Differential Face Image Processing by Distance and Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras apply uniform image processing to all faces in an image, leading to blurry faces at far distances and incorrect skin color correction for faces of different sizes, resulting in poor image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method and apparatus that detect face areas at varying distances and auto-focus levels, performing differential image processing based on distance and auto-focus status to prevent blurring and correct skin tones accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the same degree of image processing is performed on all faces in the image, then the processing is simple and uniform, but faces at far distances appear more blurry than faces at closer distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different degrees of image processing to different face regions based on their distance from the photographing apparatus. Faces at closer distances receive stronger processing (higher blur levels) while faces at far distances receive weaker processing, creating locally adapted quality that prevents far faces from appearing excessively blurry.
2Device complexity
If the same degree of image processing is performed on all faces, then the processing is uniform, but small faces are crushed while big faces are over-processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the processing degree according to the detected size of each face region. Smaller faces receive less processing intensity while larger faces receive more processing, preventing small faces from being crushed and avoiding over-processing of big faces.
3Device complexity
If the same degree of image processing is performed on focused and non-focused images, then the processing is consistent, but image quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent differentiates processing based on whether a face region is detected as focused or non-focused. Focused faces receive standard processing while non-focused faces receive adjusted processing levels, maintaining image quality by avoiding excessive processing on already blurred regions.
4Device complexity
If uniform skin color correction is applied using a fixed window size, then the correction process is simple, but faces of different sizes receive incorrect correction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the correction window size according to the detected face size. Smaller faces are corrected using smaller windows while larger faces use larger windows, ensuring accurate skin color correction for all face sizes rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a digital photographing apparatus and method of performing different degrees of image processing on one or more faces in an image according to the distances of faces from the digital photographing apparatus or whether auto-focusing has been performed on the faces. Also provided are a digital photographing apparatus and method of performing different degrees of image processing which assist in preventing faces at farther distances from appearing more processed, for example, more blurred, than faces at closer distances and which assist in preventing faces that have not been auto-focused from appearing more processed, for example, more blurred, than faces that have been auto-focused.