Depth Map Processing Using Bottom-to-Top Pixel Iteration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing depth map processing techniques face challenges in generating accurate and consistent depth information, particularly when combining multiple depth cues, leading to artefacts and inconsistencies, which affect the quality of three-dimensional image rendering.
Innovation Solution
A method that processes depth maps using a bottom-to-top approach with localized constraints, iteratively modifying depth values based on nearby pixels to improve consistency and reduce artefacts, while maintaining low computational complexity and resource requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If depth maps are generated by combining multiple depth cues, then depth information coverage is improved, but consistency and accuracy deteriorate due to artefacts and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary filtering and processing to depth maps before they are used for 3D rendering. By pre-processing depth information to remove artefacts and inconsistencies, the system ensures high-quality depth maps are available in advance, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive depth coverage and consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where processed depth maps are evaluated and refined iteratively. Depth information from multiple cues is combined, processed, and re-evaluated to eliminate artefacts while maintaining comprehensive depth coverage, thus improving both consistency and accuracy.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional filtering methods are applied to depth maps, then some artefacts are reduced, but computational complexity and processing time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes only the harmful artefacts and inconsistencies from depth maps while preserving the essential depth information. By selectively removing only what is harmful rather than applying comprehensive complex filtering, the system improves depth map quality without excessive computational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing approach applies local quality enhancement by targeting specific artefacts and inconsistencies in their local contexts rather than applying global complex filtering. This localized processing reduces computational complexity while maintaining depth map quality by addressing only where improvements are needed.
3Loss of information
If depth information from multiple sources is combined, then depth coverage is enhanced, but noise and artefacts increase leading to rendering errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of combining multiple depth sources (which introduces noise and artefacts) into a benefit by using the combined depth information as input for specialized processing. The system takes the noisy combined depth maps and applies processing that extracts the useful depth coverage while eliminating the noise, thus converting the harmful combination into a beneficial comprehensive depth source.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
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AI summary
An apparatus for processing a depth map comprises a receiver (203) receiving an input depth map. A first processor (205) generates a first processed depth map by processing pixels of the input depth map in a bottom to top direction. The processing of a first pixel comprises determining a depth value for the first pixel for the first processed depth map as the furthest backwards depth value of: a depth value for the first pixel in the input depth map, and a depth value determined in response to depth values in the first processed depth map for a first set of pixels being below the first pixel. The approach may improve the consistency of depth maps, and in particular for depth maps generated by combining different depth cues.