Image Processing Apparatus Background Color Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing methods for removing background coloring from color images can cause changes in color and collapse of color balance, especially when applied to images with chromatic backgrounds.
Innovation Solution
An image processing unit converts a color image to a monochrome image, generates a histogram to determine threshold values, and corrects pixels with all color components deemed light to remove background coloring, thereby maintaining color balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional background removal method is applied to a color image with chromatic background, then the background coloring can be removed, but color changes and color balance collapse occur in the document image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the background removal process into distinct stages: first converting to monochrome to identify background regions using histogram analysis, then selectively applying color correction only to identified background areas while preserving foreground color integrity. This segmentation allows precise background removal without affecting overall image color balance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter space by converting from color image processing to monochrome processing for background identification, then using the derived monochrome background level to selectively adjust color parameters only in background regions. This parameter transformation enables accurate background removal while maintaining color stability in the document content.
2Device complexity
If background removal is performed using a monochrome conversion method, then the processing can be simplified, but color information is lost which may affect color accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary conversion to monochrome to establish background level thresholds before final color image processing. This preliminary action simplifies the initial analysis phase while preserving the ability to restore and maintain color accuracy in the final output by applying corrections only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the monochrome converted image as an intermediary to identify background regions, then applies this information as a mask to selectively process the original color image. This intermediary approach allows the system to benefit from simplified monochrome analysis while preserving and maintaining the color information from the original image.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus of an embodiment includes an image processing unit to convert a color image to a monochrome image. The color image comprises pixels with a plurality of color components. The image processing unit is configured to generate a histogram from the monochrome image showing a color intensity gradation in the monochrome image by pixel frequency. A processor is configured to obtain a first threshold value based on the histogram, determine for each color component of each pixel in the color image whether or not each color component of the pixel is light based on the first threshold value, and generate a corrected color image by removing a background coloring from the color image by correcting each pixel for which all the color components are determined to be light.