Digital Image Resizing Before Color-Depth Conversion for Lower Memory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for converting digital images between devices with different formats require excessive memory usage due to inefficient resizing and pixel format modification processes.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves resizing the initial digital image before modifying the pixel format, using techniques like decimation and low-pass filtering, to reduce the number of pixels and increase the bit representation of colors, thereby optimizing memory usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the pixel format modification step is performed before the resizing step, then the conversion accuracy is improved, but the memory usage increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconversion accuracyVSAvoidmemory usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional processing sequence by performing resizing before pixel format modification. This reversal reduces memory usage because the resizing step first reduces the number of pixels, and then the pixel format modification increases bits per pixel but operates on fewer total pixels, resulting in lower overall memory requirements compared to modifying pixel format first on the full-resolution image

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the processing parameters sequence by modifying the order of operations: first changing the spatial parameter (number of pixels) through resizing, then changing the color depth parameter (bits per pixel) through format modification. This parameter change sequence optimizes memory efficiency while maintaining conversion accuracy through compensatory algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the number of bits per pixel is increased during format modification, then the color representation quality is improved, but the memory requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor representation qualityVSAvoidmemory requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the resizing operation as a preliminary action before pixel format modification. By reducing the image dimensions first, the subsequent increase in bits per pixel affects fewer total pixels, thereby improving color representation quality while minimizing the overall memory requirement increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If the image resolution is reduced during resizing, then the memory usage is decreased, but the image detail quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory usageVSAvoidimage detail quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs resizing as a preliminary action before pixel format modification, using this opportunity to reduce image dimensions and memory usage. The subsequent pixel format modification step then enhances color representation quality, compensating for any detail loss from resizing through improved color precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3933749B1Method for converting a digital image
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
  • EP3933749B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3933749B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3933749B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A method for converting an initial digital image into a converted digital image, electronic chip, system, and product computer program, the initial digital image being composed of a set of pixels, the pixels being associated respectively with colors, the initial digital image being acquired by an acquisition device, the converted digital image being usable by a neural network, the method comprising the following steps: resizing the initial digital image to obtain an intermediate digital image, the resizing being carried out by reducing the number of pixels in the initial image; modifying the aspect ratio of one of the pixels in the intermediate digital image to obtain the converted digital image, the modification being carried out by increasing the number of bits used to represent the color of the pixel. The resizing is performed prior to the modification.