1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to image capture, and more particularly relates to an image segmentation system used in an internet protocol (IP) camera and an image segmentation method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras can capture both video and still images and recordings for surveillance purposes. For example, at least four CCTV cameras located at an intersection can be electrically connected to a four-channel or nine-channel digital video recorder (DVR) to store and real-time display the images or recordings.
However, for the purpose of broadening target area and obtaining more monitoring data, a number of CCTV cameras may be equipped and used to electrically connect the DVR for comprehensive surveillance, resulting in increased design and maintenance costs.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Many aspects of an exemplary image segmentation system and method thereof can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary image segmentation system and method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.
The image recording unit 10 and the image processing unit 20 can be integrated within an internet protocol (IP) camera (not shown). The image recording unit 10 includes a lens module 12 and a detection device 14 electrically connected to the lens module 12.
The lens module 12 obtains and captures 360° panoramic images, and transmits the panoramic images to the detection device 14. The detection device 14 receives the panoramic images and converts the received optical panoramic images into corresponding digital signals, which are accordingly transmitted to the image processing unit 20 and the image adjustment unit 40. In this exemplary embodiment, the lens module 12 can be a fisheye lens, providing a wide visual angle and short focal length, and can capture round and/or circular images. The detection device 14 can be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor.
The image processing unit 20 receives and processes digital signals from the detection device 14 and includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 22 and a system on chip (SOC) 24 electrically connected to the DSP 22. The DSP 22 is electrically connected to the detection device 14 and receives the digital signals for processing such as segmenting, expanding, and correcting, providing segmented panoramic images into multi-channel, such as four-channel and nine-channel sub-image signals.
Further referring to
The SOC 24 receives the multi-channel sub-image signals from the DSP 22, and compresses the sub-image signals to reduce redundant data and improve transmission speed. The SOC 24 can be integrated with different extended interfaces, such as memory extended interfaces, touch panel extended interfaces, and/or universal serial bus (USB) interfaces.
The image monitoring unit 30 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 32, a storage module 34, and a display module 36. The CPU 32 is electrically connected to the storage module 34 and the display module 36. The CPU 32 and the storage module 34 can be integrated within a digital video recorder (DVR) (not shown). The CPU 32 is electrically connected to SOC 24 to receive the compressed sub-image signals. The compressed sub-image signals are then stored into the storage module 34 under the control of the CPU 32, or are transmitted to the display module 36 through the Ethernet.
The display module 36 displays the multi-channel sub-images to monitor conditions of the target areas in real time. In this exemplary embodiment, the storage module 34 can be a hard disk drive (HDD) of the DVR to store the multi-channel sub-image signals from the CPU 32.
The image adjustment unit 40 receives the digital signals from the detection device 14 to adjust the lens module 12 in real time, allowing surveillance or monitoring from different angles. The image adjustment unit 40 includes an image encoding module 42 and an image output module 44 electrically connected to the image encoding module 42.
The image encoding module 42 is electrically connected to the detection device 14, and is capable of receiving panoramic images from the detection device 14 in the form of digital signals and encoding the digital signals, and then transmitting the encoded digital signals to the image display module 44 through a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI). The image output module 44 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch screen and is usable of displaying the panoramic images, providing touch-enabled adjustment of the lens module 12 and automatically adjust the focal length of the lens module 12 for surveillance and monitoring from different angles.
Further referring to
In step S1, shooting angles of the lens module 12 are adjusted for real-time surveillance and monitoring from different angles.
In step S2, different panoramic images (e.g., circular panoramic images) are obtained and provided by the lens module 12 for the detection device 14.
In step S3, the panoramic images from the lens module 12 are converted into corresponding digital signals by the detection device 14, when the digital signals are transmitted to the image encoding module 42, step S4 is implemented; when the digital signals are transmitted to the DSP 22, step S6 is implemented.
In step S4, the panoramic images including digital signals from the detection device 14 are processed and encoded by the image encoding module 42.
In step S5, the processed panoramic images from the image encoding module 42 are output and displayed on the image output module 44 to determine whether the shooting angles of the lens module 12 require adjustment or not according to the encoded digital signals. If adjustment is required, step S1 is repeated.
In step S6, the panoramic images including digital signals from the detection device 14 are segmented by the DSP 22 into multi-channel sub-image signals, and the sub-image signals are transmitted to the SOC 24.
In step S7, the sub-images from the DSP 22 are compressed by the SOC 24 to be transmitted to the CPU 32.
In step S8, the compressed sub-images from the SOC 24 are stored in the storage module 24 or displayed on the display module 36 for surveillance under the control of the CPU 32.
The detection device 14 in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to the CMOS sensor, but may be a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor or other image sensors.
Moreover, according to different specific conditions of the monitored target areas and the different pixel of the IP camera, the DSP 22 can adjustably segment the panoramic images into two-channel sub-images, four-channel sub-images or eight-channel sub-images, thereby reducing the number of CCTV cameras.
In summary, in the image segmentation system 100 of the exemplary embodiment, the lens module 12 captures and obtains 360° panoramic images, and the DSP 22 built-in the IP camera then segments, expands, corrects the panoramic images to divide the panoramic images into a number of sub-images to monitor different areas. Thus, in the image segmentation system 100, an IP camera can capture and obtain multi-channel monitoring images and has broader shooting scope, as to replace a number of CCTV cameras, which can reduce design and maintenance coasts.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the exemplary disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of exemplary disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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99132535 | Sep 2010 | TW | national |