초록 ▼

A method and system analyzes data acquired by image systems to more rapidly identify objects of interest in the data. In one embodiment, z-depth data are segmented such that neighboring image pixels having similar z-depths are given a common label. Blobs, or groups of pixels with a same label, may b

A method and system analyzes data acquired by image systems to more rapidly identify objects of interest in the data. In one embodiment, z-depth data are segmented such that neighboring image pixels having similar z-depths are given a common label. Blobs, or groups of pixels with a same label, may be defined to correspond to different objects. Blobs preferably are modeled as primitives to more rapidly identify objects in the acquired image. In some embodiments, a modified connected component analysis is carried out where image pixels are pre-grouped into regions of different depth values preferably using a depth value histogram. The histogram is divided into regions and image cluster centers are determined. A depth group value image containing blobs is obtained, with each pixel being assigned to one of the depth groups.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for use in recognizing at least one object in image depth data acquired by three-dimensional time-of-flight imaging system that includes an emitter of optical energy, an array of pixels to detect z-depth data from at least a fraction of the emitted optical energy refl

What is claimed is: 1. A method for use in recognizing at least one object in image depth data acquired by three-dimensional time-of-flight imaging system that includes an emitter of optical energy, an array of pixels to detect z-depth data from at least a fraction of the emitted optical energy reflected by at least one of said objects, and means for generating said image depth data by comparing emitted said optical energy and the fraction of emitted optical energy detected by said array of pixels, the method useable with a single acquisition of image depth data comprising the following steps:(a) examining at least some of said image depth data captured during a single data acquisition;(b) forming segments by grouping together those of said pixels whose acquired said data captured at step (a) have at least one common characteristic selected from a group consisting of depth distance, depth distance change, object size, and object shape;(c) assigning on a per-segment basis a label to pixels comprising each of said segments formed in step (b);wherein pixels so labeled enable recognition of said at least one object with a single acquisition of image depth data.