each of the equations (19) and (20) includes one variable, the mixture ratio α can be calculated using the pixel values of the pixels of the three frames. . By solving equations (19) and (20), the conditions for calculating the correct mixture ratio α are as follows:
Foreground components related to the mixed region, that is, pixels located at the boundary of the image object corresponding to the direction of motion of the foreground object in the foreground image object captured when the foreground object is stationary That is, the pixel values of the continuous pixels twice as many as the motion amount v are constant.

As described above, the mixture ratio α of the pixels belonging to the covered background area is calculated by the equation (21), and the mixture ratio α of the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area is calculated by the equation (22). You.

Α = (C-N) / (P-N) (21) α = (C-P) / (N-P) (22)

FIG. 59 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401. The frame memory 421 stores the input image in units of frames, and supplies the next frame after the frame input as the input image to the frame memory 422 and the mixture ratio calculation unit 423.

[0324] The frame memory 422 stores the input image in frame units, and supplies the next frame from the frame supplied from the frame memory 421 to the mixture ratio calculation unit 423.

Therefore, when frame # n + 1 is input as an input image to the mixture ratio calculator 423, the frame memory 421 supplies the frame #n to the mixture ratio calculator 423, and the frame memory 422 stores the frame #n. # n−1 is supplied to the mixture ratio calculation unit 423.

The mixture ratio calculation unit 423 calculates the pixel value of the pixel of interest in frame #n by the calculation shown in equation (21).
C, the pixel value N of the pixel of frame # n + 1 corresponding to the pixel of interest and the spatial position, and the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n-1 corresponding to the pixel of interest and the spatial position Based on the value P, an estimated mixture ratio of the pixel of interest is calculated, and the calculated estimated mixture ratio is output. For example, when the background is stationary, the mixture ratio calculation unit 423 determines the pixel value C of the pixel of interest in the frame #n, the pixel value of the frame # n + 1 having the same position in the frame as the pixel of interest. Frame #n, where the pixel value N of the pixel and the position of the pixel of interest in the frame are the same
Based on the pixel value P of the pixel of −1, the estimated mixing ratio of the pixel of interest is calculated, and the calculated estimated mixing ratio is output.

Thus, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
An estimated mixture ratio can be calculated based on the input image and supplied to the mixture ratio determination unit 403.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 calculates the estimated mixture ratio of the pixel of interest by the calculation shown in Expression (21), whereas the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 calculates Expression (22). Is the same as that of the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 except that the part for calculating the estimated mixture ratio of the pixel of interest is different from the operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing an example of the estimated mixture ratio calculated by the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401. The estimated mixture ratio shown in FIG. 60 shows a result in a case where the amount of movement v of the foreground corresponding to an object moving at a constant speed is 11, for one line.

The estimated mixture ratio in the mixed region is shown in FIG.
It can be seen that as shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 53, the mixture ratio determining unit 403 determines whether the pixel for which the mixture ratio α is supplied from the region specifying unit 103 is a foreground region, a background region, a covered background region, or an uncovered region. The mixing ratio α is set based on area information indicating whether the pixel belongs to any of the background areas. The mixture ratio determination unit 403 sets 0 to the mixture ratio α when the target pixel belongs to the foreground region, and sets 1 to the mixture ratio α when the target pixel belongs to the background region, and sets the mixture ratio α. If the pixel belongs to the covered background area, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 is set to the mixture ratio α, and if the target pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit The estimated mixture ratio supplied from 402 is set to the mixture ratio α. The mixture ratio determination unit 403 outputs a mixture ratio α set based on the region information.

FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the mixture ratio calculating section 104. In FIG. The selecting unit 441 supplies the pixels belonging to the covered background area and the corresponding pixels of the previous and subsequent frames to the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 442 based on the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 103. The selection unit 441 supplies the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area and the corresponding pixels of the previous and subsequent frames to the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 443 based on the area information supplied from the area identification unit 103. .

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 442 includes a selection unit 441
Based on the pixel value input from, the estimated mixture ratio of the pixel of interest belonging to the covered background area is calculated by the operation shown in Expression (21), and the calculated estimated mixture ratio is sent to the selection unit 444. Supply.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 443 is
Based on the pixel value input from, the estimated mixture ratio of the pixel of interest belonging to the uncovered background area is calculated by the operation shown in Expression (22), and the calculated estimated mixture ratio is selected by the selection unit 444. To supply.

When the target pixel belongs to the foreground area, the selecting section 444 selects an estimated mixture ratio of 0 based on the area information supplied from the area specifying section 103, and selects the estimated mixture ratio α.
If the target pixel belongs to the background area, 1
Is selected and set to the mixture ratio α. When the target pixel belongs to the covered background area, the selection unit 444 selects the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 442 and sets the mixture to the mixture ratio α, and sets the target pixel to uncovered background. If it belongs to the ground area, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 443 is selected and set as the mixture ratio α. The selection unit 444
The mixture ratio α selected and set based on the region information is output.

As described above, the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 having another configuration shown in FIG. 61 can calculate the mixture ratio α for each pixel included in the image, and can output the calculated mixture ratio α.

Referring to the flowchart of FIG. 62, FIG.
The process of calculating the mixture ratio α by the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 having the configuration shown in FIG. In step S401, the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 acquires the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103. In step S402, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 executes a process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio using a model corresponding to the covered background area, and supplies the calculated estimated mixture ratio to the mixture ratio determination unit 403. The details of the calculation process of the mixture ratio estimation will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0338] In step S403, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 executes a process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio using a model corresponding to the uncovered background area.
The calculated estimated mixture ratio is supplied to the mixture ratio determination unit 403.

In step S404, the mixture ratio calculator 104 determines whether the mixture ratio α has been estimated for the entire frame. If it is determined that the mixture ratio α has not been estimated for the entire frame, the process proceeds to step S404. Returning to S402, a process of estimating the mixture ratio α for the next pixel is executed.

If it is determined in step S404 that the mixture ratio α has been estimated for the entire frame, the process proceeds to step S405, where the mixture ratio determination unit 403 determines that the pixel is
Foreground area, background area, covered background area,
Alternatively, the mixing ratio α is set based on the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 103, which indicates which of the uncovered background areas belongs. Mixing ratio determining unit 403
Sets 0 to the mixture ratio α when the target pixel belongs to the foreground region, and sets 1 to the mixture ratio α when the target pixel belongs to the background region, and sets the target pixel to the covered background. If it belongs to the region, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 is set to the mixture ratio α,
If the target pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 is set to the mixture ratio α, and the process ends.

As described above, the mixture ratio calculation section 104 can calculate the mixture ratio α, which is a feature amount corresponding to each pixel, based on the area information supplied from the area identification section 103 and the input image. .

The processing of calculating the mixture ratio α by the mixture ratio calculator 104 shown in FIG. 61 is the same as the processing described in the flowchart of FIG. 62, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the process of estimating the mixture ratio using the model corresponding to the covered background area, corresponding to step S402 in FIG. 62, will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S421, the mixture ratio calculation unit 423 acquires the pixel value C of the target pixel of frame #n from the frame memory 421.

[0345] In step S422, the mixture ratio calculation unit 423 acquires, from the frame memory 422, the pixel value P of the pixel in frame # n-1 corresponding to the pixel of interest.

In step S423, the mixture ratio calculation unit 423 obtains the pixel value N of the pixel of frame # n + 1 corresponding to the pixel of interest included in the input image.

[0347] In step S424, the mixture ratio calculator 423 determines the pixel value C of the target pixel in frame #n,
An estimated mixture ratio is calculated based on the pixel value P of the pixel of n−1 and the pixel value N of the pixel of frame # n + 1.

In step S425, the mixture ratio calculation section 423 determines whether or not the process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio has been completed for the entire frame, and has completed the process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio for the entire frame. If it is determined that there is no pixel, the process returns to step S421, and the process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio for the next pixel is repeated.

If it is determined in step S425 that the process of calculating the estimated mixture ratio has been completed for the entire frame, the process ends.

Thus, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
The estimated mixture ratio can be calculated based on the input image.

The process of estimating the mixture ratio using the model corresponding to the uncovered background region in step S403 in FIG. 62 is similar to the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 63 using the equation corresponding to the model of the uncovered background region. Therefore, the description is omitted.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 44 shown in FIG.
2 and the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 443 calculate the estimated mixture ratio by executing the same processing as that in the flowchart shown in FIG. 63, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

Although the description has been made assuming that the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the above-described processing for obtaining the mixture ratio α can be applied even when the image corresponding to the background area includes motion. For example, when the image corresponding to the background region is moving uniformly, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
The entire image is shifted according to the movement of the background, and the processing is performed in the same manner as when the object corresponding to the background is stationary. When the image corresponding to the background area includes a background motion that differs for each local area, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
Performs the above-described processing by selecting a pixel corresponding to the background movement as a pixel corresponding to a pixel belonging to the mixed area.

Further, the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 executes only the mixture ratio estimation process using the model corresponding to the covered background area for all the pixels, and outputs the calculated estimated mixture ratio as the mixture ratio α. You may do so. In this case, the mixture ratio α indicates the ratio of the background component with respect to the pixels belonging to the covered background region, and indicates the ratio of the foreground component with respect to the pixels belonging to the uncovered background region. For pixels belonging to the uncovered background area, the absolute value of the difference between the mixture ratio α thus calculated and 1 is calculated,
If the calculated absolute value is set to the mixture ratio α, the signal processing device can obtain the mixture ratio α indicating the ratio of the background component for the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area.

Similarly, the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 executes only the mixture ratio estimation process using the model corresponding to the uncovered background area for all the pixels, and calculates the calculated mixture mixture ratio. You may make it output as (alpha).

Next, another process of the mixture ratio calculating section 104 will be described.

During the shutter time, by utilizing the property that the mixture ratio α changes linearly in response to the change in the pixel position due to the movement of the object corresponding to the foreground at a constant speed, An equation approximating the mixture ratio α and the sum f of the foreground components can be established. By using a plurality of pairs of pixel values of pixels belonging to the mixed region and pixel values of pixels belonging to the background region, the mixture ratio α is solved by solving an equation that approximates the mixture ratio α and the sum f of foreground components. calculate.

When the change in the mixture ratio α is approximated as a straight line, the mixture ratio α is expressed by the following equation (23).

Α = il + p (23) In Expression (23), i is an index in the spatial direction with the position of the pixel of interest set to 0. l is the slope of the straight line of the mixture ratio α. p is the intercept of the straight line of the mixture ratio α and the mixture ratio α of the pixel of interest. Equation (2
In 3), the index i is known, but the slope l
And the intercept p are unknown.

FIG. 64 shows the relationship among the index i, the slope l, and the intercept p.

By approximating the mixture ratio α as in equation (23), a plurality of different mixture ratios α
Is represented by two variables. In the example shown in FIG. 64, five mixture ratios for five pixels are expressed by two variables, ie, a slope 1 and an intercept p.

When the mixture ratio α is approximated by the plane shown in FIG. 65, when considering the movement v corresponding to the two directions of the horizontal and vertical directions of the image, the expression (23) is extended to a plane to obtain the mixture ratio α. α is represented by equation (24).

Α = jm + kq + p (24) In equation (24), j is a horizontal index where the position of the pixel of interest is 0, and k is a vertical index. m is the horizontal inclination of the plane having the mixture ratio α, and q is the vertical inclination of the plane having the mixture ratio α. p is the intercept of the plane with the mixture ratio α.

For example, in frame #n shown in FIG. 55, equations (25) to (27) hold for C05 to C07, respectively.

C05 = α05 · B05 / v + f05 (25) C06 = α06 · B06 / v + f06 (26) C07 = α07 · B07 / v + f07 (27)

The components of the foreground match in the vicinity, that is,
Assuming that F01 to F03 are equal, when F01 to F03 is replaced with Fc, the equation (28) is established.

F (x) = (1−α (x)) · Fc (28) In Expression (28), x represents a position in the spatial direction.

When α (x) is replaced by equation (24), equation (28) can be expressed as equation (29).

F (x) = (1- (jm + kq + p)) · Fc = j · (−m · Fc) + k · (−q · Fc) + ((1-p) · Fc) = js + kt + u (29)

In the equation (29), (−m · Fc), (−q ·
Fc) and (1-p) · Fc are given by equations (30) to (32).
Has been replaced as shown.

S = -m · Fc (30) t = -q · Fc (31) u = (1-p) · Fc (32)

In equation (29), j is a horizontal index where the position of the pixel of interest is 0,
k is a vertical index.

As described above, the assumption that the object corresponding to the foreground moves at a constant speed within the shutter time and the component corresponding to the foreground is constant in the vicinity is established. 29).

When the mixture ratio α is approximated by a straight line, the sum of the foreground components can be expressed by equation (33).

F (x) = is + u (33)

If the sum of the mixture ratio α and the foreground component in Expression (13) is replaced by using Expressions (24) and (29), the pixel value M is expressed by Expression (34).

M = (jm + kq + p) B + js + kt + u = jBm + kBq + Bp + js + kt + u (34)

In equation (34), the unknown variables are the horizontal gradient m of the surface of the mixture ratio α, the vertical gradient q of the surface of the mixture ratio α, and the intercepts p, s, t of the surface of the mixture ratio α. , And u.

The pixel value M or the pixel value B is set in the normal equation shown in Expression (34) in correspondence with the pixel in the vicinity of the pixel of interest, and a plurality of pixels in which the pixel value M or the pixel value B is set are set. Is solved by the least squares method to calculate the mixture ratio α.

For example, the horizontal index j of the pixel of interest is set to 0, the vertical index k is set to 0, and for a 3 × 3 pixel near the pixel of interest,
When the pixel value M or the pixel value B is set in the normal equation shown in Expression (34), Expressions (35) to (43) are obtained. M _{-1, -1} = ( _-1 ) ・ B _{-1, -1}・ m + ( _-1 ) ・ B _{-1, -1}・ q + B _{-1, -1}・ p + ( _-1 ) ・ s + (- 1) ・ t + u (35) M _{0, -1} = (0) ・ B _{0, -1}・ m + ( _-1 ) ・ B _{0, -1}・ q + B _{0, -1}・ p + (0) ・s + ( _-1 ) .t + u (36) M _{+ 1, -1} = (+ 1) B _{+ 1, -1m} + ( _-1 ) B _{+ 1,} -1q + B _{+ 1 -1}・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (-1) ・ t + u (37) M _-1,0 = ( _-1 ) ・ B _-1,0・ m + (0) ・ B _-1,0・ q + B _-1,0・ p + ( _-1 ) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (38) M _0,0 = (0) ・ B _0,0・ m + (0) ・ B _0,0・ q + B _0,0・ p + (0) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (39) M + _1,0 = (+ 1) ・ B + _1,0・ m + (0) ・ B + _1,0・ q + B _+1,0・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (40) M _{-1, + 1} = ( _-1 ) ・ B _{-1, + 1}・ m + (+ 1) ・ B _{-1, +} 1.q + B _{-1, +} 1.p + ( _-1 ) .s + (+ 1) .t + u (41) M _{0, + 1} = (0) .B _{0, +} 1.m + (+1) · B _{0, + 1} · q + B _{0, + 1} · p + (0) · s + (+ 1) · t + u (42) M _{+ 1, + 1} = (+ 1) · B _{+ 1, + 1} · m + (+ 1) · B _{+ 1, + 1} · q + B _{+ 1, + 1} · p + (+ 1) · s + (+ 1) · t + u (43)

Since the horizontal index j of the pixel of interest is 0 and the vertical index k of the pixel of interest is 0, the mixture ratio α of the pixel of interest is given by equation (24).
It is equal to the value at j = 0 and k = 0, that is, equal to the intercept p.

