Patent ID: 6035072
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
A method of dynamically detecting defective regions of an image acquisition device that are corrupted by dirt or defects positionally associated with said image acquisition device comprising the steps of:a) initializing a score target value h to a predetermined number,b) initializing a map of potential defects P that associates with each defect the number of the image in which it was found,c) acquiring a serially numbered image numbered q from said image acquisition device,d) constructing a map of deviant regions from image number q that includes just those regions having at least a predetermined deviation of intensity or color from the surrounding area in said image,e) adding each deviant region from said map of deviant regions and its image number q to P.f) scoring each region r in said map of potential defects with a scoring function that is monotonic in positional correspondence between r and other regions P having image numbers differing from q,g) removing from P regions obsolete relative to said scoring function,h) detecting as defective regions just those regions that scored at least said score target value h,i) repeating steps c through h;whereby the operator may be alerted to the existence and position of defective regions, or said defective regions may be removed from or compensated for in the acquired images.