Patent ID: 6606397
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: A61B,G06K

Abstract:
A face image processing apparatus comprising:image input means for inputting a face image of a person to be detected; multi-valued image storage means for temporarily storing the light and shade image obtained by said image input means; binarization means for binarizing the light and shade image outputted from said multi-valued image storage means; binary image storage means for temporarily storing the binary image obtained by said binarization means; feature extraction means for extracting a naris area from said binary image outputted from said binary image storage means, and for extracting an eye area based on the naris arca; and open/close detection means for detecting the opening/closing states of the eye based on the shape feature of the eye area obtained by said feature extraction means, wherein said feature extraction means comprises: naris area extraction means for extracting a naris binary area from the binary image outputted from said binary image storage means; and eye area extraction means for extracting an eye binary area using as reference the naris binary area extracted by said naris area extraction means from the binary image outputted from said binary image storage means, and wherein said eye area extraction means uses as a weight of eye candidate pixels at the eye extraction a distance between the naris binary area extracted by said naris area extraction means and the eye binary area at the previous extraction of the eye.