Depth Image Inpainting for Viewpoint Change Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
When the viewpoint changes in a scene represented by a depth image and a color image, the regions occluded from the original viewpoint need to be inpainted with accurate depth and color information to maintain a natural 3D representation, as the original information is not available for newly visible regions.
Innovation Solution
An image inpainting method and apparatus that detects edges based on depth value differences, inpaints depth values from high to low depth regions, and combines these with color value inpainting to generate a 3D image after viewpoint change, using a depth image and color image from the original viewpoint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If viewpoint change is performed in a scene represented by depth image and color image, then new regions become visible, but the depth and color information for these newly visible regions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary inpainting of depth values and color values for occlusion regions before the viewpoint change is completed. By predicting and filling in the missing information in advance based on the original viewpoint's depth and color images, the system prepares the necessary data so that when the viewpoint changes, the newly visible regions already have appropriate depth and color information, thus preventing information loss.
2Measurement precision
If edge detection is performed based on depth value differences, then accurate edge regions are identified, but the complexity of the inpainting process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into different regions based on detected edges, specifically identifying occlusion regions where viewpoint changes will reveal new areas. By dividing the inpainting task into distinct segments (occlusion regions vs. non-occlusion regions) and applying different processing strategies to each, the system achieves precise edge-based processing while managing complexity through regional specialization rather than uniform complex processing across the entire image.
3Manufacturing precision
If depth values are inpainted from high depth regions to low depth regions, then occlusion regions are effectively filled, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a directional dimension to the inpainting process by processing depth values in a specific direction (from high depth regions to low depth regions) rather than applying uniform processing. This directional approach leverages the natural depth gradient in the scene, allowing the algorithm to propagate depth information efficiently along the depth axis, which reduces the search space and computational iterations needed compared to omnidirectional processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method and apparatus for inpainting a depth image and a color image seen from one viewpoint by using a depth image and a color image inpainted from another viewpoint. The method includes detecting an edge on the basis of a difference between depth values of pixels in a first image seen from a view viewpoint and inpainting depth values of pixels in an occlusion region that is shown in a second image seen from a second viewpoint but not shown in the first image, in a direction from pixels in a region having high depth values among regions forming the edge to pixels in a region having low depth values.