JP2016099759A - Face detection method, face detection device, and face detection program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method, device, and program for obtaining an accurate result of face detection.SOLUTION: A face detection method includes a function derivation step S3 of deriving a function for correcting a face direction; a face attitude derivation step S6 of deriving a face attitude; and a face attitude correction step S7 of correcting the face attitude. The face direction is derived by using a distance between parts in a reference part group that is a combination of three: the left pupil, the right pupil, and one of right and left nostrils of a subject, and a two-dimensional position of the reference part group detected in a face image of the subject, and calculating the direction of a normal line of a flat surface including the reference part group. The line of sight and a reference face direction are derived by performing stereo matching of two face images of the subject.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a face detection method, a face detection apparatus, and a face detection program.

  In the field of automobile technology and the like, a technique for measuring driver's line of sight and head posture and assisting the driver's driving based on these data is being studied. Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose gaze detection devices that detect the gaze of a subject with high accuracy using a pupil and a cornea reflection image. Patent Documents 4 to 6 disclose devices that detect a subject's head posture. Here, the head posture refers to the position and direction of the skull that is not related to the rotation of the eyeball of the subject. The head posture detection devices of Patent Documents 4 and 5 use a so-called stereo matching method. Specifically, the test subject's head image data is acquired using a stereo-calibrated optical system. Next, two head image data are stereo-matched to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil and nostrils of the subject. The center of gravity of the midpoint between the pupil and nostril is calculated using these three-dimensional coordinates, and this center of gravity is used as the head position. Also, a plane passing through the midpoint between the pupil and nostril is calculated, and the normal of this plane is taken as the head direction. Further, the head posture detection method of Patent Document 6 estimates the three-dimensional position of feature points such as the midpoint between the pupil and the nostril using a single optical system. That is, the head posture detection method of Patent Document 6 does not use a so-called stereo matching method. In this method, the three-dimensional position of the midpoint between the pupil and the nostril is estimated using the image data obtained by one optical system and the constraint condition of the distance between the two pupils and each nostril. .

JP 2005-230049 A JP 2005-198743 A JP 2005-185431 A JP 2005-266868 A JP 2007-26073 A JP 2007-271554 A

  Since the head posture detection devices of Patent Documents 4 and 5 use the stereo matching method, random noise tends to increase. Since the head posture detection method of Patent Document 6 gives the mutual distance between the two pupils and each nostril as a constraint, depending on the relative posture relationship between the head and the eyeball, the bias error is large. Tend to be.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a face detection method, a face detection apparatus, and a face detection program that can obtain accurate face detection results.

  A face detection method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a coefficient that defines a relationship between a first angle between a face posture and a line of sight of a subject and a second angle between a reference face posture and the face posture. A function deriving step for deriving a function for correcting the face, a face posture deriving step for deriving a face posture, and a face posture correcting step for correcting the face posture using the function derived in the function deriving step. The facial posture is a distance between parts in a reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, right pupil, and right and left nostrils of the subject, and a reference detected in the face image of the subject It is derived by calculating the normal of the plane including the reference part group using the two-dimensional position of the part group, and the line of sight and the reference face posture are stereo-matching the face images of the two subjects. Is derived by

  In this face detection method, a face posture is derived by a method using a distance between parts in a reference part group as a constraint condition. Therefore, a stable result with little random noise can be obtained. In the face detection method, the face posture is corrected using a function. This function includes a coefficient that defines the relationship between the first angle between the line of sight of the subject and the face posture and the second angle between the face posture and the reference face posture. Convert to a result corresponding to the posture. Here, since the reference face posture is a result derived by stereo matching, the bias with respect to the true face posture is small. For this reason, a stable face posture with less random noise is corrected to a face posture with a small deviation from the true face posture. Therefore, an accurate face detection result can be obtained.

  The function deriving step may include a step of deriving a face posture, a step of deriving a line of sight and a reference face posture, and a step of deriving a coefficient based on the first angle and the second angle. According to this function deriving step, a function including a coefficient that defines the relationship between the first angle and the second angle can be derived.

  After executing the function deriving step once, the face posture deriving step and the face posture correcting step may be repeatedly executed. In this method, a function for correction is already obtained when executing the face posture deriving step and the face posture correcting step. Accordingly, an accurate face detection result can be obtained immediately after the start of the face posture deriving step and the face posture correcting step.

  In the face detection method, the function deriving step, the face posture deriving step, and the face posture correcting step may be repeatedly executed in this order. According to this method, the function deriving step is also executed every time the face posture deriving step and the face posture correcting step are performed. The coefficient is updated by repeating the function derivation step and converges to a predetermined value. Therefore, it is possible to start detecting the face posture without preparing a function in advance.

  The face posture correction step is a step of performing coordinate conversion between a line of sight based on the first coordinate system and a face posture based on the first coordinate system based on a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system; Using a line of sight based on the second coordinate system and a face posture based on the second coordinate system, a first angle based on the second coordinate system is obtained, and using the first angle and the function, Obtaining a second angle based on the second coordinate system; correcting a face posture based on the second coordinate system using the second angle based on the second coordinate system; and a corrected face And converting the posture so as to be based on the first coordinate system. According to this method, the detection accuracy of the face posture can be increased.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a face posture detection apparatus that derives a face posture of a target person based on at least two image pickup means for picking up the face of the target person and a face image picked up by the image pickup means. And the processing means includes a coefficient that defines a relationship between a first angle between the face posture and the line of sight of the subject and a second angle between the reference face posture and the face posture, and corrects the face posture. A function deriving unit for deriving a function for performing a facial pose, a face posture deriving unit for deriving a face posture, and a face posture correcting unit for correcting the face posture using the function derived in the function deriving unit. The face posture is determined by the distance between the parts in the reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, the right pupil, and the right and left nostrils of the subject, and the reference part group detected in the face image of the subject The normal of the plane including the reference region group is calculated using the two-dimensional position of Is derived by, gaze and reference face orientation is derived by stereo matching two of the subject's face image.

  This face detection device can obtain the same effect as the face detection method described above. That is, the face detection device derives the face posture by using the distance between the parts in the reference part group as a constraint condition. Therefore, a stable result with little random noise can be obtained. The face detection device corrects the face posture using a function. This function includes coefficients that define the relationship between the first angle between the subject's line of sight and the face posture and the second angle between the face posture and the reference face posture. The result is converted into a result corresponding to the face posture. Here, since the reference face posture is a result derived by stereo matching, the bias with respect to the true face posture is small. For this reason, a stable face posture with less random noise is corrected to a face posture with a small deviation from the true face posture. Accurate face detection results can be obtained.

  The face posture correcting unit performs first coordinate conversion between a line of sight based on the first coordinate system and a face posture based on the first coordinate system based on a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system. A coordinate conversion unit, a line of sight based on the second coordinate system, and a face posture based on the second coordinate system are used to obtain a first angle based on the second coordinate system, and the first angle and function Using the angle acquisition unit for acquiring the second angle based on the second coordinate system and the second angle based on the second coordinate system, the face posture based on the second coordinate system is corrected. A direction correction unit and a second coordinate conversion unit that converts the corrected face posture based on the first coordinate system may be included. According to this configuration, the detection accuracy of the face posture can be increased.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a face detection program for calculating a relationship between a first angle between a face posture and a line of sight of a subject and a second angle between a reference face posture and the face posture. A function derivation unit for deriving a function for correcting the face pose, a face derivation unit for deriving the face pose, and a face pose that corrects the face pose using the functions derived in the function derivation unit The face posture is the distance between the parts in the reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, the right pupil, and the right and left nostrils, and the face of the subject. Using the two-dimensional position of the reference part group detected in the image, it is derived by calculating the normal of the plane including the reference part group, and the line of sight and the reference face posture are the faces of the two subjects. Derived by stereo matching the image .

