Endoscopic Image Reduction with Adaptive Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic image processing faces challenges in generating high-quality index images due to aliasing and excessive smoothing when reducing observation recorded images, particularly because of varying pixel numbers and sizes of imaging devices, leading to inconsistent image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a filtering unit that applies a filter to suppress high-frequency components, an image reducing unit for generating reduced images, and a filter setting unit that adjusts filter characteristics based on the maximum frequency components of the original and target images, ensuring proper band suppression and reduction processing regardless of imaging device pixel numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If band suppression processing is performed excessively to suppress aliasing, then aliasing is reduced, but excessive smoothing is caused which decreases image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic filtering by adjusting the filter characteristic based on the ratio between the number of pixels in the captured image and the number of pixels in the index image. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt the degree of band suppression to the specific reduction ratio, preventing both excessive smoothing and insufficient aliasing suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the filter parameter (cutoff frequency) based on the pixel ratio between captured and index images. By calculating the maximum frequency component that should be reproduced in the index image and adjusting the filter accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between aliasing suppression and image quality preservation for different reduction scenarios.
2Manufacturing precision
If band suppression processing is performed insufficiently to preserve image quality, then excessive smoothing is avoided, but aliasing cannot be fully removed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the filter strength based on the reduction ratio. When the reduction ratio is high, stronger filtering is applied to prevent aliasing. When the reduction ratio is low, weaker filtering is applied to preserve image quality. This dynamic approach ensures adequate aliasing suppression without excessive smoothing.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter cutoff frequency parameter is changed according to the pixel ratio between captured and index images. The filter setting unit calculates the appropriate cutoff frequency based on the maximum frequency component that should be reproduced, ensuring sufficient aliasing suppression while maintaining image quality for different reduction scenarios.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a fixed-size index image is generated from captured images with various sizes, then display consistency is achieved, but image quality decreases due to excessive smoothing or aliasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the filter parameter based on the relationship between the captured image size and the fixed index image size. By calculating the pixel ratio and adjusting the filter cutoff frequency accordingly, the system maintains consistent display sizes while preserving image quality through adaptive filtering.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the filtering process to each captured image's characteristics while producing a uniformly sized index image. This dynamic adjustment of filter strength based on the reduction ratio ensures that each index image is optimized for its specific source image, maintaining both display consistency and image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A filtering unit applies a filter for suppressing a high-frequency component to a second image generated by performing image processing including at least enlargement processing on a first image captured by using an endoscope. An image reducing unit generates a third image by performing reduction processing on the second image to which the filter has been applied. A filter setting unit sets a characteristic of a filter based on information on a maximum frequency component that can be reproduced in at least the first image and information on a maximum frequency component that should be reproduced in the third image.