Patent ID: 7415140

Claim:
A method of correcting deviation of a detection position for a human face detected using a face detection frame, said method comprising the steps of: dividing an image within said face detection frame into left and right image portions about a central axis portion thereof, the image within said face detection frame having an odd number of pixels in a left-and-right direction; adjusting the number of pixels in the left-and-right direction of the image within said face detection frame to an even number by moving at least one of left and right ends of the face detection frame in a left or right direction so as to stretch or contract the face detection frame; calculating a degree of similarity of mirror-symmetrical relationship between the two image portions based on a correction coefficient obtained based on a value of a pixel from the left image portion and a value of a corresponding pixel from the right image portion; finding an amount of positional deviation at which the calculated degree of similarity maximizes and a direction of the positional deviation; and thereafter moving said face detection frame in said direction according to the amount of positional deviation.