Patent ID: 7054489

Claim:
An image recognizing apparatus for detecting a shape of an object from an image, comprising: an image database storing a shape identifier and images of objects as model images corresponding to the shape identifier, each of the objects having a same shape, the shape identifier including information for representing the shape of each of the objects and position information for indicating a oortion of a shaoe segment in the shape; model generating means for calculating a base vector in a feature space from pixel values of model image segments each of which is provided by dividing each of the model images, for projecting the model image segments in the feature space as model image segment vectors, for calculating statistic values from the model image segment vectors, each of the model image segments having a same shape segment, and for adding the shape identifier to feature statistic values to provide a feature shape parameter; a shape database for storing the base vector and the feature shape parameter; an image input unit for supplying an input image; an image cutout unit for cutting out the input image to provide input-image segments; shape classifying means operable to project the input-image segments in the feature space to provide input-image segment vectors based on the base vector, respectively, compare the input-image segment vectors with the model image segment vectors using the feature shape parameter to estimate overall areas which the object occupies in the input image from position information included in the shape identifiers of respective model image segment vectors most similar to the input-image segment vectors, count a number of times an area out of the estimated overall areas is estimated, and determine that the object having the shape is present at the area in the input image if the number is greater than a predetermined value so as to output the area as a position of the object having the shape; and an output unit for releasing data indicating the shape of the object and the position of the object in the input image if the object having the shape is present in the input image.