Method for extracting object images and method for detecting movements thereof

Claim 1

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) creating a map of a potential field of the whole area of said image; and ii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 2

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) creating a map of a potential field of the whole area of said image; and ii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 9

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting an object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image, ii) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out image, iii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, iv) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as azimuth vectors, v) composing a vector from said azimuth vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window, vi) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image, vii) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image, and viii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image, a minimum point of the potential in said map being taken as a reference during the determination of said extraction area.

Claim 10

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting an object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image, ii) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out image, iii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, iv) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as azimuth vectors, v) composing a vector from said azimuth vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window, vi) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image, vii) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image, and viii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image, a minimum point of the potential in said map being taken as a reference during the determination of said extraction area.

Claim 15

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting an object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image, ii) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out image, iii) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window, iv) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window, v) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image, vi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image, and vii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image, a minimum point of the potential in said map being taken as a reference during the determination of said extraction area.

Claim 16

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting an object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image, ii) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out image, iii) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window, iv) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window, v) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image, vi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image, and vii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image, a minimum point of the potential in said map being taken as a reference during the determination of said extraction area.

Claim 23

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said calculated difference; ii) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference iii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; iv) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; v) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; vi) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; vii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as azimuth vectors; viii) composing a vector from said azimuth vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; ix) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; x) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xi) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 24

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said calculated difference; ii) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference iii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; iv) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; v) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; vi) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; vii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as azimuth vectors; viii) composing a vector from said azimuth vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; ix) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; x) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xi) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 32

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out a first image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out first image; iii) after a predetermined time has elapsed, cutting out a second image, which falls in the region inside of said view window, from said image; iv) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out second image; v) calculating the difference between said contour line, which has been detected from said first image, and said contour line, which has been detected from said second image; vi) detecting a movement of a background from said calculated difference; vii) subtracting said detected movement of said background from said image, thereby detecting an object which shows a movement different from the movement of said background; viii) recognizing said object, which shows a movement different from the movement of said background, as said candidate for the predetermined object image; ix) detecting a vector directed towards said candidate for the predetermined object image as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; x) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 33

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out a first image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out first image; iii) after a predetermined time has elapsed, cutting out a second image, which falls in the region inside of said view window, from said image; iv) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out second image; v) calculating the difference between said contour line, which has been detected from said first image, and said contour line, which has been detected from said second image; vi) detecting a movement of a background from said calculated difference; vii) subtracting said detected movement of said background from said image, thereby detecting an object which shows a movement different from the movement of said background; viii) recognizing said object, which shows a movement different from the movement of said background, as said candidate for the predetermined object image; ix) detecting a vector directed towards said candidate for the predetermined object image as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; x) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 36

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out image; iii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iv) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; v) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; vi) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out image; vii) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; viii) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a second travel vector; ix) composing a vector from said first and second travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; x) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 37

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out an image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out image; iii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iv) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; v) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; vi) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out image; vii) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; viii) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a second travel vector; ix) composing a vector from said first and second travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; x) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xi) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xii) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 40

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, and detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; ii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; iv) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; v) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference; vi) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; vii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a third calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said third calculated difference; viii) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; ix) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; x) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; xi) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiii) composing a vector from said first and second travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xiv) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xv) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xvi) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 41

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, and detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; ii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; iv) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; v) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference; vi) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; vii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a third calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said third calculated difference; viii) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; ix) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; x) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; xi) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiii) composing a vector from said first and second travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xiv) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xv) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xvi) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 46

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, and detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; ii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; iv) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; v) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference; vi) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; vii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a third calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said third calculated difference; viii) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; ix) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; x) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; xi) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiii) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; xiv) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; xv) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a third travel vector; xvi) composing a vector from said first, second, and third travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xvii) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xviii) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xix) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 47

