Image Processing Apparatus for High Dynamic Range Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing techniques struggle to effectively render high dynamic range (HDR) effects on high peak luminance display devices without increasing bit-number, relying on global or local contrast enhancement and requiring device support for HDR standards.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that includes a conversion circuit to reduce pixel luminance, a specular detection circuit to create a specular map, and a blending circuit to blend pixel data based on the specular degree, allowing for the production of an HDR effect without increasing the bit-number, by separating specular and non-specular regions and redistributing dynamic range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional inverse tone mapping is used to expand dynamic range, then HDR effect is achieved on HDR display devices, but the technique requires device support for HDR standards and increases bit-number
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the luminance parameter distribution by detecting specular regions and selectively adjusting luminance values. The conversion circuit transforms pixel data by lowering luminance in non-specular regions while preserving specular region luminance, achieving HDR effect through parameter transformation rather than bit-number expansion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the image into specular and non-specular regions using the specular map. This segmentation allows different processing to be applied to different regions: specular regions maintain original luminance while non-specular regions have reduced luminance, creating HDR effect without requiring full HDR device support
2Manufacturing precision
If global contrast enhancement is applied to improve picture quality, then overall image contrast is enhanced, but local detail in specular regions may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using the specular map to identify and differently process specular versus non-specular regions. The blending circuit applies different blending ratios based on specular degree values, preserving local detail in specular regions while enhancing contrast in non-specular regions, thus achieving picture quality improvement without losing specular information
3Illumination intensity
If bit-number is increased to achieve HDR transformation, then dynamic range is expanded, but data size and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves dynamic range expansion through parameter changes in luminance values rather than increasing bit-number. The conversion circuit transforms standard dynamic range luminance values into high dynamic range luminance values by applying luminance reduction factors, maintaining the same data precision while expanding the perceptual dynamic range
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus and method for a high dynamic range effect includes a conversion circuit, a specular detection circuit, and a blending circuit. The conversion circuit converts first pixel data of the current pixel of a current frame to a second pixel data, wherein a luminance of the second pixel data is lower than a luminance of the first pixel data. The specular detection circuit detects a specular degree of the current frame to produce a specular map, wherein the specular map includes a specular degree value of a current pixel. The blending circuit blends the first pixel data and the second pixel data according to the specular degree value of the current pixel to obtain blended pixel data of the current pixel.