  This face detection program can obtain the same effects as the above-described face detection method and face detection apparatus. That is, the face detection program derives the face posture by using the distance between the parts in the reference part group as a constraint condition. Therefore, a stable result with little random noise can be obtained. The face detection device corrects the face posture using a function. This function includes coefficients that define the relationship between the first angle between the subject's line of sight and the face posture and the second angle between the face posture and the reference face posture. The result is converted into a result corresponding to the face posture. Here, since the reference face posture is a result derived by stereo matching, the bias with respect to the true face posture is small. For this reason, a stable face posture with less random noise is corrected to a face posture with a small deviation from the true face posture. Accurate face detection results can be obtained.

  According to the face detection method, the face detection apparatus, and the face detection program according to an aspect of the present invention, a highly accurate face detection result can be obtained.

It is a figure which shows the face detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure explaining a feature point. It is a figure for demonstrating the error which generate | occur | produces in a constraint condition method. It is a figure for demonstrating the error which generate | occur | produces in a constraint condition method. It is a figure explaining the principle of face posture correction. It is a figure explaining the principle of face posture correction. It is a figure which shows the main steps of the face detection method which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect of the face detection method which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the lens part of the camera for pupils, and the camera for nostrils. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structure of the face detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between a world coordinate system and a camera coordinate system. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a camera coordinate system and a face coordinate system. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the image plane in the two-dimensional coordinate system which made the origin the center of the lens of a nostril camera lens, and the three-dimensional coordinate of a feature point. It is a figure for demonstrating the detection of a gaze. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination method of a coefficient. It is a figure which shows the structure of the face detection program which concerns on embodiment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  The face detection method according to one aspect of the present invention is executed by the face detection apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The face detection device 1 is a computer system that detects the line of sight and the face posture of the subject A, and a face detection method is performed by this system. The target person A is a person who detects a line of sight and a face posture, and can also be called a subject. The line of sight is a line connecting the center of the pupil of the subject A and the gaze point of the subject (the point the subject is looking at). The term “line of sight” includes the meaning (concept) of the starting point, the ending point, and the direction. The face posture is determined by the face direction and the center of gravity, and is represented by a face posture vector described later. That is, the face posture means the position and direction of the skeleton (skull) and is independent of the rotation of the eyeball. The purpose of use of the face detection device 1 and the face detection method is not limited at all. For example, it can be used for detection of looking away, detection of driver drowsiness, investigation of the degree of interest of products, data input to a computer, and the like. it can.

First, the basic principle of the face detection method according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the face posture vector V _B indicating the face posture of the subject A is derived using the pupil and nostril of the subject A. For example, the face posture vectors V _F and V _B are derived as a normal vector of a plane passing through three points of the left pupil coordinate P ₁ , the right pupil coordinate P ₂ , and the internostral center coordinate P ₀ . These left pupil, right pupil, left nostril center, right nostril center and nostril center are feature points. Here, as a method of calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points, there are a method of calculating using a predetermined constraint condition and a method of calculating using stereo matching. In the following description, for convenience, a method using a constraint condition is referred to as a “constraint condition method”, and a method using stereo matching is referred to as a “stereo method”.

In the constraint condition method, the distance between feature points (hereinafter referred to as “distance between feature points” or simply “distance”) is used as a constraint condition in calculating the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points. The distance between the feature points is, for example, a distance L ₁ between the coordinate P ₁ of the left pupil and the coordinate P _{2 of the} right pupil, and a distance L between the coordinate P _{1 of the} left pupil and the coordinate P _{0 of the} center between the nostrils. ₂ and the distance L ₃ between the coordinate P _{2 of the} right pupil and the coordinate P _{0 of the} center between the nostrils. The face posture derived by the constraint condition method has an advantage of high stability. This stability refers to a characteristic indicated by temporal random noise that appears when a face posture is detected with the subject A's head fixed. That is, high stability means that random noise is small. In addition, the implementation of the stereo method requires two optical systems (for example, cameras), but the constraint method can be implemented with only one optical system. Accordingly, by arranging the two optical systems apart and performing the constraint condition method using the respective optical systems, the detection range in the face direction can be expanded in the separation direction of the optical system. . The face direction detection range when the two optical systems and the constraint method are used is wider than the face direction detection range when the two optical systems and the stereo method are used. In the following description, the result derived by the constraint condition method is simply referred to as “face direction” (face posture).

However, the constraint condition method changes the distance between feature points when the line of sight moves with respect to the face direction. For example, the case where the subject A moves only the line of sight without moving the head, or the case where the subject A moves only the head while gazing at a certain point. In this case, the distance between feature points changes. FIG. 3A shows a plane B1 defined by the coordinates P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₀ of the three feature points when the face direction (the direction of the face posture vector V _B ) and the line of sight G match. And its normal vector (face posture vector V _F ). FIG. 3B is a plane defined by the coordinates P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₀ of the three feature points when the line of sight is changed from the state of FIG. 3A while the face direction is fixed. B2 and its normal vector (face posture vector V _F ) are shown. Ideally, the face orientation vector V _F should not change because the face direction remains fixed. However, as shown in FIG. 3B, the plane B2 defined by the coordinates P ₁ , P ₂ , and P ₀ of the three feature points is changed by changing the line of sight. In other words, the distances L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₃ are changing. Therefore, there is a difference between the actual distance between feature points and the distance between feature points used for derivation of the face direction, and an error (bias error) occurs in the derived face direction. That is, in the constraint condition method, an error due to a deviation between the face direction and the line of sight can occur. As shown in FIG. 4, the face direction n _a subject's A state toward the point A ₁ of the center of the display device 40, directs only gaze G to A2 point set under the left oblique display device 40 When the face direction is derived is a point n _e. For example, if the face direction of the subject A is fixed and only the line of sight is moved about ± 10 degrees to the left and right, the face direction is detected with a deviation of about ± 5 degrees from the true value to the left and right. Since the line of sight can be detected up to about ± 30 degrees to the left and right, the face direction is detected with a greater bias.

  On the other hand, in the stereo method, an error caused by a deviation between the face direction and the line of sight hardly causes a problem. This is because in the stereo method, the three-dimensional coordinates of feature points are detected independently by stereo matching. The face posture vector derived by using such three-dimensional coordinates is hardly affected even when there is a deviation between the face direction and the line of sight. This is because the position of the pupil in the depth direction does not change greatly even if the eyeball rotates about ± 30 in the orbit. However, in the stereo method, in the process of stereo matching, independent noise included in each face image also affects the calculated three-dimensional coordinates of feature points, and thus also affects the face posture vector. Specifically, noise included in the face image can be a cause of random noise in the face posture vector. This random noise can be reduced by averaging processing. The averaged face posture vector has a smaller deviation from the true face direction than the face posture vector derived by the constraint condition method. In the following description, the result derived by the stereo method is referred to as “reference face direction” (reference face posture).

  The inventors have found that the first angle between the reference face direction and the line of sight is related to the second angle between the face direction and the reference face direction. The face detection method according to the present embodiment corrects an error caused by the deviation between the face direction and the line of sight with respect to the face direction derived by the constraint condition method, thereby obtaining a highly stable and accurate face direction. To derive. Specifically, the face direction derived by the stereo method is estimated from the face direction derived by the constraint condition method.

A specific principle will be described with reference to FIG. G is the line of sight, H ₁ is the face direction detected by the constraint method, and H ₂ is the reference face direction detected by the stereo method. The angle between the sight line G and the reference face direction H ₂ is the angle ∠G. The angle between the reference face direction H ₂ and the face direction H ₁ is the angle ∠H.

