Image Encoding Apparatus Fourth Color Difference Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
RAW image data with a fourth color in addition to three primary colors results in decreased compression and encoding efficiency due to lack of high correlation between pixel data, leading to increased encoded data amounts.
Innovation Solution
An image encoding apparatus that generates data approximating the fourth color using data from at least two primary colors and encodes the difference between this generated data and the fourth color, improving encoding efficiency by reducing information redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fourth color pixel (white) is added to the three primary colors in the image capturing sensor, then the occurrence of moire and pseudo colors is reduced and resolution degradation is prevented, but the compression and encoding efficiency decreases and the amount of encoded data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the fourth color (white) pixel data by generating approximation data from the three primary colors (R, G, B). Instead of directly encoding the actual white pixel data, the system generates approximation data that copies the essential information, then encodes only the difference between the actual and approximated data. This reduces the amount of unique information that needs to be stored while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the encoding approach by changing from directly encoding four independent color channels to encoding three color channels plus a difference channel. The parameter transformation involves converting the fourth color data into a difference metric (actual value minus approximated value), which has lower information content and better compressibility while preserving the ability to reconstruct the original image.
2Reliability
If four types of independent pixels are used in the RAW image data, then the image quality is maintained without degradation, but the compression efficiency decreases due to lack of high correlation between pixel data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the fourth color (white) pixel data by generating approximation data from the three primary colors (R, G, B). Instead of directly encoding the actual white pixel data, the system generates approximation data that copies the essential information, then encodes only the difference between the actual and approximated data. This reduces the amount of unique information that needs to be stored while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the information from the three primary color channels to generate approximation data for the fourth color channel. By combining R, G, and B data through weighted summation, the system creates a synthetic representation of the white pixel data, reducing redundancy and improving compression efficiency while preserving the correlation structure needed for high-quality reconstruction.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides an image encoding apparatus operable to encode data obtained by an image capturing sensor in which a filter for detecting a fourth color is periodically arranged in addition to filters of three primary colors, where the apparatus comprises a generating unit configured to generate data that approximates the fourth color using data of at least two colors among three colors, which represent three primary colors, obtained by the image capturing sensor and generate difference data that represents a difference between the generated data and data of the fourth color; and an encoding unit configured to encode data of the three colors which represent three primary colors and the difference data.