Halftone Image Edge Smoothing with Reduced Chip Requirements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image forming devices brighten edge pixels during halftone processing, leading to aliasing edges and affecting user experience, and existing anti-aliasing methods for original images require high chip performance and memory, while those for halftone images are less demanding but often result in suboptimal processing effects.

Innovation Solution

Perform edge detection on halftone image data and apply smoothing techniques to improve image quality, using a finite impulse response (FIR) filter to achieve smoother edges with reduced computational requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If halftone processing is performed on original image data, then the image data is converted into halftone image data for image forming operation, but edge pixels are brightened generating aliasing edges and affecting user experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidaliasing edges
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies anti-aliasing processing to halftone image data before the image forming operation. By performing edge detection and smoothing operations on the halftone data prior to printing, the method prevents aliasing artifacts from appearing in the final output, thereby improving image quality without requiring changes to the halftone processing itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs edge detection to identify edge pixels in the halftone image data, and then applies smoothing operations selectively only to these detected edge regions. This localized approach maintains the quality of non-edge areas while specifically addressing the aliasing problem at edges, optimizing overall image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If existing anti-aliasing methods for original images are used, then aliasing is reduced, but high chip performance and memory are required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovealiasingVSAvoidchip performance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a simplified anti-aliasing approach specifically designed for halftone image data rather than applying complex anti-aliasing algorithms meant for original full-resolution images. By adapting the method to work with already-halftoned data, the computational requirements are significantly reduced, allowing implementation on devices with lower chip performance and memory capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the input parameter from original image data to halftone image data for the anti-aliasing processing. This parameter change fundamentally reduces the computational complexity required, as the data is already in a simplified binary or near-binary format, enabling anti-aliasing to be performed with lower computational resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If anti-aliasing processing is applied to halftone images, then computational requirements are reduced, but processing effects are often suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational requirementsVSAvoidprocessing effect quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism by performing edge detection on the halftone image data to identify specific regions requiring smoothing. This feedback loop allows the system to adaptively apply smoothing operations only where needed (at detected edges), ensuring optimal processing效果 while maintaining low computational requirements by avoiding unnecessary processing in non-edge areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250307999A1Data processing method, image forming method, electronic device, image forming device, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.10.02 ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US20250307999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250307999A1 patent drawing
  • US20250307999A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A data processing method, an image forming method, an electronic device, an image forming device, and a storage medium are provided. The data processing method includes: obtaining image data to be processed, where the image data to be processed is halftone image data; performing edge detection on the image data to be processed to determine edge pixels in the image data to be processed; and smoothing the edge pixels to obtain processed image data.