TWI424738B - The method of adjusting the resolution - Google Patents

Description

Resolution adjustment method

The invention relates to an image processing method, in particular to a method for adjusting the resolution.

With the development of digital cameras, photography is no longer an expensive purchase. The user can take the desired image at will to record a memorable moment or scene.

When shooting, the average user wants the captured photo to be clearly visible. Therefore, when shooting a target (which can be a landscape, a person, or an item), adjust the focus and brightness of the target to be able to take a satisfactory picture.

With the advancement of technology, digital cameras mostly provide the function of automatically setting camera parameters. In general, a digital camera calculates appropriate imaging parameters for a target.

In the resolution of the captured image, it can only be adjusted by the user through the relevant menu provided by the digital camera before taking the photo.

If the user has not changed the resolution setting, the images captured for each occasion, each theme, or each of the main characters will have the same resolution.

Due to the limited storage space of digital cameras, when the resolution setting is high, the number of images that can be taken is relatively small. Moreover, when sorting out afterwards, it is often found that many photos that are useless and abandoned are occupied to occupy storage resources, such as: memory cards on cameras, hard disks on computers, burned discs or individuals on the Internet. Album.

Conversely, when you choose to use a lower resolution in order to save space in your storage space, you will sacrifice the details of a good photo.

In order not to miss any details, when using the highest resolution, the photos with inferior, poor or very poor results will occupy the space of the camera storage media, which is less or less valuable, which greatly affects the number of shots that can be taken.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method of adjusting the resolution by solving one or more problems of the prior art.

The method for adjusting the resolution disclosed in the present invention is applied to an image capturing device. The image capturing device comprises a camera module and a storage unit.

First, the image with the first resolution is captured by the camera module, and the amount of the object in the captured image is analyzed.

The analyzed object amount is then compared to one or more threshold values.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than one or more threshold values, the corresponding threshold value is less than the resolution of the image; or the resolution of the image capturing device is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution, and Recapture the image with the second resolution. Then, the image with the second resolution is stored in the storage unit.

When the analyzed object quantity is greater than or equal to all threshold values, the image with the first resolution is stored in the storage unit.

The amount of objects in the image can be marginalized by first performing a marginalization process to calculate the number of tiles or the content of edge components in the image after the edged image, thereby calculating the number or edge of the calculated tiles. The content of the component is taken as the amount of the article.

The method for adjusting the resolution according to the present invention can be applied to an image capturing device, which determines the resolution of image storage by analyzing the number of objects in the image obtained by the image, that is, determining whether to scale the image obtained or It is determined whether the resolution of the image capturing device is lowered, and the storage resources are effectively utilized.

The above description of the present invention and the following description of the embodiments of the present invention are intended to illustrate and explain the spirit and principles of the invention.

The method for adjusting the resolution according to the present invention can be applied to an image capturing device, which can determine the resolution of image storage by analyzing the number of objects in the image obtained by the image, that is, determining whether to scale the acquired image or It is determined whether or not the analysis of the image capturing device is lowered, and the storage resource is effectively utilized. The image capturing device may be a digital camera, a digital camera or an electronic device having a camera module (for example, a mobile phone or a computer).

Please refer to FIG. 1 , the image capturing device 100 can include a camera module 110 , a storage unit 130 , and a processing unit 150 . The camera module 110 includes a lens group 112 and a photosensitive element 114.

The lens group 112 is used to adjust the focal length of the subject.

The photosensitive element 114 is provided corresponding to the lens group 112. The photosensitive element 114 can receive the optical signal corresponding to the target and its surrounding scenery through the lens group 112, and convert the received optical signal into the electrical signal of the digital image to obtain an image corresponding to the target. In other words, the photosensitive element 114 can capture an image of the framing screen via the lens group 112.

The processing unit 150 is electrically connected to the photosensitive element 114 and the storage unit 130. The processing unit 150 can control the operation of the lens group 112 and the photosensitive element 114, and store the captured image in the storage unit 130.

Here, the processing unit 150 may also analyze the amount of the captured image and selectively adjust the resolution of the captured image or the resolution of the image capturing device according to the amount of the captured image.

In other words, the method of adjusting the resolution according to the present invention can be implemented on the image capturing device 100 in a software or firmware program. That is, one of the codes for implementing the adjustment method according to the present invention can be stored in the image capturing device 100, and then the processing unit 150 of the image capturing device 100 reads and executes the stored code, so that The image capturing device 100 performs a method of adjusting the resolution according to the present invention.

The processing unit 150 can be implemented by one or more processors, such as a digital signal processor (DSP). The storage unit 130 can be implemented by one or more storages. The reservoir can be non-volatile memory or volatile memory.

