Image Processing Apparatus Synchronizing Averaging and Screen Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The expansion of circuit size and increased costs associated with image processing due to resolution conversion, which affects the synchronization of averaging and screen processing, leading to reduced sharpness and potential moiré issues.
Innovation Solution
Performing averaging processing followed by resolution conversion and then screen processing, with the averaging and screen processing units operating at the same or similar periods, using an averaging pattern that matches the screen pattern in size and shape, and adjusting processing periods to maintain synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If resolution converting processing is performed before averaging processing to heighten the resolution of the output image, then the resolution of the output image is improved, but the line buffer memory capacity must be increased and circuit size expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing averaging processing before resolution converting processing. This sequence allows the averaging operation to be executed on the original resolution image data, avoiding the need to process and store large amounts of high-resolution data during the averaging operation. The line buffer memory capacity is thereby reduced while still achieving the desired high-resolution output after the resolution conversion step.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If averaging processing is performed to put the period structure into disorder and prevent moiré, then moiré prevention is improved, but the sharpness of the image is reduced due to averaging of detail parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing averaging processing before resolution conversion. The averaging operation disordes the period structure of the original image to prevent moiré, and then the resolution conversion restores the sharpness by generating high-resolution data. This sequence allows both moiré prevention and sharpness preservation to be achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by changing the resolution parameter between the averaging and final output stages. The averaging is performed on the original resolution image, and then the resolution is converted to a higher value for the final output. This parameter change allows the system to benefit from averaging on lower-resolution data while producing high-resolution output that maintains sharpness.
3Measurement precision
If the size of the matching table is increased to accommodate higher resolution, then the resolution accuracy is improved, but the memory capacity and processing time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing averaging processing before resolution conversion. This allows the matching table to be sized according to the original resolution rather than the higher output resolution. The averaging operation uses the smaller matching table, reducing memory capacity requirements and processing time, while the subsequent resolution conversion achieves the desired high-resolution accuracy in the final output.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus, including: an averaging processing unit to periodically execute an averaging processing of applying an averaging pattern to a processing target image and replacing each pixel value in a pixel group corresponding to the averaging pattern with an average value of the pixel values; a resolution converting unit to perform a resolution converting processing to the processing target image, the resolution converting processing converting a resolution R1 of the processing target image into a resolution R2 (R1<R2); a screen processing unit to perform a screen processing to a processed image which has been processed by the averaging processing, the screen processing applying a screen pattern to the processed image at the same or almost the same period as that of the averaging processing; and a control unit to control the averaging processing unit, the resolution converting unit and the screen processing unit such that the averaging processing, the resolution converting processing and the screen processing are performed in this order to the processing target image.