Therefore, based on the nine equations (35) to (43), each of the horizontal gradient m, the vertical gradient q, the intercepts p, s, t, and u is calculated by the least square method. May be calculated and the intercept p may be output as the mixture ratio α.

Next, a more specific procedure for calculating the mixture ratio α by applying the least squares method will be described.

When the index i and the index k are represented by one index x, the relationship between the index i, the index k, and the index x is expressed by the following equation (44).

X = (j + 1) · 3 + (k + 1) (44)

[0386] Horizontal inclination m, vertical inclination q, intercept
Express p, s, t, and u as variables w0, w1, w2, w3, w4, and W5, respectively, and jB, kB, B, j, k, and 1 as a0, a1,
Expressed as a2, a3, a4, and a5. Considering the error ex,
Equations (35) to (43) can be rewritten as equation (45).

[0387]

(Equation 12) In Expression (45), x is any value of an integer from 0 to 8.

From equation (45), equation (46) can be derived.

[0389]

(Equation 13)

Here, in order to apply the least squares method, the sum of squares E of the error is defined as shown in Expression (47).

[0391]

[Equation 14]

To minimize the error, the sum of the squares of the error
What is necessary is that the partial derivative of the variable Wv with respect to E becomes zero. Here, v is any value of an integer from 0 to 5. Therefore, wy is calculated so as to satisfy Expression (48).

[0393]

(Equation 15)

By substituting equation (46) into equation (48), equation (49) is obtained.

[0395]

(Equation 16)

By applying, for example, a sweeping-out method (Gauss-Jordan elimination method) to six equations obtained by substituting any one of integers from 0 to 5 into v in equation (49), wy Is calculated. As described above, w0 is the horizontal gradient m, w1 is the vertical gradient q, w2 is the intercept p, w3
Is s, w4 is t, and w5 is u.

As described above, by applying the least squares method to the equation in which the pixel value M and the pixel value B are set, the horizontal gradient m, the vertical gradient q, the intercepts p, s, t, and u can ask.

In the description corresponding to the equations (35) to (43), the pixel value of the pixel included in the mixed area is M,
Although the pixel value of the pixel included in the background area has been described as B, the normal equation is applied to the case where the pixel of interest is included in the covered background area or the case where the pixel of interest is included in the uncovered background area. Need to be established.

For example, when calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the covered background area of the frame #n shown in FIG. 55, the pixels C04 to C08 of the frame #n and the pixels of the frame # n-1 Values P04 to P08 are set in the normal equation.

When calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the uncovered background area of frame #n shown in FIG. 56, the pixel values of C28 to C32 of the pixel of frame #n and the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 N28 to N32 are set in the normal equation.

For example, when calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the covered background area shown in FIG. 66, the following equations (50) to (58) are established. The pixel value of the pixel for calculating the mixture ratio α is Mc5. Mc1 = (-1) ・ Bc1 ・ m + (-1) ・ Bc1 ・ q + Bc1 ・ p + (-1) ・ s + (-1) ・ t + u (50) Mc2 = (0) ・ Bc2 ・ m + (- 1) ・ Bc2 ・ q + Bc2 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (-1) ・ t + u (51) Mc3 = (+ 1) ・ Bc3 ・ m + (-1) ・ Bc3 ・ q + Bc3 ・ p + (+ 1) · s + (-1) · t + u (52) Mc4 = (-1) · Bc4 · m + (0) · Bc4 · q + Bc4 · p + (-1) · s + (0) · t + u ( 53) Mc5 = (0) ・ Bc5 ・ m + (0) ・ Bc5 ・ q + Bc5 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (54) Mc6 = (+ 1) ・ Bc6 ・ m + (0)・ Bc6 ・ q + Bc6 ・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (55) Mc7 = (-1) ・ Bc7 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bc7 ・ q + Bc7 ・ p + (-1)・ S + (+ 1) ・ t + u (56) Mc8 = (0) ・ Bc8 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bc8 ・ q + Bc8 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (+ 1) ・ t + u (57) Mc9 = (+ 1) ・ Bc9 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bc9 ・ q + Bc9 ・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (+ 1) ・ t + u (58)

When calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the covered background area of the frame #n, the equation (5)
0) to (58), the pixel value Bc of the pixel in the background area of the pixel of frame # n−1 corresponding to the pixel of frame #n
1 to Bc9 are used.

When calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the uncovered background area shown in FIG. 66, the following equations (59) to (67) are established. Mixing ratio α
The pixel value of the pixel for which is calculated is Mu5. Mu1 = (-1) ・ Bu1 ・ m + (-1) ・ Bu1 ・ q + Bu1 ・ p + (-1) ・ s + (-1) ・ t + u (59) Mu2 = (0) ・ Bu2 ・ m + (- 1) ・ Bu2 ・ q + Bu2 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (-1) ・ t + u (60) Mu3 = (+ 1) ・ Bu3 ・ m + (-1) ・ Bu3 ・ q + Bu3 ・ p + (+ 1) · s + (-1) · t + u (61) Mu4 = (-1) · Bu4 · m + (0) · Bu4 · q + Bu4 · p + (-1) · s + (0) · t + u ( 62) Mu5 = (0) ・ Bu5 ・ m + (0) ・ Bu5 ・ q + Bu5 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (63) Mu6 = (+ 1) ・ Bu6 ・ m + (0)・ Bu6 ・ q + Bu6 ・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (0) ・ t + u (64) Mu7 = (-1) ・ Bu7 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bu7 ・ q + Bu7 ・ p + (-1)・ S + (+ 1) ・ t + u (65) Mu8 = (0) ・ Bu8 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bu8 ・ q + Bu8 ・ p + (0) ・ s + (+ 1) ・ t + u (66) Mu9 = (+ 1) ・ Bu9 ・ m + (+ 1) ・ Bu9 ・ q + Bu9 ・ p + (+ 1) ・ s + (+ 1) ・ t + u (67)

When calculating the mixture ratio α of the pixels included in the uncovered background area of frame #n, in equations (59) to (67), frame # n + 1 corresponding to the pixel of frame #n The pixel values Bu1 to Bu9 of the pixels in the background area of the pixel are used.

FIG. 67 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the estimated mixture ratio processing section 401. The image input to the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 is divided into a delay unit 501 and an adding unit 502.
Supplied to

[0406] The delay circuit 221 delays the input image by one frame and supplies it to the adding unit 502. Addition part 5
02, when the frame #n is input as an input image, the delay circuit 221 adds the frame # n-1 to the adding unit 50.
Feed to 2.

The adding unit 502 sets the pixel value of the pixel near the pixel for which the mixture ratio α is to be calculated and the pixel value of the frame # n-1 in a normal equation. For example, the adding section 50
2 sets the pixel values Mc1 to Mc9 and the pixel values Bc1 to Bc9 in the normal equation based on the equations (50) to (58). The adding unit 502 supplies the normal equation in which the pixel value is set to the calculation unit 503.

The computing unit 503 solves the normal equation supplied from the adding unit 502 by a sweeping method or the like to obtain an estimated mixture ratio, and outputs the obtained estimated mixture ratio.

Thus, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
An estimated mixture ratio can be calculated based on the input image and supplied to the mixture ratio determination unit 403.

The estimated mixture ratio processing section 402 has the same configuration as that of the estimated mixture ratio processing section 401, and a description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 68 is a diagram showing an example of the estimated mixture ratio calculated by the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401. The estimated mixture ratio shown in FIG. 68 is such that the foreground motion v corresponding to an object moving at a constant speed is 11, and the result calculated by generating an equation in units of 7 × 7 pixel blocks is one line. Is shown.

The estimated mixture ratio in the mixed region is shown in FIG.
It can be seen that as shown in FIG.

[0413] The mixture ratio determination unit 403
The mixture ratio is set based on the region information indicating whether the pixel for which the mixture ratio is calculated belongs to any of the foreground region, the background region, the covered background region, or the uncovered background region. . When the target pixel belongs to the foreground area, the mixture ratio determination unit 403 sets 0 to the mixture ratio, and when the target pixel belongs to the background area, sets 1 to the mixture ratio. When the pixel belongs to the covered background area, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 is set to the mixture ratio. When the target pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, the estimated mixture ratio is supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402. The obtained estimated mixture ratio is set to the mixture ratio. Mixing ratio determining unit 403
Outputs the mixture ratio set based on the region information.

With reference to the flowchart in FIG. 69, the process of calculating the mixture ratio by the mixture ratio calculation unit 102 when the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 has the configuration shown in FIG. 67 will be described. In step S501, the mixture ratio calculation unit 10
2 obtains the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 101. In step S502, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 4
01 executes a mixture ratio estimation process using a model corresponding to the covered background area, and supplies the estimated mixture ratio to the mixture ratio determination unit 403. The details of the mixture ratio estimation process will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

[0415] In step S503, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 executes a mixture ratio estimation process using a model corresponding to the uncovered background area, and supplies the estimated mixture ratio to the mixture ratio determination unit 403.

[0416] In step S504, the mixture ratio calculator 102 determines whether or not the mixture ratio has been estimated for the entire frame. If it is determined that the mixture ratio has not been estimated for the entire frame, the process proceeds to step S502. return,
A process of estimating the mixture ratio for the next pixel is executed.

[0417] If it is determined in step S504 that the mixture ratio has been estimated for the entire frame, the flow advances to step S505, where the mixture ratio determination unit 403 supplies the pixel supplied from the region identification unit 101 for which the mixture ratio is to be calculated. Is set based on region information indicating whether the image belongs to a foreground region, a background region, a covered background region, or an uncovered background region. When the target pixel belongs to the foreground area, the mixture ratio determination unit 403 sets 0 to the mixture ratio, and when the target pixel belongs to the background area, sets 1 to the mixture ratio. When the pixel belongs to the covered background area, the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 is set as the mixture ratio. When the target pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, the estimated mixture ratio is supplied from the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402. The calculated estimated mixture ratio is set as the mixture ratio, and the process ends.

As described above, the mixture ratio calculation unit 102 can calculate the mixture ratio α, which is a feature amount corresponding to each pixel, based on the area information supplied from the area identification unit 101 and the input image. .

By using the mixture ratio α, it is possible to separate the foreground component and the background component contained in the pixel value while keeping the information on the motion blur contained in the image corresponding to the moving object. Will be possible.

Also, by synthesizing images based on the mixture ratio α, it is possible to create an image including a correct motion blur corresponding to the speed of a moving object as if the real world was actually photographed again. .

Next, the process of estimating the mixture ratio using the model corresponding to the covered background area, corresponding to step S502 in FIG. 69, will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S521, adding section 5
02 sets a pixel value included in the input image and a pixel value included in the image supplied from the delay circuit 221 to a normal equation corresponding to the model of the covered background area.

[0423] In step S522, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 determines whether the setting for the target pixel has been completed. If it is determined that the setting for the target pixel has not been completed, Returning to step S521, the process of setting the pixel value to the normal equation is repeated.

[0424] If it is determined in step S522 that the setting of the pixel value for the target pixel has been completed, the process proceeds to step S523, and the arithmetic unit 173 performs the estimated mixing based on the normal equation in which the pixel value has been set. The ratio is calculated, and the obtained estimated mixture ratio is output.

Thus, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401
The estimated mixture ratio can be calculated based on the input image.

The process of estimating the mixture ratio in the model corresponding to the uncovered background region in step S153 in FIG. 69 is the same as the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 70 using the normal equation corresponding to the model in the uncovered background region. The description is omitted because it is similar.

Although the description has been made assuming that the object corresponding to the background is stationary, the above-described processing for obtaining the mixture ratio can be applied even when the image corresponding to the background area includes motion. For example, when the image corresponding to the background region is moving uniformly, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 shifts the entire image corresponding to this movement, and performs the same operation as when the object corresponding to the background is stationary. To process.
Further, when the image corresponding to the background area includes a different motion for each local area, the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 selects a pixel corresponding to the motion as a pixel corresponding to a pixel belonging to the mixed area, and Execute the processing of

Next, the foreground / background separation unit 105 will be described. FIG. 71 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the foreground / background separation unit 105. The input image supplied to the foreground / background separation unit 105 is supplied to a separation unit 601, a switch 602, and a switch 604. Information indicating the covered background area and the area information indicating the uncovered background area and supplied from the area specifying unit 103 are supplied to the separation unit 601. Area information indicating the foreground area is supplied to the switch 602. Area information indicating the background area is supplied to the switch 604.

The mixture ratio α supplied from the mixture ratio calculation section 104 is supplied to the separation section 601.

The separating section 601 separates the foreground component from the input image based on the area information indicating the covered background area, the area information indicating the uncovered background area, and the mixture ratio α. The components are supplied to the synthesis unit 603, the background component is separated from the input image, and the separated background components are supplied to the synthesis unit 605.

The switch 602 is closed when a pixel corresponding to the foreground is input based on the area information indicating the foreground area, and supplies only the pixel corresponding to the foreground included in the input image to the synthesizing unit 603.

The switch 604 is closed when a pixel corresponding to the background is input, based on the area information indicating the background area, and supplies only the pixel corresponding to the background included in the input image to the synthesizing unit 605.

The synthesizing unit 603 synthesizes a foreground component image based on the foreground component supplied from the separation unit 601 and the pixel corresponding to the foreground supplied from the switch 602.
The synthesized foreground component image is output. Since the foreground region and the mixed region do not overlap, the combining unit 603 combines the foreground component image by applying a logical OR operation to the foreground component and the foreground pixel, for example.

