Horizontal Interpolation for Bayer Data Size Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for reducing data size of image data from imaging sensors, such as those using the Bayer array, often deteriorate image quality and are costly due to increased data handling requirements.

Innovation Solution

A data processing apparatus that performs horizontal interpolation and data size reduction by creating interpolation data for each pixel in a Bayer array, using expressions to synthesize reduced data, thereby reducing data size while minimizing image quality deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If interpolation is performed on Bayer data before data size reduction, then image quality is improved, but data size becomes three times larger causing performance and cost problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiddata size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs data size reduction on Bayer data before interpolation. Specifically, it reduces the data size in the horizontal direction by processing only every other pixel in the horizontal direction, thereby reducing the data volume before the interpolation step. This preliminary reduction action prevents the data from becoming three times larger and avoids performance and cost problems while still allowing quality interpolation to be performed subsequently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the Bayer data processing into distinct horizontal and vertical directions. It performs data size reduction horizontally by processing only every other pixel in the horizontal direction, then performs interpolation separately in the vertical direction. This segmentation allows the system to handle reduced data volume while maintaining image quality through directional separation of operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If data size reduction is performed on Bayer data before interpolation, then data size is reduced improving performance and cost, but image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata sizeVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs data size reduction on Bayer data before interpolation as a preliminary action. It reduces the data size in the horizontal direction by processing only every other pixel, thereby reducing the data volume before the interpolation step. This preliminary reduction prevents the data from becoming three times larger and avoids performance and cost problems while still allowing quality interpolation to be performed subsequently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the Bayer data processing into distinct horizontal and vertical directions. It performs data size reduction horizontally by processing only every other pixel in the horizontal direction, then performs interpolation separately in the vertical direction. This segmentation allows the system to handle reduced data volume while maintaining image quality through directional separation of operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If full pixel data is processed to maintain image quality, then image quality is maintained, but processing cost and performance are exceeded due to large data amount

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs data size reduction on Bayer data before interpolation as a preliminary action. It reduces the data size in the horizontal direction by processing only every other pixel, thereby reducing the data volume before the interpolation step. This preliminary reduction prevents the data from becoming three times larger and avoids performance and cost problems while still allowing quality interpolation to be performed subsequently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the Bayer data processing into distinct horizontal and vertical directions. It performs data size reduction horizontally by processing only every other pixel in the horizontal direction, then performs interpolation separately in the vertical direction. This segmentation allows the system to handle reduced data volume while maintaining image quality through directional separation of operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8897551B2Data processing apparatus with horizontal interpolation

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 NIKON CORP

AI summary

There are provided horizontal interpolation unit which creates interpolation data for each of pixels forming a horizontal line and performs interpolation in order for each of the pixels to have two color data of the interpolation data and original pixel data, for each horizontal line of Bayer data output from an imaging section; and data size reducing unit which creates data having reduced data amount (data size) for each horizontal line by using the two color data of each of the pixels and outputs Bayer data being formed with the data being created.