Image Buffer Width Alignment for Pixel Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing methods face difficulties in efficiently converting and storing image data, particularly with dot sequential formats, due to issues like pixel overrun and misalignment in buffers, requiring costly and inefficient remaking of image processing units.
Innovation Solution
An image processing method and apparatus that store image data in a buffer with a width that is a common multiple of the memory access unit and the pixel size, allowing efficient readout of pixel data in the sub scanning direction, using a double buffer configuration and address computation to manage pixel data alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If image data is stored in a buffer with fixed size based on unit of memory access, then memory access efficiency is improved, but pixel alignment and data integrity deteriorate due to boundary mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the buffer width parameter from being based solely on memory access unit to being a common multiple of both memory access unit and pixel size. This parameter adjustment ensures that buffer boundaries align with pixel boundaries, preventing pixel overrun while maintaining efficient memory access through the double buffer configuration and address computation mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If buffer size is increased to accommodate larger image data, then image processing capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to frequent remaking of image processing units
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffer into multiple smaller buffers (first buffer and second buffer) that can be independently managed. This segmentation allows the system to process image data of arbitrary sizes by dividing it into manageable chunks, eliminating the need to remake the entire image processing unit when image size changes. The double buffer configuration enables efficient data transfer between segments.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cross-band protocol is used to segment image data, then adaptability to arbitrary image sizes is improved, but processing complexity increases due to multiple buffers and data transfer management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal buffer management system where the double buffer configuration and address computation mechanism can handle various image formats (RGB dot sequential, line sequential, frame sequential) and sizes without requiring separate processing paths. The system universally applies the same buffer width calculation (common multiple of memory access unit and pixel size) and data transfer protocol across different image types, simplifying overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus stores, in a buffer, an image data of c bits in the main scanning direction and y lines in the sub scanning direction, and reads out a pixel data of p bits that configures the image data stored in the buffer. Note that c is a common multiple of m, which is the number of bits in the unit of memory access, and p, which is the number of bits in a single pixel.