The synthesizing unit 603 stores an image whose pixel values are all 0 in a built-in frame memory in the initialization processing executed at the beginning of the processing of synthesizing the foreground component image. , The foreground component image is stored (overwritten). Accordingly, in the foreground component image output by the synthesis unit 603, pixels corresponding to the background region are:
0 is stored as the pixel value.

The synthesizing unit 605 synthesizes a background component image based on the component corresponding to the background supplied from the separating unit 601 and the pixel corresponding to the background supplied from the switch 604, and converts the synthesized background component image. Output. Since the background region and the mixed region do not overlap, the combining unit 605 combines the background component image by applying a logical OR operation to the component corresponding to the background and the pixel corresponding to the background, for example.

In the initialization process executed at the beginning of the process of synthesizing the background component image, the synthesizing unit 605 stores the image whose pixel values are all 0 in a built-in frame memory, The background component image is stored (overwritten). Accordingly, in the background component image output by the synthesis unit 605, pixels corresponding to the foreground area include:
0 is stored as the pixel value.

FIG. 72 is a diagram showing an input image input to the foreground / background separation unit 105, and a foreground component image and a background component image output from the foreground / background separation unit 105.

FIG. 72A is a schematic diagram of an image to be displayed, and FIG. 72B is a diagram showing a pixel belonging to the foreground area, a pixel belonging to the background area, and a mixed area corresponding to FIG. 72A. 1 is a model diagram in which pixels of one line including pixels belonging to are developed in the time direction.

As shown in FIGS. 72 (A) and 72 (B), the background component image output from the foreground / background separation unit 105 is composed of pixels belonging to the background area and background components included in the pixels of the mixed area. Consists of

As shown in FIGS. 72 (A) and 72 (B), the foreground component image output from foreground / background separation unit 105 is composed of pixels belonging to the foreground area and components of the foreground included in the pixels of the mixed area. Consists of

The pixel values of the pixels in the mixed area are separated by the foreground / background separation unit 105 into a background component and a foreground component. The separated background component forms a background component image together with the pixels belonging to the background area. The separated foreground component forms a foreground component image together with the pixels belonging to the foreground area.

As described above, in the foreground component image, the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the background region is set to 0, and significant pixel values are set to the pixel corresponding to the foreground region and the pixel corresponding to the mixed region. Similarly, in the background component image, the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the foreground area is set to 0, and meaningful pixel values are set to the pixel corresponding to the background area and the pixel corresponding to the mixed area.

Next, a description will be given of a process performed by the separating unit 601 to separate a foreground component and a background component from pixels belonging to the mixed area.

FIG. 73 is a model of an image showing foreground components and background components of two frames including a foreground corresponding to an object moving from left to right in the figure. In the model of the image shown in FIG. 73, the motion amount v of the foreground is 4
, And the number of virtual divisions is 4.

In frame #n, the leftmost pixel and the fourteenth through eighteenth pixels from the left consist only of background components and belong to the background area. In frame #n,
The second to fourth pixels from the left include the background component and the foreground component, and belong to the uncovered background area. In frame #n, the eleventh to thirteenth from the left
The third pixel contains background and foreground components and belongs to the covered background area. In frame #n, the fifth through tenth pixels from the left consist only of foreground components and belong to the foreground area.

In frame # n + 1, the first through fifth pixels from the left and the eighteenth pixel from the left consist only of background components and belong to the background area. In frame # n + 1, the sixth through eighth pixels from the left include the background component and the foreground component, and belong to the uncovered background area. In frame # n + 1, the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left include the background component and the foreground component, and belong to the covered background area. In frame # n + 1, the ninth to fourteenth pixels from the left consist only of foreground components and belong to the foreground area.

FIG. 74 is a view for explaining the processing for separating the foreground components from the pixels belonging to the covered background area. In FIG. 74, α1 to α18 are mixing ratios corresponding to each of the pixels in frame #n.
In FIG. 74, the fifteenth through seventeenth pixels from the left belong to the covered background area.

[0448] The pixel value C15 of the fifteenth pixel from the left of frame #n is represented by equation (68).

C15 = B15 / v + F09 / v + F08 / v + F07 / v = α15 ・ B15 + F09 / v + F08 / v + F07 / v = α15 ・ P15 + F09 / v + F08 / v + F07 / v (68) Here, α15 is a mixture ratio of the fifteenth pixel from the left of frame #n. P15 is the pixel value of the fifteenth pixel from the left of frame # n-1.

Based on equation (68), one frame from the left of frame #n
The sum f15 of the foreground components of the fifth pixel is expressed by Expression (69).

F15 = F09 / v + F08 / v + F07 / v = C15-α15 · P15 (69)

Similarly, the sum f16 of the foreground components of the sixteenth pixel from the left of frame #n is expressed by equation (70), and the sum f17 of the foreground components of the seventeenth pixel from the left of frame #n is
Is represented by equation (71).

F16 = C16-α16 · P16 (70) f17 = C17-α17 · P17 (71)

Thus, the foreground component fc contained in the pixel value C of the pixel belonging to the covered background area is
It is calculated by equation (72).

Fc = C−α · P (72) P is the pixel value of the corresponding pixel in the immediately preceding frame.

FIG. 75 is a view for explaining the processing for separating the foreground components from the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area. In FIG. 75, α1 to α18 are mixing ratios corresponding to the respective pixels in frame #n. In FIG. 75, the second through fourth pixels from the left belong to the uncovered background area.

[0457] Pixel value of the second pixel from the left of frame #n
C02 is represented by equation (73).

C02 = B02 / v + B02 / v + B02 / v + F01 / v = α2 / B02 + F01 / v = α2 / N02 + F01 / v (73) where α2 is the left of frame #n Is the mixture ratio of the second pixel from. N02 is the pixel value of the second pixel from the left of frame # n + 1.

Based on equation (73), two frames from the left of frame #n
The sum f02 of the foreground components of the th pixel is expressed by equation (74).

F02 = F01 / v = C02-α2 · N02 (74)

Similarly, the sum f03 of the foreground components of the third pixel from the left of frame #n is expressed by equation (75), and the sum f04 of the foreground components of the fourth pixel from the left of frame #n is Is represented by equation (76).

F03 = C03-α3 · N03 (75) f04 = C04-α4 · N04 (76)

As described above, the foreground component fu included in the pixel value C of the pixel belonging to the uncovered background area is obtained.
Is calculated by equation (77).

Fu = C-α · N (77) N
Is the pixel value of the corresponding pixel in the next frame.

[0465] As described above, the separation unit 601 outputs the information indicating the covered background area included in the area information,
And information indicating the uncovered background area,
The foreground component and the background component can be separated from the pixels belonging to the mixed area based on the mixing ratio α for each pixel.

FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the separating section 601 for executing the processing described above. The image input to the separation unit 601 is stored in a frame memory 621
The area information indicating the covered background area and the uncovered background area supplied from the mixing ratio calculation unit 104 and the mixing ratio α are input to the separation processing block 622.

[0467] The frame memory 621 stores the input image in frame units. The frame memory 621 is
When the target of processing is frame #n, frame # n−1, frame #n, which is one frame before frame #n, and frame # n + 1, which is one frame after frame #n, Remember.

The frame memory 621 stores the frame # n−1,
The corresponding pixels of the frame #n and the frame # n + 1 are supplied to the separation processing block 622.

The separation processing block 622 determines the frames # n−1 and # supplied from the frame memory 621 based on the area information indicating the covered background area and the uncovered background area and the mixing ratio α.
n and the pixel value of the corresponding pixel in frame # n + 1 in FIG.
By applying the operation described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 75, the foreground component and the background component are separated from the pixels belonging to the mixed area of frame #n, and supplied to the frame memory 623.

The separation processing block 622 comprises an uncovered area processing section 631, covered area processing section 632, synthesizing section 633, and synthesizing section 634.

The multiplier 6 of the uncovered area processing section 631
41 multiplies the mixture ratio α by the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 supplied from the frame memory 621, and
42. The switch 642 is connected to the frame memory 6
When the pixel of frame #n supplied from 21 (corresponding to the pixel of frame # n + 1) is the uncovered background area, the pixel is closed and multiplied by the mixture ratio α supplied from the multiplier 641 To the computing unit 643 and the combining unit 63
4 Frame output from switch 642
The value obtained by multiplying the pixel value of pixel # n + 1 by the mixture ratio α
It is equal to the background component of the pixel value of the corresponding pixel of #n.

The computing unit 643 obtains a foreground component by subtracting the background component supplied from the switch 642 from the pixel value of the pixel of frame #n supplied from the frame memory 621. The computing unit 643 supplies the foreground component of the pixel of frame #n belonging to the uncovered background area to the combining unit 633.

The multiplier 651 of the covered area processing unit 632
Multiplies the mixture ratio α by the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n−1 supplied from the frame memory 621 to generate a switch 652
Output to The switch 652 is connected to the frame memory 621
When the pixel of frame #n (corresponding to the pixel of frame # n-1) supplied from is the covered background area, the pixel value is closed and multiplied by the mixture ratio α supplied from the multiplier 651 To the synthesizer 653 and the synthesizing unit 634. The value obtained by multiplying the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n−1 output from the switch 652 by the mixture ratio α is equal to the background component of the pixel value of the corresponding pixel of frame #n.

The computing unit 653 subtracts the background component supplied from the switch 652 from the pixel value of the pixel of frame #n supplied from the frame memory 621 to obtain the foreground component. The calculator 653 supplies the foreground components of the pixels of frame #n belonging to the covered background area to the combining unit 633.

[0475] The synthesizing unit 633 calculates the arithmetic unit 6 of the frame #n.
The foreground component of the pixel belonging to the uncovered background area supplied from 43 and the foreground component of the pixel belonging to the covered background area supplied from the calculator 653 are combined and supplied to the frame memory 623. .

[0476] The synthesizing unit 634 calculates the background component of the pixel belonging to the uncovered background area and the switch 652 supplied from the switch 642 in frame #n.
The background components of the pixels belonging to the covered background area supplied from the
To supply.

The frame memory 623 stores the foreground component and the background component of the pixels in the mixed area of the frame #n supplied from the separation processing block 622, respectively.

The frame memory 623 outputs the stored foreground components of the pixels of the mixed area of frame #n and the stored background components of the pixels of the mixed area of frame #n.

By utilizing the mixture ratio α, which is a feature quantity, it becomes possible to completely separate the foreground component and the background component contained in the pixel value.

[0480] The combining unit 603 combines the foreground components of the pixels in the mixed area of the frame #n and the pixels belonging to the foreground area output from the separating unit 601 to generate a foreground component image. The synthesizing unit 605 generates a background component image by synthesizing the background component of the pixel in the mixed area of the frame #n and the pixel belonging to the background area output from the separating unit 601.

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing an example of a foreground component image and an example of a background component image corresponding to frame #n in FIG.

FIG. 77 (A) shows an example of a foreground component image corresponding to frame #n in FIG. Since the leftmost pixel and the fourteenth pixel from the left consist of only the background component before the foreground and the background are separated, the pixel value is set to 0.

The second to fourth pixels from the left belong to the uncovered background area before the foreground and the background are separated, the background component is set to 0, and the foreground component is left as it is. . The eleventh to thirteenth pixels from the left belong to the covered background area before the foreground and the background are separated, the background component is set to 0, and the foreground component is left as it is. The fifth to tenth pixels from the left are left as they are because they consist only of foreground components.

FIG. 77 (B) shows an example of a background component image corresponding to frame #n in FIG. The leftmost pixel and the fourteenth pixel from the left are left alone because they consisted only of the background component before the foreground and the background were separated.

The second to fourth pixels from the left belong to the uncovered background area before the foreground and the background are separated, the foreground component is set to 0, and the background component is left as it is. . Before the foreground and background are separated, the eleventh to thirteenth pixels from the left belong to the covered background area, the foreground component is set to 0, and the background component is left as it is. Before the foreground and the background are separated, the fifth through tenth pixels from the left consist only of the foreground components, and thus have a pixel value of 0.

Next, the process of separating the foreground and the background by the foreground / background separation unit 105 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In step S601, the frame memory 621 of the separation unit 601 acquires an input image,
The frame #n to be separated from the foreground and the background is stored together with the previous frame # n-1 and the subsequent frame # n + 1.

In step S602, the separation unit 601
The separation processing block 622 obtains the area information supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104. In step S603, the separation processing block 622 of the separation unit 601 acquires the mixture ratio α supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104.

[0488] In step S604, the uncovered area processing section 631 performs the processing based on the area information and the mixture ratio α.
The background component is extracted from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area supplied from the frame memory 621.

[0489] In step S605, the uncovered area processing section 631 performs the processing based on the area information and the mixture ratio α.
The foreground component is extracted from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area supplied from the frame memory 621.

[0490] In step S606, the covered area processing unit 632 extracts a background component from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the covered background area supplied from the frame memory 621 based on the area information and the mixture ratio α. .

In step S607, the covered area processing unit 632 extracts a foreground component from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the covered background area supplied from the frame memory 621 based on the area information and the mixture ratio α. .

[0492] In step S608, the synthesizing unit 633
Combines the foreground components of the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area extracted in the processing of step S605 with the foreground components of the pixels belonging to the covered background area extracted in the processing of step S607. The synthesized foreground component is supplied to the synthesis unit 603. Further, the synthesizing unit 603 generates a foreground component image by synthesizing the pixels belonging to the foreground area supplied via the switch 602 and the foreground components supplied from the separating unit 601.

In step S609, the synthesizing unit 634
Combines the background component of the pixel belonging to the uncovered background area extracted in the processing of step S604 with the background component of the pixel belonging to the covered background area extracted in the processing of step S606. The synthesized background component is supplied to the synthesis unit 605. Further, the synthesizing unit 605 generates a background component image by synthesizing the pixels belonging to the background area supplied via the switch 604 and the background component supplied from the separation unit 601.

In step S610, the synthesizing unit 603
Outputs a foreground component image. In step S611, the synthesis unit 605 outputs the background component image, and the processing ends.

As described above, the foreground / background separation unit 105 separates the foreground component and the background component from the input image based on the region information and the mixture ratio α, and outputs the foreground component image composed of only the foreground component. Also, a background component image consisting of only background components can be output.

[0496] Next, the removal of motion blur from the foreground component image will be described.

FIG. 79 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the motion blur removing unit 106. The motion vector and its position information supplied from the motion detection unit 102 and the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103 are stored in the processing unit determination unit 8.
01 and the modeling unit 802. The foreground component image supplied from the foreground / background separation unit 105 is supplied to the addition unit 804.

The processing unit determination unit 801 supplies the generated processing unit to the modeling unit 802 together with the motion vector based on the motion vector, its position information, and the area information. The processing unit determination unit 801 supplies the generated processing unit to the adding unit 804.

