US 2006/0140445 A1Published application

Method and apparatus for capturing digital facial images optimally suited for manual and automated recognition

OwnerFrancis Cusackinventor

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Abstract

The invention details how to capture very high quality face images in demanding environments for either manual review or automated recognition algorithms. By dynamically controlling a host of imaging parameters and segmenting the field of view into regions just around the faces, or one region per face in the field of view, a face image may be generated of superior quality to that which is produced from an imaging system that takes a more global approach to image parameter adjustment. Specific face regions are given imaging priority, at the expense of other regions of lower priority. Furthermore, face regions may be tracked as a function of time and space, thereby sustaining or improving face image quality as the face location migrates with the field of view.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An imaging device for producing optimal face images that combines the functionality of:

a. an imager consisting of sensing elements that can be individually addressed and controlled in real time
b. a processor to effect such control
c. an imager whose individually addressable sensing elements can be individually programmed for integration time, spectral sensitivity, dynamic range, frame rate, pixel binning, anti-bloom, amplifier gain and offset, and any other image quality or image generation parameter.
d. An imager that provides for dynamic grouping of sensing elements for sub-window regions of interest and fast focus.
e. software algorithms to find heads and faces, define and keep track of regions of interest containing faces, and dynamically and automatically optimize the critical imaging parameters for said regions containing faces.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.