Patent ID: 7286688
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An object detection apparatus for detecting an object on a reference plane, wherein relative positions of the object and the object detection apparatus change on the reference plane, the apparatus comprising: an image pickup device, which captures an image in a predetermined image pickup area, thereby obtaining image data; an image cutting section, wherein the image cutting section cuts an image received by the image pickup device such that the image pickup device receives an image that is divided into a reference plane image and an object image by a predetermined boundary, wherein the reference plane image contains the reference plane, and wherein the object image contains the object and does not contain the reference plane; a computer, wherein, from image data obtained by the image pickup device, the computer obtains reference plane image data corresponding to the reference plane image and object image data corresponding to the object image, and wherein the computer computes relative positions of the object and the object detection apparatus on the reference plane based on an optical flow obtained from the reference plane image data and an optical flow obtained from the object image data.