Digital Image Baseline Estimation via Downsampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital image processing methods for medical and scientific applications face challenges in efficiently computing baseline estimates due to high computational burdens and memory requirements, especially when dealing with images containing in-focus and out-of-focus components.
Innovation Solution
A digital image processing apparatus that downsamples the input image to obtain an intermediate image and computes the baseline estimate from this intermediate image, reducing memory usage and computational burden while maintaining qualitative accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If baseline estimate is computed from full-resolution digital input image, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and memory requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by first downsampling the input image to a lower-resolution intermediate representation, then computing the baseline estimate from this segmented version. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy for the baseline estimation task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a downsampled copy (intermediate image) of the original input image that retains the essential background information needed for baseline estimation. This copy is then used to compute the baseline estimate, avoiding the need to process the full-resolution image throughout the entire pipeline.
2Measurement precision
If baseline estimate is computed from full-resolution digital input image, then measurement precision is improved, but memory consumption worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information for baseline estimation by first reducing the image resolution through downsampling. This extraction step removes unnecessary high-frequency details that do not contribute to the baseline estimate, thereby reducing memory requirements while preserving the essential background characteristics.
3Measurement precision
If baseline estimate is computed from full-resolution digital input image, then measurement precision is improved, but processing time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary downsampling of the input image before computing the baseline estimate. This preliminary action reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed in subsequent steps, thereby reducing overall computation time while maintaining the accuracy of the baseline estimate through the preserved low-frequency background information.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital image processing apparatus for computing a baseline estimate of a digital input image is provided. The digital image processing apparatus is configured to obtain a digital intermediate image by downsampling the digital input image by a predetermined downsampling factor, and compute the baseline estimate based on the digital intermediate image.