Image Processing Method for Smoothing Color Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing technologies suffer from image color stratification due to drastic variability in color gradation values, leading to poor display effects.

Innovation Solution

An image processing method that identifies content-associated sub-pixels, increases their color gradation value digits from 6 bits to 8 bits by adding digits and assigning preset values, thereby reducing the variation between adjacent sub-pixels' color gradation values and smoothing color transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If color gradation values are increased to reduce color stratification, then display quality improves, but device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor gradation precisionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the image based on local characteristics. Content-associated sub-pixels (those representing actual image content) receive bit extension processing to increase color gradation precision, while background sub-pixels use simpler interpolation. This localized approach improves color stratification in important regions without uniformly increasing processing complexity across the entire image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the image processing into distinct stages: identifying content-associated sub-pixels, obtaining initial color gradation values, extending bits for selected sub-pixels, and interpolating remaining values. This segmentation allows complex color processing to be applied selectively rather than uniformly, reducing overall processing complexity while maintaining color precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If bit extension is applied to all sub-pixels, then color gradation precision improves, but processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor gradation value precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies bit extension only to content-associated sub-pixels rather than all sub-pixels in the image. By identifying and processing only the necessary portion (content-associated sub-pixels that contribute to actual image information), the patent achieves sufficient color gradation precision for display while avoiding the excessive processing time and computational load that would result from applying the same operation to every sub-pixel including background areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If color gradation values are smoothed across adjacent sub-pixels, then color transition naturalness improves, but color accuracy in specific regions may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor transition smoothnessVSAvoidcolor gradation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing methods to different regions: content-associated sub-pixels maintain their original color gradation values (preserving accuracy), while background sub-pixels use interpolation to achieve smooth transitions. This localized differentiation allows the system to preserve color accuracy in important content regions while achieving natural color transitions in background areas, resolving the contradiction between smoothness and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3089440B1Image processing method, apparatus and electronic device
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3089440B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3089440B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b
  • EP3089440B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an image processing method, an image processing device and an electronic device. The method comprises: choosing content-associated sub pixels in an image to be processed; obtaining an initial color gradation value of each of the content-associated sub pixels in the image to be processed; adding at least one digit at an end of the initial color gradation value, and assigning a preset value to each added digit, so as to obtain a processed color gradation value; and replacing the initial color gradation value with the processed color gradation value. With the technical solution of the present disclosure, the image display effect may be optimized, and thus the color transition in the image is more smooth.