As shown in the example of FIG. 80, the processing unit generated by the processing unit determination unit 801 starts from a pixel corresponding to the covered background area of the foreground component image and extends to a pixel corresponding to the uncovered background area. A continuous pixel in the movement direction starting from a pixel corresponding to the uncovered background area or a continuous pixel aligned in the movement direction to a pixel corresponding to the covered background area is shown. The processing unit is, for example, an upper left point (a pixel designated by the processing unit and a position of a pixel located at the leftmost or uppermost position on the image) and a lower right point.
Data.

The modeling section 802 performs modeling based on the motion vector and the input processing unit. More specifically, for example, the modeling unit 802 pre-stores a plurality of models corresponding to the number of pixels included in the processing unit, the number of virtual divisions of pixel values in the time direction, and the number of foreground components for each pixel. A model that specifies the correspondence between a pixel value and a foreground component as shown in FIG. 81 may be selected based on the processing unit and the number of virtual divisions of the pixel value in the time direction. .

For example, if the number of pixels corresponding to the processing unit is one,
When the motion amount v within the shutter time is 5, the modeling unit 802 sets the virtual division number to 5, the leftmost pixel includes one foreground component, and the second pixel from the left. Pixel includes two foreground components, the third pixel from the left includes three foreground components, the fourth pixel from the left includes four foreground components, and the fifth pixel from the left includes five foreground components. Including the foreground component, the sixth pixel from the left contains five foreground components, the seventh pixel from the left contains five foreground components, and the eighth pixel from the left contains five foreground components. , The ninth pixel from the left contains four foreground components, the tenth pixel from the left contains three foreground components, the eleventh pixel from the left contains two foreground components, and 12 from the left.
A model is selected in which the th pixel contains one foreground component and comprises a total of eight foreground components.

[0502] When a motion vector and a processing unit are supplied, instead of selecting from a model stored in advance, the modeling unit 802 generates a model based on the motion vector and the processing unit. You may do so.

[0503] The modeling unit 802 supplies the selected model to the equation generation unit 803.

[0504] The equation generation unit 803 includes a modeling unit 802.
Generate an equation based on the model supplied from. FIG.
Referring to the model of the foreground component image shown in FIG. 1, the number of foreground components is 8, the number of pixels corresponding to the processing unit is 12, the motion amount v is 5, the number of virtual divisions is 5, An equation generated by the equation generation unit 803 at a certain time will be described.

When the foreground component corresponding to the shutter time / v included in the foreground component image is F01 / v to F08 / v, F01 / v
To F08 / v and the pixel values C01 to C12 are given by the following equations (78).
To (89).

C01 = F01 / v (78) C02 = F02 / v + F01 / v (79) C03 = F03 / v + F02 / v + F01 / v (80) C04 = F04 / v + F03 / v + F02 / v + F01 / v (81) C05 = F05 / v + F04 / v + F03 / v + F02 / v + F01 / v (82) C06 = F06 / v + F05 / v + F04 / v + F03 / v + F02 / v (83) C07 = F07 / v + F06 / v + F05 / v + F04 / v + F03 / v (84) C08 = F08 / v + F07 / v + F06 / v + F05 / v + F04 / v (85) C09 = F08 / v + F07 / v + F06 / v + F05 / v (86) C10 = F08 / v + F07 / v + F06 / v (87) C11 = F08 / v + F07 / v (88) C12 = F08 / v (89)

[0507] The equation generation unit 803 deforms the generated equation to generate an equation. The equations generated by the equation generation unit 803 are shown in equations (90) to (101). C01 = 1 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v ( 90) C02 = 1 ・ F01 / v + 1 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v (91) C03 = 1 ・ F01 / v + 1 ・ F02 / v + 1 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・F08 / v (92) C04 = 1 ・ F01 / v + 1 ・ F02 / v + 1 ・ F03 / v + 1 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v (93) C05 = 1 ・ F01 / v + 1 ・ F02 / v + 1 ・ F03 / v + 1 ・ F04 / v + 1 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v (94) C06 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 1 ・ F02 / v + 1 ・ F03 / v + 1 ・ F04 / v + 1 ・ F05 / v +1 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v (95) C07 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 1 ・ F03 / v + 1 ・ F04 / v + 1 ・ F05 / v +1 ・ F06 / v + 1 ・ F07 / v + 0 ・ F08 / v (96) C08 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 1 ・ F04 / v + 1 ・ F05 / v +1 ・ F06 / v + 1 ・ F07 / v + 1 ・ F08 / v (97) C09 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 1 ・ F05 / v +1 ・F06 / v + 1 ・ F07 / v + 1 ・ F08 / v (98) C10 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v + 1 ・ F06 / v + 1 ・ F07 / v + 1 ・ F08 / v (99) C11 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F0 2 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 1 ・ F07 / v + 1 ・ F08 / v (100) C12 = 0 ・ F01 / v + 0 ・ F02 / v + 0 ・ F03 / v + 0 ・ F04 / v + 0 ・ F05 / v +0 ・ F06 / v + 0 ・ F07 / v + 1 ・ F08 / v (101)

The expressions (90) to (101) are obtained by the expression (10)
It can also be expressed as 2).

[0509]

[Equation 17] In Expression (102), j indicates a position of a pixel. In this example, j has a value of any one of 1 to 12. I indicates the position of the foreground value. In this example, i has a value of any one of 1 to 8. aij
Has a value of 0 or 1 corresponding to the values of i and j.

When expressed in consideration of the error, equation (102)
Can be expressed as in equation (103).

[0511]

(Equation 18) In Expression (103), ej is an error included in the target pixel Cj.

Equation (103) can be rewritten as equation (104).

[0513]

[Equation 19]

Here, in order to apply the least squares method, the sum of squares E of the error is defined as shown in Expression (105).

[0515]

(Equation 20)

In order to minimize the error, the sum of the squares of the error
What is necessary is that the value of the partial differentiation of E with respect to the variable Fk becomes 0. Fk is determined so as to satisfy Expression (106).

[0517]

(Equation 21)

In equation (106), since the amount of movement v is a fixed value, equation (107) can be derived.

[0519]

(Equation 22)

The equation (107) is expanded and transposed to give the equation (108).

[0521]

(Equation 23)

The expression is expanded into eight expressions obtained by substituting any one of integers 1 to 8 into k in the expression (108). The obtained eight expressions can be represented by one expression by a matrix. This equation is called a normal equation.

An example of a normal equation generated by the equation generating unit 803 based on the least squares method is shown in equation (109).

[0524]

(Equation 24)

If equation (109) is expressed as A · F = v · C, C, A, and v are known, and F is unknown. A and v are known at the time of modeling, but C becomes known by inputting pixel values in the adding operation.

The error contained in the pixel C can be dispersed by calculating the foreground component using a normal equation based on the least square method.

The equation generating section 803 supplies the normal equation generated in this way to the adding section 804.

The adding unit 804 includes the processing unit determining unit 80
Based on the processing unit supplied from 1, the pixel value C included in the foreground component image is set in the matrix expression supplied from the equation generation unit 803. The adding unit 804 supplies a matrix in which the pixel values C are set to the calculation unit 805.

The arithmetic unit 805 uses the sweeping method (Gauss-Jord
An elimination method such as an) is used to calculate the foreground component Fi / v from which the motion blur has been removed, and the pixel value of the foreground from which the motion blur has been removed, which is an integer from 0 to 8 82 is calculated, and a foreground component image from which motion blur has been removed, which is composed of Fi, which is a pixel value from which motion blur has been removed, as shown in FIG. 82, is output.

In the foreground component image from which the motion blur is removed as shown in FIG. 82, each of C03 to C10 is set to F01 to F08 because the position of the foreground component image with respect to the screen is not changed. And can correspond to an arbitrary position.

For example, as shown in FIG. 83, when the number of pixels corresponding to the processing unit is 8 and the motion amount v is 4, the motion-blur removing unit 106 sets the matrix shown in Expression (110) Generates the expression

[0532]

(Equation 25)

[0533] The motion blur removal unit 106 calculates the expression Fi, which is a pixel value in which the amount of motion blur has been adjusted, by formulating a number corresponding to the length of the processing unit. Similarly, for example, when the number of pixels included in the processing unit is 100, 1
An equation corresponding to 00 pixels is generated to calculate Fi.

As described above, the motion blur removing unit 106
An equation is generated corresponding to the motion amount v and the processing unit, and the pixel value of the foreground component image is set in the generated equation, to calculate a foreground component image from which motion blur has been removed.

Next, with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 84, the processing of removing the motion blur included in the foreground component image by the motion blur removing unit 106 will be described.

[0536] In step S801, the processing unit determination unit 801 of the motion blur removal unit 106 generates a processing unit based on the motion vector and the area information, and supplies the generated processing unit to the modeling unit 802.

[0537] In step S802, the modeling unit 802 of the motion blur removing unit 106 selects or generates a model corresponding to the amount of motion v and the processing unit. Step S
In 803, the equation generator 803 creates a normal equation based on the selected model.

In step S804, the adding section 8
Step 04 sets the pixel value of the foreground component image in the created normal equation. In step S805, the adding unit 8
In step S804, it is determined whether the pixel values of all the pixels corresponding to the processing unit have been set. If it is determined that the pixel values of all the pixels corresponding to the processing unit have not been set, step S804 is performed. And the process of setting the pixel value to the normal equation is repeated.

[0539] If it is determined in step S805 that the pixel values of all the pixels in the processing unit have been set, the process proceeds to step S806, where the arithmetic unit 805 causes the adding unit 8
Based on the normal equation in which the pixel values supplied from 04 have been set, pixel values of the foreground from which motion blur has been removed are calculated, and the process ends.

As described above, the motion blur removing unit 106 can remove the motion blur from the foreground image including the motion blur based on the motion vector and the area information.

That is, it is possible to remove the motion blur included in the pixel value which is the sample data.

Next, the correction of the background component image performed by the correction unit 107 in FIG. 2 will be described.

FIG. 85 is a diagram showing an example of a model of a background component image corresponding to the model of the foreground component image shown in FIG. 81.

As shown in FIG. 85, since the foreground component has been removed, the pixel value of the pixel of the background component image corresponding to the mixed region of the original input image corresponds to the background region of the original input image. As compared with the pixel to be processed, the image is composed of a smaller number of background components corresponding to the mixture ratio α.

For example, in the background component image shown in FIG. 85, the pixel value C01 is composed of four background components B02 / V, and the pixel value C02 is composed of three background components B03 / V.
The pixel value C03 is composed of two background components B04 / V, and the pixel value C04 is composed of one background component B05 / V.

In the background component image shown in FIG. 85, the pixel value C09 is composed of one background component B10 / V, and the pixel value C10 is composed of two background components B11 / V.
The pixel value C11 is composed of three background components B12 / V, and the pixel value C12 is composed of four background components B13 / V.

As described above, the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area of the original input image is constituted by a smaller number of background components than the pixel corresponding to the background area of the original input image. Therefore, the image corresponding to the mixed area of the foreground component image is, for example, a darker image than the image of the background area.

The correction unit 107 multiplies each of the pixel values of the pixels corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image by a constant corresponding to the mixing ratio α to obtain a pixel corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image. Is corrected.

For example, when the background component image shown in FIG. 85 is input, the correction unit 107 multiplies the pixel value C01 by 5/4, multiplies the pixel value C02 by 5/3, and multiplies the pixel value C11 by 5/5. / 3 and the pixel value C12 by 5/4. The correcting unit 107 sets the pixel values of the pixel values C03 to C11 to 0 in order to match the positions of the pixels with the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed, as shown in the example in FIG.

When the background component image shown in FIG. 85 is input, for example, the correction section 107 outputs the background component image shown in FIG. 86.

As described above, the correction unit 107 corrects the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area of the background component image, and determines the position of the pixel of the background component image with the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed. Align.

FIG. 87 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the motion-blur removal image processing unit 108 which applies edge enhancement processing of different effects to each background component image or foreground component image.

[0556] The background component image frame memory 1201
The corrected background component image supplied from the correction unit 107 is stored. The background component image frame memory 1201 is
The stored background component image is subjected to an edge enhancement unit 1203-1.
To supply.

The foreground component image frame memory 1202
The foreground component image from which motion blur has been removed, supplied from the motion blur removal unit 106, is stored. The foreground component image frame memory 1202 supplies the stored foreground component image to the edge enhancement unit 1203-2.

[0555] The edge emphasizing unit 1203-1 applies an edge emphasis process suitable for the background component image to the background component image stored in the background component image frame memory 1201.

[0556] For example, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-1 executes an edge emphasizing process on a background component image, which is a still image, to enhance edges more than a foreground component image. By doing so, it is possible to further increase the sense of resolution of the background component image without causing unnatural deterioration of the image when the processing of edge enhancement is applied to an image containing noise.

[0556] The edge enhancing section 1203-1 supplies the background component image with the edge enhanced to the correcting section 1204.

In response to the motion blur added by the motion blur adding unit 1205, the correction unit 1204 sets the pixel value of the pixel in the mixed area of the background component image to 0 or corresponds to the motion blur to be added. The pixel value of the pixel in the mixed area is divided by a predetermined value. The correction unit 1204 supplies the image corrected in this way to the synthesis unit 1206.

The edge enhancing section 1203-2 applies an edge enhancing process suitable for the foreground component image to the foreground component image stored in the foreground component image frame memory 1202.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-2 executes an edge emphasizing process on the foreground component image with a smaller degree of edge emphasis than the background component image. In this way, even if noise is included in the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed, unnatural deterioration of the image can be reduced while improving the sense of resolution in the foreground component image.

The edge enhancing unit 1203-2 supplies the edge-enhanced foreground component image to the motion blur adding unit 1205.

[0562] Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the edge emphasizing section 1203-1 and the edge emphasizing section 1203-2, they are simply referred to as an edge emphasizing section 1203.

FIG. 88 is a block diagram showing the structure of the edge emphasizing unit 1203. One of the input images of the foreground component image and the background component image is input to the high-pass filter 12.
21 and an adder 1223.

[0564] The high-pass filter 1221 extracts, from the input image, a so-called high-frequency component of the image in which the pixel value sharply changes with respect to the pixel position, based on the input filter coefficient. On the other hand, an edge image is generated by removing a so-called low-frequency component of an image in which a change in pixel value is small.

For example, when the image shown in FIG. 89A is input, the high-pass filter 1221
Is generated.

When the input filter coefficient changes,
The high-pass filter 1221 calculates the frequency of the image to be extracted,
The frequency of the image to be removed and the gain of the image to be extracted are changed.

