Image Sensor Down-Up Sampling Using Compressed Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
High resolution CMOS sensors face challenges in evenly distributing and interpolating color data due to the Bayer filter pattern, leading to resolution loss during the down-sampling process.
Innovation Solution
A method for down-up sampling of image sensor data using a decimation factor corresponding to the size of the color cluster in the super Bayer pattern, where green pixels are down-sampled and non-green pixels are up-sampled using a bilinear interpolation guided by a compressed array, such as a pixel direction map or edge map, to maintain image resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If down sampling is applied to green pixels in super Bayer pattern, then power consumption is reduced, but resolution loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A compressed guide (edge map or direction map) is generated in advance from the full resolution image to preserve critical structural information. This preliminary action enables the down-sampled pixels to be intelligently up-sampled later, recovering resolution while maintaining low power consumption during the main imaging process
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed guide acts as an intermediary between the down-sampled green pixels and the final high-resolution output. The guide contains essential edge and directional information that mediates the reconstruction process, allowing accurate resolution recovery without requiring full-resolution processing of all pixels
2Measurement precision
If full resolution processing is applied to all pixels, then image quality is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly processing all pixels at full resolution, the patent applies different processing strategies to different regions. The compressed guide identifies areas requiring high-quality reconstruction (edges, directional features) and applies appropriate up-sampling methods locally, while other regions use simpler interpolation, optimizing the balance between image quality and power consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If demosaicing algorithm is used to interpolate color values, then full color image is obtained, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressed guide (edge map or direction map) is generated in advance to capture the essential structural information needed for accurate color interpolation. This preliminary analysis simplifies the subsequent demosaicing process by providing pre-computed guidance on where edges and directional changes occur, reducing the complexity of real-time processing while maintaining full color image capability
Data Source
AI summary
A method for down-up sampling of image sensor data includes the steps of down sampling green pixels in a super Bayer pattern of image sensor data, where a decimation factor of the downsampling corresponds to a size of a color cluster in the super Bayer pattern, where two green pixels that are those closest to a non-green pixel cluster remain in each green cluster after downsampling, and wherein each non-green pixel cluster is bordered by four downsampled green pixels, and up sampling non-green color pixels in a non-green cluster from the remaining green pixels that are closest to the non-green cluster by a bilinear interpolation of each non-green pixel with respect to the closest remaining green pixels, where the up sampling of the non-green color pixels is guided by a compressed array that corresponds to the image sensor data.