まず、対象者の顔方向（頭部方向）と視線Ｇとのそれぞれをいろいろな方向へ向けながら角度∠Ｇ’と角度∠Ｈとを有するデータを収集する。それらデータは、図１６に示されるように、横軸が角度∠Ｇ’であり縦軸が角度∠Ｈである二次元座標にプロットされる。角度∠Ｇ’と角度∠Ｈとは、式（２）の関係を有する。従って、例えば最小二乗法等を利用して近似式を算出することにより、係数ｋ_１，ｋ_２を求めることができる。そうすると、係数ｋ_１，ｋ_２によって決定された関数を利用して、角度∠Ｇ’から角度∠Ｈを算出することが可能になる。そして、角度∠Ｈと顔方向Ｈ_１とを角度∠Ｈの定義に適用すると、真値に近い基準顔方向Ｈ_２を推定できる。なお、角度∠Ｈが大きくなった場合には、非線形成分を考慮することが望ましい。その場合には、下記式（３）に示される非線形関係式を使用してもよい。

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), when the reference face direction H ₂ and sight G match, face direction H ₁ is consistent with the reference face direction H _2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the reference face direction H ₂ does not coincide with the line of sight G is face direction H ₁ is biased against the reference face direction H _2. Here, a new angle ∠G ′ is defined. The angle ∠G ′ is expressed by equation (1). That is, it can be said that the angle ∠G ′ is an angle between the face direction H ₁ and the line of sight G. Then, it is assumed that there is a linear relationship represented by the following equation (2) between the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H. Here, the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ in Expression (2) are the angle ∠G ′ (first angle) between the face direction H ₁ of the subject and the line of sight G, the reference face direction H _2, and the face direction H _1. It is a coefficient which prescribes | regulates the relationship of angle の 間 H (2nd angle) between.

First, data having an angle ∠G ′ and an angle ∠H is collected while directing the face direction (head direction) of the subject and the line of sight G in various directions. As shown in FIG. 16, these data are plotted in two-dimensional coordinates in which the horizontal axis is the angle ∠G ′ and the vertical axis is the angle ∠H. The angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H have the relationship of Expression (2). Therefore, for example, the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ can be obtained by calculating the approximate expression using the least square method or the like. Then, the angle ∠H can be calculated from the angle ∠G ′ using the function determined by the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ . When applying the angle ∠H and the face direction H ₁ in the definition of the angle ∠H, it can be estimated reference face direction H ₂ close to the true value. When the angle ∠H increases, it is desirable to consider a nonlinear component. In that case, you may use the nonlinear relational expression shown by following formula (3).

Expressions (1) to (3) can be obtained independently for the X axis and the Y axis. However, the X-axis and Y-axis here are axes in the face coordinate system. That is, Expressions (1) to (3) are established on the face coordinate system. In the detection of the face direction H _1, first, towards the line of sight G and face direction H ₁ in different directions, to measure their direction. This measurement is performed on the basis of the world coordinate system (first coordinate system). Then converted based on the world coordinate system to the gaze G and face direction H ₁ face coordinate system (second coordinate system). Next, using the relational expressions (1) to (3) in the face coordinate system, calculates a corrected face direction H _1. Then, the face direction H ₁ that is corrected in the face coordinate system, a coordinate conversion to be based on the world coordinate system. By these processes, accurate face direction H ₁ is obtained. The Z axis in FIG. 2 is the face direction. The X axis is a horizontal axis orthogonal to the Z axis. The Y axis is a vertical axis orthogonal to the Z axis. For example, the movement of the face direction along the X axis means that the head rotates around the Y axis.

  Thus, the correction after conversion to the face coordinate system is particularly effective when the head is tilted to the left and right. This is because even if the subject moves his / her line of sight in the world coordinate system, the face coordinate system includes not only the eyeball rotation around the Y axis but also the eyeball rotation component around the X axis. That is, the line of sight moves in an oblique direction with respect to the skull. Further, in the case of a human, when looking at the front, the center between the nostrils protrudes forward with respect to the two pupils. If it does so, the face direction on the basis of a face coordinate system will face upwards rather than the direction which an object person thinks is a front. Therefore, in this case, even if the subject moves his / her line of sight in the X-axis direction, a component in the Y-axis direction appears on the face coordinate system.

  As described above, the face front (face direction) measured with respect to the front felt by the subject is greatly shifted upward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, in order to direct the face direction based on the face coordinate system to the center of the screen, the head is greatly inclined downward. In order to solve this, the face direction (front) is corrected. Specifically, when performing gazing point (line of sight) calibration, a target is presented at the center of the screen to perform one-point calibration. When performing this one-point calibration, the subject turns the front of the face to the center of the screen in advance. During this time, a direction vector from the face position toward the center of the screen is obtained in the world coordinate system. Here, the face position can be defined as, for example, the center of gravity or the mid-pupil midpoint. This is because it is better to consider the line of sight as a straight line from the mid-pupil midpoint to the center of the screen, not for each eye. That is, it is ideal in the sense that the starting points are the same. Further, this vector is converted into a vector in the face coordinate system. Thereby, the face front vector which means the face front with respect to the skull is determined. Thereafter, the posture of the face coordinate system in the world coordinate system is obtained for each frame, and then a coordinate conversion formula from the face coordinate system to the world coordinate system is obtained. If the face front vector in the previously obtained face coordinate system is converted from the face coordinate system to the world coordinate system using the coordinate conversion formula, the face direction vector can be obtained. A straight line can be extended starting from the face position in the direction of the face direction vector, and the intersection of the straight line and the screen can be the front position on the screen.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the face detection method includes, as main steps, an image acquisition step S1, a preprocessing step S2, a function derivation step S3, an image acquisition step S4, a preprocessing step S5, and a face posture. It has a derivation step S6 and a face posture correction step S7. In the face detection method, the function deriving step S3 is performed in advance, and the face posture deriving step S6 and the face posture correcting step S7 are repeatedly performed using the function derived in the function deriving step S3 (see Expression (2)). In the face detection method, the function deriving step S3, the face posture deriving step S6, and the face posture correcting step S7 may be repeated in this order. In this case, each time the process is repeated, the function is updated, and the detection accuracy of the face direction is gradually improved.

First, the image acquisition step S1 is performed. In the image acquisition step S1, the pupil camera (imaging means) 10 and the nostril camera 20 are controlled to acquire a plurality of image data (face images). The image data includes a bright pupil image, a dark pupil image, and a nostril image. Details of the image acquisition step S1 will be described later. After the image acquisition step S1, a preprocessing step S2 is performed. In the preprocessing step S2, the face direction and line of sight of the subject A are derived using the image data (face image) acquired in the image acquisition step S1. Here, in the preprocessing step S2, step S2a for obtaining the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H in the world coordinate system (first coordinate system), and the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H are represented by the face coordinate system ( And (S2b) for converting the coordinates to the second coordinate system. The derived face direction includes a result derived by the stereo method and a result derived by the constraint condition method. Further, the derived line of sight includes the result derived by the stereo method. Details of the preprocessing step S2 will be described later. After the preprocessing step S2, a function derivation step S3 is performed. In the function derivation step S3, a function (see equation (2)) for correcting the face direction is derived using the face direction and line of sight derived in the preprocessing step S2. The function deriving step S3 includes a step S3a for determining a function (formula (2)) by calculating the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ shown in the formula (2). As shown in Equation (2), the function includes coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ . Deriving a function means determining the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ . Details of the function derivation step S3 will be described later.

  The above image acquisition step S1, preprocessing step S2, and function derivation step S3 are executed every time the face detection device 1 is activated or at a desired timing.

  Next, image acquisition step S4 is performed to acquire image data (face image), and preprocessing step S5 is performed after image acquisition step S4. Subsequently, after the preprocessing step S5, a face posture deriving step S6 is performed. In the face posture deriving step S6, the face direction is derived using the constraint condition method. In the face posture deriving step S6, the distance between feature points is used as a constraint condition. As the distance between the feature points, a value acquired in advance may be used, or the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points calculated using the stereo method in the preprocessing step S2 may be used. This can be performed simultaneously during gaze detection for about 1 second when performing gaze detection (gaze point detection). Details of the face posture deriving step S6 will be described later.

  After the face posture deriving step S6, a face posture correcting step S7 is performed. In the face posture correction step S7, the face direction is corrected using the function and the line of sight detected in the preprocessing step S2. Details of the face posture correction step S7 will be described later. Then, the image acquisition step S4 is performed again. These image acquisition step S4, preprocessing step S5, face posture derivation step S6, and face posture correction step S7 are repeatedly executed.

