DISTINGUISHING FOREGROUND AND BACKGROUND WITH INFRARED IMAGING

• Main Authors: Rhemann Christoph, Shen Yao, Izadi Shahram, Barsoum Emad, Stachniak Simon P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.09.2016
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

An initial candidate foreground region is identified within an infrared image that includes pixels exhibiting infrared intensity values within a pre-defined range. A depth of surfaces within the initial candidate foreground region is estimated based on infrared intensity values the pixels of the initial candidate foreground region. The initial candidate foreground region is expanded to an expanded candidate foreground region based on a body-model estimate. The body model estimate is seeded with one or more of the initial candidate foreground region, the depth of surfaces, and/or a face of a human subject identified by facial recognition. Each pixel of the infrared image is identified as either a foreground pixel or a background pixel based on a distance of that pixel relative to the expanded candidate foreground region. Pixels identified as background pixels may be modified within a corresponding visible light image.