Division Filter Circuit for Compact Camera Blur Reproduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compact digital cameras struggle to precisely reproduce a large blur effect similar to that of single-lens reflex cameras due to small filter sizes, which results in loss of high-frequency components and increased circuit scale when using conventional digital filter processing methods.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that employs a filter processing unit using division filters with multiple coefficients to generate intermediate images, which are then combined to produce a second image with a large blur effect, while maintaining a smaller circuit scale by using a configuration of two-dimensional filter coefficients arranged in a cylindrical shape with 47 taps, allowing for precise reproduction of round blur effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If small-size filter processing is performed on a reduced image, then circuit scale is reduced, but manufacturing precision of blur effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large filter (e.g., 47×47 taps) into multiple small division filters (e.g., nine 9×9 taps filters). Each division filter processes a specific region, and their results are combined to achieve the equivalent effect of the large filter. This segmentation allows the use of small filters while maintaining the precision of large filters, resolving the contradiction between circuit scale and blur effect precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If filter processing is performed without reducing image, then blur effect precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a large filter into multiple small division filters, each with manageable size (e.g., 9×9 taps). This segmentation reduces the circuit scale required for each individual filter while collectively achieving the precision of a large filter when their outputs are combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the problem from spatial dimension to computational dimension by dividing the filter into multiple smaller filters that operate on different regions. The combination of these division filters in the computational domain achieves the equivalent effect of a single large filter, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining precision.
3Device complexity
If small-size filter processing is used, then circuit scale is reduced, but measurement precision of blur shape deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large filter into multiple small division filters arranged in a matrix (e.g., 3×3 arrangement of 9×9 filters for a 47×47 tap filter). Each division filter captures specific spatial frequency components, and their combined output precisely reproduces the round blur shape with proper high-frequency components preserved.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided at least one image processing apparatus capable of precisely reproducing a large blur similar to a background blur produced by a single-lens reflex camera, while suppressing a circuit scale for filter processing. A two-dimensional filter processing circuit of at least one embodiment of an image processing unit performs the filter processing using first to N-th division filters each having a plurality of filter coefficients (where N is an integer of 2 or more) on an input image to generate first to N-th intermediate images. A combination unit of the at least one embodiment of the image processing unit combines or adds together the first to N-th intermediate images generated by the two-dimensional filter processing circuit to generate an integrated image. Thus, a large blur similar to a background blur produced by the single-lens reflex camera can be precisely reproduced by small-size two-dimensional filter processing.