The face detection method derives a face direction H ₁ by constraint method utilizing the distance between sites in the reference site group as a constraint condition. Therefore, a stable result with little random noise can be obtained. Then, in the face detecting method, to correct the face direction H ₁ by using the function (equation (2)). This function is a coefficient k ₁ , k that defines the relationship between the first angle between the line of sight G of the subject A and the reference face direction H ₂ and the second angle between the face direction H ₁ and the reference face direction H _{2. 2} , the derived face direction H ₁ is converted into a result corresponding to the reference face direction H ₂ . The reference face direction H ₂ are the results derived by the stereo matching, a small bias to the true face direction. Thus, less stable face direction H ₁ of random noise is corrected with the deviation is small the face direction with respect to true face direction. Therefore, the accuracy in face detection can be improved.

Further, according to the face detection method, the face direction H ₁ obtained by the constraint method, can be corrected for each frame. The face direction obtained by this face detection method has the high stability that the constraint method has and the accuracy that the stereo method has.

The function deriving step S3 includes a step of deriving the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ . According to this function deriving step S3, it is possible to derive a function including the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ that define the relationship between the first angle and the second angle (the above formula (2)).

  After the function derivation step S3 is executed once, the face posture derivation step S6 and the face posture correction step S7 are repeatedly executed. In this method, when executing the face posture deriving step S6 and the face posture correcting step S7, a function for correction has already been obtained. Accordingly, detection accuracy in face detection can be improved immediately after the start of the face posture deriving step S6 and the face posture correcting step S7.

In the face detection method, the function deriving step S3, the preprocessing step S5, the face posture deriving step S6, and the face posture correcting step S7 may be repeatedly executed in this order. According to this method, the function deriving step S3 is also executed every time the face posture deriving step S6 and the face posture correcting step S7 are performed. By repeating the function derivation step S3, the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ are updated and converge to a predetermined value. Therefore, the face posture deriving step S6 and the face posture correcting step S7 can be executed without preparing a function in advance.

  In the face detection method, the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H acquired with reference to the world coordinate system are coordinate-transformed into the face coordinate system, a function is determined, and the obtained function is coordinate-transformed into the world coordinate system. According to this method, the detection accuracy of the face posture can be increased.

<Example>
The correction effect of the face direction in the face detection method was confirmed. First, a stand for fixing the jaw of the subject A was placed at a position 75 cm away from the center of the display device 40. The subject placed his chin on this table and faced the face to the display device 40. In this state, the face direction of the subject A is a direction toward the center of the display device 40. In this state, first, one point calibration of the gazing point was performed. Next, the subject A directed his / her line of sight sequentially to the nine targets _TG displayed on the display device 40. The time for gazing at each target _TG is approximately 1 second. FIG. 8A shows the result when the correction according to the face detection method is not performed, and FIG. 8A shows the result when the correction according to the face detection method is performed. A dashed circle C indicates the face direction detected by the face detection device 1. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the correction is not performed, the derived face direction varies within the range of the region D1 indicated by the two-dot chain line even though the actual face direction is fixed. It was. Specifically, the range of the region C1 was about 40 mm to 50 mm. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8B, when correction is performed, the range of the region D2 indicated by the two-dot chain line is reduced. Specifically, the range of the region C2 was 10 mm or less. Therefore, according to the face detection method, it was confirmed that the error in the face direction can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, a specific form of the face detection method according to the present embodiment, the face detection apparatus 1 for performing the face detection method, and a face detection program will be described in detail.

<Face posture detection device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the face detection device 1 includes a pair of pupil cameras (imaging means) 10 that functions as a stereo camera, a pair of nostril cameras 20, and an image processing device (processing means) 30. . Hereinafter, if necessary, distinguishes a pair of pupil cameras 10, the cameras 10 _L for the left pupil on the left side of the subject A, in the right pupil camera 10 _R on the right side of the subject A. Moreover, distinguishing a pair of nostril cameras 20, the cameras 20 _L for the left nostril to the left of the subject A, in the camera 20 _R for the right nostril to the right of the subject A. In the present embodiment, the face detection device 1 further includes a display device 40 that is an object to be viewed by the subject A. However, since the purpose of use of the face detection device 1 is not limited as described above, However, the display device 40 is not limited to the display device 40, and may be a windshield of an automobile, for example. Therefore, the display device 40 is not an essential element in the face detection device 1. The four cameras 10 and 20 are all connected to the image processing device 30 by wireless or wired, and various data or commands are transmitted and received between the cameras 10 and 20 and the image processing device 30. Camera calibration is performed on each of the cameras 10 and 20 in advance.

  Both the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 are devices that image the face of the subject A. The pupil camera 10 is used in particular for photographing the pupil of the subject A and its surroundings. The nostril camera 20 is used in particular for photographing the pupil, nostril, and the periphery of the subject A. The pupil camera 10 is a pupil optical system, and the nostril camera 20 is a nostril optical system. In this specification, an image obtained by the pupil camera 10 is called a pupil image (bright pupil image or dark pupil image), and an image obtained by the nostril camera 20 is called a nostril image.

  The pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 are provided at a position lower than the face of the subject A for the purpose of preventing reflection of reflected light in the face image when the subject A is wearing glasses. The pair of pupil cameras 10 are arranged at a predetermined interval along the horizontal direction. The pair of nostril cameras 20 is disposed lower than the pair of pupil cameras 10 and at a predetermined interval along the horizontal direction. The reason why the nostril camera 20 is arranged below the pupil camera 10 is to allow the nostril to be detected even when the subject faces the face downward. The elevation angles of the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 with respect to the horizontal direction are set to a range of, for example, 20 to 35 degrees in consideration of both reliable detection of the pupil and avoidance of obstruction of the visual field range of the subject A. Is done. Alternatively, the elevation angle of the pupil camera 10 may be set in a range of 20 degrees to 30 degrees, and the elevation angle of the nostril camera 20 may be set in a range of about 25 degrees to 35 degrees.

  In the present embodiment, the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 are NTSC cameras, which are one of the interlace scan methods. In the NTSC system, one frame of image data (face image) obtained 30 frames per second consists of an odd field composed of odd-numbered horizontal pixel lines and an even field composed of even-numbered horizontal pixel lines. Then, an odd field image and an even field image are alternately captured at an interval of 1/60 seconds. Therefore, one frame corresponds to a pair of odd and even fields. Each of the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 captures the subject A in response to a command from the image processing device 30 and outputs image data (face image) to the image processing device 30.

  The pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 include a light source. As shown in FIG. 9, in the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20, the objective lens 11 is accommodated in a circular opening 12, and a light source 13 is provided outside the opening 12. The light source 13 is a device for irradiating illumination light toward the face of the subject A, and includes a plurality of light emitting elements 13a and a plurality of light emitting elements 13b. The light emitting elements 13 a are semiconductor light emitting elements (LEDs) having a center wavelength of output light of 850 nm, and are arranged in a ring shape at equal intervals along the edge of the opening 12. The light emitting element 13b is a semiconductor light emitting element having a center wavelength of output light of 940 nm, and is arranged in a ring shape at equal intervals outside the light emitting element 13a. Accordingly, the distance from the optical axis of the pupil camera 10 to the light emitting element 13b is larger than the distance from the optical axis to the light emitting element 13a. Each of the light emitting elements 13 a and 13 b is provided so as to emit illumination light along the optical axis of the pupil camera 10. Note that the arrangement of the light source 13 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and other arrangements may be used as long as the camera can be regarded as a pinhole model. The nostril camera 20 may not include the light source 13. In this case, the nostril camera 20 captures the face of the subject A illuminated by the light source 13 of the pupil camera 10. That is, the nostril camera 20 performs imaging using light from the light source 13.

  Since the nostrils are larger in size than the corneal reflection described later, the nostrils can be detected even if a camera having a lower resolution than the pupil camera 10 is used as the nostril camera 20. That is, the resolution of the nostril camera 20 may be lower than the resolution camera of the pupil camera 10. For example, the resolution of the pupil camera 10 may be 640 pixels × 480 pixels, whereas the resolution of the nostril camera 20 may be 320 pixels × 240 pixels.

