Patent ID: 6621924
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A contour extraction apparatus which extracts a contour of an object from an image, comprising:update sector extractor means for obtaining a set of representative points which sandwich an update sector, from coordinates of representative points on an edge of the object and an initial closed curve; color projection axis calculator means for obtaining a color projection axis, based on color information within the update sector obtained by the update sector extractor means; contour curve generator means for generating a contour curve within the update sector, from the color projection axis obtained by the color projection axis calculator means, the set of representative points obtained by the update sector extractor means, and the image; and closed contour curve synthesizer means for synthesizing the contour curve within the update sector, which has been generated by the contour curve generator means, with the closed contour curve, thereby to generate a new closed contour curve.