Patent ID: 7260260

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: an input for inputting image data which is formed of a predetermined number of pixel data obtained by a predetermined number of image-capturing devices including pixels, the image-capturing devices each having a time integrating function; a mixture-ratio estimator for estimating a mixture ratio for a mixed area in the input image data, the mixed area including a mixture of foreground object components forming a foreground object of the image data and background object components forming a background object of the image data; a separator for separating in real time, on the basis of the estimated mixture ratio, the input image into a foreground component image formed of the foreground object components forming the foreground object of the image data and a background component image formed of the background object components forming the background object of the image data; and a store for storing in real time the foreground component image and the background component image, which are separated by the separator.