Here, the image to be divided may be a preview image or a captured image. The preview image refers to an image captured by the image capturing device 100 during the preview phase or the focusing phase. The captured image refers to the image captured by the image capturing device 100 during the shooting phase.

In general, the operation of the image capturing device 100 can be divided into a live view, an auto focusing, and a shooting phase.

The preview phase refers to the time before the user presses the shutter button of the image capturing device 100. During the preview phase, the user can preview the framing screen through the display (not shown) of the image capturing device 100.

The focus phase refers to the moment when the user half-presses the shutter button of the image capture device 100. In the focusing stage, the image capturing device 100 uses one or more of the objects in the framing picture as the target, and adjusts the object distance between the lens group 112 and the target object, and the user can pass through the image capturing device 100. The display (not shown) previews the framing screen after focusing (ie, after the object distance adjustment is completed).

The shooting phase refers to the moment when the user fully presses the shutter button of the image capturing device 100. During the shooting phase, the image capturing device 100 captures the current viewing frame through the camera module 110 and records the captured viewing frame as an image.

"2A and 2B" is a flowchart of a method of adjusting the resolution according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to "1, 2A, and 2B", first, the camera module 110 performs imaging to capture an image corresponding to a plurality of objects in front of the image capturing device 100 (step 210). This image has a first resolution. The first resolution may be the resolution currently set by the image capture device 100 or the upper limit of the resolution of the image capture device 100 (this upper limit may be determined by the capabilities of the image capture device 100). Such subject matter may be at least one feature item of a face, a building, an animal, a plant, a mountain, a cloud, a stone, a flowing water, a vehicle, a sign, and a specific item.

Then, the amount of the object in the captured image is analyzed (step 220).

And using the analyzed object quantity to judge the complexity of the image, that is, whether the object quantity meets the set condition (step 230). Here, the complexity of the image refers to the amount of detail (ie, the subject matter) that appears in the image.

When the complexity of the image is relatively high, the image having the first resolution is stored in the storage unit 130 (step 240).

When the complexity of the image is relatively low, the resolution of the captured image is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (step 250); or the resolution of the image capturing device is set from the first The resolution is lowered to the second resolution (step 252), and after the adjustment, the image is captured by the camera module 110 (step 254). At this point, the image has a second resolution.

Then, the image with the second resolution is stored in the storage unit 130 (step 260).

Referring to "3A and 3B", in step 220, the edge processing can be performed by the processing unit 150 to marginalize the captured image (step 222), and then the number of tiles in the edged image is calculated. Or the content of the edge component (step 224 or step 226), and the amount of the calculated block or the content of the edge component is taken as the amount of the object.

Referring to "Fig. 4", the block B refers to the block distinguished by the edge component L. The content of the edge component may be the number of pixels belonging to the edge component or the proportion of the edge component occupied in the entire image.

In addition, in step 220, the identification process may be performed by the processing unit 150 to identify and calculate the number of objects in the captured image, thereby using the calculated number of objects as the object amount.

In step 230, a threshold value or a relationship information having a plurality of threshold values and their respective resolution adjustment data (for example, a correspondence table between threshold values and resolution adjustment data) and an analyzed object amount may be utilized. In comparison, the complexity of the image is determined.

In the case of a single threshold value, referring to "5A and 5B", the obtained object amount can be compared with the threshold value (step 232).

When the amount of the object is greater than or equal to the threshold value, it indicates that the complexity of the image is high, that is, the resolution (the resolution of the image or the setting of the resolution of the image capturing device 100) is not adjusted (step 240).

When the object amount is less than the threshold value, indicating that the complexity of the image is low, the resolution of the image is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (step 250). Alternatively, the resolution setting of the image capturing device is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (step 252), and the image having the second resolution is retrieved (step 254).

In steps 250 and 252, when the complexity of the image is determined to be low, the current resolution (the resolution of the image or the resolution of the image capturing device 100) can be lowered at a specific magnification. In other words, the first resolution may be a specific magnification of the second resolution, for example, one, two or three times or more.

For example, it is assumed that the current resolution (ie, the first resolution) of the image capturing device 100 is set to 6 MP, and the specific magnification is preset to be doubled. At this time, the resolution of the image acquired by the image capturing device 100 by the image capturing module 110 is 6 MP.

When the result of the analysis and the judgment is that the complexity of the image is low, the processing unit 150 performs a resolution adjustment procedure to lower the resolution of the image from 6 MP (ie, the first resolution) to 3 MP (ie, Second resolution). Alternatively, the processing unit 150 performs a resolution adjustment program to set the current resolution (ie, the first resolution) of the image capturing device 100 from being set to 6 MP to 3 MP (ie, the second resolution). ).

