Patent ID: 8005271
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A face detection method comprising: classifying a plurality of images, generated by enlargement or reduction of time-wise successively captured images according to plurality of specific multipliers, into levels by image size of the images using a processor; sequentially reading out at one read-out unit at a time the images classified into each of the levels, using as the read-out unit a size that is smaller than the smallest image size from the image sizes of the classified images using a processor; carrying out face detection processing by a processor to detect images in which it is determined that a face is present in portions of image divided up into the read-out units, wherein when the face detection processing is repeatedly carried out to the time-wise successively captured images the number of candidate levels of the images used for the face detection processing for the next image is set based on the level(s) of image size of images in which it has been determined there is a face present so that the number of candidate levels is less that the total number of levels.