The relationship between the filter coefficient and the edge image will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 90 is a diagram showing a first example of the filter coefficient. In FIG. 90, E indicates the factorial of 10.
For example, E-04 indicates 10 ^-4 and E-02 indicates 10 ^-2 .

For example, the high-pass filter 1221 calculates the pixel value of the target pixel of the input image,
The pixel value of a pixel separated by a distance of 1 to 15 pixels in a predetermined direction in the spatial direction Y with respect to the target pixel, and 1 in the other direction of the spatial direction Y with respect to the target pixel.
Each of the pixel values of the pixels separated by a distance of 15 to 15 pixels is multiplied by the corresponding coefficient among the filter coefficients shown in FIG. The high-pass filter 1221 calculates the sum of the results obtained by multiplying the pixel value of each pixel by the corresponding coefficient, and sets the calculated sum to the pixel value of the target pixel.

For example, when using the filter coefficients shown in FIG. 90, the high-pass filter 1221 multiplies the pixel value of the pixel of interest by 1.2169396, and calculates the pixel value of the pixel separated from the pixel of interest by one pixel in the upward direction on the screen. -0.52530 to pixel value
356 is multiplied, and the pixel value of a pixel separated from the target pixel by a distance of two pixels upward in the screen is multiplied by -0.22739914.

When the filter coefficients shown in FIG. 90 are used, the high-pass filter 1221 similarly multiplies a coefficient corresponding to a pixel which is away from the pixel of interest by a distance of 3 to 13 pixels upward in the screen, and The pixel value of the pixel that is 14 pixels away from the target pixel in the upward direction on the screen
-0.00022540586 is multiplied by -0.00039 to the pixel value of a pixel which is 15 pixels away from the target pixel in the upward direction on the screen.
Multiply 273163.

When the filter coefficient shown in FIG. 90 is used, the high-pass filter 1221 multiplies a pixel which is away from the target pixel by a distance of 1 pixel to 15 pixels in the downward direction of the screen by a coefficient corresponding thereto.

The high-pass filter 1221 calculates the pixel value of the pixel of interest, the pixel value of the pixel that is 1 to 15 pixels away from the pixel of interest in the upper direction of the screen, and the pixel value of 1 pixel to 15 pixels below the screen from the pixel of interest. The sum of the results obtained by multiplying the pixel values of the pixels separated by a distance of 15 pixels by the corresponding coefficient is calculated. The high-pass filter 1221 sets the calculated sum to the pixel value of the target pixel.

The high-pass filter 1221 repeatedly moves the position of the pixel of interest in the spatial direction X, repeats the above-described processing, and calculates pixel values for the pixels of the entire screen.

Next, the high-pass filter 1221 uses the pixel value of the pixel of interest, which is the pixel of interest, of the image in which the pixel value is calculated based on the coefficient as described above, and sets the pixel in the spatial direction X as a reference. Pixel value of a pixel separated by a distance of 1 pixel to 15 pixels in a predetermined direction, and a pixel of a pixel separated by a distance of 1 pixel to 15 pixels in another direction in the spatial direction X with reference to the target pixel For each of the values,
The corresponding coefficient among the filter coefficients indicated by 0 is multiplied. The high-pass filter 1221 calculates the sum of the results obtained by multiplying the pixel value of each pixel by the corresponding coefficient, and sets the calculated sum to the pixel value of the target pixel.

The high-pass filter 1221 sequentially moves the position of the pixel of interest in the spatial direction Y, repeats the above-described processing, and calculates pixel values for the pixels of the entire screen.

In other words, in this example, the high-pass filter 1221 is a so-called one-dimensional filter using the coefficients shown in FIG.

FIG. 91 is a diagram showing the operation of the high-pass filter 1221 when using the coefficients of FIG. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 90, when the coefficient in FIG. 90 is used, the maximum gain of the extracted image component in the high-pass filter 1221 is 1.

FIG. 92 is a diagram showing a second example of the filter coefficient.

FIG. 93 is a diagram showing an operation of the high-pass filter 1221 when a process similar to the process using the filter coefficients shown in FIG. 90 is executed using the coefficients of FIG. As shown in FIG. 93, when the coefficients in FIG. 92 are used, the maximum gain of the extracted image component in the high-pass filter 1221 is 1.5.

As described above, the high-pass filter 1221
Changes the gain of the extracted image component according to the supplied filter coefficient.

Although not illustrated here, similarly, when different filter coefficients are supplied, the high-pass filter 122
1 can change the frequency of the image to be extracted and the frequency of the image to be removed.

Returning to FIG. 88, high-pass filter 1221
Supplies the generated edge image to the gain adjustment unit 1222.

The gain adjustment unit 1222 amplifies or attenuates the edge image supplied from the high-pass filter 1221, based on the input gain adjustment coefficient. When the input gain adjustment coefficient changes, the gain adjustment unit 1
Reference numeral 222 changes the amplification rate (attenuation rate) of the edge image. For example, the gain adjustment unit 1222 amplifies an edge image when a gain adjustment coefficient designating one or more amplification factors is input, and an edge image when a gain adjustment factor designating an amplification factor less than one is input. Attenuate.

The gain adjusting unit 1222 supplies the edge image whose gain has been adjusted to the adding unit 1223.

[0586] The addition unit 1223 adds the divided input image and the edge image with the gain adjusted supplied from the gain adjustment unit 1222, and outputs the added image.

[0587] For example, the adder 1223 operates as shown in FIG.
Is input and the edge image shown in FIG. 89B is supplied from the high-pass filter 1221,
The image shown in FIG. 89C is output by adding the input image of FIG. 89A and the edge image of FIG. 89B.

As described above, the edge emphasizing unit 1203 applies edge emphasis processing to an input image.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-1 shown in FIG. 88 uses the coefficients shown in FIG. 92 to apply an edge emphasizing process with a higher degree of edge emphasis to the background component image. Edge emphasis section 120 whose configuration is shown in FIG.
A step 3-2 uses the coefficients shown in FIG. 90 to apply an edge enhancement process with a relatively weak edge enhancement to the foreground component image.

FIG. 94 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the edge enhancement section 1203. In the example shown in FIG. 94,
The edge enhancement unit 1203 is composed of a filter 1241.

[0591] The filter 1241 amplifies a so-called high-frequency component of the image, in which the pixel value of the input image rapidly changes with respect to the pixel position, on the basis of the input filter coefficient, to obtain an edge-enhanced image. Generate

For example, when the coefficients shown in FIG. 95 are supplied, the filter 1241 executes the same processing as the processing described in the high-pass filter 1221 based on the coefficients shown in FIG. 95.

FIG. 96 is a diagram showing the operation of the filter 1241 when using the coefficients of FIG. 95. As shown in FIG. 96, when using the coefficients of FIG.
1 amplifies the high-frequency component of the image by a factor of two, and passes the low-frequency component of the image as it is to generate an edge-emphasized image.

Filter 1 when Using Coefficients in FIG. 95
241 uses the coefficient of FIG.
When the gain of 2 is 1, the same output image as the output image of the edge enhancement unit 1203 shown in FIG. 88 is output.

FIG. 97 is a diagram showing a second example of the filter coefficient supplied to the filter 1241.

FIG. 98 is a diagram showing the operation of the filter 1241 when the coefficients of FIG. 97 are used. As shown in FIG. 98, when using the coefficients of FIG.
1 amplifies the high-frequency component of the image by 2.5 times and passes the low-frequency component of the image as it is to generate an edge-emphasized image.

Filter 1 when Using Coefficients in FIG. 97
241 uses the coefficient of FIG.
When the gain of 2 is 1, the same output image as the output image of the edge enhancement unit 1203 shown in FIG. 88 is output.

As described above, the edge emphasizing unit 1203 shown in FIG. 94 can change the degree of emphasis of the edge of the image by changing the gain of the high frequency component of the image according to the input filter coefficient. .

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-1 shown in FIG. 94 applies the edge emphasizing process with a higher degree of edge emphasis to the background component image using the coefficients shown in FIG. Edge emphasis section 120 whose configuration is shown in FIG. 94
In step 3-2, the edge enhancement processing with a relatively weak edge enhancement degree is applied to the foreground component image using the coefficients shown in FIG.

As described above, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-1
The edge enhancement unit 1203-2 applies, for example, an edge enhancement process corresponding to the property of the foreground component image or the background component image to each of the foreground component images or the background component images based on different filter coefficients or gain adjustment coefficients. I do.

Returning to FIG. 87, motion blur adding section 1205
Is obtained by giving a desired motion blur adjustment amount v ′, for example, a motion blur adjustment amount v ′ having a value half of the motion amount v of the input image, or a motion blur adjustment amount v ′ having a value irrelevant to the motion amount v. To add motion blur to the image. The motion blur adding unit 1205 calculates the pixel value Fi of the foreground component image from which the motion blur has been removed by the motion blur adjustment amount v ′.
, The foreground component Fi / v ′ is calculated, the sum of the foreground components Fi / v ′ is calculated, and a pixel value to which motion blur is added is generated.

For example, when the edge-enhanced image shown in FIG. 99 is input and the motion-blur adjustment amount v 'is 3, the image shown in FIG.
, The pixel value C02 is (F01) / v ′, the pixel value C03 is (F01 + F02) / v ′, and the pixel value C04 is (F01 +
F02 + F03) / v ', and the pixel value C05 is (F02 + F03 + F04) /
v '.

[0603] The motion blur adding unit 1205 adds motion blur to the edge-enhanced foreground component image, and supplies the foreground component image with the motion blur added to the synthesizing unit 1206.

[0604] The synthesizing unit 1206 supplies the edge-emphasized and corrected background component image supplied from the correcting unit 1204,
The foreground component image to which the edge is enhanced and the motion blur is added, which is supplied from the motion blur adding unit 1205, and the motion blur is added, and the synthesized image is supplied to the frame memory 1207.

The frame memory 1207 is
6. Store the synthesized image supplied from 6.
The stored image is output as an output image.

As described above, the motion-blur-removed image processing unit 108 having the configuration shown in FIG. 87 applies the edge enhancement processing corresponding to the characteristics of each background component image or foreground component image. Can be increased without unnaturally deteriorating the image resolution.

FIG. 101 is a view for explaining the processing of the motion-blur-removed image processing unit 108 having the structure shown in FIG.

The foreground area, uncovered background area, covered background area, and background area of the input image are specified by the area specifying unit 103. The input image in which the region is specified is output by the foreground / background separation unit 105.
The image is separated into a background component image and a foreground component image.

[0609] The motion blur is removed by the motion blur removing unit 106 from the separated foreground component image. In the separated background component image, the correction unit 107 corrects the pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the mixed area.

The corrected background component image and the foreground component image from which motion blur has been removed are processed by the motion blur removal image processing unit 108 shown in FIG. 87 in accordance with the characteristics of each image. Edge emphasis is performed every time.

The edge-enhanced background component image is corrected in response to the motion blur of the foreground component image. Desired motion blur is added to the edge-enhanced foreground component image.

The edge-enhanced and corrected background component image and the edge-enhanced foreground component image to which motion blur has been added are synthesized.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 102, the edge emphasis processing of the motion-blur removal image processing unit 108 corresponding to step S106 of FIG. 25 will be described.

[0614] In step S1201, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-1 processes the background component image frame memory 12 by performing edge emphasis corresponding to the nature of the background component image.
The background component image stored at 01 is edge-emphasized.

[0615] In step S1202, the edge emphasizing unit 1203-2 performs edge emphasis processing corresponding to the properties of the foreground component image, thereby processing the foreground component image frame memory 12
The foreground component image stored in 02 is edge-emphasized.

[0616] In step S1203, the correction unit 12
A step 04 corrects the pixel value of the background component image in response to the addition of the motion blur of the foreground component image.

In step S1204, motion blur adding section 1205 adds a desired motion blur to the foreground component image.

[0618] In step S1205, the synthesizing unit 12
Numeral 06 combines an edge-enhanced and corrected background component image and an edge-enhanced foreground component image to which motion blur has been added. The combining unit 1206 supplies the combined image to the frame memory 1207. Frame memory 12
Reference numeral 07 stores the image supplied from the synthesizing unit 1206.

[0619] In step S1206, the frame memory 1207 outputs the stored combined image, and the process ends.

Thus, the motion-blur-removed image processing unit 108 having the configuration shown in FIG. 87 can execute edge enhancement processing for each of the background component image and the foreground component image in accordance with the respective properties. Therefore, the sense of resolution can be improved without causing unnatural distortion in the image.

[0621] It goes without saying that the processing of steps S1201 and S1202 may be executed serially or in parallel.

FIG. 103 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the function of the image processing apparatus that separates the input image and processes each separated image. While the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 performs region identification and calculation of the mixture ratio α in order, FIG.
The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 performs the area specification and the calculation of the mixture ratio α in parallel.

The same reference numerals are given to the same portions as the functions shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, and description thereof will be omitted.

The input image is input to the object extraction unit 101,
The information is supplied to the area specifying unit 103, the mixture ratio calculating unit 1501, and the foreground / background separating unit 1502.

The mixture ratio calculation unit 1501 calculates the estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the covered background area and the estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area based on the input image. The ratio is calculated for each of the pixels included in the input image, and the estimated mixture ratio when the calculated pixel is assumed to belong to the covered background area,
The estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area is supplied to the foreground / background separation unit 1502.

FIG. 104 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the mixture ratio calculating section 1501.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 shown in FIG. 104
Is the same as the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 shown in FIG. The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 shown in FIG.
Is the same as the estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 shown in FIG.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401 calculates an estimated mixture ratio for each pixel by an operation corresponding to the model of the covered background area based on the input image, and outputs the calculated estimated mixture ratio.

The estimated mixture ratio processing unit 402 calculates an estimated mixture ratio for each pixel by an operation corresponding to the model of the uncovered background area based on the input image, and outputs the calculated estimated mixture ratio.

The foreground / background separation unit 1502 calculates the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 1501 when the pixel belongs to the covered background area,
Based on the estimated mixture ratio when it is assumed that the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, and the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 103, the input image
The image is separated into a background component image and a foreground component image, and the separated image is supplied to the motion blur removal image processing unit 108, and the background component image is supplied to the correction unit 107.

FIG. 105 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the foreground / background separation unit 1502.

The same parts as those of the motion blur removing unit 106 shown in FIG. 71 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0633] Based on the area information supplied from the area specifying section 103, the selecting section 1521 determines the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the mixture ratio calculation section 1501 when the pixel belongs to the covered background area, and One of the estimated mixture ratios when the pixel is assumed to belong to the uncovered background area is selected, and the selected estimated mixture ratio is supplied to the separation unit 601 as the mixture ratio α.

