Image Processing Apparatus Multi-Resolution Noise Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems face challenges in reducing noise components effectively while maintaining high sensitivity and large pixel numbers, leading to increased circuit scale and potential degradation in image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image processing technique that generates luminance signals from color filter signals at multiple resolutions, allowing for reduced circuit scale by storing and processing luminance and chrominance signals separately, and combining them using edge intensity detection to maintain high image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional noise reduction methods are used to meet higher sensitivity and larger pixel numbers, then noise components can be removed, but circuit scale increases and image quality may degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing into multiple resolution levels (first-resolution, second-resolution, third-resolution image data). Noise reduction processing is applied at different resolutions, with results combined through up-sampling and mixing operations. This segmentation allows effective noise reduction without requiring a single large-scale circuit to process all data at full resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a resolution dimension by processing image data at multiple different resolutions simultaneously. By transforming the problem from single-resolution processing to multi-resolution processing, the system achieves better noise reduction performance while keeping individual processing circuits smaller and more manageable.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple processing units are used to maintain image quality, then processing capability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines processing results from multiple resolution levels through a unified combining unit that mixes second-resolution and third-resolution processed data after up-sampling. This merging approach maintains high image quality by integrating benefits from different resolution processing while avoiding the need for completely separate processing chains for each resolution level.
Solution Approach 2:
The combining unit serves multiple functions: it performs up-sampling of lower-resolution data, mixes data from different resolution levels, and applies edge-based weighting. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate dedicated processing units for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining processing capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If noise reduction processing is applied at high resolution, then image quality is preserved, but processing load and circuit scale increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies noise reduction processing at a lower second resolution before generating the final high-resolution output. By performing preliminary noise reduction at reduced resolution, the system reduces processing load and circuit requirements while still preserving image quality through subsequent up-sampling and combining operations that restore detail.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus comprises means for generating, from first-resolution image data including signals according to a plurality of color filters, second-resolution image data including signals according to the plurality of color filters at a resolution lower than the first-resolution image data; means for generating luminance signals from the signals according to the plurality of color filters of the second-resolution image data; means for storing image data including the luminance signals generated from the second-resolution image data; means for generating image data, which includes signals according to the plurality of color filters as many as the number of pixels of the first-resolution image data, from the stored image data and includes the luminance signals; and means for combining the signals according to the plurality of color filters of the first-resolution image data and signals according to the plurality of color filters of the image data output from the conversion means.