Image File Generation Reducing Parallax Data Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capture systems that divide the exit pupil into multiple regions generate a large amount of data, leading to increased file sizes, storage consumption, and compatibility issues when storing parallax images and normal images together or separately.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that generate a versatile image file by including data of a second image and a portion of first images, while excluding data of a first image that can be generated from the second image, thereby reducing file size and ensuring compatibility with devices that do not support parallax images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all parallax images and normal image are stored in one image file, then complete image data is preserved, but file size becomes extremely large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary parallax images from the complete set of n parallax images. Specifically, it stores (n-1) parallax images and generates the nth parallax image through computational synthesis using the stored images and the normal image. This extraction principle reduces the data storage requirement from n+1 images to just n images while preserving the ability to reconstruct complete image data.
2Quantity of substance
If only parallax images are stored, then file size is reduced, but compatibility with devices that do not support parallax images is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by including the normal image (which can be displayed by any device) and a sufficient subset of parallax images in the image file. The normal image ensures compatibility with devices that do not support parallax functionality, while the included parallax images enable refocusing and other advanced features on devices that do support them. This multi-functional approach allows the same image file to serve both standard and advanced display requirements.
3Productivity
If n parallax images are generated with one shooting operation, then shooting efficiency is improved, but data amount increases to n times the normal image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the discarding and recovering principle by intentionally not storing one of the n parallax images captured during the shooting operation. Instead of discarding this image permanently, the system recovers it computationally by synthesizing it from the stored (n-1) parallax images and the normal image using mathematical relationships between light field data. This approach maintains shooting efficiency while significantly reducing data storage requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an image processing apparatus and a method for controlling the same, the image processing apparatus being capable of generating a versatile image file with a suppressed file size from a portion of multiple first images and a second image that can be generated from the multiple first images. In the case of generating an image file from a portion of the multiple first images and the second image that can be generated from the multiple first images, an image file is generated such that the image file does not contain data of, among the multiple first images, a first image that can be generated from a first image and the second image stored in the image file.