Patent EP0305907A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0655712A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0655712A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Image processing method and apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1994-11-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-11-28
Abstract
Abstract In an image processing apparatus, a plurality of substantially corresponding points are designated on a reference image and a peripheral image. The degree of coincidence is detected between a window in the peripheral image with a corresponding point as the center, and windows successively cut from the reference image, whose center is a corresponding point. The corresponding point at the center of the window having the highest degree of coincidence in the reference image is moved and an offset between this corresponding point and the corresponding point on the peripheral image is detected. When a corresponding point whose offset is greater than a threshold exists, the peripheral image is subjected to an affine transformation using a corresponding point on the reference image whose offset is less than the threshold. The processing is repeated by using the corresponding point on the transformed peripheral image. The two images are merged by an affine transformation when the offsets of all corresponding points become smaller than the threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Yukihiko C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Shimizu
- 👤 Masatoshi C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Okutomi
- 👤 Osamu C/O Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Yoshizaki
- 👤 Hiroyuki C/O Kosugi Jigyosho Canon Urushiya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/4038; G06T3/14; G06T3/153; G06T7/00; G06T7/30; G06T7/32; G06T7/33; G06T7/337; G06T2207/00; G06T2207/20; G06T2207/20021; G06T2207/30; G06T2207/30004; G06T2207/30041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying first and second images; designating means for designating a pair of corresponding points, one located on each of the first and second images, indicating substantially corresponding positions; moving means for moving the corresponding point of the pair located on the first image based upon a peripheral image of the corresponding point of the pair located on the second image; and merging means for merging the first and second images on the basis of the corresponding point located on the first image moved by said moving means and the corresponding point designated on the second image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating means designates a plurality of pairs of corresponding points from the first and second images and said merging means merges the first and second images on the basis of the plurality of corresponding points, which are located on the first image, moved by said moving means and the plurality of corresponding points, which have been designated on the second image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said merging means merges the first and second images using an affine transformation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving means moves the corresponding point located on the first image within a prescribed range inclusive of said corresponding point on the basis of the peripheral image of the corresponding point, which is located on the second image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the first image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said moving means: acquires the peripheral image of the corresponding point designated on the second image; acquires a plurality of partial images, which have a size identical with that of the peripheral image, within a prescribed range inclusive of the corresponding point, which has been designated on the first image, forming the pair with the corresponding point designated on the second image; extracts a partial image having maximum degree of coincidence with the peripheral image from among the plurality of partial images; and moves the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, inside the partial image extracted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the degree of coincidence in said moving means is acquired on the basis of degree of correlation between the peripheral image and each of the partial images.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: display means for displaying first and second images; designating means for designating a plurality of pairs of corresponding points indicating substantially corresponding positions on the first and second images; transforming means for obtaining a transformed image by subjecting the second image to an affine transformation on the basis of the plurality of pairs of corresponding points designated by said designating means; moving means for moving the corresponding points of the pairs located on the first image based upon peripheral images of respective corresponding points, which are located on the transformed image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image; acquisition means for acquiring distances between the corresponding points located on the first image moved by said moving means and the corresponding points, which are located on the transformed image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image; and merging means for merging the first and second image by the affine transformation, which is performed by said transformation means, in a case where all distances acquired by said acquisition means are smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said moving means performs the following operations with regard to each pair of corresponding points: acquires a peripheral image of the corresponding point located on the transformed image; acquires a plurality of partial images, which have a size identical with that of the peripheral image, within a prescribed range of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the transformed image; extracts a partial image having maximum degree of coincidence with the peripheral image from among the plurality of partial images; and moves the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, inside the partial image extracted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the degree of coincidence in said moving means is acquired on the basis of degree of correlation between the peripheral image and each of the partial images.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first and second images are color images and the degree of coincidence between the partial image and a peripheral image is an average of degrees of coincidence acquired for each color component of the color image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising correcting means which, in a case where the plurality of pairs of corresponding points includes a pair for which the distance acquired by said acquisition means is greater than the predetermined value, is for correcting the position of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, in such a manner that said distance becomes smaller than the predetermined value; wherein operations performed by said moving means, said acquisition means and said merging means are re-executed using the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, corrected by said correcting means and the corresponding point designated on the second image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said correcting means includes: second transforming means which, in a case where the plurality of pairs of corresponding points includes a pair for which the distance acquired by said acquisition means is greater than the predetermined value, is for obtaining a second transformed image by transforming the second image using a pair of corresponding points for which the distance acquired by said acquisition means is smaller than the predetermined value; and altering means for altering the position of the corresponding point located on the first image on the basis of the position of each corresponding point located on the second transformed image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said merging means merges the first and second images on the basis of finally obtained results of transformation by said second transformation means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said altering means moves the position of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, of a pair of corresponding points among said plurality of pairs for which the distance acquired by said acquisition means is greater than the predetermined value, to position indicating a corresponding point, which is located on the second transformed image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the first image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said altering means moves all positions of corresponding points located on the first image to positions indicating corresponding points on the second transformed image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein size of the prescribed range in said moving means is reduced whenever moving by said moving means is re-executed after operations of said second transformation means and altering means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising notification means which, in a case where the number of pairs of corresponding points for which the distances are smaller than the predetermined value is insufficient for executing the affine transformation in said second transformation means, gives notification to this effect.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in a case where the number of pairs of corresponding points for which the distances are smaller than the predetermined value is insufficient for executing the affine transformation in said second transformation means, selection of a pair of corresponding points used in the affine transformation is performed based upon a value greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
