Image Processing Apparatus Edge Correction via Block Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image processing methods for correcting toner density variations in electrophotographic processes are inefficient, either requiring long processing times for high-resolution image data or large memory capacity, especially when performing edge correction.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that divides image data into blocks, compresses using maximum and minimum pixel values, detects edges, performs edge correction within a correction range, and decompresses the data, reducing processing time and memory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If edge correction is performed on high-resolution image data using software processing, then processing accuracy is maintained, but processing time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image data into multiple blocks (e.g., 8x8 pixels) and processes each block independently. This segmentation allows the system to handle high-resolution image data by breaking it down into manageable units, reducing the overall processing time while maintaining correction accuracy through localized maximum and minimum value adjustments in each block.
2Loss of time
If edge correction is performed by hardware processing, then processing time is reduced, but memory capacity requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the maximum and minimum pixel values from each block for the correction process, rather than processing all pixel data simultaneously. This extraction approach significantly reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored in memory during hardware processing, enabling fast correction without requiring large memory capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation of image data from full pixel values to compressed block statistics (maximum and minimum values). This parameter transformation reduces the data volume substantially, allowing hardware processing with minimal memory requirements while maintaining the essential information needed for accurate edge correction.
3Productivity
If hardware processing is used for edge correction, then processing speed increases, but circuit scale expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified representation (copy) of the image data using block-based maximum and minimum values instead of working with the full-resolution image data directly. This copying approach enables hardware processing at high speed while keeping the circuit scale manageable, as the hardware only needs to process the compressed block statistics rather than the complete image data.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a hardware processor that: divides each of pixels of image data in units of blocks, and compresses the image data using a maximum value and a minimum value of a pixel value in each of the divided blocks; extracts a maximum value and a minimum value of each of the blocks from the compressed image data; detects an edge of an object on the basis of at least one of the extracted maximum value and the minimum value of each of the blocks; performs edge correction of the compressed image data by increasing or decreasing the maximum value and the minimum value of each of the blocks within a correction range from the detected edge; and decompresses the image data that have undergone edge correction, using the maximum value and the minimum value of each of the blocks.