Image Processing Apparatus Integer Magnification Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital zoom processing in image processing apparatuses requires an intervening frame memory for efficient enlargement or reduction at arbitrary magnification, leading to inefficient processing and excess memory usage due to variable pixel reference needs.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that performs image enlargement by an integer magnification factor followed by reduction at a desired factor, allowing sequential processing without a frame memory, using a data supply node, image enlargement unit, and image reduction unit to match data supply speed and simplify circuit configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an intervening frame memory is used for image enlargement or reduction at arbitrary magnification, then image processing can be performed, but processing efficiency decreases and excess memory is consumed due to variable pixel reference needs
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing is divided into two separate processing stages: integer magnification processing and non-integer magnification processing. This segmentation allows each stage to use optimized processing methods - the integer stage can use simple pixel replication without memory intervention, while the non-integer stage handles the complex interpolation, thereby improving overall processing efficiency while maintaining arbitrary magnification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The image is first pre-processed with integer magnification to create an intermediate image that is then processed with non-integer magnification. This preliminary action transforms the original arbitrary magnification problem into a two-step process where the first step prepares data in a format that enables efficient sequential processing in the second step, eliminating the need for frame memory intervention
2Quantity of substance
If image data is processed sequentially by matching data supply speed, then memory usage is reduced, but processing becomes difficult when the same pixel value needs to be referred to multiple times for interpolation
Solution Approach 1:
The processing is segmented into integer magnification stage and non-integer magnification stage. At the integer stage, pixel values are simply replicated which maintains constant data supply speed and uses minimal memory. The complex interpolation requiring multiple pixel references is deferred to the second stage, resolving the conflict between memory efficiency and processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediate image is introduced as a mediator between the original image and the final enlarged/reduced image. This intermediate image serves as a bridge that allows the first processing stage to operate with simple pixel replication while enabling the second stage to perform complex interpolation, thus facilitating memory-efficient sequential processing without excessive complexity in either stage
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional digital zoom processing is used with frame memory, then arbitrary magnification is achieved, but circuit configuration becomes complex and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The digital zoom function is segmented into two independent processing modules: an integer magnification module and a non-integer magnification module. This segmentation simplifies the circuit configuration of each module - the integer module requires only simple pixel replication logic while the non-integer module handles interpolation, avoiding the need for a complex unified circuit that would be required for direct arbitrary magnification
Solution Approach 2:
The integer magnification is performed as a preliminary action before non-integer magnification. This preliminary processing step creates an intermediate result that simplifies the subsequent processing requirements, allowing the circuit to use simpler logic in the first stage and focused interpolation logic in the second stage, thereby reducing overall circuit complexity while maintaining arbitrary magnification capability
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a data supply node to receive line data scanned in a main scan direction of an image, an image enlargement unit coupled to the data supply node to apply to the line data an enlargement process for enlarging the image by an enlargement factor equal to an integer so as to produce enlarged data at an output node, and an image reduction unit coupled to the output node of the image enlargement unit to apply to the enlarged data a reduction process for reducing the enlarged image by a desired reduction factor so as to produce reduced data at an output node.