An image processing method comprising: a display step of displaying first and second images; a designating step of designating a pair of corresponding points, one located on each of the first and second images, indicating substantially corresponding positions; a moving step of moving the corresponding point of the pair located on the first image based upon a peripheral image of the corresponding point of the pair located on the second image; and a merging step of merging the first and second images on the basis of the corresponding point located on the first image moved at said moving step and the corresponding point designated on the second image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein said designating step designates a plurality of pairs of corresponding points from the first and second images and said merging step merges the first and second images on the basis of the plurality of corresponding points, which are located on the first image, moved at said moving step and the plurality of corresponding points, which have been designated on the second image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20, wherein said merging step merges the first and second images using an affine transformation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 19, wherein said moving step moves the corresponding point located on the first image within a prescribed range inclusive of said corresponding point on the basis of the peripheral image of the corresponding point, which is located on the second image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the first image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
The method according to claim 22, wherein said moving step: acquires the peripheral image of the corresponding point designated on the second image; acquires a plurality of partial images, which have a size identical with that of the peripheral image, within a prescribed range inclusive of the corresponding point, which has been designated on the first image, forming the pair with the corresponding point designated on the second image; extracts a partial image having maximum degree of coincidence with the peripheral image from among the plurality of partial images; and moves the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, inside the partial image extracted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 23, wherein the degree of coincidence at said moving step is acquired on the basis of degree of correlation between the peripheral image and each of the partial images.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
194 words
An image processing method comprising: a display step of displaying first and second images; a designating step of designating a plurality of pairs of corresponding points indicating substantially corresponding positions on the first and second images; a transforming step of obtaining a transformed image by subjecting the second image to an affine transformation on the basis of the plurality of pairs of corresponding points designated at said designating step; a moving step of moving the corresponding points of the pairs located on the first image based upon peripheral images of respective corresponding points, which are located on the transformed image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image; an acquisition step of acquiring distances between the corresponding points located on the first image moved at said moving step and the corresponding points, which are located on the transformed image, forming the pairs with the corresponding points located on the first image; and a merging step of merging the first and second image by the affine transformation, which is performed at said transformation step, in a case where all distances acquired by said acquisition means are smaller than a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
116 words
The method according to claim 25, wherein said moving step includes the following steps with regard to each pair of corresponding points: acquiring a peripheral image of the corresponding point located on the transformed image; acquiring a plurality of partial images, which have a size identical with that of the peripheral image, within a prescribed range of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the transformed image; extracting a partial image having maximum degree of coincidence with the peripheral image from among the plurality of partial images; and moving the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, inside the partial image extracted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 26, wherein the degree of coincidence at said moving step is acquired on the basis of degree of correlation between the peripheral image and each of the partial images.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method according to claim 27, wherein the first and second images are color images and the degree of coincidence between the partial image and a peripheral image is an average of degrees of coincidence acquired for each color component of the color image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method according to claim 25, further comprising a correcting step which, in a case where the plurality of pairs of corresponding points includes a pair for which the distance acquired at said acquisition step is greater than the predetermined value, is for correcting the position of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, in such a manner that said distance becomes smaller than the predetermined value; wherein said moving step, said acquisition step and said merging step are re-executed using the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, corrected at said correcting step and the corresponding point designated on the second image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method according to claim 29, wherein said correcting step includes: a second transforming step which, in a case where the plurality of pairs of corresponding points includes a pair for which the distance acquired by said acquisition means is greater than the predetermined value, is for obtaining a second transformed image by transforming the second image using a pair of corresponding points for which the distance acquired at said acquisition step is smaller than the predetermined value; and an altering step of altering the position of the corresponding point located on the first image on the basis of the position of each corresponding point located on the second transformed image.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein said merging step merges the first and second images on the basis of finally obtained results of transformation at said second transformation step.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein said altering step moves the position of the corresponding point, which is located on the first image, of a pair of corresponding points among said plurality of pairs for which the distance acquired at said acquisition step is greater than the predetermined value, to position indicating a corresponding point, which is located on the second transformed image, forming the pair with the corresponding point located on the first image.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein said altering step moves all positions of corresponding points located on the first image to positions indicating corresponding points on the second transformed image.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 30, wherein size of the prescribed range at said moving step is reduced whenever said moving step is re-executed after operations at said second transformation step and altering step.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method according to claim 29, further comprising a notification step which, in a case where the number of pairs of corresponding points for which the distances are smaller than the predetermined value is insufficient for executing the affine transformation at said second transformation step, gives notification to this effect.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method according to claim 29, wherein in a case where the number of pairs of corresponding points for which the distances are smaller than the predetermined value is insufficient for executing the affine transformation at said second transformation step, selection of a pair of corresponding points used in the affine transformation is performed based upon a value greater than the predetermined value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
Image processing apparatus comprising means for displaying first and second images, means for designating points on each image, means for merging corresponding points on the two images to generate a final combined image by selecting a corresponding point from an initially merged image and computing correlations between the positions of other designated points.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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