The separating unit 601 extracts the foreground component and the background component from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the mixed area based on the mixing ratio α and the area information supplied from the selecting unit 1521, and extracts the uncovered background area Background ingredients,
The foreground component of the uncovered background area, the background component of the covered background area, and the foreground component of the covered background area are separated.

The separating section 601 can have the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

As described above, the image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 103 can execute processing for each of the background component image and the foreground component image in accordance with the respective properties.

As described above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the input image is separated into the background component image and the foreground component image, and processing suitable for the separated images is executed. A higher resolution image is generated without generating an image.

When the background object is moving, the image processing apparatus removes the motion blur included in the background component image, and executes edge enhancement processing on the background component image from which the motion blur has been removed. You may.

FIG. 106 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the function of the image processing apparatus.

[0640] Parts similar to those in the case shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The object extracting unit 101 roughly extracts an image object corresponding to a foreground object included in the input image, and supplies the extracted image object to the motion detecting unit 102.

The motion detecting unit 102 calculates the motion vector of the image object corresponding to the coarsely extracted foreground object by using, for example, a block matching method, a gradient method, a phase correlation method, or a pel recursive method. , And supplies the calculated motion vector and the position information of the motion vector to the area specifying unit 103.

The area specifying unit 103 specifies each of the pixels of the input image as one of a foreground area, a background area, an uncovered background area, or a mixed area composed of a covered background area, To the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 and the foreground / background separation unit 2
001.

[0644] The mixture ratio calculation unit 104 calculates the mixture ratio α corresponding to the pixels included in the mixture region based on the input image and the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103, and calculates the calculated mixture ratio. This is supplied to the foreground / background separation unit 2001.

[0645] The foreground / background separation unit 2001 includes the area specifying unit 1
03 and the mixture ratio calculation unit 10
4, the image component corresponding to the foreground object and the background component image consisting only of the background component are separated on the basis of the mixture ratio α supplied from No. 4, and the image of the background area and the background of the uncovered background area are separated. (Hereinafter, referred to as a background component image of the uncovered background area), and an image including only the foreground component of the uncovered background area (hereinafter, referred to as a foreground component image of the uncovered background area). An image composed only of the background component of the covered background area (hereinafter, referred to as a background component image of the covered background area), and an image composed only of the foreground component of the covered background area (hereinafter, a foreground component of the covered background area) The image of the foreground area is divided into the separated image processing unit 20. 2 for supplying to.

[0646] The separated image processing section 2002 supplies the background area image, the uncovered background area background component image, the uncovered background area foreground component image, and the covered background area supplied from the foreground / background separation section 2001. Edge enhancement processing is applied to each of the background component image, the foreground component image in the covered background area, and the foreground area image.

FIG. 107 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the foreground / background separation unit 2001. Foreground / background separator 20
The input image supplied to 01 is supplied to a separation unit 2101, a switch 2102, and a switch 2103. Information indicating covered background area, and area specifying unit 103 indicating uncovered background area
Are supplied to the separation unit 2101. Area information indicating the foreground area is supplied to the switch 2102. The area information indicating the background area is stored in the switch 210
3 is supplied.

The mixing ratio α supplied from the mixing ratio calculation unit 104 is supplied to the separation unit 2101.

The separating unit 2101 separates the foreground component from the covered background region of the input image and the background component based on the region information indicating the covered background region and the mixture ratio α. And outputting a foreground component image of a covered background area composed of the separated foreground components and a background component image of a covered background area composed of the separated background components.

[0650] The separation unit 2101 calculates the area ratio based on the area information indicating the uncovered background area and the mixture ratio α.
A foreground component image of an uncovered background area composed of separated foreground components while separating a foreground component from an uncovered background area of an input image, and a separated background The background component image of the uncovered background area composed of the components is output.

The switch 2102 is closed when a pixel corresponding to the foreground area is input based on the area information indicating the foreground area, and outputs an image of the foreground area.

The switch 2103 is closed when a pixel corresponding to the background area is input based on the area information indicating the background area, and outputs an image of the background area.

FIG. 108 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the separation section 2101. The image input to the separation unit 2101 is supplied to the frame memory 2121, and the area information indicating the covered background area and the uncovered background area supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 and the mixture ratio α are stored in the separation processing block. 2122.

[0654] The frame memory 2121 stores an input image in frame units. Frame memory 2121
When the processing target is frame #n, frame # n−1, which is the frame immediately before frame #n, frame #n, and frame # n +, which is the frame immediately after frame #n 1
Is stored.

[0655] The frame memory 2121 stores the frame # n-
The pixels corresponding to 1, frame #n, and frame # n + 1 are supplied to the separation processing block 2122.

[0656] The separation processing block 2122 includes a frame # n-1, a frame #n, and a frame #n supplied from the frame memory 2121 based on the area information indicating the covered background area and the uncovered background area and the mixture ratio α. Applying the calculation described with reference to FIGS. 74 and 75 to the pixel value of the corresponding pixel in frame # n + 1,
The foreground component and the background component are separated from the pixels belonging to the mixed area of the frame #n.

The separation processing block 2122 includes an uncovered area processing section 2131 and a covered area processing section 21.
32.

The multiplier 2141 of the uncovered area processing unit 2131 multiplies the mixture ratio α by the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n + 1 supplied from the frame memory 2121 and outputs the result to the switch 2142. The switch 2142 is closed when the pixel of frame #n (corresponding to the pixel of frame # n + 1) supplied from the frame memory 2121 is in the uncovered background area, and the mixture ratio supplied from the multiplier 2141 The pixel value multiplied by α is calculated by the arithmetic unit 2143
To supply. Frame output from switch 2142
The value obtained by multiplying the pixel value of pixel # n + 1 by the mixture ratio α
It is equal to the background component of the pixel value of the corresponding pixel of #n, and is output as the background component image of the uncovered background area.

The computing unit 2143 includes the frame memory 212
The foreground component is obtained by subtracting the background component supplied from the switch 2142 from the pixel value of the pixel of frame #n supplied from # 1. Arithmetic unit 2143 outputs a foreground component image of a pixel of frame #n belonging to the uncovered background area.

The multiplier 21 of the covered area processing unit 2132
51 multiplies the mixture ratio α by the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n−1 supplied from the frame memory 2121 and outputs the result to the switch 2152. The switch 2152 is closed when the pixel of frame #n (corresponding to the pixel of frame # n-1) supplied from the frame memory 2121 is in the covered background area, and the mixture ratio α supplied from the multiplier 2151 Is supplied to the computing unit 2153. The value obtained by multiplying the pixel value of the pixel of frame # n−1 output from the switch 2152 by the mixture ratio α is equal to the background component of the pixel value of the corresponding pixel of frame #n, and the background component of the covered background area. Output as an image.

The computing unit 2153 includes a frame memory 212
The foreground component is obtained by subtracting the background component supplied from the switch 2152 from the pixel value of the pixel of frame #n supplied from # 1. Arithmetic unit 2153 outputs a foreground component image of a pixel of frame #n belonging to the covered background area.

By using the mixture ratio α, which is a feature quantity, it becomes possible to completely separate the foreground component and the background component contained in the pixel value.

FIG. 109 shows an image of a background area, a background component image of an uncovered background area, a foreground component image of an uncovered background area, a background component image of a covered background area, a foreground component image of a covered background area, Or for each image in the foreground area,
It is a block diagram showing composition of separation image processing part 2002 which applies edge enhancement processing of a different effect.

The background region frame memory 2201 stores an image of a background region composed of pixels belonging to the background region, supplied from the foreground / background separation unit 2001. The background area frame memory 2201 supplies the stored image of the background area to the edge emphasizing unit 2207-1.

The uncovered background area background component image frame memory 2202 stores the foreground / background separating section 20
The background component image of the uncovered background area supplied from 01 is stored. The uncovered background area background component image frame memory 2202 supplies the stored background component image of the uncovered background area to the edge enhancement unit 2207-2.

The uncovered background area foreground component image frame memory 2203 stores the foreground / background
The foreground component image of the uncovered background area supplied from 01 is stored. The uncovered background area foreground component image frame memory 2203 supplies the stored foreground component image of the uncovered background area to the edge enhancement unit 2207-3.

[0667] The covered background area background component image frame memory 2204 includes a foreground / background separation unit 2001.
The background component image of the covered background area supplied from is stored. The covered background area background component image frame memory 2204 supplies the stored background component image of the covered background area to the edge enhancement unit 2207-4.

The covered background area foreground component image frame memory 2205 includes a foreground / background separation unit 2001.
The foreground component image of the covered background area supplied from is stored. The covered background area foreground component image frame memory 2205 supplies the stored foreground component image of the covered background area to the edge enhancement unit 2207-5.

[0669] The foreground area frame memory 2206 stores the image of the foreground area composed of pixels belonging to the foreground area supplied from the foreground / background separation unit 2001. The foreground area frame memory 2206 supplies the stored image of the foreground area to the edge enhancement unit 2207-6.

The edge enhancing section 2207-1 applies an edge enhancing process suitable for the background area image to the background area image stored in the background area frame memory 2201, and performs the edge enhanced background area image processing. Is supplied to the synthesizing unit 2208.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-1 executes an edge emphasizing process on the image of the background area, which is a still image, to emphasize the edge more than the foreground area. By doing so, it is possible to further increase the sense of resolution of the image in the background area without causing unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image.

[0672] The edge emphasizing unit 2207-2 is an uncovered background area background component image frame memory 2
An edge enhancement process suitable for the background component image in the uncovered background area is applied to the image stored in the image 202 and the edge-enhanced image is supplied to the synthesis unit 2208.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-2 executes an edge emphasizing process on the background component image of the uncovered background area, which is a still image, to emphasize the edge more than the foreground area. . By doing so, it is possible to further increase the sense of resolution of the image in the background area without causing unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image.

[0674] The edge emphasizing unit 2207-3 is connected to the uncovered background area foreground component image frame memory 2
An edge enhancement process suitable for the foreground component image in the uncovered background area is applied to the image stored in the image 203, and the edge-enhanced image is supplied to the synthesis unit 2208.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-3 executes an edge emphasizing process on the foreground component image of the covered background area composed of the moving foreground components with a smaller degree of edge emphasis than the background area. . By doing so, in the foreground component image in the covered background area, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the resolution. .

[0676] The edge emphasizing unit 2207-4 includes a covered background area background component image frame memory 220.
4 is subjected to edge enhancement processing suitable for the background component image in the covered background area, and the edge-enhanced image is supplied to the synthesis unit 2208.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-4 executes an edge emphasizing process on the background component image of the covered background area, which is a still image, to emphasize the edge more than the foreground area. By doing so, it is possible to further increase the sense of resolution of the image in the background area without causing unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image.

[0678] The edge enhancing unit 2207-5 has a foreground component image frame memory 220 for the covered background area.
5 is subjected to edge enhancement processing suitable for the foreground component image in the covered background area, and the edge-enhanced image is supplied to the synthesis unit 2208.

For example, the edge enhancement unit 2207-5 executes an edge enhancement process on the foreground component image of the covered background area composed of moving foreground components, with a smaller degree of edge enhancement than the background area. . By doing so, in the foreground component image in the covered background area, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the resolution. .

[0680] The edge enhancing section 2207-6 applies an edge enhancing process suitable for the foreground area image to the foreground area image stored in the foreground area frame memory 2206, and performs edge enhanced foreground area image processing. Is supplied to the synthesizing unit 2208.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-6 executes an edge emphasizing process on a moving foreground area image with a lower degree of edge emphasis than the background area.
By doing so, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image in the foreground area when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the sense of resolution.

The combining unit 2208 includes an edge emphasizing unit 2207
-1 supplied from the edge-enhanced background area image, supplied from the edge-enhancing unit 2207-2, and supplied from the edge-enhancing unit 2207-3. The edge-enhanced foreground component image of the uncovered background area, the edge-enhanced background component image of the covered background area supplied from the edge enhancing unit 2207-4, and the edge-enhanced background component image supplied from the edge enhancing unit 2207-5 Combining the edge-enhanced foreground component image of the covered background area with the edge-enhanced foreground area image supplied from the edge enhancement unit 2207-6,
The combined image is supplied to the frame memory 2209.

The frame memory 2209 is
8. Store the synthesized image supplied from 8;
The stored image is output as an output image.

[0684] As described above, the separated image processing unit 2002 having the structure shown in Fig. 109 includes the background area image, the uncovered background area background component image, the uncovered background area foreground component image, and the covered background area image. Edge emphasis processing corresponding to the characteristics of each image is applied to each of the background component image, the foreground component image in the covered background area, or the image in the foreground area, so that the image is not unnaturally deteriorated. The sense of resolution can be increased.

FIG. 110 is a view for explaining the processing of the separated image processing unit 2002 shown in FIG. 106. For the input image, the area specifying unit 103 specifies a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area.

The input image in which the region is specified and the mixture ratio α is detected by the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 is the foreground / background separation unit 2
001, the foreground area image, the background area image, the foreground component image in the covered background area, the background component image in the covered background area, the foreground component image in the uncovered background area, and the background component in the uncovered background area Separated into images.

[0687] The separated image processing unit 2002 includes a separated foreground area image, a background area image, a covered background area foreground component image, a covered background area background component image, and an uncovered background area foreground component image. , And for each background component image in the uncovered background area.

The background image, the foreground component image of the covered background area,
The background component image in the covered background area, the foreground component image in the uncovered background area, and the background component image in the uncovered background area are combined into one image.

FIG. 111 is a flowchart for explaining image processing of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 106.

[0690] In step S2001, the area specifying unit 103 determines the foreground area, the background area, the covered background area, and the motion vector supplied from the motion detection unit 102, based on the position information and the input image. Identify the uncovered background area.

[0691] In step S2002, the mixture ratio calculation unit 104 calculates the mixture ratio α based on the region information and the input image supplied from the region identification unit 103.

[0691] In step S2003, the foreground / background separation unit 2001 converts the input image into the image of the foreground region based on the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103 and the mixture ratio α supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 104. , The background region image, the foreground component image of the covered background region, the background component image of the covered background region, the foreground component image of the uncovered background region, and the background component image of the uncovered background region.

In step S2004, the separated image processing unit 2002 separates the foreground region image, the background region image, the foreground component image of the covered background region, the background component image of the covered background region, and the uncovered background. Edge emphasis processing is executed for each of the foreground component image of the area and the background component image of the uncovered background area, and the processing ends. Details of the image processing performed by the separated image processing unit 2002 will be described later.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention converts an input image into a foreground area image, a background area image, a foreground component image in a covered background area, a background component image in a covered background area, and an uncovered image. The foreground component image of the background area and the background component image of the uncovered background area are separated and separated, and the separated foreground area image, background area image, foreground component image of the covered background area, and the covered background area image Edge enhancement processing is performed for each of the background component image, the foreground component image in the uncovered background area, and the background component image in the uncovered background area.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG. 112, the separated image processing unit 2 corresponding to step S2004
002 of the edge enhancement process will be described.

