Electronic Zooming Apparatus Pixel Thinning Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic zooming apparatuses experience picture quality degradation during large magnification zooming due to the direct application of pixel data to zooming processing circuits, resulting in missing original pixels and poor image representation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic zooming apparatus that employs a first reader to read continuous original pixel data, a horizontal thinner to perform thinning processing when zooming magnification is 2 or higher, and a second memory to store thinned or original pixel data, with a zooming processor generating zoomed images from the processed data to maintain image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pixel data is directly applied to zooming processing circuit, then smooth continuous zooming is possible, but picture quality degrades when large magnification zooming is performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing horizontal thinning processing on pixel data before it is applied to the zooming processing circuit. Specifically, when zooming magnification is 2x or larger, the horizontal thinner processes the pixel data in advance to select every other pixel, ensuring that sufficient original pixels are available for the zooming operation. This preliminary preparation prevents pixel shortage during large magnification zooming while maintaining smooth continuous zooming capability.
2Device complexity
If pixel data is directly applied to zooming processing circuit, then processing is simplified, but original pixels are missed causing image degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component called the horizontal thinner between the memory and the zooming processing circuit. This intermediary selectively processes pixel data by outputting every other pixel when zooming magnification is 2x or larger, and outputting all pixels when magnification is smaller than 2x. This intermediary ensures that the zooming processing circuit receives appropriate pixel data without missing original pixels, thereby maintaining image quality while adding minimal complexity to the overall system.
3Quantity of substance
If horizontal thinning processing is performed, then pixel data is reduced preventing shortage, but additional processing step is added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the horizontal thinning operation conditional based on the zooming magnification. The system dynamically adjusts its behavior: when zooming magnification is 2x or larger, horizontal thinning is performed to reduce pixel data quantity and prevent shortage; when zooming magnification is smaller than 2x, horizontal thinning is skipped and all pixel data is processed normally. This dynamic adaptation optimizes performance for different zooming scenarios while minimizing unnecessary processing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera includes a memory, and pixel data cut out from the memory is subjected to ½ horizontal thinning processing by a ½ horizontal thinning circuit when a zooming magnification is equal to or larger than “2”, and the thinned pixel data is written to an image buffer. A zooming circuit performs zooming processing on the thinned pixel data stored in the image buffer. Here, when the zooming magnification is smaller than “2”, the zooming circuit performs the zooming processing on original pixel data being read from the memory and then stored in the image buffer.