Edge Boundary Visualization Using Anisotropic Interleaving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display technologies produce visible banding artifacts due to limited color availability, which disrupt smooth color transitions, particularly in immersive environments like HMDs.
Innovation Solution
Implement an an-isotropic interleaved pattern, such as a fine-toothed comb-type pattern, to adjust color on either side of edges in a direction orthogonal to banding, reducing the appearance of banding by interleaving adjacent colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If dithering approaches are used to address banding artifacts, then the visibility of banding is reduced, but the image quality deteriorates due to added noise making edges less noticeable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gradient bands into multiple discrete bands, each with a specific color value. By dividing the continuous gradient into discrete segments and applying targeted adjustments to each band's edge regions, the patent reduces banding visibility while preserving edge sharpness through localized rather than global processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing treatments to different regions of the image. Specifically, it identifies edge regions between adjacent bands and applies color adjustment only to these local regions while leaving other areas unchanged. This localized approach reduces banding in critical areas without degrading overall image quality or adding unnecessary noise.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of available colors is increased to reduce banding, then color transition smoothness is improved, but the system complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of existing color bands by adjusting the color values of pixels in edge regions between bands. Instead of increasing the total number of colors available in the system, it modifies the distribution and transition characteristics of existing colors through parameter adjustment, achieving smoother transitions without increasing system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If random isotropic dithering is applied to avoid banding, then banding artifacts are reduced, but the directional information and clarity of the image are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric processing by treating edge regions differently from other regions. It identifies the directional nature of bands and applies color adjustments specifically at edges where bands meet, rather than applying uniform isotropic dithering throughout the image. This asymmetric approach preserves directional information while reducing banding artifacts.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that improve edge boundary visualization. In some implementations, this involves reducing the appearance of banding that might otherwise be visible by altering the appearance of a pattern that has a gradual change in color, e.g., the appearance of edges between the gradual changes in blues in the sky. In contrast to prior techniques that use random isotropic (any direction) dithering to avoid banding, this method uses an an-isotropic (different in one direction than another) interleaved pattern. For example, the pattern may have an alternating pattern that interleaves adjacent colors in a particular arrangement, such as using a fine-toothed comb-type pattern.