  The image processing device 30 is a computer that executes control of the pupil camera 10 and nostril camera 20 and calculation (detection) of the line of sight and face direction of the subject A. The image processing apparatus 30 may be constructed by a stationary or portable personal computer (PC), may be constructed by a workstation, or may be constructed by another type of computer. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus 30 may be constructed by combining a plurality of arbitrary types of computers. When a plurality of computers are used, these computers are connected via a communication network such as the Internet or an intranet.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the image processing apparatus 30 includes a CPU (processor) 101, a main storage unit 102, an auxiliary storage unit 103, a communication control unit 104, an input device 105, and an output device 106. . The CPU 101 executes an operating system, application programs, and the like. The main storage unit 102 includes a ROM and a RAM. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is configured by a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like. The communication control unit 104 includes a network card or a wireless communication module. The input device 105 includes a keyboard and a mouse. The output device 106 includes a display, a printer, and the like.

  Each functional element of the image processing apparatus 30 described later reads predetermined software on the CPU 101 or the main storage unit 102 and operates the communication control unit 104, the input device 105, the output device 106, and the like under the control of the CPU 101. This is realized by reading and writing data in the main storage unit 102 or the auxiliary storage unit 103. Data and a database necessary for processing are stored in the main storage unit 102 or the auxiliary storage unit 103.

As shown in FIG. 11, the image processing apparatus 30 includes an image acquisition unit 31, a preprocessing unit 32, a function deriving unit 33, a face posture deriving unit 34, and a face posture correcting unit 36 as functional components. The image acquisition unit 31 controls image data (face) from the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 by controlling the photographing timing of the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 and the light emission timing of the light source 13 of the pupil camera 10. Image). The preprocessing unit 32 is a functional element that calculates a face posture vector and a line of sight based on image data (face image). The preprocessing unit 32 includes an angle acquisition unit 32a and a coordinate conversion unit (first coordinate conversion unit) 32b. The angle acquisition unit 32a acquires the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H in the world coordinate system. The coordinate conversion unit 32b converts the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H acquired in the world coordinate system into a face coordinate system different from the world coordinate system. The function deriving unit 33 is a functional element that derives a function for correcting the face direction based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points. The function deriving unit 33 includes a function determining unit 33a. The function determination unit 33a calculates the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ shown in the above equation (2). The face posture deriving unit 34 is a functional element that derives the face direction using the constraint condition method. The face posture correction unit 36 is a functional element that corrects the face direction derived by the face posture deriving unit 34. The face posture correction unit 36 includes a first coordinate conversion unit 36a, an angle acquisition unit 36b, a direction correction unit 36c, and a second coordinate conversion unit 36d. The output destination of the corrected face direction is not limited at all. For example, the image processing apparatus 30 may display the result as an image, graphic, or text on a monitor, store the result in a storage device such as a memory or a database, or send the result to another computer system via a communication network. May be.

This face detection apparatus 1 can obtain the same effect as the face detection method described above. That is, the face detection apparatus 1 derives the face direction H ₁ by constraint method utilizing the distance between sites in the reference site group as a constraint condition. Therefore, a stable result with little random noise can be obtained. Then, the face detection apparatus corrects the face direction H ₁ by using the function (equation (2)). This function includes a coefficient k ₁ that defines the relationship between the first angle between the line of sight G of the subject A and the reference face direction H ₂ and the second angle between the face direction H ₁ and the reference face direction H _2. since Dale, converts derived the face direction H1, the results corresponding to the reference face direction H _2. The reference face direction H ₂ are the results derived by the stereo matching, a small bias to the true face direction. Thus, less stable face direction H ₁ of random noise is corrected with the deviation is small the face direction with respect to true face direction. Therefore, the accuracy in face detection can be improved.

The face detection apparatus 1, since two or more nostril camera 20 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, it is possible to widen the detection range of the face direction H _1. For example, the face detection apparatus 1 can detect a face direction H ₁ of the subject A in the range of 30 ° ~ ± 40 ° ± to the nostrils camera 20 in the front in each direction. Here, it is assumed that the detection optical systems (the right pupil camera 10 _R and the left pupil camera 10 _L in FIG. 1) in the reference face direction H ₂ are separated from each other by about 30 degrees, for example. In this case, in the left pupil camera 10 _{L that} is 15 degrees to the left from the subject A, the face direction cannot be detected when the subject A gazes at a position that exceeds 30 degrees to the right (optical). It can be detected within a range of ± 45 degrees to the left and right with the system in front. In such a case, the constraint condition method that can derive the face direction from one piece of image data (face image) is advantageous.

  Hereinafter, specific aspects of image acquisition step S1, preprocessing step S2, function derivation step S3, image acquisition step S4, preprocessing step S5, face posture derivation step S6, and face posture correction step S7 in the face detection method will be described in detail. Explained.

<Image acquisition step S1>
Light that enters the eye is diffusely reflected by the retina, and light that passes through the pupil of the reflected light has a property of returning to the light source with strong directivity. When the camera is exposed when a light source near the opening of the camera emits light, a part of the light reflected by the retina enters the opening, so an image in which the pupil appears brighter than the periphery of the pupil can be acquired. . This image is a bright pupil image. On the other hand, when the camera is exposed when a light source located far from the camera opening emits light, the light returned from the eye hardly returns to the camera opening. Can be acquired. This image is a dark pupil image. In addition, when light with a wavelength with high transmittance is irradiated on the eye, the reflection of light on the retina increases, so the pupil appears bright, and when light with a wavelength with low transmittance is irradiated on the eye, the light is reflected on the retina. The pupil will appear dark because it will decrease.

(Acquisition of bright pupil image and dark pupil image)
The image acquisition unit 31 illuminates the light emitting element 13a in accordance with the odd field of the pupil camera 10 to take a bright pupil image, and lights up the light emitting element 13a in accordance with the even field of the pupil camera 10 to obtain the dark pupil image. Shoot. The image acquisition unit 31 slightly shifts the operation timing between the two pupil cameras 10, and the exposure time of each pupil camera 10 is set to be equal to or less than the shift time. The image acquisition unit 31 causes the corresponding light emitting element 13a and light emitting element 13b to emit light alternately during the exposure time of the pupil camera 10, so that the light from the light source 13 of one pupil camera 10 is for the other pupil. The image of the camera 10 is not affected (so that crosstalk does not occur).

  The image acquisition unit 31 acquires a bright pupil image and a dark pupil image obtained by a series of these controls. Since the obtained image data has effective pixels only in the odd field or even field, the image acquisition unit 31 embeds the luminance average of the pixel lines of adjacent effective pixels in the pixel values between the lines, A bright pupil image or a dark pupil image is generated. The image acquisition unit 31 outputs the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image to the preprocessing unit 32.

(Acquisition of nostril images)
The image acquisition unit 31 captures a nostril image in synchronization with the lighting of the light source 13. The light emitting element to be turned on may be either of the light emitting elements 13a and 13b. The image acquisition unit 31 outputs the nostril image to the preprocessing unit 32.

<Preprocessing step S2>
The preprocessing step S2 includes a step of detecting a pupil position, a step of detecting a nostril, a step of deriving a face posture vector by a stereo method, a step of deriving a face posture vector by a constraint condition method, and a step of detecting a gaze, Have

(Detection of pupil position)
The preprocessing unit 32 generates a difference image by taking the difference between the two images. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 calculates the positions of the left and right pupils of the subject A from the difference image. One of the two consecutive fields is a bright pupil image, and the other is a dark pupil image. If the head of the subject A does not move between the time when the image of the i-th field is captured and the time when the image of the (i + 1) -th field is captured, the difference between the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image is simply calculated. By taking it, it is possible to generate a difference image in which the pupil portion is raised.

  Here, before taking the difference, the preprocessing unit 32 aligns the position of the image obtained earlier among the images of two consecutive fields with the position of the image obtained later (this process is referred to as position correction). ) May be executed. Specifically, the preprocessing unit 32 may perform position correction on the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image before obtaining the difference image. If the head of the subject A moves for a short time after the image of the i-th field is taken and before the image of the (i + 1) -th field is taken, the position of the pupil between these two images As a result, a good differential image cannot be obtained. Therefore, application of position correction is effective when the frame rates of the pupil camera 10 and the nostril camera 20 are not high. There are two types of position correction in the present embodiment: position correction based on face direction prediction and position correction based on corneal reflection performed thereafter.