[0696] In step S2021, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-1 executes edge emphasis processing corresponding to the nature of the image in the background area, thereby processing the background area frame memory 220
The edge of the image of the background area stored in No. 1 is emphasized.

[0697] In step S2022, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-2 stores the image in the uncovered background area background component image frame memory 2202 by performing edge emphasis corresponding to the property of the background component image in the uncovered background area. Edge enhancement of the background component image in the uncovered background area.

[0698] In step S2023, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-3 stores in the uncovered background area foreground component image frame memory 2203 by performing edge emphasis corresponding to the property of the foreground component image in the uncovered background area. Edge enhancement of the foreground component image in the uncovered background area.

[0699] In step S2024, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-4 performs edge emphasis processing corresponding to the property of the background component image in the covered background area by performing processing.
The background component image of the covered background area stored in the covered background area background component image frame memory 2204 is edge-emphasized.

In step S2025, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-5 performs edge emphasis corresponding to the property of the foreground component image in the covered background area by processing.
The foreground component image of the covered background area stored in the covered background area foreground component image frame memory 2205 is edge-emphasized.

In step S2026, the edge emphasizing unit 2207-6 performs edge emphasis processing corresponding to the characteristics of the image in the foreground area, thereby processing the foreground area frame memory 220.
The image of the foreground area stored in No. 6 is edge-emphasized.

In step S2027, the synthesizing unit 22
08 is a background area image, an uncovered background area background component image, an uncovered background area foreground component image, a covered background area background component image, and a covered background area foreground, each of which is edge-emphasized. The component image and the image of the foreground area are combined. The combining unit 2208 supplies the combined image to the frame memory 2209. The frame memory 2209 stores the image supplied from the combining unit 2208.

In step S2028, the frame memory 2209 outputs the stored combined image, and the processing ends.

As described above, the separated image processing unit 2002 having the configuration shown in FIG. 109 performs the processing of the background area image, the background component image of the uncovered background area, the foreground component image of the uncovered background area, and the Edge emphasis processing can be performed for each of the background component image, the foreground component image in the covered background area, and the image in the foreground area in accordance with their respective properties, thus causing unnatural distortion in the moving image. The sense of resolution can be improved without causing the occurrence.

[0705] Steps S2021 through S202
Needless to say, the processing of 2026 may be executed serially or in parallel.

FIG. 113 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the function of the image processing apparatus that separates an input image and processes each of the separated images. While the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 106 sequentially performs the area specification and the calculation of the mixture ratio α, the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 113 performs the area specification and the calculation of the mixture ratio α in parallel.

[0707] Parts similar to the functions shown in the block diagram of FIG. 106 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The input image is input to the object extraction unit 101,
The information is supplied to the area specifying unit 103, the mixture ratio calculating unit 1501, and the foreground / background separating unit 2501.

[0709] Based on the input image, the mixture ratio calculation unit 1501 calculates the estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the covered background area and the estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area. The ratio is calculated for each of the pixels included in the input image, and the estimated mixture ratio when the calculated pixel is assumed to belong to the covered background area,
The estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area is supplied to the foreground / background separation unit 2501.

[0710] The foreground / background separation unit 2501 calculates the estimated mixture ratio supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 1501 when the pixel belongs to the covered background area.
Based on the estimated mixture ratio when it is assumed that the pixel belongs to the uncovered background area, and the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 103, the input image
Background region image, uncovered background region background component image, uncovered background region foreground component image, covered background region background component image, covered background region foreground component image,
And an image in the foreground area, and supplies the separated image to the separated image processing unit 2002.

FIG. 114 is a block diagram showing an example of the structure of the foreground / background separation unit 2501.

[0712] Parts similar to those of the foreground / background separation unit 2001 shown in FIG. 107 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0713] Based on the region information supplied from the region identification unit 103, the selection unit 2521 determines the estimated mixture ratio when the pixel belongs to the covered background region, supplied from the mixture ratio calculation unit 1501, and One of the estimated mixture ratios when the pixel is assumed to belong to the uncovered background area is selected, and the selected estimated mixture ratio is supplied to the separation unit 2101 as the mixture ratio α.

[0714] The separation unit 2101 extracts a foreground component and a background component from the pixel values of the pixels belonging to the mixed region based on the mixture ratio α and the region information supplied from the selecting unit 2521, and extracts the uncovered background region. , A foreground component image in the uncovered background area, a background component image in the covered background area, and a foreground component image in the covered background area.

[0715] Separating section 2101 can have the same configuration as the configuration shown in FIG.

As described above, the image processing apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 113 includes a background area image, an uncovered background area background component image, an uncovered background area foreground component image, and a covered background area background component. Edge emphasis processing can be executed for each of the image, the foreground component image in the covered background area, and the image in the foreground area in accordance with the respective properties.

FIG. 115 is a block diagram showing still another configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus.

[0718] The input image supplied to the image processing apparatus is supplied to the object extracting unit 101, the region specifying unit 103, and the region processing unit 3001.

[0719] The object extracting unit 101 roughly extracts an image object corresponding to a foreground object included in the input image, and supplies the extracted image object to the motion detecting unit 102. The object extraction unit 101
For example, by detecting the outline of the image object corresponding to the foreground object included in the input image, the image object corresponding to the foreground object is roughly extracted.

[0720] The object extracting unit 101 roughly extracts an image object corresponding to a background object included in the input image, and supplies the extracted image object to the motion detecting unit 102. The object extraction unit 101
For example, the image object corresponding to the background object is roughly extracted from the difference between the input image and the extracted image object corresponding to the foreground object.

[0721] The motion detection unit 102 calculates the motion vector of the image object corresponding to the coarsely extracted foreground object, for example, by a method such as a block matching method, a gradient method, a phase correlation method, or a pel recursive method. , And supplies the calculated motion vector and the position information of the motion vector to the area specifying unit 103.

[0722] The area specifying unit 103 specifies each of the pixels of the input image as a foreground area, a background area, or a mixed area, and for each pixel, selects one of the foreground area, the background area, and the mixed area. Is supplied to the region processing unit 3001 indicating whether the region belongs to.

[0723] The area processing unit 3001
Foreground area, background area,
Alternatively, the input image is divided for each mixed region, and edge enhancement processing is applied to each of the divided input images.

FIG. 116 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the area processing unit 3001 which applies edge enhancement processing of different effects to each of the background area, uncovered background area, covered background area, or foreground area.

[0725] The frame memory 3021 stores the input image
Stored in frame units. The frame memory 3021 is
The stored input image is supplied to the area dividing unit 3022.

[0726] The area dividing section 3022
Background area, foreground area,
The input image is divided into a covered background area or an uncovered background area. That is,
The region division unit 3022 supplies a background image, which is a divided input image, that is composed of pixels belonging to the background region to the background region frame memory 3023, and converts the image that is composed of pixels belonging to the uncovered background region into an uncovered background region. An image composed of pixels belonging to the covered background area is supplied to a frame memory
5 and supplies a foreground image composed of pixels belonging to the foreground area to the foreground area frame memory 3026.

[0727] The background area frame memory 3023 stores the background image composed of pixels belonging to the background area, supplied from the area dividing unit 3022. The background area frame memory 3023 stores the stored background image in the edge enhancement unit 30.
27-1.

[0728] The uncovered background area frame memory 3024 stores an image supplied from the area dividing unit 3022 and composed of pixels belonging to the uncovered background area. The uncovered background area frame memory 3024 supplies the stored image composed of the pixels belonging to the uncovered background area to the edge enhancement unit 3027-2.

The covered background area frame memory 3025 is supplied from the area dividing unit 3022.
An image composed of pixels belonging to the covered background area is stored. The covered background area frame memory 3025 stores the stored image composed of the pixels belonging to the covered background area in the edge enhancement unit 30.
27-3.

[0730] The foreground area frame memory 3026 stores the foreground image composed of pixels belonging to the foreground area supplied from the area dividing unit 3022. The foreground area input image frame memory 506 supplies the stored foreground image to the edge enhancement unit 3027-4.

[0731] The edge emphasizing unit 3027-1 applies edge emphasis processing suitable for the background image to the background image stored in the background area frame memory 3023, and supplies the edge-enhanced background image to the synthesizing unit 3028. I do.

[0732] For example, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-1 enhances the edge of a background image, which is a still image, by emphasizing edges more than an uncovered background area, covered background area, or foreground area. Execute the processing of By doing so, it is possible to further increase the sense of resolution of the background image without causing unnatural image degradation when applying the edge enhancement processing to the moving image.

[0733] The edge emphasizing unit 3027-2 applies an edge emphasizing process suitable for the image of the uncovered background area to the image stored in the uncovered background area frame memory 3024, and performs edge emphasis processing on the image. Is supplied to the synthesizing unit 3028.

[0734] For example, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-2 performs an edge emphasizing process on the image of the uncovered background area, which is an image including a moving foreground component, with a lower degree of edge emphasis than the background area. Execute. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image in the uncovered background area when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the sense of resolution.

[0735] The edge emphasizing unit 3027-3 applies an edge emphasizing process suitable for the image of the covered background area to the image stored in the covered background area frame memory 3025, and synthesizes the edge-emphasized image. To the unit 3028.

For example, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-3 executes an edge emphasizing process on the image of the covered background area, which is an image containing a moving foreground component, in which the degree of edge emphasis is smaller than that of the background area. I do. By doing so, in the image of the covered background area, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the sense of resolution.

[0737] The edge enhancing section 3027-4 applies edge enhancing processing suitable for the foreground image to the foreground image stored in the foreground area frame memory 3026, and supplies the edge-enhanced foreground image to the synthesizing section 3028. I do.

[0738] For example, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-4 executes an edge emphasizing process on the moving foreground image with a smaller degree of edge emphasis than the background area. By doing so, in the foreground image, it is possible to reduce the unnatural deterioration of the image when the edge enhancement processing is applied to the moving image while improving the sense of resolution.

[0739] The synthesizing unit 3028 includes an edge emphasizing unit 3027.
-1 supplied from the edge-enhancing unit 3027-3, an image composed of pixels belonging to the unenhanced uncovered background area supplied from the edge-enhancing unit 3027-2, and supplied from the edge-enhancing unit 3027-3. Was
Image composed of pixels belonging to a covered background area with edge enhancement, and edge enhancement unit 3027-4
Synthesizes the edge-enhanced foreground image supplied from
The combined image is supplied to the frame memory 3029.

The frame memory 3029 is
8. Store the synthesized image supplied from 8;
The stored image is output as an output image.

[0741] As described above, the area processing unit 3001 shown in Fig. 116 performs edge enhancement processing corresponding to the characteristics of each image for each background area, uncovered background area, covered background area, or foreground area. Is applied, the sense of resolution of the image can be increased without unnaturally deteriorating the image.

FIG. 117 is a view for explaining the processing of the area processing unit 3001 shown in FIG. 116.

[0743] The foreground area, uncovered background area, covered background area, and background area of the input image are specified by the area specifying unit 103.

[0744] The input image in which the area is specified is divided by the area processing unit 3001 for each area. The divided background image, uncovered background image, covered background image, and foreground image are divided into the area processing unit 300 shown in FIG.
1, edge emphasis is performed for each image according to the nature of each image.

The image of the background area, the image of the uncovered background area, the image of the covered background area, and the image of the foreground area, each of which is edge-emphasized, are synthesized.

FIG. 118 is a flow chart for explaining the image processing of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 115.

[0747] In step S3001, the area specifying unit 103 determines the foreground area, background area, covered background area, and uncovered background area of the input image based on the motion vector and the positional information supplied from the motion detection unit 102. Identify the area.

[0748] In step S3002, the area processing unit 3001 divides the input image into the specified foreground area, background area, covered background area, and uncovered background area, and divides the input image into the foreground area and the background. Image edge enhancement processing is performed for each of the area, the covered background area, and the uncovered background area, and the processing ends.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention divides an input image into a foreground area, a background area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area, and divides the input image into the foreground area and the background area. , An edge enhancement process is performed for each of the covered background area and the uncovered background area.

Next, referring to the flowchart in FIG. 119, the area processing unit 300 corresponding to step S3002
The edge enhancement process of No. 1 will be described.

[0751] In step S3021, the area dividing unit 3022 divides the input image into a background area, a foreground area, a covered background area, or an uncovered background area based on the area information supplied from the area specifying unit 103. . That is, the area dividing unit 3022
A background image composed of pixels belonging to a background area, which is a divided input image, is supplied to a background area frame memory 3023, and an image composed of pixels belonging to an uncovered background area is supplied to an uncovered background area frame memory 3024. , Supplies the image composed of the pixels belonging to the covered background area to the covered background area frame memory 3025, and supplies the foreground image composed of the pixels belonging to the foreground area to the foreground area frame memory 3026.

[0752] In step S3022, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-1 performs edge emphasis on the background image stored in the background area frame memory 3023 by performing edge emphasis processing corresponding to the nature of the background image.

[0753] In step S3023, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-2 performs edge emphasis processing corresponding to the nature of the image in the uncovered background area to perform processing on the uncovered background area frame memory 3024.
The edge of the image of the uncovered background area stored in is stored.

[0754] In step S3024, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-3 performs edge emphasis processing corresponding to the nature of the image in the covered background area to perform processing on the covered background area stored in the covered background area frame memory 3025. Edge-enhance the image.

[0755] In step S3025, the edge emphasizing unit 3027-4 performs edge emphasis on the foreground image stored in the foreground area frame memory 3026 by performing edge emphasis corresponding to the property of the foreground image.

[0756] In step S3026, the synthesizing unit 30
28 combines the background image, the image of the uncovered background area, the image of the covered background area, and the foreground image, each of which is edge-emphasized. The combining unit 3028 stores the combined image in the frame memory 30
29. The frame memory 3029 includes the synthesizing unit 3
028 is stored.

[0757] In step S3027, the frame memory 3029 outputs the stored combined image, and the process ends.

[0758] As described above, the area processing unit 3001 having the configuration shown in Fig. 116 performs processing for each of the background image, the image of the uncovered background area, the image of the covered background area, and the foreground image in accordance with the respective properties. Since the processing of edge enhancement can be executed, the sense of resolution can be improved without causing unnatural distortion in a moving image.

[0759] Steps S3022 to S302
It goes without saying that the processing of 3025 may be executed serially or in parallel.

