US 2003/0210330 A1 · Automatic conformal window sizing in a video imaging system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for generating a conformal window in a video tracking system. Each of the lines within the conformal window comprises a sub-window which is resized for each frame of video signal. The composite window comprising all the sub-windows is also resized vertically for each frame. The target image sub-windows are divided into left and right edge regions and a central region and are processed based on the density of pixels in the sub-window for each new frame. The target image is apportioned vertically into top and bottom regions and a central region, and lines of target image detail are processed to delineate new top, bottom and central regions for each subsequent frame of video signal. The resized window gradually assumes an orientation which conforms to the target image orientation.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An automatic video window generation system comprising:

a source of video signals containing successive frames of images of a target;
processing means for resizing a window which bounds an object image in said video signal by executing the steps of:
determining which lines of video signal contain the object image based on the density of pixels contained in said video signal;
determining a length of each of said lines containing said object image;
determining the principal orientation of said target image from the from said lines;
shifting the starting and ending points of said lines in accordance with said principal orientation to define the width of said window in a subsequent frame;
and
determining a vertical size for said window by determining which lines of said video signal contains said target image.

5 more elements

An automatic video window generation system comprising:

a source of video signals containing successive frames of images of a target for viewing;
display means for displaying said target from said video signals;
processor means for selecting a window separating said target from a remaining portion of said image constituting non- target background information, said processor means being programmed to execute the steps of:
(a) selecting a first top edge portion of said target, a second bottom edge portion of said target within, and a central target region of said target in said window based on the density of each video line contained within a window;
(b) processing each line of video signal in said first top edge portion, bottom edge portion, and central target region to obtain a size of each line of video signal;
and
(c) selecting the beginning line of each of said top edge, and bottom edge for a subsequent frame of video signal based on the size of each line and the density of each line.

4 more elements

A method for controlling a window which bounds a target image contained in a video signal comprising:

supplying a video signal frame comprising a plurality of lines of image information including said target image;
selecting a window which includes segments of said plurality of lines which includes said target image;
selecting from said segments of said plurality of lines a top edge region, bottom edge region and target region of said target image;
determining for a subsequent frame of said video signal said window comprising the steps of:
determining a target density for each of said segments of said plurality of lines in said window;
determining a new line size for each of said line segments based on said line density;
determining from the line size of said line segments contained in said window a new top edge region, bottom edge region and target region;
and
selecting a new window to include said new top region, bottom region and said target region.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic conformal window sizing in a video imaging system

Life of this patent

Automatic conformal window sizing in a video imaging system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22