# US 10,194,075 B2 · Background separated images for print and on-line use

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- Number: US 10,194,075 B2
- Document ID: US10194075B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/336,436
- Filed: 2016-10-27
- Published: 2017-04-20
- Granted: 2019-01-29
- Earliest claimed: 2006-09-05
- Assignees: PC Connection, Inc.
- Applicants: PC Connection, Inc.
- Inventors: Matthew J. Wheeler; Steven R. Koontz; Robert C. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10194075B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/64: {Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image}
- G06F 16/50: of still image data
- G06Q 30/0643: {graphically representing goods, e.g. 3D product representation}
- G06T 5/50: using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
- G06T 7/12: Edge-based segmentation
- G06T 7/13: Edge detection
- G06T 7/194: involving foreground-background segmentation
- H04N 1/3871: {the composed originals being of different kinds, e.g. low- and high-resolution originals}
- H04N 1/6086: {by scene illuminant, i.e. conditions at the time of picture capture, e.g. flash, optical filter used, evening, cloud, daylight, artificial lighting, white point measurement, colour temperature}
- H04N 5/2723: {Insertion of virtual advertisement; Replacing advertisements physical present in the scene by virtual advertisement (data processing systems or methods specially adapted for marketing G06Q30/02)}
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces
- G06T 2207/10004: Still image; Photographic image
- G06T 2207/10012: Stereo images
- G06T 2207/10024: Color image
- G06T 2207/10152: Varying illumination
- H04N 5/272: Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for producing background separated product images for print and on-line display. An image formation system provides lighting of a product to facilitate acquiring images that can be automatically processed to generate high resolution item-only images free of quality defects and imaging artifacts. Image processing programs accurately detect an outline of an item in a set of digital images taken using the image formation system and automatically store processed images in an image library. The images in the library may be repurposed for print, sales display, transmission to a user, on-line customer support, and the like. A user display configured with an adaptable user interface facilitates user interaction with images in the library.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a camera under control of a processor;
an image library disposed in a computer readable non-transient memory that is accessible by the processor; and
image processing software stored in the computer readable non-transient memory that when executed by the processor produces an item-only image from a single image by the processor performing the following functions:
capturing the single image of an item using the camera the single image comprising the item and a diffuse background having known properties;
detecting an outline of the item in the single image using the single image captured by the camera;
aligning the outline with a boundary of the item;
extracting image content of the item within the aligned outline; and
storing the image content of the item as the item-only image in the image library.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the image library is accessible by the processor over a network.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is a special purpose image processor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the image provides high contrast between the item and the diffuse background, providing a contrast image from which the outline of the item is detected.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a display screen on which the single image and the item-only image is displayed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the image library comprises item-only images and captured images.

### Claim 7

A method comprising:
controlling a camera with a processor to capture a single image of an item the single image comprising the item and a diffuse background having known properties;
disposing an image library in a computer readable non-transient memory that is accessible by the processor; and
producing, with the processor via execution of software stored in the computer readable non-transient memory an item-only image from the single image by performing the following image processing functions:
detecting an outline of the item in the single image captured by the camera;
aligning the outline with a boundary of the item;
extracting image content of the item within the aligned outline; and
storing the image content of the item as an item-only image in the image library.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the image library is accessible by the processor over a network.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the processor is a special purpose image processor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the image provides high contrast between the item and the diffuse background, providing a contrast image from which the outline of the item is detected.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the camera and processor are disposed in a device that comprises a display screen on which the captured single image and the item-only image is displayed.

### Claim 12

An apparatus comprising:
a camera under control of a processor;
an interactive display through which a user controls the processor and the camera;
a network interface;
an electronic image library that is accessible by the processor through the network interface; and
image processing software stored on a computer readable non-transient memory that when executed by the processor updates the image library with an item-only image from a single image by the processor performing the following functions:
capturing the single image of an item using the camera the single image comprising the item and a diffuse background having known properties;
detecting an outline of the item in the single image captured by the camera;
aligning the outline with a boundary of the item;
extracting image content of the item within the aligned outline; and
storing the image content of the item as the item-only image in the image library.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the image library is accessible by the processor over a wireless network.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is a special purpose image processor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the single image provides high contrast between the item and the diffuse background, providing a contrast image from which the outline of the item is detected.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor further presents the captured single image and the item-only image on the interactive display.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein aligning the outline with a boundary of the item comprises using an edge detection algorithm to identify a plurality of edges of the item in the single image of the item and fitting the outline of the item to the detected plurality of edges.

### Claim 18 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein aligning the outline with a boundary of the item comprises using an edge detection algorithm to identify a plurality of edges of the item in the single image of the item and fitting the outline of the item to the detected plurality of edges.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein aligning the outline with a boundary of the item comprises using an edge detection algorithm to identify a plurality of edges of the item in the image of the item and fitting the outline of the item to the detected plurality of edges.