Image Processing Apparatus Staggered Pixel Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing methods for fine enlargement or reduction introduce texture irregularities and density ununiformity, particularly in images with regular patterns or screen-treated images, due to regular or random pixel insertion methods, which can lead to discontinuities and image quality deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that arranges operation pixels in a staggered form, ensuring a distance of 2 pixels or more but less than a predetermined number in one direction, and reverses the direction of pixel separation at intervals of not more than 2 pixels in the perpendicular direction, to minimize texture and discontinuity during image enlargement or reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pixels are inserted at regular intervals using the nearest neighbor algorithm, then the image can be enlarged or reduced efficiently, but texture irregularities and density ununiformity occur in the processed image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by determining pixel inserting positions using pseudorandom numbers instead of regular intervals. This creates an asymmetric, irregular distribution of inserted pixels that breaks the periodicity causing texture, while still maintaining controlled distance constraints to preserve image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of pixel insertion positioning from fixed regular intervals to pseudorandom positions within controlled distance ranges. This parameter change allows the system to maintain insertion efficiency while eliminating the periodic texture artifacts through randomized positioning.
2Manufacturing precision
If pixels are inserted using pseudorandom numbers to eliminate texture, then regularity is lost and texture is reduced, but discontinuity and local density deterioration occur in the processed image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the pseudorandom insertion method by adding distance constraints - the distance between inserted pixels in the sub-scanning direction is controlled to be within a predetermined range. This parameter change maintains the irregularity needed to reduce texture while ensuring continuity by preventing excessive gaps between adjacent pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality control by setting different distance constraints for pixels in different regions. The distance between inserted pixels is controlled to be within a predetermined range locally, ensuring that each region maintains appropriate pixel density and continuity while the overall image benefits from pseudorandom distribution.
3Reliability
If the distance between adjacent pixel inserting positions is limited within a certain range, then discontinuity is reduced, but another type of image quality deterioration is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines asymmetry by using pseudorandom number generation for pixel positioning with symmetry-breaking distance constraints. This creates an irregular but controlled distribution pattern that prevents both texture (through randomness) and discontinuity (through distance limits), achieving balanced image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the pixel insertion positions adaptive rather than fixed. The pseudorandom positions are determined dynamically based on distance constraints, allowing the system to adaptively balance between preventing texture and maintaining continuity for each local region of the image.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus including: an operation pixel arrangement unit to arrange the operation pixels to be inserted or deleted in a staggered form from one end of the image to the other end of the image in the second direction, so as to satisfy a first condition in which a distance in the first direction between the operation pixels adjacent in the second direction is 2 pixels or more and less than the predetermined number of pixels, and a second condition in which a direction in which the operation pixels adjacent in the second direction are apart from each other is reversed at intervals of not more than 2 pixels which are consecutive in the second direction; and an image enlargement/reduction unit to enlarge or reduce the image by inserting or deleting the operation pixels arranged by the operation pixel arrangement unit.