Digital Camera Parallel Image Processing Overlapping Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-resolution digital cameras face increased image capture intervals due to lengthy data processing times, particularly in signal processing tasks like defective pixel correction and edge emphasizing, which cannot be efficiently parallelized without causing image breakage at joined pixel regions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a digital camera system where image data is divided into overlapping regions for parallel processing by multiple signal processing units, allowing for seamless interpolation at joined pixel areas and reducing image capture intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If image data is divided and processed in parallel by multiple processors, then processing speed increases, but image breakage occurs at joined portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The image data is divided into multiple regions and processed in parallel by multiple processors. Each processor handles a specific segment of the image, allowing simultaneous processing of different parts. This segmentation enables parallel processing while maintaining image quality through careful management of region boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Overlapping regions are introduced at the boundaries of processed image segments. These overlapping regions act as a cushion that allows interpolation processing to be performed on boundary pixels, preventing image breakage at joined portions. The overlapping areas ensure that edge effects are minimized and image continuity is maintained.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Measurement precision

If the number of pixels is increased, then image resolution improves, but image capture interval increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidimage capture interval

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The image data from high-resolution sensors is divided into multiple regions and processed in parallel by multiple processors. This segmentation allows the processing workload to be distributed across multiple units, reducing the total processing time and enabling shorter image capture intervals while maintaining high image resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple processors work simultaneously on different image regions, enabling continuous processing without idle waiting time. The parallel processing structure ensures that image data from high-resolution sensors can be processed continuously and efficiently, reducing the image capture interval while preserving measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS7365777B2Digital camera

Publication Date: 2008.04.29 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

First to third processors are arranged in a digital camera, one image (one frame) obtained by one photographing operation is divided into three regions (assigned regions), and photographing signal processing is shared by the first to third processors. Digital image signals of one image are divided and captured by the first to third processors while setting overlapping regions as regions required for photographing signal processing for the assigned regions. For this reason, the processors can also perform the photographing signal processing including an interpolating process to pixels near joined portions between the assigned regions. More specifically, since the photographing signal processing for the digital image data of one image can be shared by the plurality of processors and performed as parallel processing without causing an image breakage, an image capture interval can be shortened.