Image Signal Processor Interpolation for Artifact-Aware Color Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image signal processors face increased calculation complexity and reduced accuracy due to the need to calculate direction for each pixel during color interpolation, leading to artifacts such as zipper effects, false colors, and blurring.
Innovation Solution
An image signal processor that performs interpolation in specified directions without calculating direction from a central location, using an interpolation unit to generate estimated images, detects artifact components, and applies weights to these images to generate a restored output image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If color interpolation is performed by calculating direction for each pixel from a central location, then complete color information can be restored at each pixel, but calculation complexity increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image processing into multiple passes, each handling interpolation in a specific direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal). This segmentation allows each pass to focus on a simpler one-dimensional interpolation task rather than computing complex two-dimensional directions for every pixel, thereby reducing calculation complexity while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary interpolation operations in predetermined directions before final color reconstruction. By pre-calculating interpolated values along specific directions and storing them, the system avoids redundant calculations during the final synthesis stage, reducing overall computational complexity while preserving accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If direction calculation is performed for each pixel during interpolation, then accurate color restoration is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the interpolation process into multiple directional passes, each processing a subset of pixels in a specific direction, the patent reduces the computational load per processing unit. This allows for more efficient power management and lower overall power consumption while maintaining accurate color restoration through the cumulative effect of all passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs interpolation in predetermined directions for all pixels, which is a partial approach compared to calculating exact directions for every pixel. This partial action is sufficient to achieve accurate color restoration without the excessive power consumption of full directional calculation for each pixel.
3Reliability
If interpolation is performed in multiple directions, then artifact components are reduced, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multi-directional interpolation into distinct processing passes, each dedicated to a specific direction. This segmentation makes the complex multi-directional process more manageable and efficient, reducing artifact components through comprehensive directional coverage while controlling processing complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing preliminary interpolation in multiple predetermined directions and storing the results, the patent prepares data that can be efficiently combined in a later stage. This preliminary multi-directional action reduces artifacts more effectively than single-direction interpolation, while the structured approach keeps processing complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing method of an image signal processor includes obtaining a first estimated image by interpolating signals output from first color pixels, among a plurality of unit pixels included in a pixel array, in a first direction, obtaining a second estimated image by interpolating signals output from the first color pixels in a second direction, intersecting the first direction, detecting a first artifact component in the first direction with respect to pixels included in the first estimated image, detecting a second artifact component in the second direction with respect to pixels included in the second estimated image, obtaining a first weight based on at least a portion of the first artifact component and the second artifact component, and generating a first output image from the first estimated image and the second estimated image using the first weight.