Sub-pixel Driving for Medical Image Resolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reducing methods for displaying medical images on LCDs significantly decline resolution due to pixel pitch mismatch between flat panel detectors and LCDs, particularly affecting the diagnosis of small pathological signs like calcopherite in breast cancer, as they fail to maintain the aspect ratio and achieve the required resolution.
Innovation Solution
An image displaying apparatus and program that convert original monochrome images into a display format with three times more pixels along the major axis by independently driving sub-pixels on the LCD, maintaining the aspect ratio and improving resolution by aligning and driving sub-pixels along the rows of the LCD.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the original image is reduced using conventional sampling methods to fit the LCD pixel grid, then the image can be displayed on the LCD, but the resolution significantly declines because the pixel pitch on the LCD is much larger than on the FPD
Solution Approach 1:
Each LCD pixel is divided into three independently controllable sub-pixels (red, green, blue sub-pixels) arranged horizontally. This segmentation allows the system to treat each sub-pixel as a separate display element, effectively tripling the horizontal resolution capability of the LCD without requiring a higher pixel-count panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the display parameter by utilizing independent control of the three sub-pixels within each pixel. By assigning different luminance values to each sub-pixel (with the green sub-pixel having double the luminance of red or blue), the system achieves higher effective resolution while maintaining compatibility with the existing LCD hardware.
2Ease of operation
If the number of pixels along the minor axis is set to match the LCD pixel count (1200), then the image fits the vertical dimension, but the aspect ratio constraint forces the major axis pixel count to be reduced to 1477, further degrading horizontal resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The invention exploits the horizontal dimension within each pixel by utilizing the three sub-pixels arranged along the major axis. This dimensional exploitation allows the system to achieve higher horizontal resolution (1600 effective pixels) without changing the physical pixel grid or violating the aspect ratio constraint, effectively adding resolution in the horizontal dimension through sub-pixel manipulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional image reduction is used, then the image can be displayed, but the pitch of pixels on the LCD (194 μm) is too large to maintain the desired resolution for diagnosing small pathological signs like calcopherite
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting each pixel into three sub-pixels and controlling them independently with different luminance values, the effective display resolution is tripled horizontally. This allows the LCD to achieve an effective pixel pitch of approximately 65 μm (194/3), which is sufficient to resolve small pathological signs like calcopherite that require 100 μm resolution.
4Measurement precision
If the three sub-pixels are driven independently to improve resolution along the major axis, then higher resolution is achieved, but the rectangular shape of sub-pixels makes conventional square or circular pixel reduction methods fail to maintain aspect ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the luminance parameters of the three sub-pixels differently (with green having double the luminance of red or blue) to compensate for the rectangular shape and maintain proper aspect ratio perception. This parameter adjustment allows conventional reduction algorithms to work effectively while maintaining both the improved resolution and correct aspect ratio.
Data Source
AI summary
An original monochrome image recorded with an FPD (flat panel detector) which comprises an array, m rows and n columns, of pixels is reduced and converted into a display image which comprises an array, q rows and (3*n*q/m) columns, of pixels before the display image is transferred to a monochrome liquid crystal display equipped with a monochrome LCD which comprises an array, q rows and P columns, of pixels, where m, n, q, and P are natural numbers and m≦̸n, q<P, n/m<P/q, and m>q are given. The monochrome liquid crystal display drives the three sub pixels of each pixel independently aligned along the row of the monochrome LCD to display the display image of the pixels in q rows and (3*n*q/m) columns.