Image Reduction Grid Offset Weighted Averaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing methods often result in jagged edges when reducing image resolution, as pixels forming edges are not adequately combined with background pixels, leading to a non-smooth appearance in characters and graphics.
Innovation Solution
An image processing device and method that acquires original image data, divides it into grids, and performs a reduction process by calculating weighted averages of overlapping original pixel data to produce reduced pixel data, ensuring edges appear smooth by combining edge and background pixel values based on area ratios, and offsetting the reduced image's position relative to the original image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional reduction process converts every four pixels to one pixel by averaging, then the resolution is reduced to match the image-forming device capability, but edges appear jagged when edge pixels are not combined with background pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial averaging by selectively combining edge pixels with background pixels based on gradient detection. Instead of uniformly averaging all pixels, the method applies averaging only where edge detection indicates a boundary exists, performing the reduction action partially rather than excessively across the entire image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by applying different reduction strategies to different regions of the image. Edge regions detected through gradient analysis receive weighted averaging with background pixels to smooth jagged edges, while non-edge regions use standard averaging, ensuring each local area is processed according to its specific characteristics.
2Manufacturing precision
If the reduced image is positioned at the same location as the original image, then the processing is simple, but edge quality deteriorates due to misalignment of pixel grids
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric positioning by offsetting the reduced image grid relative to the original image grid. This asymmetric alignment ensures that reduced pixels sample from multiple original pixels in a non-uniform pattern, which helps smooth jagged edges by distributing sampling points across edge boundaries rather than aligning uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a positional offset dimension to the reduction process. By introducing an offset parameter that shifts the reduced image grid relative to the original image grid, the method transforms a one-to-one pixel mapping into a multi-dimensional sampling process that improves edge quality through distributed sampling across the offset grid.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing device creates reduced image data based on original image data indicative of an original image. The original image is divided into original grids each corresponding to a set of original pixel data. The reduced image is divided into reduced grids each corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data. The image processing device acquires, for each set of reduced pixel data, original pixel data corresponding to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the each set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted. The reduced pixel data is produced by calculating a weighted average of the original pixel data based on size ratio of the part of original grid superposed on the reduced grid to a size of the reduced grid.