Image Processing Crop Circuits for Single-Resizer Zoom Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging devices face challenges in performing multiple resizing operations simultaneously due to increased circuit scale and limited space, especially with high-resolution images, leading to processing limitations and the inability to execute parallel resizing procedures efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a first and second crop circuit, along with an enlargement circuit, allows for transitioning between states to perform resizing operations efficiently, enabling the perception of parallel processing even with a single resizing circuit by maintaining the angle of view and allowing for user-friendly focus adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple resizing circuits are used to perform parallel resizing operations, then processing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple resizing operations into a single resizing circuit by using time-division multiplexing. The resizing circuit is switched between different crop circuits (first crop circuit and second crop circuit) based on operation mode, allowing parallel processing capability without requiring multiple physical resizing circuits. This resolves the contradiction by combining multiple functions into one circuit through temporal separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single resizing circuit is designed to perform multiple functions by serving different crop circuits in different operation modes. It can be used with the first crop circuit for on-air image processing and with the second crop circuit for focus adjustment processing, making it a universal component that handles multiple resizing tasks without requiring dedicated circuits for each function.
2Productivity
If multiple resizing circuits are used to perform parallel resizing operations, then processing capability is improved, but available space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple resizing circuit requirements into a single physical resizing circuit that operates in different time slots. By merging the functionality of what would traditionally require multiple parallel circuits into one shared circuit, the physical footprint and mounting space requirements are significantly reduced while maintaining parallel processing capability through software/control logic.
3Device complexity
If resizing processing is performed by general-purpose circuit or software, then device complexity is reduced, but processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control unit as an intermediary that manages the single resizing circuit's operation mode switching between different crop circuits. This control mechanism allows the system to achieve dedicated-circuit performance speeds while maintaining the simplicity of having only one physical resizing circuit, effectively mediating between hardware complexity and processing speed requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a first crop circuit capable of cutting out a partial area of an input image and outputting the cut-out partial area, a second crop circuit capable of cutting out the partial area of the input image and outputting the cut-out partial area, and an enlargement circuit configured to enlarge the area cut out by the first crop circuit or the second crop circuit, wherein, in a case where transition is performed from a first state where the enlargement circuit is used with the first crop circuit to a second state where the enlargement circuit is used with the second crop circuit, the first crop circuit cuts out, from the input image, an area having a predetermined size and including an area cut out by the first crop circuit in the first state, and outputs the cut-out area having the predetermined size.