Patent ID: 8204308
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: 3-value image generating means for generating a 3-value image made up of first through third values from a 2-value image, wherein the 2-value image is made up of a first value indicating, on a per-pixel basis, a foreground image region in an input image, as well as a second value similarly indicating a background image region, and wherein the third value of the 3-value image indicates an unknown region defined differently from both the foreground image region and the background image region such that the unknown region is defined having a predetermined width at the boundary between the foreground image region and the background image region; ratio image generating means for generating a ratio image from the input image and the 3-value image, wherein the ratio image is made up of a fourth value that indicates, on a per-pixel basis, the ratio of the first value; updating means for updating the 3-value image by defining a predetermined range near a pixel in the 3-value image that corresponds to a pixel in the ratio image whose fourth value is greater than a minimum value and less than a maximum value, and setting all pixels within the defined range to the third value; determining means for determining whether or not the 3-value image updated by the updating means is identical or nearly identical to the 3-value image before being updated by the updating means; and output means for outputting the updated 3-value image if it is determined that the 3-value image updated by the updating means is identical or nearly identical to the 3-value image before being updated by the updating means.