# US 8,786,692 B2 · Image processing device and electronic apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,692 B2 - Document ID: US8786692B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/835,316 - Filed: 2010-07-13 - Published: 2011-02-17 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-08-12 - Assignees: Sony Corporation - Applicants: Ichiro Mori; Hidetoshi Kabasawa - Inventors: Ichiro Mori; Hidetoshi Kabasawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786692B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0059: {using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence (photoacoustic A61B5/0093; optical measurement of heart rate A61B5/02416; optical measurement of blood flow A61B5/0261; optical measurement of analytes A61B5/1455)} - A61B 5/441: {Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis} - G03B 15/02: Illuminating scene - G06V 10/143: Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths - G06V 10/147: Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses (fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19) - G06V 40/1312: {direct reading, e.g. contactless acquisition} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract An image processing device for detecting a skin area representing the skin of a person in an image obtained by imaging an object, includes: a first light source section emitting light having a first wavelength; a second light source section emitting light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; an imaging section imaging an object illuminated by the light having the first wavelength and imaging an object illuminated by the light having the second wavelength; a detecting section detecting a skin area in either first or second image respectively obtained by imaging the object illuminated by the light having the first or second wavelength based on the first and the second images; and a substrate on which the first and second light emitting sections are disposed integrally with the imaging section and the detecting section in such positions that the light emitting sections are symmetric about the imaging section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image processing device for detecting a skin area representing the skin of a person in an image obtained by imaging an object, comprising: a first light source configured to emit light having a first wavelength; a second light source configured to emit light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; an imager configured to image an object illuminated by the light having the first wavelength and image an object illuminated by the light having the second wavelength; detection circuitry configured to detect a skin area in either a first image obtained by imaging the object illuminated by the light having the first wavelength or a second image obtained by imaging the object illuminated by the light having the second wavelength based on the first image and the second image; and a substrate on which the first and second light sources are disposed integrally with the imager and the detection circuitry in such positions that the light sources are symmetric about the imager, wherein the first and second light sources are disposed on a straight line on the substrate in such positions that they are symmetric about the imager which is located in the middle of the straight line, the first light source includes a plurality of first light sources disposed on a first straight line parallel to the straight line, the second light source includes a plurality of second light sources disposed on a second straight line parallel to the straight line, a number of the plurality of first light sources and a number of the plurality of second light sources are determined based upon a difference between degrees of sensitivity the imager exhibits in receiving the light having the first wavelength and the light having the second wavelength, and the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources are disposed on the substrate such that an illuminance distribution of the light having the first wavelength coincides with an illuminance distribution of the light having the second wavelength. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a securing section securing the first and second light sources in such positions that an imaging direction of the imager coincides with light emitting directions of the first and second light sources. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the securing section is formed from a metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An image processing device according to claim 3, further comprising a support section supporting the substrate, wherein the securing section forms part of the support section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a lens provided to allow light rays from the first and second light sources to be radiated into an imaging range of the imager. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An image processing device according to claim 5, wherein the lens is a fly-eye lens or diffraction grating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate includes: a light source substrate on which the first and second light sources are disposed, and a processing substrate on which the imager and the detection circuitry are disposed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An image processing device according to claim 7, wherein the imager is secured to the light source substrate such that the imager penetrates through the light source substrate in the normal direction thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An image processing device according to claim 8, wherein the light source substrate is provided with a shield section for blocking light rays from the first and second light sources which otherwise directly impinge on the imager. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An image processing device according to claim 9, wherein the shield section is formed from a metal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) An image processing device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second light sources are alternately disposed on the light source substrate in such positions that they are symmetric about the imager. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) An image processing device according to claim 7, wherein the processing substrate is disposed behind the light source substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) An image processing device according to claim 7, wherein the light source substrate is relatively larger than the processing substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An image processing device according the claim 1, wherein every first light source of the plurality of first light sources is disposed on the straight line, and every second light source of the plurality of second light sources is disposed on the straight line. ### Claim 15 An electronic apparatus detecting a skin area representing the skin of a person in an image obtained by imaging an object and performing a process depending on the detected skin area, the apparatus comprising: a first light source configured to emit light having a first wavelength; a second light source configured to emit light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; an imager configured to image an object illuminated by the light having the first wavelength and image an object illuminated by the light having the second wavelength; detection circuitry configured to detect a skin area in either a first image obtained by imaging the object illuminated by the light having the first wavelength or a second image obtained by imaging the object illuminated by the light having the second wavelength based on the first image and the second image; a substrate on which the first and second light sources are disposed integrally with the imager and the detection circuitry in such positions that the light emitting sources are symmetric about the imager; and processing circuitry configured to perform a process according to the result of the detection performed by the detection circuitry, wherein the first and second light sources are disposed on a straight line on the substrate in such positions that they are symmetric about the imager which is located in the middle of the straight line, the first light source includes a plurality of first light sources disposed on a first straight line parallel to the straight line, the second light source includes a plurality of second light sources disposed on a second straight line parallel to the straight line, a number of the plurality of first light sources and a number of the plurality of second light sources are determined based upon a difference between degrees of sensitivity the imager exhibits in receiving the light having the first wavelength and the light having the second wavelength, and the plurality of first light sources and the plurality of second light sources are disposed on the substrate such that an illuminance distribution of the light having the first wavelength coincides with an illuminance distribution of the light having the second wavelength.