Face Imaging Control Using Skin Region Extraction for Accurate Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing face-priority AE techniques struggle with accuracy when dark blocking objects like hair or sunglasses are present, leading to incorrect exposure settings and degraded image quality of skin regions.
Innovation Solution
An imaging control device and apparatus that detect a face region and extract a skin region within it, using skin region information for exposure and flash control, enhancing detection accuracy and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a rectangular detection frame is used to detect face region, then the detection process is simple, but detection accuracy deteriorates when dark blocking objects like hair or sunglasses are present
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the face region detection into two stages: first detecting the overall face region using a rectangular detection frame, then further segmenting it to identify the skin region by excluding dark blocking objects. This segmentation approach maintains the simplicity of the initial detection while improving accuracy through subsequent refinement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the skin region from the detected face region by identifying and excluding dark blocking objects. The extractor specifically targets the skin region within the face region, separating it from areas obscured by hair, sunglasses, or other dark objects, thereby improving detection accuracy without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If detection value from rectangular detection frame is used for face-priority AE, then the processing is straightforward, but image quality of skin part deteriorates due to brightness deviation caused by dark blocking objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary extraction process that identifies the skin region within the face region. This intermediary step acts as a mediator between the simple rectangular detection frame and the exposure control, providing accurate skin region information while maintaining the overall simplicity of the exposure control processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by focusing exposure control specifically on the skin region rather than the entire face region. By identifying and targeting only the skin area, the system ensures appropriate brightness and image quality for skin parts while maintaining efficient processing through the use of the extracted skin region data.
3Area of stationary object
If side of face is detected using rectangular detection frame, then the detection covers the entire face area, but the detection value cannot be used for face-priority AE due to inclusion of non-skin regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detected face region into skin region and non-skin region components. Even when the rectangular detection frame captures the entire face area including sides, the subsequent segmentation process identifies only the skin region, enabling accurate face-priority AE while maintaining comprehensive face coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the skin region from the broader face region detected by the rectangular frame. This extraction process removes non-skin areas (including side regions with hair or other obstructions) from the detection value calculation, allowing the system to use only the relevant skin region data for face-priority AE while maintaining comprehensive initial face detection.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging control device of the present disclosure includes a detector, an extractor, and a controller. The detector detects, as a region of interest, a face region of a person in a captured image obtained by an imaging apparatus. The extractor extracts a skin region in the region of interest detected by the detector. The controller performs an imaging control on the imaging apparatus on the basis of information obtained from the skin region extracted by the extractor.