Image Processing Device Using Attribute Value Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multifunction printers face increased costs and processing load due to the need for dedicated circuits for various image processing tasks, such as character modification and photo printing, which require different processes for specific areas, leading to a heavy burden on data transfer control and memory access.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device that uses a generation unit to assign attribute values based on pixel positions and characteristic data, allowing for efficient image processing by applying processes suited to specific areas through an index addressing method, reducing the load on data transfer control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dedicated circuits are arranged for different image processing modes (copy, photo printing, etc.), then image processing performance and quality are improved, but hardware cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single image processing circuit is designed to handle multiple processing modes (copy, photo printing, character modification, etc.) by dynamically switching processing parameters and algorithms based on the input image type, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing circuit dynamically adjusts its operation mode and parameters based on real-time analysis of the input image characteristics, allowing the same hardware to adaptively perform different processing tasks optimized for each specific mode
2Speed
If dedicated circuits execute image processes in parallel according to areas, then processing speed is improved, but data transfer control load and memory access burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The image is divided into multiple processing areas (e.g., character areas, halftone areas, photo areas) that can be processed simultaneously by the same circuit, enabling parallel processing without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each area
Solution Approach 2:
Different processing parameters and algorithms are applied to different image areas based on their characteristics, allowing the single circuit to perform area-specific optimization while maintaining unified hardware architecture
3Productivity
If index addressing method is used to suppress memory consumption, then memory access efficiency is improved, but it is difficult to cover all image processing modes in multifunction printers
Solution Approach 1:
The index addressing structure is made dynamic and configurable, allowing the same memory addressing mechanism to adapt to different processing modes and image types by changing the indexing parameters and data structures based on the current processing requirements
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device processes image data, which is edited to image data including, in correspondence with each pixel of an object included in the image, a pixel value field that holds a pixel value of the pixel and an attribute value field that holds an attribute value. The image processing device includes a generation unit which includes a table that holds characteristic data and an address of the characteristics data, generates an attribute value based on information of a position of a pixel in the image and the table, sets the attribute value in the attribute value field, an image processing unit which applies an image process to a pixel value set in the pixel value field based on the set attribute value, and a connection module moves the image data from the generation unit to the image processing unit.