Distance determination using camera images

Abstract

Systems and methods discussed herein can provide three-dimensional audio virtualization with sweet spot adaptation. In an example, an audio processor circuit can be used to update audio signals for sweet spot adaptation based on information from at least one depth sensor or camera about a listener position in a listening environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a position of a first person in a field of view of a camera, the method comprising:
 receiving image information about the first person in the field of view of the camera, the image information including first width information about a head or face of the first person; and   using a processor circuit, determining a distance from the camera to the first person using:
 the first width information about the head or face of the first person, 
 reference width information about a reference head or reference face when the reference head or reference face is provided at a reference location, and 
 information about a reference distance between the camera to the reference location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image information includes the first width information about the head or face of the first person in a unit of angular measure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first width information and the reference width information are provided in a unit of angular measure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reference width information includes information about the head or face of the first person when the first person is at the reference location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting age-specific width information or gender-specific width information for use as the reference width information. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, using the processor circuit, analyzing the image information to determine an age or a gender characteristic of the first person, and
 selecting at least one of an age-specific or gender-specific width for use as the reference width information, the selecting based on the determined age or gender characteristic of the first person.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the distance from the camera to the first person includes scaling the reference distance according to a ratio of the reference width information to the first width information. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining an azimuth angle or an elevation angle for the head or face of the first person. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the image information, including the first width information about the head or face of the first person, includes:
 using an image processor circuit, processing image data from the camera to compensate for one or more of a head yaw, head pitch, or head roll of the first person to determine the first width information about a head or face of the first person.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting an audio filter based on the determined distance from the camera to the first person, the audio filter for use by an audio signal processor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first width information about a head or face of the first person includes information about an interpupillary distance of the first person. 
     
     
         12 . A system for determining or using information about a position of a first person in a field of view of a camera, the system comprising:
 a camera configured to receive image information about the first person in the field of view of the camera, the image information including first width information about a head or face of the first person; and   a processor circuit coupled to the camera, the processor circuit configured to:
 receive, from the camera, the first width information about the head or face of the first person; 
 receive, from a memory circuit, reference data including information about a reference head or reference face at a reference location; and 
 determine a distance from the camera to the first person using the reference data and the received first width information about the head or face of the first person. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine the distance from the camera to the first person using information about a reference distance between the reference location and the camera. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to determine the distance from the camera to the first person by scaling the reference distance according to a ratio of the first width information to reference width information from the reference data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor circuit is configured to use the image information from the camera to determine at least one of an age or gender of the first person, and wherein the reference data corresponds to the determined age or gender of the first person. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor circuit is further configured to:
 select one or more audio filters, from the same or other memory circuit, based on the determined distance from the camera to the first person; and   generate one or more audio signals to provide a listening sweet spot for the first person.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
 receive image information about the first person in the field of view of the camera, the image information including first width information about a head or face of the first person; and   determine a distance from the camera to the first person using:
 the first width information about the head or face of the first person, 
 reference width information about a reference head or reference face when the reference head or reference face is provided at a reference location, and 
 information about a reference distance between the camera to the reference location. 
   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first width information and the reference width information are provided in a unit of angular measure. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions further configure the computer to:
 analyze the image information to determine an age or a gender characteristic of the first person; and   select, based on the determined age or gender characteristic of the first person, at least one of an age-specific or gender-specific width for use as the reference width information.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions to cause the computer to determine the distance from the camera to the first person include instructions to cause the computer to scale the reference distance according to a ratio of the reference width information to the first width information.