Image Processing Sharpness Restoration Control for Artifact Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing techniques fail to stabilize image quality by adjusting restoration strength and sharpening strength effectively, leading to variations in sharpness and user inconvenience due to artifacts and mismatched image quality perceptions.

Innovation Solution

An image processing device with a sharpness restoration control unit that adjusts restoration and sharpening rates based on a total sharpness restoration rate, using restoration filters like Wiener filters and switchable sharpening filters to maintain consistent image sharpness across different imaging conditions and lens changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If point image restoration processing is performed to recover image quality degraded by point spread phenomenon, then image quality is improved, but artifacts (ringing) may be generated due to incorrect frequency characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidartifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of restoration strength to dynamically adjust the degree of restoration processing. By controlling the restoration strength parameter, the system can adapt to different imaging conditions and prevent over-restoration that causes artifacts while still improving image quality when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adjustment of restoration strength based on imaging conditions and image content. Instead of fixed restoration processing, the system dynamically modifies the restoration strength parameter according to the specific scene and optical characteristics, allowing adaptive control to avoid artifacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If restoration strength is increased to improve image quality, then image quality is improved, but sharpness may become excessive or mismatched with user perception

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoiduser perception match

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by monitoring the output image characteristics and adjusting the restoration strength accordingly. The system uses the total sharpness restoration rate as a feedback parameter to ensure the restored image matches user perception expectations, preventing excessive sharpness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adjusts the restoration strength parameter based on the calculated total sharpness restoration rate. By dynamically changing this parameter, the system ensures that the restored image quality aligns with user perception while maintaining appropriate sharpness levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If different restoration filters are used for different imaging conditions to maintain accuracy, then restoration accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration accuracyVSAvoidfilter management

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of managing multiple complex restoration filters for different conditions, the patent uses parameter changes within a unified filter framework. By adjusting the restoration strength parameter, the system adapts to different imaging conditions without requiring separate filters, thus maintaining accuracy while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Manufacturing precision

If restoration processing is performed to correct optical aberrations, then image quality is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial restoration processing by dynamically adjusting the restoration strength parameter. Instead of always performing full restoration, the system applies only the necessary degree of restoration based on imaging conditions, reducing processing time while maintaining adequate image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9892492B2Image processing device, imaging apparatus, parameter generating method, image processing method, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a program

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

A restoration processing section 38 performs restoration processing using a restoration filter based on a point spread function for image data. An outline enhancement processing section 39 performs sharpening processing using a sharpening filter for image data. A sharpness restoration control section 37 acquires a total sharpness restoration rate based on the restoration rate (restoration strength magnification U) of the image data based on the restoration processing and the sharpening rate (sharpening strength magnification V) of the image data based on the sharpening processing, acquires one of the restoration rate and the sharpening rate, and calculates the other one of the restoration rate and the sharpening rate based on the total sharpness restoration rate.