X-ray Imaging Super-Resolution via Region Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional X-ray imaging apparatuses face challenges in generating high-resolved images efficiently, as the super-resolution process often increases calculation time and reduces the image range treated as one image.
Innovation Solution
The X-ray imaging apparatus applies a super-resolution process to a specific region of the image containing the subject, using a simpler process than the entire image, allowing the resolution of other regions to be increased accordingly, thereby reducing calculation time and maintaining the image range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the super-resolution process is applied to the entire acquired image, then the resolution of the generated high-resolved image is improved, but the calculation time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The acquired image is divided into a first region (including the subject) and a second region (other than the first region). The super-resolution process is applied selectively to the first region, while a simpler process is used for the second region. This segmentation allows high resolution to be achieved for the important subject area without performing computationally intensive processing on the entire image, thus reducing overall calculation time.
Solution Approach 2:
Different processing methods are applied to different regions of the image based on their importance. The first region containing the subject receives the full super-resolution process to achieve high resolution, while the second region receives a simpler processing approach. This local quality differentiation ensures that computational resources are focused on the most important areas while maintaining acceptable quality elsewhere.
2Loss of time
If the super-resolution process is limited to a specific range to reduce calculation time, then the calculation time is reduced, but the range of the image treated as one image becomes smaller
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing apparatus merges the first region (processed by super-resolution) and the second region (processed by simpler method) into a single integrated high-resolved image. By combining these differently processed regions, the system maintains a large overall image range while still achieving reduced calculation time through selective processing. The merging ensures that the final output is a unified image encompassing both regions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the generation of high-resolved images with reduced calculation time and preserved image range, allowing for efficient processing and interpolation of pixel data.
Implementation Method 1
a detector configured to detect X-rays radiated from the X-ray source at a plurality of detection positions translated by a movement amount smaller than a pixel size of the detector from each other
Data Source
AI summary
In an X-ray imaging apparatus (100), an image processor (5b) is configured to apply a super-resolution process to a first region (A1) in each of acquired images (Ia), the first region including a subject (S), and to increase a number of pixels according to an increase in resolution in the first region by application of the super-resolution process thereto by a simpler process than the super-resolution process with respect to a second region (A2) other than the first region in each of the acquired images.