Image Processing Apparatus Adaptive Storage for Defect Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of inspection targets leads to a lack of storage capacity in memory for reference and inspection-target image data, and compressing all data to reduce volume deteriorates image quality, making it difficult to check inspection results or use as evidence.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that compares reference and inspection-target image data to identify defective regions, storing satisfactory regions in a low volume format and defective regions in high image quality format to conserve memory while maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all image data (reference and inspection-target) is compressed to reduce data volume, then storage capacity is improved, but image quality deteriorates making it difficult to check inspection results or use as evidence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides image data into two distinct segments: defective regions and non-defective regions. Each segment is stored with different compression settings - defective regions are stored with high image quality (low compression) while non-defective regions are stored with reduced data volume (high compression). This segmentation allows the system to optimize storage efficiency without compromising the quality of critical inspection areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different parts of the same image data based on their importance. Defective regions, which are critical for inspection results and evidence, are maintained in high quality format. Non-defective regions, which are less critical, are compressed to reduce overall data volume. This local quality approach resolves the contradiction by making quality a variable property rather than a uniform characteristic.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of inspection targets increases, then inspection coverage is improved, but storage capacity is exhausted due to increased reference image data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments image data storage into quality-based categories, allowing efficient use of storage resources. By storing only defective regions in high quality format and compressing non-defective regions, the system can accommodate a larger number of inspection targets within the same storage capacity, thereby improving inspection coverage without proportionally increasing storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compression parameter (quality level) based on the content of the image data. Defective regions are stored with high quality parameters while non-defective regions use low quality parameters. This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to scale to more inspection targets while maintaining adequate storage capacity, as the average data volume per inspection target is significantly reduced.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a processor configured to: compare reference image data serving as a reference for inspection with inspection-target image data expressing an inspection target and identify a coordinate region including a difference between the reference image data and the inspection-target image data as a defective region; and store a satisfactory region in the reference image data and the satisfactory region in the inspection-target image data in a low volume format with a low data volume into a memory; and store the defective region in the reference image data and the defective region in the inspection-target image data in a high image quality format with a large data volume and high image quality, as compared with the low volume format, into the memory, the satisfactory region being a region other than the defective region.