Image Processing Apparatus Texture-AI Hybrid Super-Resolution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image quality improvement techniques, especially those utilizing artificial intelligence, struggle to effectively enhance image quality, particularly in texture areas with high frequency components, while also facing challenges related to computational complexity and battery consumption in devices like TVs and mobile terminals.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus and method that employs machine learning for self-transformation of images, adjusting parameters to minimize differences in visual and structural features between the processed image and a high-quality original image, thereby generating a high-quality image while reducing computational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If AI technology is applied to image quality improvement, then image quality can be enhanced, but computational complexity and battery consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image is divided into texture areas and non-texture areas, and different processing methods are applied to each region. Texture areas use traditional interpolation methods while non-texture areas use AI-based super-resolution, reducing overall computational complexity while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different processing qualities are applied to different regions of the image based on their characteristics. Texture-rich regions receive lighter processing while smooth regions receive more intensive AI processing, optimizing the balance between quality improvement and computational load

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If AI technology is applied to image quality improvement, then image quality can be enhanced, but battery consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The image processing is segmented into different regions requiring different computational resources. By identifying texture areas and applying appropriate processing methods, the overall energy consumption is reduced while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

AI-based processing is applied partially only to non-texture areas rather than the entire image. This partial application reduces computational burden and battery consumption while still achieving meaningful image quality improvement in the most beneficial regions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If traditional image processing methods are used, then computational complexity is low, but texture representation quality is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational complexityVSAvoidtexture representation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Different processing approaches are applied to different image regions based on their texture characteristics. Smooth regions use traditional methods while texture-rich regions use AI-based methods, optimizing both quality and computational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by combining traditional interpolation methods with AI-based super-resolution. The traditional methods handle the bulk of the processing efficiently while AI enhances specific regions, creating a balanced solution

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3649612B1Image processing apparatus, method for processing image and computer-readable recording medium
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3649612B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3649612B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3649612B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An image processing apparatus is provided. The image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a communicator configured to receive an image, and a processor configured to generate a first image obtained by performing image processing on the received image by using a parameter for image processing, generate a second image obtained by reducing the first image at a predetermined ratio, and extract respective visual features from the first image and the second image, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the parameter to allow a difference between the visual feature of the first image and the visual feature of the second image to be within a predetermined range.