Color Conversion Table Segmentation for Image Processing Speed
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In image forming apparatuses, existing color conversion processing methods are inefficient due to high access times in memory access, which slows down the processing speed, especially when dealing with color information that is not readily available in the color conversion table.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that includes an extraction unit to identify and store frequently occurring color information, a memory controller to rearrange and store this information in a faster cache memory, and a transfer unit to move this information from a slower RAM to a faster cache memory, optimizing access times for color conversion processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If color conversion processing uses a color conversion table stored in general memory, then the apparatus can handle various color conversion tasks, but the access time is long and processing speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the color conversion table into two segments: frequently accessed color information is stored in a first storage unit with fast access time, while less frequently accessed data is stored in a second storage unit with slower access time. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for common operations while maintaining capacity for less common operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis to identify frequently accessed color information and pre-loads this data into the fast storage unit before it is actually needed for processing. This preliminary action ensures that when color conversion is performed, the most commonly needed data is already in the fastest accessible location.
2Loss of time
If all color information is stored in fast memory, then access time is reduced, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different storage characteristics in different parts of the memory system. The first storage unit provides fast access for frequently used color information, while the second storage unit provides larger capacity for less frequently used data. Each storage unit is optimized for its specific purpose rather than making the entire system uniformly fast or uniformly large.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts its memory usage by identifying which color information is accessed most frequently and automatically managing which data resides in which storage unit. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize performance based on actual usage patterns rather than static pre-configuration.
3Measurement precision
If color conversion table is enlarged to include all possible color data, then conversion accuracy is improved, but memory access time increases and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the most frequently accessed color information from the complete color conversion table and places it in a separate fast storage unit. This extraction allows the system to maintain access to the full color conversion table for accuracy while separating the commonly used portion for rapid access, thus maintaining both precision and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit, a memory controller, and a transfer unit. The extraction unit extracts, on the basis of image information, pieces of color information having a high frequency of occurrence as color information that is necessary to perform image processing. The memory controller causes a first memory to store a color information group including the pieces of color information extracted by the extraction unit. The transfer unit transfers the color information group from the first memory to a second memory, an access time of the second memory being shorter than an access time of the first memory.