Image Processing Apparatus Contour Emphasis Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing techniques fail to accurately control the emphasis of contour sections in images, often resulting in emphasis that is too high or too low, not meeting user intentions, and lack the ability to effectively process positive/negative-reversed objects like outlined characters and lines.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus and method that includes an object determination unit, target pixel specifying unit, target pixel processing unit, and target pixel correcting unit to determine the type of objects, specify contour pixels, perform processes based on adjacent pixel values, and correct pixel values to achieve desired emphasis levels, allowing for enlargement or reduction of contour sections according to user intent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If edge enhancement process is performed on contour sections of objects, then the contour sections are emphasized, but the emphasis degree may become too high or too low against user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing multiple controllable parameters including emphasis degree, contour width, and correction level. These parameters allow users to precisely adjust the edge enhancement process to achieve desired emphasis levels. The system calculates correction levels based on object area and user-specified parameters, enabling flexible control over the degree of contour emphasis without over-emphasis or under-emphasis.
2Ease of manufacture
If edge enhancement process is performed uniformly on all objects, then processing is simplified, but the process result may not meet user intention for different object types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different processing parameters to different object types and regions. The system identifies objects as either filled or outlined types and applies appropriate edge enhancement and correction processes accordingly. The correction level is calculated based on object area and type, allowing localized adjustment of emphasis degree for each object rather than uniform processing across all objects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional edge enhancement is applied to outlined objects, then the processing method is consistent, but the process result does not meet user intention for positive/negative-reversed objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion principle by detecting whether objects are in positive or negative reversal state and applying opposite correction processes accordingly. For outlined objects, the system identifies the reversal state and applies edge enhancement and correction processes that are inverted relative to filled objects. This ensures that the contour emphasis meets user intentions for both positive and negative reversed outlined objects by reversing the processing approach based on object state.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present disclosure, for example, when a line of a character as an object is to be thickened, an enlargement process is performed. Then, a correction process is performed to deform the line of the character into a moderate thickness. Moreover, when a line of a character as an object is to be thinned, a reduction process is performed. Then, a correction process is performed to deform the line of the character into a moderate thickness. Also for a hollow character as an object, a similar contour process is performed to deform the line of the hollow character into a moderate thickness.