Patent ID: 7155036
Filing Date: 2006-12-26
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a face in a matrix of pixels representing an image, the method comprising: computing a vector having amplitude and direction for each of a plurality of sub-matrices, the sub-matrices having size estimated to be a facial feature size in the image; inspecting each sub-matrix to determine if the amplitude exceeds a threshold, wherein sub-matrices having amplitude exceeding the threshold are deemed facial feature candidate sub-matrices; wherein, upon establishing a first facial feature candidate sub-matrix, a second facial feature candidate sub-matrix is assumed to lie in a direction determined by the vector direction of the first facial feature candidate sub-matrix; establishing a matching distance and angle criteria for relationships among each of the first and second candidate sub-matrices and a third facial feature candidate submatrix; and identifying sets of candidate sub-matrices matching the distance and angle criteria to detect the presence of a face in the image.