Image Processing Device Noise Reduction via Block Motion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques for reducing noise in moving images face challenges with increased circuit size and computation time due to high frame rates, and errors occur due to lens distortion and noise, leading to image lag and artifacts.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device and method that computes motion vectors, performs motion compensation, calculates contrast values, and adjusts synthetic ratios to synthesize images with reduced noise by aligning and blending base and reference images, correcting for dissimilarity and contrast to minimize noise and errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If motion detection is performed for each pixel at high frame rate, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but circuit size and computation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction effectivenessVSAvoidcircuit size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image into multiple blocks and performs motion detection on block boundaries rather than every pixel. This reduces the number of detection points while maintaining effective noise reduction, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction effectiveness and circuit complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs full pixel-level motion detection only on block boundary pixels, while using the results for entire blocks. This partial application of the computationally intensive operation achieves effective noise reduction without the full computational burden, balancing reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If motion detection is performed for each pixel at high frame rate, then noise reduction effectiveness is improved, but computation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise reduction effectivenessVSAvoidcomputation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the image into blocks and performing motion detection only on block boundary pixels, the patent reduces the total number of computations required while maintaining effective noise reduction across the entire image, thus reducing computation time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies pixel-level motion detection partially—only to block boundary pixels—rather than all pixels. This partial action achieves sufficient noise reduction effectiveness while significantly reducing the computation time and processing load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If block matching method is used for high-speed motion detection, then computation time is reduced, but motion detection accuracy deteriorates due to lens distortion and rolling shutter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection speedVSAvoidmotion detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing approaches to different regions: block matching is used for general areas, while pixel-level motion detection is applied specifically to block boundaries where accuracy is critical. This local differentiation maintains both speed and accuracy in their respective domains.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If block matching method is used for high-speed motion detection, then computation time is reduced, but motion detection accuracy deteriorates due to noise influence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection speedVSAvoidmotion detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies pixel-level motion detection specifically to block boundary pixels where accuracy is most critical for noise reduction, while using faster block matching for interior pixels. This local quality approach ensures high accuracy where needed while maintaining overall processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9167135B2Image processing device, image processing method, photographic imaging apparatus, and recording device recording image processing program

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An image processing device includes: a motion-vector computation unit that computes a motion vector between a base image and a reference image; a motion compensation unit that performs a motion compensation to align the reference image with the base image based on the motion vector; a contrast computation unit that computes a contrast value of a target pixel of the base image based on one of the base image and the reference image; a synthetic ratio computation unit that computes a synthetic ratio between: the target pixel for a synthesis processing in the base image; and a corresponding pixel corresponding to the target pixel in the reference image processed by the motion compensation, in response to the contrast value of the target pixel; and a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the target pixel of the base image and the corresponding pixel of the reference image based on the synthetic ratio.