Image Processing Device Erasing Encircling Lines via Pixel Color Interpolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image processing methods that use encircling lines to identify sub-regions in images often leave noticeable traces of these lines in the processed image, as they can inadvertently include the lines in the final output, especially when trying to erase objects enclosed by the encircling lines.

Innovation Solution

An image-processing system and method that identifies encircling lines by thresholding and modifying their color values to match the surrounding pixels, using a network of multifunction peripherals and servers to process scan data, ensuring the encircling lines are erased without leaving noticeable traces by interpolating colors based on internal and external reference pixels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If encircling lines are used to identify sub-regions in images, then sub-regions can be accurately identified and processed, but noticeable traces of the encircling lines remain in the processed image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesub-region identification accuracyVSAvoidnoticeable line traces in output
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the color of pixels along the encircling line to match the surrounding regions. Specifically, it determines first and second color values from internal and external reference pixels respectively, then calculates a third color value that is a weighted average of the first and second color values. This color transformation makes the encircling line invisible by blending it with the surrounding areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that uses reference pixels from both inside and outside the encircling line to determine the appropriate color for line pixels. The third color value acts as a mediator that combines information from both regions, ensuring smooth color transition and eliminating the harsh boundary effect of the original encircling line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If encircling lines are drawn on scanned images for processing, then specific regions can be selected for operations, but the lines are inadvertently included in the final output image

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregion selection capabilityVSAvoidoutput image quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color transformation to the encircling line pixels to make them indistinguishable from the surrounding image content. By calculating the third color value as a weighted average of internal and external reference pixel colors, the encircling line is effectively erased while preserving the underlying image data, thus improving output image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs color adjustment of the encircling line as a preliminary step before final image output. By determining and applying the third color value to line pixels before generating the final processed image, the system ensures that the encircling lines are removed in advance, preventing them from appearing in the final output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the color of encircling lines is changed to match surrounding pixels, then noticeable traces are eliminated, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveline trace visibilityVSAvoidcolor processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a systematic color change process that, while adding processing steps, uses a straightforward mathematical approach (weighted average calculation) to determine the third color value. This method balances the need to eliminate line traces with acceptable processing complexity by using a deterministic formula rather than complex iterative algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the color parameter of encircling line pixels from their original value to a calculated third color value. By modifying this specific parameter (color) while keeping other image parameters unchanged, the patent achieves the goal of eliminating noticeable traces with minimal additional processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2782065B1Image-processing device removing encircling lines for identifying sub-regions of image
Publication Date: 2016.07.27 BROTHER KOGYO KK
  • EP2782065B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2782065B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2782065B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3E

AI summary

The present invention provides an image-processing device that includes an identifying unit and a changing unit. The identifying unit is configured to identify a first region and a second region in a target image, The first region represents an encircling line for identifying a specific sub-region in the target image. The first region includes pixels. The second region includes an inside region and an outside region. The inside region has internal pixels. The outside region has external pixels. The changing unit is configured to change a color value of a first target pixel using a first internal pixel and a first external pixel, and to change a color value of a second target pixel using a second internal pixel and a second external pixel.