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) setting a view window, which has a predetermined size, on said image, said image being an image including a movement, cutting out a plurality of images, which fall in a region inside of said view window, at a plurality of times having a predetermined time difference therebetween, and detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; ii) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; iii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as first azimuth vectors; iv) composing a vector from said first azimuth vectors, thereby determining a first travel vector; v) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, calculating the difference between images as a first calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane parallel direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said first calculated difference; vi) detecting contour lines of object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in a radial direction with respect to the center point of said view window, calculating the difference between images as a second calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the radial direction, and detecting a movement of said image in an in-plane rotating direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said second calculated difference; vii) detecting contour lines of said object images, which are embedded in the plurality of said cut-out images, said contour lines extending in an annular direction, calculating the difference between images as a third calculated difference, which represent said detected contour lines extending in the annular direction, and detecting a movement of said image in the radial direction in the region inside of said view window, the movement being detected from said third calculated difference; viii) compensating for components of a movement of a background in said cut-out images, which fall in the region inside of said view window, in accordance with said detected movement of said image in the in-plane parallel direction, in the in-plane rotating direction, and/or in the radial direction, thereby obtaining a plurality of images in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for; ix) calculating the difference between the plurality of said images, in which the components of the movement of the background have been compensated for, thereby detecting a contour line of an object which shows a movement different from the movement of the background; x) extracting all of components of said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said object showing a movement different from the movement of the background; xi) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components of said detected contour line of said object, which shows the movement different from the movement of the background, with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiii) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from one of the plurality of said cut-out images; xiv) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; xv) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a third travel vector; xvi) composing a vector from said first, second, and third travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xvii) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xviii) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xix) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 54

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out a first image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out first image; iii) after a predetermined time has elapsed, cutting out a second image, which falls in the region inside of said view window, from said image; iv) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out second image; v) calculating the difference between said contour line, which has been detected from said first image, and said contour line, which has been detected from said second image; vi) detecting a movement of a background from said calculated difference; vii) subtracting said detected movement of said background from said image, thereby detecting an object which shows a movement different from the movement of said background; viii) recognizing said object, which shows a movement different from the movement of said background, as said candidate for the predetermined object image; ix) detecting a vector directed towards said candidate for the predetermined object image as a first travel vector; x) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out first image; xi) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; xii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xiii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiv) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out first image; xv) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; xvi) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a third travel vector; xvii) composing a vector from said first, second, and third travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xviii) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xix) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xx) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.

Claim 55

A method for extracting an object image, in which an extraction area for extraction of a candidate for a predetermined object image from an image is determined, the method for extracting the object image comprising the steps of: i) cutting out a first image, which falls in a region inside of a view window having a predetermined size, from said image; ii) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out first image; iii) after a predetermined time has elapsed, cutting out a second image, which falls in the region inside of said view window, from said image; iv) detecting a contour line of an object, which is embedded in said cut-out second image; v) calculating the difference between said contour line, which has been detected from said first image, and said contour line, which has been detected from said second image; vi) detecting a movement of a background from said calculated difference; vii) subtracting said detected movement of said background from said image, thereby detecting an object which shows a movement different from the movement of said background; viii) recognizing said object, which shows a movement different from the movement of said background, as said candidate for the predetermined object image; ix) detecting a vector directed towards said candidate for the predetermined object image as a first travel vector; x) detecting a contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image, which line extends in a predetermined direction, from said cut-out first image; xi) extracting all of components of said detected contour line, which are tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to circumferential directions of concentric circles surrounding the center point of said view window, from said detected contour line of said candidate for the predetermined object image; xii) detecting azimuths and intensities of said extracted components with respect to the center point of said view window, the azimuths and the intensities being detected as second azimuth vectors; xiii) composing a vector from said second azimuth vectors, thereby determining a second travel vector; xiv) extracting a region, which approximately coincides in color with said candidate for the predetermined object image, from said cut-out first image; xv) detecting an azimuth and a distance of said extracted region with respect to the center point of said view window; xvi) detecting said azimuth and said distance as a third travel vector; xvii) composing a vector from said first, second, and third travel vectors, the composed vector being taken as a gradient vector of a potential field in a Cartesian plane having its origin at the center point of said view window; xviii) scanning the whole area of said image with said view window, thereby calculating the gradient vectors of the potential field with respect to the whole area of said image; xix) creating a map of the potential field of the whole area of said image from the gradient vectors of the potential field, which have been calculated with respect to the whole area of said image; and xx) determining an extraction area in accordance with the size and/or the shape of said candidate for the predetermined object image by taking a minimum point of the potential field as a reference point.