Image Extraction Using Luminance Variance for Optical Disc Labeling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing technologies struggle to extract a print image from original images lacking clear characteristic objects, such as landscape photos, resulting in omitted portions that make it difficult to grasp the image content during label printing on optical discs.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that detects areas with low pixel value variation and sets an extraction range to place these areas in the unprintable region of the optical disc, ensuring important image portions are not omitted, using a multi-function apparatus with a CPU, ROM, RAM, scanner, and print control unit to adjust the image scan window and extract the print image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a print image is extracted using a fixed extraction range from an original image, then the extraction process is simple, but important image content may be omitted when the original image lacks clear characteristic objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for extraction from fixed geometric ranges to dynamic ranges determined by luminance variance analysis. By calculating luminance variance in different extraction ranges and selecting the range with appropriate variance characteristics, the system adapts to different image types (landscape vs. portrait) and ensures important content is included while maintaining extraction simplicity.
2Reliability
If characteristic object detection is used to extract print images, then images with clear subjects can be processed effectively, but images without clear characteristic objects like landscapes cannot be properly extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal extraction method that works for both portrait images with clear subjects and landscape images without distinct subjects. By using luminance variance as a universal criterion applicable to all image types, the system replaces the specialized characteristic object detection with a more general approach that maintains reliability across different image categories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the extraction criterion from object-based detection to luminance variance-based detection. This parameter change enables the system to handle diverse image types uniformly by relying on the statistical property of pixel luminance variation rather than requiring specific object characteristics.
3Quantity of substance
If the extraction range is expanded to include more image content, then more content is captured, but the unprintable area of the optical disc may include important image portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the extraction range parameters based on luminance variance analysis. By calculating variance for different possible extraction ranges and selecting the optimal range, the system determines the precise boundaries that maximize content inclusion while ensuring important high-variance regions are positioned in printable areas.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus to extract a print image to be printed onto a print medium from an original image, the image processing apparatus includes: a detecting unit that detects a specific area, which includes a plurality of pixels having a low degree of variation in pixel values, from the original image, based on a predetermined detection criterion; and an extracting unit that, when an extraction range having a predetermined shape including the print image is set in the original image, extracts the print image so that the specific area is disposed in a non-print area, which is not printed on the print medium, within the extraction range.