Abstract
Over the last twenty years, researchers in the field of human face recognition have tried to answer the question, how can a face be formally described? Each new face recognition system provides a different answer. In this paper, the face profile is represented using a real Fourier descriptor. Outlines of face profiles are extracted from back-lit images captured using a CCIR standard TV camera and frame-grabber. Points on the nose tip and chin are extracted and used to standardise the orientation and scale of the profile. The face curve is sampled uniformly in the vertical direction and transformed from a 2-D to a 1-D representation. After Fourier transformation, a small number of the resulting coefficients are used as a feature vector. This descriptor is insensitive to translation, scale and orientation of the original face profile. Applications to face recognition and reconstruction are illustrated and discussed in the paper.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hadyn D. Ellis, Malcolm A. Jeeves FRSE, Freda Newcombe, and Andy Young, "Aspects of Face Processing", Martins Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht, 1986.
Andrew W. Young, and Hadyn D. Ellis, "Handbook of Research on Face Processing", Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., North-Holland, 1989.
A. Jay Goldstein, Leon D. Harmon, and Ann B. Lesk, "Identification of Human Faces", Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 59, No. 5, PP. 748–760, May, 1971.
A. Jay Goldstein, Leon D. Harmon, and Ann B. Lesk, "Man-Machine Interaction in Human-Face Identification", American Telephone and Telegraph Company, The Bell System Technical Journal, Vol. 51, No. 2, PP. 399–427, February, 1972.
Leon D. Harmon, and Willard F. Hunt, "Automatic Recognition of Human Face Profiles", Computer Graphics and Image Processing, 6 (2), pp. 135–156, 1977.
L. D. Harmon, M. K. Khan, Richard Lasch and P.F. Ramig, "Machine Identification of Human Faces", Pattern Recognition, Vol. 13, No. 2, PP. 97–110, 1981.
L. D. Harmon, S. C. Kuo, P. F. Ramig, and U. Raudkivi, "Identification of Human Face Profiles by Computer", Pattern Recognition, Vol. 10, PP. 301–312, 1978.
Chyuan Jy Wu and Jun S. Huang, "Human Face Profile Recognition by Computer", Pattern Recognition, Vol. 23, No. 3/4, PP. 255–259, 1990.
Gerald J. Kaufman, JR. Kaufman, and Kenneth J. Breeding, "The Automatic recognition of Human Faces from Profile Silhouettes", IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, Vol. SMC-6, NO. 2, PP. 113–121, February 1976.
T. Aibara, K. Ohue, and Y. Matsuoka, "On the Number of Effective Components of Fourier Descriptor for the Recognition of Human Face Profile", Trans. IEICE Jpan. J74-D2(10), PP. 1486–1487, 1991, (in Japanese).
T. Aibara, K. Ohue, and Y. Oshita, "Human Face Profile Recognition by a P-Fourier Descriptor", Optical Engineering, Vol. 32, No. 4, PP. 861–863, April, 1993.
Y. Uesaka, "A New Fourier Descriptor Applicable to Open Curves", Trans. IECE Jpn. J67-A(3), PP. 166–173, 1984, (in Japanese).
A A Somaie and S S Ipson, "Recognition of Human Face Profiles Using a Phase Fourier Descriptor in a 1-D System", Proceeding Intern. AMSE Conference "Information Processing", New Orleans (USA), Nov. 9–11, Vol. 1, PP. 81–91, 1994.
A A Somaie and S S Ipson, "From Modelling to Human Face Profile Identification", Proceeding Intern. AMSE Conference "Information Processing", New Orleans (USA), Nov. 9–11, Vol. 1, PP. 93–104, 1994.
Fredric J. Harris, "On the use of Windows for Harmonic Analysis with Discrete Fourier Transform", Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 51–83, January 1978.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Somaie, A.A., Ipson, S.S. A human face profile identification system using 1-D real Fourier descriptors. Int J Infrared Milli Waves 16, 1285–1298 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069543
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02069543