Patent ID: 7162101

Claim:
An image processing apparatus for making predetermined image sensing means sense a scene in a fixed image sensing direction, and extracting an object from an image obtained by the image sensing means, comprising: image input means for inputting frame images which are sensed by the image sensing means and are sequential in a time axis direction in turn; smoothing means for smoothing the input frame images; background image determination means for determining the smoothed frame image as a background image; differential image generation means for generating a differential image between a predetermined smoothed frame image and the background image; and object region extraction means for extracting an object region where a predetermined object is sensed, on the basis of the differential image, wherein said object region extraction means comprises: comparison means for comparing a pixel value of the differential image with a predetermined threshold value; extraction means for extracting, as the object region, a region in the predetermined frame image corresponding to a set object region, on the basis of the comparison result with the threshold value; contour region setting means for setting a contour region with a predetermined width, which includes boundary pixels with a background region within the set object region; edge extraction means for extracting an edge contained in the contour region in the predetermined frame image; and contour correction means for correcting a contour of the object region on the basis of a shape of the extracted edge.