3D Face Reconstruction from Non-Frontal Images

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image face construction architectures fail to produce visually accurate results for non-frontal or occluded facial images, leading to incomplete face analysis.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system for three-dimensional face reconstruction that receives and analyzes multiple two-dimensional non-frontal face images, extracts facial features, constructs sparse three-dimensional facial feature point clouds, and inputs them into an encoder-decoder architecture to generate a complete three-dimensional facial feature point cloud, enabling downstream tasks such as emotion estimation and autonomous control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If existing image face construction architectures are used to analyze two-dimensional facial images, then the processing can be performed with simple architectures, but the visually accurate results fail when images contain non-frontal or occluded faces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvearchitecture complexityVSAvoidface reconstruction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms two-dimensional facial images into three-dimensional facial feature point clouds through multi-stage processing. The encoder-decoder architecture processes sparse 3D point clouds and generates complete 3D facial models, adding the third dimension to capture depth and spatial relationships that 2D images cannot represent, thereby improving reconstruction accuracy for non-frontal and occluded faces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the face reconstruction process into distinct segments: (1) extracting 2D facial features from images, (2) constructing sparse 3D facial feature point clouds, (3) processing through encoder-decoder architecture, and (4) generating complete 3D facial models. This segmentation allows each stage to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall accuracy while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple two-dimensional non-frontal face images are processed to reconstruct three-dimensional facial features, then accurate face analysis can be achieved, but the processing complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveface reconstruction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary extraction of 2D facial features and construction of sparse 3D point clouds before feeding data into the encoder-decoder architecture. This preliminary processing organizes and pre-processes the data, reducing the computational burden on the main reconstruction model and enabling accurate reconstruction from multiple non-frontal images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sparse three-dimensional facial feature point clouds serve as an intermediary representation between the input 2D images and the final complete 3D facial models. This intermediate format simplifies the processing requirements by providing a structured 3D representation that the encoder-decoder architecture can efficiently process to generate accurate reconstructions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If three-dimensional facial feature point clouds are generated from non-frontal images, then complete facial feature reconstruction is achieved, but the computational resources and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefacial feature completenessVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the processing into distinct stages: 2D feature extraction, sparse 3D point cloud construction, encoder-decoder processing, and complete model generation. This segmentation allows efficient processing by handling data at appropriate resolutions and formats at each stage, reducing overall processing time while maintaining facial feature completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By working with three-dimensional point cloud representations rather than processing multiple 2D images through complex multi-view geometry, the patent reduces computational complexity. The 3D point cloud format provides direct spatial information that simplifies the reconstruction process and decreases processing time compared to traditional 2D-based methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20240331279A1System and method for completing three dimensional face reconstruction
Publication Date: 2024.10.03 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • US20240331279A1 patent drawing
  • US20240331279A1 patent drawing
  • US20240331279A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for completing three dimensional face reconstruction that includes receiving image data associated with multiple two dimensional non-frontal face images. The system and method also includes analyzing the image data and extracting two dimensional facial features. The system and method additionally includes constructing sparse three dimensional facial feature point clouds based on the two dimensional facial features. The system and method further includes inputting the sparse three dimensional facial feature point clouds into an encoder-decoder architecture to generate a three dimensional facial feature point cloud of complete facial features.