Multi-Sensor ROI Boundary Detection for Subject-Background Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing systems fail to provide a clear boundary distinction between the primary subject and background region, limiting the application of effects such as bokeh, dolly, and background style effects.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that utilizes multiple image sensors to capture primary and secondary frames, detect rough regions of interest (RROI), determine actual regions of interest (ROI) boundaries, and apply effects like bokeh outside the ROI boundaries using gradient descent and geometric transformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing systems use single image sensor and pattern-based background processing, then device complexity is reduced, but boundary distinction between primary subject and background region is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary distinction precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image processing into multiple stages: rough ROI detection, boundary refinement, and effect application. Multiple image sensors are segmented to capture different depth information, allowing precise boundary detection without requiring a single complex sensor system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces depth dimension by using multiple image sensors at different positions to capture parallax information. This transforms 2D image processing into 3D spatial processing, enabling accurate boundary distinction between subject and background by analyzing depth differences across sensors.

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

2Measurement precision

If multiple image sensors are used to capture primary and secondary frames, then boundary distinction precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary distinction precisionVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines data from multiple image sensors through image fusion techniques. By merging the captured frames and analyzing parallax relationships, the system achieves precise boundary detection while distributing the complexity across multiple simpler sensor units rather than requiring one complex sensor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary processing stage that fuses data from multiple sensors before final boundary determination. This intermediary fusion process simplifies the overall system architecture by creating a unified data representation that reduces the complexity of direct multi-sensor integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If rough ROI detection is performed followed by boundary refinement, then boundary precision is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveboundary precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary rough ROI detection using simplified algorithms before applying complex boundary refinement techniques. This preliminary action identifies candidate regions of interest, allowing subsequent detailed boundary processing to focus only on relevant areas, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the processing pipeline into distinct stages: rough detection, boundary refinement, and effect application. Each stage processes only the necessary data with appropriate complexity, preventing unnecessary computational overhead and reducing total processing time while achieving high boundary precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4172935B1Method and electronic device for determining boundary of region of interest
Publication Date: 2026.04.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4172935B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4172935B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP4172935B1 patent drawingFigure 3C~4A

AI summary

Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising at least one memory configured to store instructions, and at least one processor configured to execute the instructions to obtain a first image captured by a first image sensor, obtain a second image captured by a second image sensor located in a different position from a position of the first image sensor, determine a rough region of interest (RROI) in the first image, determine a geometric transformation that maps a position of an RROI of the second image corresponding to the RROI of the first image to a position of the RROI of the first image, and determine a boundary of a region of interest (ROI) in the first image corresponding to the RROI of the first image, based on the geometric transformation.