Today Oki announced it has developed "Face Image Processing Hardware IP" to enable face detection functionality on LSIs, which is one of the functions provided in OKI’s face image processing middleware "FSE (Face Sensing Engine)." With this IP, manufacturers can now include in their embedded systems a function to detect faces from an image using a low CPU processing power.

OKI currently provides FSE to the mid and high-end mobile phone and digital camera markets. As it can detect faces from images and identify individuals, FSE is currently used in digital cameras to enable an auto focus function. Though there has been demand to improve usability and the response speed of face detection, to do so, high CPU processing power has been required, which in turn, decreased the battery life.

"To respond to such needs, OKI developed this IP to enable quicker face detection without requiring more CPU processing power. We believe this Face Image Processing Hardware IP will impact the market as it will enable lower end digital camera and camera-equipped mobile phone manufacturers to include such functions into their devices," said Seiji Inoue, General Manager of Human Sensing Venture Unit at OKI. "Following the IP of face detection, OKI also plans to develop a hardware IP for personal identification which will further expand the range of target applications."
Via the OKI FSE site.