The pupil detection methods are classified into the following three types according to the pupil detection result (previous pupil detection result) in the previous field (i-th field).
(1) When both pupils can be detected in the previous field (previous pupil detection).
(2) When only one pupil can be detected in the previous field (previous pupil detection).
(3) When both pupils cannot be detected in the previous field (previous pupil detection).

  If both pupils can be detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 determines both pupils by pupil tracking and calculates the center coordinates of the left and right pupils. First, the preprocessing unit 32 converts the three-dimensional coordinates of the predicted pupil position into two-dimensional coordinates on the imaging plane (pupil image) using Expression (6) described later. In addition, the preprocessing unit 32 acquires the pupil image of the next field ((i + 1) th field) from the image acquisition unit 31. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 sets a small window (for example, 70 pixels × 70 pixels) centered on the two-dimensional coordinates of the predicted pupil position in the pupil image of the next field. On the other hand, for the image in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 sets a small window centered on the already detected two-dimensional coordinates. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 adjusts the position of the window in the previous field to the position of the window in the next field, and obtains the difference between the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 binarizes the difference image obtained by the processing with a threshold value determined by the P tile method, and then performs isolated point removal and labeling. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 selects pupil candidates from among the connected components of the labeled pixels based on the shape parameters such as the pupil-like area, size, area ratio, squareness, and pupil feature amount. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 determines that the relationship between the two pupil candidates is a predetermined relationship as the left and right pupils, and obtains the left and right temporary pupil positions in the image data. That is, the preprocessing unit 32 projects the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil predicted from the face posture using the pinhole model onto the imaging plane, and then performs position correction to generate a difference image. Based on this, the pupil is identified.

  When only one pupil is detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 determines the pupil for the detected pupil by pupil tracking similar to the above, and obtains a temporary pupil position. On the other hand, for the pupil that has not been detected, the pre-processing unit 32 moves the middle window (for example, 150 pixels × 60 pixels) to a position that is a predetermined distance (for example, 30 pixels) away from the position of the detected pupil. Set and generate a difference image for the window inside. And the pre-processing part 32 selects a pupil candidate with the same procedure as the above with respect to the difference image. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 determines the largest candidate pupil position as the other temporary pupil position.

  If both pupils cannot be detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 searches for the pupil from the entire image. Specifically, the preprocessing unit 32 selects pupil candidates by the same procedure as described above for the difference image obtained by taking the difference between the image of the previous field and the image of the next field. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 determines that the relationship between the two pupil candidates is a predetermined relationship as the left and right pupils, and obtains the left and right temporary pupil positions in the image data.

  Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 determines the final pupil position in consideration of the position of corneal reflection. Specifically, the preprocessing unit 32 sets a small window centered on the temporary pupil position for each of the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image, and increases the resolution of only the range of the small window. Image data is created, and corneal reflection is detected from the image data. The preprocessing unit 32 performs binarization and labeling by the P tile method in a small window, and selects a corneal reflection candidate from information such as a shape and a luminance average. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 gives a separability filter to the central coordinates of the selected portion, and obtains a feature amount obtained by multiplying the separability and the luminance. If the feature amount is equal to or greater than a certain value, the pre-processing unit 32 detects the center coordinate of the small window as a temporary corneal reflection coordinate, and calculates the movement amount of the corneal reflection between the two small windows as the position correction amount. To do. Subsequently, the pre-processing unit 32 converts the image of the previous field (i-th field) into the next field ((i + 1) -th field) so that the corneal reflection points coincide between the bright pupil image and the dark pupil image. After shifting the position correction amount to the image, a difference image is generated from these two images. On the other hand, when the corneal reflection cannot be detected, the preprocessing unit 32 generates a difference image by taking the difference between the two images without performing position correction.

  Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 determines the final pupil position from the difference image. Specifically, the pre-processing unit 32 uses the average luminance of the pupil detected in the previous frame by using the fact that the luminance does not change greatly from the previous frame, and sets the half value of the average luminance as a threshold value. The difference image is binarized and labeled. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 selects pupil candidates from among the connected components of the labeled pixels based on the shape parameters such as the pupil-like area, size, area ratio, squareness, and pupil feature amount. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 determines that a pupil candidate near the predicted pupil position is a pupil to be obtained, and calculates the center coordinates of the pupil.

(Detection of nostril)
The pre-processing unit 32 sets a window at a position in the nostril image where it is estimated that there is a nostril, and detects the nostril by processing the window. Note that the preprocessing unit 32 may set a window at a position in the nostril image that is estimated to have a nostril based on the three-dimensional position of the pupil. The preprocessing unit 32 detects a nostril from the nostril image and the dark pupil image. Alternatively, the preprocessing unit 32 detects a nostril from the nostril image. The nostril detection methods are classified into the following three types according to the nostril detection results in the previous field (previous nostril detection results).
(1) When both the left and right nostrils cannot be detected in the previous field (previous nostril detection).
(2) When both the left and right nostrils can be detected in the previous field (previous nostril detection).
(3) When only one nostril can be detected in the previous field (previous nostril detection).

  If both the left and right nostrils cannot be detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 sets a large window of a predetermined size in the nostril image based on the position of the pupil, and the luminance in the large window is set. After inversion and binarization with a threshold set by the P tile method, isolated point removal, contraction processing, expansion processing, and labeling are performed. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 selects nostril candidates from the connected components of the labeled pixels based on the area that is likely to be a nostril and the position within the large window. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 determines the nostril candidate closest to the center of the large window as the first nostril, and determines the nostril candidate closest to the first nostril as the second nostril. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 recognizes one of the first nostril and the second nostril as the left nostril based on the X coordinate and the other as the right nostril, and calculates the center coordinates of each nostril.

  When both the left and right nostrils can be detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 predicts the nostril position in the current processing target field by the Kalman filter from the nostril position of the previous field, and the predicted nostril position is the center. Set a small window. Small windows are smaller than large windows. Then, the preprocessing unit 32 performs the luminance inversion in the small window, binarization by the P tile method, isolated point removal, contraction processing, expansion processing, labeling, nostril candidate selection, The center coordinates of each nostril are calculated by executing the certification of the nostrils.

  When only one nostril is detected in the previous field, the preprocessing unit 32 performs nostril estimation. The pre-processing unit 32 holds in advance the coordinates of both pupils and both nostrils when the subject A is directly facing the nostril camera 20, and based on these coordinates, the distance between the pupils and the distance between the nostrils Find the ratio with the distance. Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 is based on the premise that the straight line connecting both pupils and the straight line connecting both nostrils are parallel to each other, the two pupil coordinates, one detected nostril coordinate, and the calculated ratio. Based on the above, the nostril coordinates that could not be detected in the previous field are estimated, and a small window similar to the above is set around the estimated nostril coordinates. Then, the pre-processing unit 32 executes luminance inversion in the small window, binarization by the P tile method, isolated point removal, contraction processing, expansion processing, labeling, nostril candidate selection, and right and left nostril identification. The center coordinates of each nostril are calculated.

(Derivation of face posture vector by stereo method)
In the present embodiment, the face posture vector derived by the stereo method is handled as the true face direction (reference face direction H ₂ ). The stereo method is a method for restoring the target three-dimensional coordinates from image data (face images) captured by a plurality of cameras. The object is the pupil center. In the present embodiment, the stereo method is applied to at least two face images obtained using the pupil camera 10 to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil center. Then, by using the three-dimensional coordinates of the obtained pupil center by the stereo method, and calculates the face pose vector indicating the reference face direction of H ₂ subjects A. That is, the reference face direction H _2, based on the face image of the subject A, is derived by the stereo method.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, in order to determine the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil center by the stereo method, the world coordinate system (X _W , Y _W , Z _W ), the camera coordinate system (X _C , Y _C). , Z _C ) and an image coordinate system (X _I , Y _I ). The world coordinate system is a coordinate system that defines an arbitrary point shared between a plurality of cameras (for example, the left pupil camera 10 _L and the right pupil camera 10 _R ). Three-dimensional coordinates of the feature points is based on the world coordinate system _{X W Y} W _Z W. The relationship between the world coordinate system X _W Y _W Z _W and the camera coordinate system X _C Y _C Z _C is expressed by Expression (4). Translation vector T _R and the rotation matrix R in Equation (4) is a constant that is acquired by the camera calibration. The pre-processing unit 32 calculates the position of the pupil in the world coordinate system X _W Y _W Z _W based on Expression (4).

Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 obtains the face direction based on the three-dimensional position of the coordinates P ₀ , P ₁ , P ₂ of the feature points. As shown in FIG. 13, defines the coordinate _{P 0,} P 1, _{P 2} and face coordinate system xyz relative to the those of the center of gravity M of the feature point relative to the camera coordinate system _{X C Y} C _Z C. The x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are set so that the origin of the face coordinate system matches the center of gravity M, the face plane matches the xy plane, and the z-axis matches the normal vector. Further, a state in which the center of gravity M is located at the origin of the face coordinate system xyz and the nostril midpoint is on the y axis and is set to take a negative value is defined as a reference posture in the face coordinate system xyz.

The preprocessing unit 32 obtains a normal vector of a plane passing through the center of gravity M of the coordinates P ₀ , P ₁ , P ₂ of each feature point calculated by the stereo method. This normal vector is a face posture vector V _B = (n _X , n _Y , n _Z ) indicating the reference face direction H ₂ of the subject A.

(Derivation of face posture vector by constraint method)
The imaging optical system in the face detection apparatus 1 can be assumed to be a pinhole model with a focal length f as shown in FIG. Camera coordinate system where the pinhole as the origin O _R (reference coordinate system X _C -Y _C nostril images in -Z _C (imaging plane PL) on the right pupil of the center point of the left pupil, left nostril, and the right nostril two The dimensional coordinates are assumed to be Q ₁ (x ₁ , y ₁ ), Q ₂ (x ₂ , y ₂ ), Q ₃ (x ₃ , y ₃ ), and Q ₄ (x ₄ , y ₄ ), respectively. The unit 32 obtains the coordinates (center between the nostrils) P ₀ , the coordinates P _{1 of the} right pupil, and the coordinates P _{2 of the} left pupil from the two-dimensional coordinates of these four points. Here, P _n = (X _n , Y _n , Z _n ) (n = 0, 1, 2).

The distance between the sides of the triangle connecting the three feature points (the center of the nostril, the left pupil and the right pupil) is i if one of those points is i and j is the other point. , J is represented by a distance L _ij (formula (5)).

また、ピンホールＯから各特徴点へ向かう位置ベクトルに対応した単位ベクトルは式（７）により得られる。

各特徴点の位置ベクトルは定数ａ_ｎ（ｎ＝０，１，２）を用いて式（８）で表される。

すると、式（９）が成立する。

これにより連立方程式（１０）が得られる。

顔姿勢導出部３４はこの連立方程式からａ_０，ａ_１，ａ_２を求め、その解を式（８）に適用することで位置ベクトルを求める。 If the position vector from the pinhole to each feature point is obtained, the two-dimensional position on the imaging plane PL corresponding to each feature point can be obtained by Expression (6) using the focal length f of the camera.

A unit vector corresponding to a position vector from the pinhole O toward each feature point is obtained by Expression (7).

The position vector of each feature point is expressed by equation (8) using constants a _n (n = 0, 1, 2).

Then, Formula (9) is materialized.

Thereby, simultaneous equations (10) are obtained.

The face posture deriving unit 34 obtains a ₀ , a ₁ , a ₂ from the simultaneous equations, and obtains a position vector by applying the solution to the equation (8).

Subsequently, the preprocessing unit 32 obtains a face direction based on the coordinates P ₀ , P ₁ , P ₂ of the feature points. As shown in FIG. 13, defines the coordinate _{P 0,} P 1, _{P 2} and face coordinate system xyz relative to the those of the center of gravity M of the feature point relative to the camera coordinate system _{X C Y} C _Z C. The x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are set so that the origin of the face coordinate system matches the center of gravity M, the face plane matches the xy plane, and the z-axis matches the normal vector. Further, a state in which the center of gravity M is located at the origin of the face coordinate system xyz and the nostril midpoint is on the y axis and is set to take a negative value is defined as a reference posture in the face coordinate system xyz.

The preprocessing unit 32 obtains a normal vector of the imaging plane PL that passes through the center of gravity M of the coordinates P ₀ , P ₁ , P ₂ of each feature point. This normal vector is a face posture vector V _F = (n _X , n _Y , n _Z ) indicating the face direction H ₁ of the subject A.

(Gaze detection)
The preprocessing unit 32 detects the line of sight based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the left and right pupils. In the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil, the pupil center obtained by applying the stereo method to at least two face images obtained by using the pupil camera 10 is used in the same manner as the derivation of the face posture vector by the stereo method. 3D coordinates can be used. That is, the line of sight G is derived by the stereo method based on the face image of the subject A. As shown in FIG. 15, based on the three-dimensional position of the pupil, the center of the opening 12 of the pupil camera 10 as an origin O _R, modulo the reference line O _{R P} connecting the origin O _R and the pupil center P Consider a virtual viewpoint plane X′-Y ′ that is a line. Here, the X ′ axis corresponds to the intersection of the Xw-Zw plane of the world coordinate system and the virtual viewpoint plane X′-Y ′.

Preprocessing section 32 calculates a vector r _G from the corneal reflection point G _R in the image plane S _G to the pupil center P, and the vector r _G, the actual size with the magnification of the camera obtained from the distance OP It converts into the converted vector r. At this time, the pupil camera 10 considered pinhole model, assume that the corneal reflection point G _R and the pupil center P, is on the virtual viewpoint plane X'-Y 'plane parallel. That is, the preprocessing unit 32 is parallel with the virtual viewpoint plane X'-Y 'on a plane including the three-dimensional coordinates of the pupil, and calculates the relative coordinates of the pupil center P and the corneal reflection point G _R as a vector r the vector r represents the actual distance from the cornea reflection point G _R to the pupil center P.

The pre-processing unit 32 relates to the gazing point T on the virtual viewpoint plane X′-Y ′ of the subject A and the inclination φ of the straight line OT with respect to the horizontal axis X ′ is the inclination φ of the vector r with respect to the horizontal axis XG on the image plane. Assume that is equal to '. Furthermore, the preprocessing unit 32, a line-of-sight vector of the subject A, i.e., a line-of-sight vector PT connecting the gazing point T and the pupil center P, and forms the inclination θ of the reference line OP, the parameters including a gain value k ₂ Calculated according to the equation (11) used.

  Such inclinations φ and θ are calculated by assuming that the vector r on the plane where the pupil center P exists is enlarged on the virtual viewpoint plane X′-Y ′ as it corresponds to the gaze point of the subject A as it is. Done. Specifically, it is assumed that the inclination θ of the visual line vector PT of the subject A with respect to the reference line OP has a linear relationship between the pupil center and the corneal reflection distance | r |.

By using the assumption that the slope and the distance | r | can be linearly approximated and the two slopes φ and φ ′ are equal, (θ, φ) and (| r |, φ ′) are one-to-one. It can be made to correspond. In this case, the pre-processing unit 32, the origin O _R that is set in the center of the opening 12 of the pupil camera 10, the virtual viewpoint plane X'-Y 'vector OT connecting the gazing point on the T (12 ) The vector OP is obtained from the pupil camera 10.

Finally, the preprocessing unit 32 obtains the gazing point Q, which is the intersection of the line-of-sight vector PT and the viewing target plane (display device 40), using Expression (13).

However, in general, there is a bias between the human visual axis (axis passing through the center of the pupil and the fovea) and the optical axis (normal line extending from the cornea to the center of the lens), and the subject A gazes at the camera. In this case, the corneal reflection does not match the pupil center. Therefore, when an origin correction vector r ₀ for correcting this is defined and the cornea reflection-pupil center vector measured from the camera image is r ′, the vector r is expressed by r = r′−r ₀ , 11) can be rewritten as in equation (14).

