Image Processing Apparatus Edge-Based Composite Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing technologies fail to effectively combine close-up and far-away images, resulting in composite images that are difficult for viewers to perceive due to significant overlap of edge portions, particularly when the composite position of high-frequency and low-frequency images is not considered.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus that extracts high-frequency and low-frequency components from close-up and far-away images, respectively, and determines their composite position based on edge images to minimize overlap, allowing for a more perceivable composite image by adjusting the positioning of these components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If close-up image and far-away image are combined without considering composite position, then the composite image can be generated, but the edge portions of the far-away image overlap with the close-up image resulting in poor perceptibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposite position precisionVSAvoidperceptibility of composite image
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by extracting edge portions from the far-away image before combining it with the close-up image. This pre-processing step allows the system to identify and avoid overlapping regions, thereby improving the perceptibility of the composite image. The edge extraction is performed in advance to guide the composite position determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by treating different regions of the image differently. Specifically, edge portions of the far-away image are identified and given special consideration in the composite position determination. This allows the system to optimize the composite position based on local characteristics (edge regions) rather than treating the entire image uniformly, thereby avoiding overlap with the close-up image and improving overall perceptibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If edge portions of far-away image are extracted and used to determine composite position, then overlap with close-up image is reduced, but additional processing steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperceptibility of composite imageVSAvoidimage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the far-away image into edge portions and non-edge portions. This segmentation is achieved through edge extraction, which separates the boundary regions from the interior regions. The segmented edge portions are then used specifically for composite position determination, while the rest of the image is combined normally. This segmentation approach improves perceptibility by focusing computational effort on the critical edge regions without requiring complete reprocessing of the entire image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3751511B1Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, display apparatus, image processing program, and image processing method
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 KONICA MINOLTA INC
  • EP3751511B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3751511B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3751511B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An image processing apparatus (100) is provided, which includes: an input unit (102) that receives input of a first image and a second image; a high-frequency image extractor (106) that extracts a high-frequency image from the first image; a low-frequency image extractor (112) that extracts a low-frequency image from the second image; an edge portion extractor (110) that extracts an edge image of the second image; a determination unit (108) that determines a composite position of the high-frequency image and the low-frequency image so that a degree of overlap between the first image and an edge portion is small, and a combiner (114) that combines the high-frequency image and the low-frequency image at the composite position determined by the determination unit.