Image Processing Device Code Edge Blur Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image processing devices face issues with blur at the edge portions of code images, such as barcodes and QR codes, leading to quality deterioration due to unnecessary dot generation during halftone processing, especially when the resolution of the image data is not an integer multiple of the image forming unit's resolution.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device with a code detection unit, pixel value determination unit, and pixel value converting unit that identifies intermediate color pixels and converts their values into a brighter pixel value, suppressing dot occurrence at blurred edges by determining if a pixel is separated from code elements by k pixels or more, where k is an integer of 2 or greater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If halftone processing is executed on image data including code images with blur at edge portions, then the image data can be processed and recorded, but the quality of the code image deteriorates due to unnecessary generation of dots corresponding to pixels that match the blur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting code images before halftone processing and converting intermediate color pixels to space colors in advance. This preprocessing step eliminates blur-induced intermediate colors before they can cause unnecessary dot generation during halftone processing, thereby maintaining code image quality while still allowing the processing to proceed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selectively processing only the pixels within detected code image regions. The pixel value conversion is applied specifically to intermediate color pixels located within code image boundaries, while other regions of the image data remain unaffected. This localized approach preserves code image quality without compromising overall image processing capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the resolution of the image data is not an integer multiple of the image forming unit's resolution, then flexibility in handling different resolutions is achieved, but blur occurs in the edge portion of code elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of blur by identifying intermediate color pixels caused by resolution mismatch and transforming them into space colors. The blur that would normally degrade image quality is instead used as a detection criterion - pixels with intermediate colors are recognized as blur artifacts and converted to eliminate the quality issue while preserving the flexible resolution handling capability
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device includes a code detection unit configured to detect a code image included in the input image, a pixel value determination unit configured to determine whether a pixel value of each pixel included in the code image corresponds to an intermediate color between a color of code elements constituting the code image and a color of a space between the code elements, and a pixel value converting unit configured to convert a pixel value of a separated pixel that is separated from the code elements by k pixels or more, among intermediate color pixels that are pixels determined to correspond to the intermediate color, into a pixel value brighter than the intermediate color, wherein k is an integer of 2 or greater.