In step 250 and step 252, the resolution of the image or the resolution of the image capturing device 100 may be set from the first resolution according to a certain level of difference according to the setting option of the resolution of the image capturing device 100. Adjust the low to the second resolution. In other words, the first resolution differs from the second resolution by a specific level, for example, one level, two levels, or three levels or more.

For example, assume that the resolution setting options provided by the image capturing device 100 are 10 MP (million pixels), 8 MP, 6 MP, 4 MP, 3 MP, 2 MP, and 1 MP, the current resolution. (ie, the first resolution) is set to 8 MP, and the specific level is preset to one level.

At this time, when it is determined that the complexity of the image is low, the processing unit 150 performs a resolution adjustment procedure to lower the resolution of the image from 8 MP (ie, the first resolution) to 6 MP (ie, the second resolution). The degree of resolution (ie, the first resolution) of the image capture device 100 is set from 8 MP to 6 MP (ie, the second resolution).

Here, the image capturing device 100 can additionally set the adjusted resolution (ie, the second resolution) not to be lower than the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing device 100 (this lower limit can be determined by the capability of the image capturing device 100).

Furthermore, the minimum value of the adjustable resolution (ie, the second resolution) may be set by the user according to the setting options of the resolution provided.

When the value of the second adjusted degree of the predetermined adjustment is smaller than the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing device 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution, the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing device 100 or the setting is directly adopted. The minimum value of the adjustable resolution is taken as the value of the second resolution. In other words, when the value of the second resolution of the predetermined adjustment is smaller than the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing apparatus 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution, the resolution is adjusted from the first resolution when the resolution is adjusted. The degree is reduced to the lower limit of the resolution of the image capture device 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution.

Referring to "6A and 6B", it is also possible to search for a relationship information by the amount of objects analyzed (step 234). The relationship information includes multiple threshold values that differ from each other and resolution adjustment data corresponding to each threshold value.

The resolution adjustment data represents different adjustment results (ie, the second resolution of different values is adjusted). Here, the threshold value can be a value or a status flag. The adjustment result may be a specific value, a specific magnification, or a specific level (a setting option based on the resolution of the image capturing apparatus 100).

For convenience of description, the three threshold values are taken as examples, and the three threshold values are sequentially referred to as the first threshold value, the second threshold value, and the third threshold value from large to small.

When the analyzed object amount is greater than or equal to the first threshold, the resolution is not adjusted and the image with the first resolution is stored in the storage unit 130 (step 240). Since the first threshold value is greater than the second threshold value and the third threshold value, the analyzed object amount is also greater than the second threshold value and the third threshold value.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than the first threshold value but greater than or equal to the second threshold value, the resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the first threshold value, and the resolution is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (step 250-1 and step 252-1). At this time, the second resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the first threshold value.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than the second threshold value but greater than or equal to the third threshold value, the resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the second threshold value, and the resolution is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (step 250-2 and step 252-2). At this time, the second resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the second threshold value.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than the third threshold value, the resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the second threshold value, and the resolution is lowered from the first resolution to the second resolution (steps 250-3 and 252-3). ). At this time, the second resolution is adjusted according to the resolution corresponding to the third threshold value.

In other words, when the analyzed object quantity is less than the at least one threshold value, the processing unit 150 may be less than the at least one threshold value according to the minimum threshold value among the smaller threshold values (steps 250 and 252).

Here, when the value of the second adjusted degree of the predetermined adjustment is smaller than the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing apparatus 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution, the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing apparatus 100 is directly adopted. Or set the minimum value of the adjustable resolution as the value of the second resolution. In other words, when the value of the second adjusted degree of the predetermined adjustment is smaller than the lower limit of the resolution of the image capturing apparatus 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution, the adjusted image is lowered from the first resolution to the image. The lower limit of the resolution of the capture device 100 or the minimum value of the set adjustable resolution.

For the sake of clarity, the threshold value and its corresponding resolution adjustment data can be as shown in the following table. However, this amount is not a limitation of the present invention.

In other words, the relationship information can be a correspondence table between the threshold value and the resolution adjustment data.

For example, the first threshold can be set to 50% and the second threshold can be set to 30%. Here, the larger the numerical value, the higher the complexity, but this is not a limitation of the present invention. The first adjustment result can be set to be lowered by one level, and the second adjustment result can be set to be lowered by two levels.

It is assumed that the resolution setting options provided by the image capturing device 100 are 10 MP (million pixels), 8 MP, 6 MP, 4 MP, 3 MP, 2 MP, and 1 MP, and the current resolution (ie, The first resolution is set to 8 MP.

