Patent ID: 6298170
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A local region image tracking apparatus for continuously tracking an arbitrary local region within a search image, defined by search image data of a size greater than am by bn pixels, by comparing the search image data of the search image and reference image data, related to the arbitrary local region and of a size of am by bn pixels, where a, b, m and n are natural numbers, a>1 and b>1, said local region image tracking apparatus comprising:correlation computing means for computing a correlation between each of plural sub-reference images comprising respective contiguous portions of a common reference image and defined by respective sub-reference image data, each of a size of m by n pixels, while moving said sub-reference images in individual succession from initial contiguous positions to subsequent contiguous positions thereof with respect to said search image, and for outputting plural correlation values respectively indicating respective, computed correlations between each of the plural, moved sub-reference images and corresponding portions of said search image; andcorrelation value accumulating means for accumulating the plural correlation values output from said correlation computing means, and for outputting a correlation value indicative of a correlation between said search image data and reference image data related to an equivalent of a reference image having a size of am by bn pixels.