  By performing the origin correction for the measured r ′, (θ, φ) and (| r |, φ ′) can be made to correspond to a pair of positions, and high-precision gaze point detection can be performed. it can. Such correction can be achieved using a single point calibration method well known to those skilled in the art.

<Function derivation step S3>
The function deriving unit 33 determines the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ in Expression (2). The method for determining the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ is as follows. First, the subject A freely moves the face direction and the line of sight. During this time, it acquires the sight line G, the face direction _{H 1,} and a reference face direction _{H 2.} Then, as shown in FIG. 16, the angle ∠G ′ (first angle) and the angle ∠H (second angle) are plotted on two-dimensional coordinates. These angle ∠G ′ and angle ∠H are angles expressed with reference to the world coordinate system. Here, the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H are coordinate-converted into the face coordinate system. Then, the function determination unit 33a calculates the slope (coefficient k ₁ ) and the intercept (coefficient k ₂ ) of the graph in two-dimensional coordinates using the angle ∠G ′ and the angle ∠H with respect to the face coordinate system. (Step S3a). For these calculations, the least square method can be used. By determining these coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ , the function (formula (2)) is determined.

<Image acquisition step S4>
In the image acquisition step S4, a bright pupil image, a dark pupil image, and a nostril image are acquired by the same method as in the image acquisition step S1.

<Preprocessing step S5>
In the pretreatment step S5, in the same manner as the pre-processing step S2, deriving the face direction H ₁ by constraint method. Further, the line of sight G by the stereo method is derived by the same method as in the preprocessing step S2. In the pretreatment step S5, the reference face direction H ₂ by stereo method may be derived if necessary.

(Derivation of face posture by constraint condition method: face posture deriving step S6)
In the face pose deriving step S6, in the same manner as "Derivation of face pose vector by constraints Method" above, we derive the face direction H _1.

<Face posture correction step S7>
The face posture correction unit 36 corrects the face direction H ₁ using Equation (2) and the coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ determined in the function derivation step S3. First, the first coordinate conversion unit 36a converts the sight line G and the face direction H ₁ in the world coordinate system which is obtained for each frame to the face coordinate system, determining the line of sight G and face direction H ₁ in the face coordinate system (first Coordinate conversion step: S7a). Then, the angle acquisition unit 36b, by using the sight line G and the face direction H ₁ in the face coordinate system, 'after obtaining the (first angle), the angle ∠G' angle ∠G in the face coordinate system, already The angle ∠H in the face coordinate system is obtained using the expression (2) including the obtained coefficients k ₁ and k ₂ (angle acquisition step: S7b). Then, the direction correction unit 36c determines a reference face direction H ₂ from the face direction H ₁ in this angle ∠H the face coordinate system in the face coordinate system (direction correction step: S7c). The second coordinate conversion unit 36d converts the reference face direction H ₂ in the face coordinate system in the reference face direction H ₂ in the world coordinate system (second coordinate conversion step: S7d). By the above steps S7a～S7d, obtaining a corrected face direction _{H 1.}

[Face detection program]
Next, a face detection program for realizing the face detection apparatus 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the face detection program P10 includes a main module P11, an image acquisition module P12, a preprocessing module P13, a function derivation module P14, a face posture derivation module P15, and a face posture correction module P16.

  The main module P11 is a part that comprehensively controls the face detection function. The functions realized by executing the image acquisition module P12, the preprocessing module P13, the function derivation module P14, the face posture derivation module P15, and the face posture correction module P16 are the image acquisition unit 31 and the preprocessing unit 32, respectively. The functions of the function deriving unit 33, the face posture deriving unit 34, and the face posture correcting unit 36 are the same.

  The face detection program P10 may be provided after being fixedly recorded on a tangible recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or semiconductor memory. The face detection program P10 may be provided via a communication network as a data signal superimposed on a carrier wave.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Face detection apparatus, 10 ... Pupil camera (imaging means), 20 ... Nostril camera, 30 ... Image processing apparatus (processing means), 31 ... Image acquisition part, 32 ... Pre-processing part, 33 ... Function derivation part, 34 ... Face posture deriving unit, 36 ... Face posture correcting unit, H ₁ ... Face direction, H ₂ ... Reference face direction, S1, S4 ... Image acquisition step, S2, S5 ... Preprocessing step, S3 ... Function deriving step, S6 ... face posture deriving step, S7 ... face posture correcting step.

Claims (8)

A function for deriving a function for correcting the face posture, including a coefficient that defines a first angle between the face posture and the line of sight of the subject and a second angle between the reference face posture and the face posture. A derivation step;
A face posture deriving step for deriving the face posture;
Using the function derived in the function deriving step to correct the face posture, and a face posture correcting step,
The face posture is detected in a distance between parts in a reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, right pupil, and right and left nostrils of the subject, and the face image of the subject. Using the two-dimensional position of the reference part group, it is derived by calculating the normal of the plane including the reference part group,
The face detection method, wherein the line of sight and the reference face posture are derived by stereo matching based on at least two face images of the subject. The function derivation step includes:
Deriving the face posture;
Deriving the line of sight and the reference face posture;
The face detection method according to claim 1, further comprising: deriving the coefficient based on the first angle and the second angle.   The face detection method according to claim 1, wherein after executing the function deriving step once, the face posture deriving step and the face posture correcting step are repeatedly executed.   The face detection method according to claim 1, wherein the function deriving step, the face posture deriving step, and the face posture correcting step are repeatedly executed in this order. The face posture correction step includes
Transforming the line of sight based on the first coordinate system and the face posture based on the first coordinate system to be based on a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system;
The first angle based on the second coordinate system is acquired using the line of sight based on the second coordinate system and the face posture based on the second coordinate system, and the first angle and the Using a function to obtain the second angle based on the second coordinate system;
Correcting the face posture based on the second coordinate system using the second angle based on the second coordinate system;
The face detection method according to claim 1, further comprising: transforming the corrected face posture based on the first coordinate system. At least two imaging means for imaging the face of the subject;
Processing means for deriving the face posture of the subject based on the face image imaged by the imaging means,
The processing means includes
Deriving a function for correcting the face posture, including coefficients defining a first angle between the face posture and the line of sight of the subject and a second angle relationship between a reference face posture and the face posture. A function derivation unit for
A face posture deriving unit for deriving the face posture;
A face posture correcting unit that corrects the face posture using the function derived in the function deriving unit;
The face posture is detected in a distance between parts in a reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, right pupil, and right and left nostrils of the subject, and the face image of the subject. Using the two-dimensional position of the reference part group, it is derived by calculating the normal of the plane including the reference part group,
The face detection device, wherein the line of sight and the reference face posture are derived by stereo matching based on at least two face images of the subject. The face posture correction unit
A first coordinate transformation that transforms the line of sight based on the first coordinate system and the face posture based on the first coordinate system so as to be based on a second coordinate system different from the first coordinate system; And
The first angle based on the second coordinate system is acquired using the line of sight based on the second coordinate system and the face posture based on the second coordinate system, and the first angle and the An angle acquisition unit that acquires the second angle based on the second coordinate system using a function;
A direction correction unit that corrects the face posture based on the second coordinate system using the second angle based on the second coordinate system;
The face detection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a second coordinate conversion unit configured to perform coordinate conversion of the corrected face posture based on the first coordinate system. Computer
A function derivation that includes a coefficient that defines a relationship between a first angle between the face posture and the line of sight of the subject and a second angle between the reference face posture and the face posture, and derives a function for correcting the face posture. And
A face posture deriving unit for deriving the face posture;
Using the function derived in the function deriving unit, function as a face posture correcting unit that corrects the face posture,
The face posture is detected in a distance between parts in a reference part group that is a combination of any one of the left pupil, right pupil, and right and left nostrils of the subject, and the face image of the subject. Using the two-dimensional position of the reference part group, it is derived by calculating the normal of the plane including the reference part group,
The face detection program in which the line of sight and the reference face posture are derived by stereo matching based on at least two face images of the subject.

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