When the analyzed object quantity is greater than or equal to the first threshold value, the resolution of the image is not adjusted, and the image with 8 MP is obtained and stored in the storage unit 130.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than the first threshold but greater than or equal to the second threshold, the processing unit 150 performs a resolution adjustment procedure to adjust the data according to the resolution corresponding to the first threshold, and the resolution of the image is determined by 8 The MP (i.e., the first resolution) is lowered to 6 MP (i.e., the second resolution), and an image having 6 MP is stored in the storage unit 130. Alternatively, the current resolution of the image capturing device 100 is set from the image capturing device 100, and the image having 4 MP is retrieved.

When the analyzed object quantity is less than the second threshold value, the processing unit 150 performs a resolution adjustment procedure to adjust the data according to the resolution corresponding to the second threshold value, and the resolution of the image is 8 MP (ie, the first resolution) ) is lowered to 4 MP (ie, second resolution), and an image having 4 MP is stored in the storage unit 130. Alternatively, the current resolution of the image capturing device 100 is set from the image capturing device 100, and the image having 4 MP is retrieved.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above in the foregoing embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention. It is within the scope of the invention to be modified and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Please refer to the attached patent application for the scope of protection defined by the present invention.

100. . . Image capture device

110. . . Camera module

112. . . Lens group

114. . . Photosensitive element

130. . . Storage unit

150. . . Processing unit

B. . . Tile

L. . . Edge component

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an image capture device.

Fig. 2A is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

2B is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3A is a detailed flow diagram of step 220 of an embodiment.

Figure 3B is a detailed flow diagram of step 220 of another embodiment.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of image margination in an embodiment.

Fig. 5A is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5B is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6B is a flow chart showing a method of adjusting the resolution according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (12)

A method for adjusting the resolution is applied to an image capturing device, the image capturing device includes a camera module and a storage unit, and the method for adjusting the resolution includes: using the camera module to capture a first resolution An image of the degree; analyzing the amount of the object in the image obtained by comparing the object; comparing the amount of the object with the at least one threshold; and when the amount of the object is less than at least one of the at least one threshold, the at least one threshold is correspondingly smaller And lowering the resolution of the image from the first resolution to a second resolution, and storing the image having the second resolution in the storage unit; and when the amount of the object is greater than or equal to all the thresholds In the case of the value, the image having the first resolution is stored in the storage unit. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image is: performing an edge program to marginalize the image obtained by the image; and calculating the edged image The number of tiles in the image, whereby the calculated number of tiles is used as the object amount. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image is: performing an edge program to marginalize the image obtained by the image; and calculating the edged image The content of the edge component in the image is used to calculate the content of the edge component as the amount of the object. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image comprises: performing an identification process to identify and calculate the number of objects in the image obtained by the image, The calculated amount of the subject matter is used as the amount of the object. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 1, wherein the first resolution is different from the second resolution by a specific magnification. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 1, wherein the first resolution and the second resolution are two resolutions of the resolution setting of the image capturing device, and the first The resolution differs from the second resolution by a specific level. A method for adjusting the resolution is applied to an image capturing device, the image capturing device includes a camera module and a storage unit, and the method for adjusting the resolution includes: using the camera module to capture a first resolution An image of the degree; analyzing the amount of the object in the image obtained by comparing the object; comparing the amount of the object with the at least one threshold; and when the amount of the object is less than at least one of the at least one threshold, the at least one threshold is correspondingly smaller And setting the resolution of the image capturing device from the first resolution to a second resolution; after adjusting the resolution of the image capturing device, capturing, by the camera module, the second An image of the resolution, and storing the image having the second resolution in the storage unit; and when the amount of the object is greater than or equal to the at least one threshold, the image having the first resolution Stored in the storage unit. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 7, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image comprises: performing an edge program to marginalize the image obtained by the image; and calculating the edged image The number of tiles in the image, whereby the calculated number of tiles is used as the object amount. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 7, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image comprises: performing an edge program to marginalize the image obtained by the image; and calculating the edged image The content of the edge component in the image is used to calculate the content of the edge component as the amount of the object. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 7, wherein the step of analyzing the amount of the object in the image comprises: performing an identification process to identify and calculate the number of objects in the image obtained by the image, The calculated amount of the subject matter is used as the amount of the object. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 7, wherein the first resolution is different from the second resolution by a specific magnification. The method for adjusting the resolution according to claim 7, wherein the first resolution and the second resolution are two resolutions of the resolution setting of the image capturing device, and the first The resolution differs from the second resolution by a specific level.