The direction of movement of the foreground object has been described from left to right, but it is needless to say that the direction is not limited to that direction.

In the above description, an example is given in which an image of a real space having three-dimensional space and time axis information is projected onto a two-dimensional space and time and space having time axis information using a video camera. The present invention is not limited to this example, and can be applied to a case where more first information of the first dimension is projected onto second information of a smaller second dimension.

[0764] The sensor is not limited to a CCD, but is a solid-state image sensor, for example, a BBD (Bucket Brigade Device),
CID (Charge Injection Device) or CPD (Charge
Priming Device) may be used, and the sensor is not limited to a sensor in which detection elements are arranged in a matrix.
A sensor in which the detection elements are arranged in a line may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the recording medium on which the program for performing the signal processing of the present invention is recorded is a magnetic disk on which the program is recorded, which is distributed in order to provide the user with the program separately from the computer. 91 (including floppy (registered trademark) disk), optical disk 92
(CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digita
l Versatile Disc), magneto-optical disc 93 (M
D (including a Mini-Disc) (trademark)) or a package medium including a semiconductor memory 94 and the like, and a program provided to a user in a state of being incorporated in a computer in advance. RO
It is composed of an M72, a hard disk included in the storage unit 78, and the like.

[0764] In this specification, the step of describing a program recorded on a recording medium may be performed in a chronological order according to the described order. This also includes processing executed in parallel or individually.

[0765]

According to the image processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program of the present invention, foreground object components constituting a foreground object and background object components constituting a background object are mixed based on input image data. And a non-mixed region composed of one of a foreground region composed of a foreground object component and a background region composed of a background object component constituting a background object, and region identification information corresponding to the specified result Is output, and the edges of the input image data are emphasized in accordance with the area specifying information, so that the image of the input image data including the motion blur is not unnatural and the resolution is sufficiently high. Can be raised.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating imaging by a sensor.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of pixels.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a detection element.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a moving foreground and an object corresponding to a stationary background.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a background area, a foreground area, a mixed area, a covered background area, and an uncovered background area.

FIG. 8 is a model diagram in which pixel values of adjacent pixels arranged in one line in an image obtained by capturing an object corresponding to a stationary foreground and an object corresponding to a stationary background are developed in the time direction. It is.

FIG. 9 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 10 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 11 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example in which pixels in a foreground area, a background area, and a mixed area are extracted.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the correspondence between pixels and models in which pixel values are developed in the time direction.

FIG. 14 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in a time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 15 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 16 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 17 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 18 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a correspondence between a divided image and a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels are developed in the time direction.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a correspondence between a separated image and a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels are developed in the time direction.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of a divided image.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an example of a separated image.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a correspondence between an image from which motion blur has been removed and a model diagram in which pixel values of pixels are developed in the time direction.

FIG. 24 is a view for explaining processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating image processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a region specifying unit 103.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an image when an object corresponding to the foreground is moving.

FIG. 28 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 29 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 30 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating conditions for region determination.

32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of specifying an area by the area specifying unit 103. FIG.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a result of specifying an area by the area specifying unit 103;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating an area specifying process.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing another example of the configuration of the area specifying unit 103.

FIG. 36 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating an example of a background image.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a binary object image extraction unit 302.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating calculation of a correlation value.

FIG. 40 is a diagram illustrating calculation of a correlation value.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating an example of a binary object image.

FIG. 42 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a time change detection unit 303.

FIG. 43 is a view for explaining determination by an area determination unit 342.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of determination by the time change detection unit 303.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating a process of specifying an area by an area determining unit 103;

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating details of a region determination process.

FIG. 47 is a block diagram showing still another configuration of the area specifying unit 103.

FIG. 48 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a robust unit 361.

FIG. 49 is a diagram illustrating motion compensation by a motion compensation unit 381.

FIG. 50 is a diagram illustrating motion compensation by a motion compensation unit 381.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart illustrating an area specifying process.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart illustrating details of robust processing.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a mixture ratio calculation unit 104.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing an example of an ideal mixture ratio α.

FIG. 55 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 56 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in a time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 57 is a diagram for explaining approximation using correlation of foreground components.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between C, N, and P.

FIG. 59 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an estimated mixture ratio processing unit 401.

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating an example of an estimated mixture ratio.

FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the mixture ratio calculation unit 104.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart illustrating processing for calculating a mixture ratio.

FIG. 63 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating an estimated mixture ratio.

FIG. 64 is a diagram illustrating a straight line approximating the mixture ratio α.

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a plane that approximates a mixture ratio α.

FIG. 66 is a diagram illustrating the correspondence of pixels in a plurality of frames when calculating the mixture ratio α.

FIG. 67 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the mixture ratio estimation processing unit 401.

FIG. 68 is a diagram illustrating an example of an estimated mixture ratio.

FIG. 69 is a flowchart illustrating a process of calculating a mixture ratio.

FIG. 70 is a flowchart illustrating a process of estimating a mixture ratio using a model corresponding to a covered background area.

71 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a foreground / background separation unit 105. FIG.

FIG. 72 is a diagram illustrating an input image, a foreground component image, and a background component image.

FIG. 73 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 74 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 75 is a model diagram in which pixel values are developed in the time direction and a period corresponding to a shutter time is divided.

FIG. 76 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a separation unit 601.

FIG. 77 is a diagram illustrating an example of a separated foreground component image and a background component image.

FIG. 78 is a flowchart illustrating a process of separating a foreground and a background.

FIG. 79 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a motion blur removal unit 106.

FIG. 80 is a diagram illustrating a processing unit.

FIG. 81 develops pixel values of a foreground component image in the time direction,
FIG. 3 is a model diagram obtained by dividing a period corresponding to a shutter time.

FIG. 82: Expands the pixel values of the foreground component image in the time direction,
FIG. 3 is a model diagram obtained by dividing a period corresponding to a shutter time.

FIG. 83: Expands the pixel values of the foreground component image in the time direction,
FIG. 3 is a model diagram obtained by dividing a period corresponding to a shutter time.

FIG. 84 is a flowchart for explaining a process of removing a motion blur included in a foreground component image by the motion blur removing unit 106.

FIG. 85 is a diagram illustrating a model of a background component image.

FIG. 86 is a diagram illustrating a model of a corrected background component image.

FIG. 87 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a motion-blur-removed image processing unit that applies edge enhancement processing having different effects to each image.

FIG. 88 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an edge enhancement unit 1203.

FIG. 89 is a diagram illustrating edge enhancement processing.

FIG. 90 is a diagram showing filter coefficients.

FIG. 91 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a high-pass filter 1221.

FIG. 92 is a diagram showing filter coefficients.

FIG. 93 is a view for explaining the operation of the high-pass filter 1221;

FIG. 94 is a block diagram showing another configuration of the edge enhancement unit 1203.

FIG. 95 is a diagram showing filter coefficients.

FIG. 96 is a view for explaining the operation of the filter 1241;

FIG. 97 is a diagram showing filter coefficients.

FIG. 98 is a view for explaining the operation of the filter 1241.

99 is a diagram illustrating a model corresponding to an image input to the motion blur adding unit 1205. FIG.

100 is a diagram illustrating a model corresponding to an image output from the motion blur adding unit 1205. FIG.

FIG. 101 is a diagram for describing processing of a motion blur removal image processing unit 108;

FIG. 102 is a flowchart illustrating edge enhancement processing by the motion blur removal image processing unit 108;

FIG. 103 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 104 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a mixture ratio calculation unit 1501.

FIG. 105 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a foreground / background separation unit 1502.

FIG. 106 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 107 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a foreground / background separation unit 2001.

FIG. 108 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a separation unit 2101.

FIG. 109 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a separated image processing unit 2002.

110 is a diagram for describing processing of a separated image processing unit 2002. FIG.

111 is a flowchart illustrating image processing of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 106.

112 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a separated image by a separated image processing unit 2002. FIG.

FIG. 113 is a block diagram illustrating still another configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus.

114 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a foreground / background separation unit 2501. FIG.

FIG. 115 is a block diagram illustrating still another configuration of the functions of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 116 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an area processing unit 3001.

FIG. 117 is a diagram for describing processing of an area processing unit 3001;

118 is a flowchart for describing image processing of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 115.

FIG. 119 is a flowchart illustrating edge enhancement processing performed by an area processing unit 3001;

[Explanation of symbols]

71 CPU, 72 ROM, 73 RAM, 76 input section, 77 output section, 78 storage section, 79 communication section,
91 magnetic disk, 92 optical disk, 93
Magneto-optical disk, 94 semiconductor memory, 101 object extraction unit, 102 motion detection unit, 103
Area specifying section, 104 mixture ratio calculating section, 105 foreground / background separating section, 106 motion blur removing section, 107 correcting section, 108 motion blur removing image processing section, 201 frame memory, 202-1 to 202-4 static / moving determining sections, 203-1 to 203-3 area determination unit, 20
4 Frame memory for storing judgment flag, 205 Synthesis unit, 206 Frame memory for storing judgment flag, 30
1 background image generation unit, 302 binary object image extraction unit, 303 time change detection unit, 321 correlation value calculation unit, 322 threshold processing unit, 341 frame memory, 342 area determination unit, 361 robust conversion unit, 381 motion compensation Part, 382 switch, 3
83-1 to 383-N frame memory, 384-
1 to 384-N weighting unit, 385 accumulating unit, 4
01 estimated mixture ratio processing unit, 402 estimated mixture ratio processing unit, 403 mixture ratio determination unit, 421 frame memory, 422 frame memory, 423 mixture ratio calculation unit, 441 selection unit, 442 estimated mixture ratio processing unit,
443 Estimated mixture ratio processing section, 444 Selection section, 5
01 delay circuit, 502 addition unit, 503 operation unit, 601 separation unit, 602 switch, 603
Synthesis unit, 604 switch, 605 synthesis unit,
621 frame memory, 622 separation processing block, 623 frame memory, 631 uncovered area processing unit, 632 covered area processing unit, 63
3 synthesis unit, 634 synthesis unit, 801 processing unit determination unit, 802 modeling unit, 803 equation generation unit,
804 addition unit, 805 operation unit, 1201
Background component image frame memory, 1202 Foreground component image frame memory, 1203-1 and 1203-2
Edge enhancement unit, 1204 correction unit, 1205 motion blur addition unit, 1206 synthesis unit, 1221 high-pass filter, 1222 gain adjustment unit, 1223
Adder, 1241 filter, 1501 mixture ratio calculator, 1502 foreground / background separator, 1521 selector, 2001 foreground / background separator, 2002 separated image processor, 2101 separator, 2201 background area frame memory, 2202 uncovered background area Background component image frame memory, 2203 uncovered background area foreground component image frame memory, 2204 covered background area background component image frame memory, 2205 covered background area foreground component image frame memory, 22
06 Foreground area frame memory, 2207-1 to 2
207-6 Edge enhancement unit, 2208 Synthesis unit, 2
501 foreground / background separator, 2521 selector, 300
1 area processing unit, 3022 area division unit, 3023
Background area frame memory, 3024 uncovered background area frame memory, 3025 covered background area frame memory, 3026
Foreground area frame memory, 3027-1 to 302-2
7-4 Edge enhancement unit, 3028 synthesis unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takashi Sawao 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Naoki Fujiwara 6-35, Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo No. Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Takahiro Nagano 6-7-35 Kita Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Seiji Wada 6-7-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Inside Sony Corporation (72) Inventor Toru Miyake 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Sony Corporation F-term (reference) 5B057 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12 CB16 CC02 CE03 CE06 CH01 CH11 DA08 DB02 DB09 DC16 5C021 PA17 PA33 PA67 PA79 RA01 RB06 XB03 5L096 AA06 BA20 CA03 FA06 HA04

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image processing apparatus for processing input image data consisting of a predetermined number of pixel data obtained by an image sensor having a predetermined number of pixels having a time integration effect, comprising: a foreground object based on the input image data A mixed region formed by mixing foreground object components constituting a background object component and a background object component constituting a background object; and a foreground region composed of the foreground object components,
And a region specifying means for specifying a non-mixed region formed by one of the background regions comprising the background object components constituting the background object, and outputting region specifying information corresponding to the specifying result; And an edge enhancing means for enhancing edges of the input image data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the area specifying unit further specifies a covered background area and an uncovered background area, and outputs the area specifying information corresponding to a specified result. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the input image data is enhanced corresponding to a background area or the uncovered background area. 3. An image processing method for processing input image data consisting of a predetermined number of pixel data acquired by an image sensor having a predetermined number of pixels having a time integration effect, comprising: a foreground object based on the input image data; A mixed region formed by mixing foreground object components constituting a background object component and a background object component constituting a background object; and a foreground region composed of the foreground object components
And an area specifying step of specifying a non-mixed area constituted by one of the background areas composed of the background object components constituting the background object, and outputting area specifying information corresponding to the specified result; And an edge emphasizing step of emphasizing an edge of the input image data. 4. In the area specifying step, a covered background area and an uncovered background area are further specified, the area specifying information corresponding to a specified result is output, and the covered area specified in the edge emphasizing step is output. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein an edge of the input image data is enhanced corresponding to a background area or the uncovered background area. 5. An image processing program for processing input image data consisting of a predetermined number of pixel data acquired by an image sensor having a predetermined number of pixels having a time integration effect, wherein the program is based on the input image data. A mixed area formed by mixing foreground object components constituting a foreground object and a background object component constituting a background object; and a foreground area composed of the foreground object components,
And an area specifying step of specifying a non-mixed area constituted by one of the background areas composed of the background object components constituting the background object, and outputting area specifying information corresponding to the specified result; And an edge emphasizing step of emphasizing an edge of the input image data. 6. The area specifying step further includes specifying a covered background area and an uncovered background area, outputting the area specifying information corresponding to the specified result, and selecting the covered area specified in the edge emphasizing step. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein an edge of the input image data is emphasized corresponding to a background area or the uncovered background area. 7. A computer for processing input image data consisting of a predetermined number of pixel data obtained by an image sensor having a predetermined number of pixels having a time integration effect, comprising: forming a foreground object based on the input image data; A mixed area formed by mixing foreground object components and a background object component forming a background object; and a foreground area formed by the foreground object components;
And an area specifying step of specifying a non-mixed area constituted by one of the background areas composed of the background object components constituting the background object, and outputting area specifying information corresponding to the specified result; And an edge emphasizing step of emphasizing an edge of the input image data. 8. The area specifying step further includes specifying a covered background area and an uncovered background area, outputting the area specifying information corresponding to a specified result, and selecting the covered area specified in the edge emphasizing step. 8. The program according to claim 7, wherein an edge of the input image data is enhanced corresponding to a background area or the uncovered background area.