Nike patents image processing to measure objects from phone photos
The filing describes a system where a mobile device takes a picture and uses edge detection to find lines in the image. It then uses a machine learning classifier to pick the most reliable line as a reference point, allowing the software to calculate the real-world size of objects in the photo.
In the filing’s own words
Systems, methods, and apparatuses described herein may provide image processing and processes for detecting one or more objects in an image. The objects can be detected within image data obtained by a computing device. Lines indicating where the image intersects with reference planes may also be detected. A scale of the image in comparison to other measurements can be determined, and the scale data can be used to measure objects that are detected within the image.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method for detecting objects in an image, comprising: obtaining, by a mobile device, image data comprising an object; detecting, using edge detection techniques, one or more candidate lines in the image; determining, using a machine learning classifier, confidence metrics for each of the one or more candidate lines; selecting a candidate line based on the confidence metrics; determining a reference line based on the selected candidate line, wherein the reference line indicates a location of the object in the image; measuring the object based on scale data for the image and the reference line; and generating model data comprising the object and measurements of the object.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING CAPTURED IMAGES
- Publication number
- US20260330667A1
- Application number
- 19723974
- Filed
- Jun 29, 2026
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 9
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06T 7/60 Physics & computingG01C 5/00 Physics & computingG01S 17/08 Physics & computingG06N 5/04 Physics & computingG06N 20/00 Physics & computingG06Q 30/0631 Physics & computingMore from Nike in AI & software
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.