Image Resolution Enhancement via Jaggy Pattern Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resolution conversion techniques for enhancing low-resolution images in printing, such as bilinear interpolation, are insufficient in correcting jaggies on slanting lines, leading to poor image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image forming apparatus and method that performs pattern matching to detect jaggy portions, converts them to multivalued data, generates an attribute code, and then binarizes the data using a re-binarization method based on the attribute code, effectively enhancing the image resolution while reducing jaggies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If resolution conversion technique such as bilinear interpolation is used to enhance low-resolution images, then the resolution is improved, but jaggies on slanting lines are not sufficiently corrected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting jaggy portions through pattern matching before performing resolution conversion. The system identifies slanting line portions in the low-resolution image and pre-processes them by converting to multivalued data and applying grayscale substitution, thereby preparing the image data beforehand to prevent jaggy formation during subsequent high-resolution conversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different regions of the image differently. Instead of uniform resolution conversion, the system identifies specific jaggy portions through pattern matching and applies targeted correction only to those regions by converting them to multivalued data with grayscale substitution, while other regions undergo standard binarization.
2Manufacturing precision
If pattern matching is performed to detect jaggy portions and convert to multivalued data, then jaggy correction is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the image processing into distinct stages: pattern matching to identify jaggy portions, conversion to multivalued data for detected regions, resolution conversion, attribute code generation, and final binarization. This segmented approach allows complex processing to be broken down into manageable steps that can be implemented systematically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multivalued image data as an intermediary between the original binary low-resolution image and the final high-resolution binary output. The multivalued data serves as a intermediate representation that preserves jaggy information in grayscale form during resolution conversion, allowing for more accurate final binarization.
3Manufacturing precision
If the resolution of image data is converted to a higher resolution, then the printing resolution is improved, but jaggies become more visible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by converting image data from binary (two-valued) to multivalued (grayscale) representation for regions identified as containing jaggies. This parameter change allows the resolution conversion process to preserve subtle intensity variations that indicate jaggy portions, enabling more accurate detection and correction after high-resolution conversion.
Data Source
AI summary
MFP matches low-resolution binary image data received by facsimile with a dot pattern showing a jaggy. If there is any matching region, the image data is converted into multivalued image data by performing jaggy correction in which the tone of a target dot in the region is substituted with a grayscale. MFP also generates a region identification attribute code based on the result of matching and the tone of the input image data. MFP enhances the respective resolutions of the image data after jaggy correction and the region identification attribute code. MFP then binarizes the image data having the enhanced resolution once again by a binarization method according to the region identification attribute code having the enhanced resolution.