JP2004118384A - Image processing apparatus, obscure image generation device, obscure image generation method, and recording medium with image processing program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate an effective obscure image without using a special image processing circuit even in an environment with a low processor throughput. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing device 10 comprises a memory <1> and a memory <2> for holding image data, a spatial filter circuit 16 for filtering image data, a memory transfer circuit 17 having a bit block transfer function for data transfer between the memory <1> and the memory <2>, and a processor 18 for executing control of bit block transfer of image data in the memory <2> to image data in the memory <1>. Image data in the memory <2> are bit-block-transferred to filtered image data in the memory <1>, where the product is saved, the image data saved in the memory <1> are copied in the memory <2>, the image data saved in the memory <1> are filtered, and the image data in the memory <2> are bit-block-transferred to the filtered image data in the memory <1>, where the product is saved as image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a blurred image generating apparatus, and a blurred image generating method used for image signal processing in an image input device such as a camera, and more particularly to image processing for generating a blurred image by diffusing pixels in image data. The present invention relates to a device, a blurred image generating device, a blurred image generating method, and a recording medium on which an image processing program is recorded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of small, low-power image sensors, cameras can be built into portable devices such as mobile phones, and images taken by the built-in camera can be sent immediately by e-mail. It is possible to do it. These built-in cameras prioritize small size and have lower resolution than general digital cameras.
[0003]
For image input devices such as cameras, image processing technologies such as gradation correction, texture processing, filtering, correction of geometric distortion, two-dimensional conversion, extraction of lines and contours, and region division are indispensable for image data. It has become something. In addition, image enhancement, image restoration, and the like obtained by combining these processes are also included.
[0004]
A process of blurring an image by image processing is also performed. Applying a low-pass filter to easily blur the entire screen can be easily achieved.However, a non-uniform blur, for example, a blur that increases in degree from the center of the screen toward the periphery, requires a special image processing circuit. Become.
There are the following methods for performing such a blurring process.
[0005]
(1) Spatial filtering processing method
A spatial filter circuit composed of nxn elements is prepared, and the filter coefficients of the spatial filter circuit are appropriately changed according to the position on the screen.
For example, as such a conventional example, there is an apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the device described in this publication, an asymmetric filter circuit is prepared and processed for this purpose only.
(2) A method in which a procedure equivalent to the above means is performed by software processing by a CPU without using a spatial filter circuit.
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-3-201172 (FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional image processing apparatus has the following problems.
In the device described in Patent Document 1, a spatial filter circuit composed of n × n elements (n is an arbitrary natural number except 0) is used only for performing the blurring process, thereby causing an increase in cost. Further, although the description has been given of a 5 × 5 spatial filter, no effect can be expected when a 3 × 3 circuit as a minimum spatial filter device is used.
[0007]
Further, in the method of performing the software processing by the CPU without using the spatial filter circuit, the processing capability of the CPU is questioned. For example, there is a resolution of an image photographed by a digital still camera of 4 to 5 million pixels. Even if this is processed by a processor driven at 500 MHz, it takes about one second to process the entire screen. Of course, it is algorithmically impossible to perform this operation with one machine instruction per pixel. Even if a PC application with high CPU performance is used, it takes several seconds. Since the driving frequency of the mobile phone or the digital still camera targeted at this time is at most several tens of MHz, it takes several minutes to several tens of minutes when equivalent processing is performed, and the product is unusable.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and is effective for blurred images without using a special image processing circuit even in an environment where the processing capability of a processor is low, such as a mobile phone or a digital still camera. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus, a blurred image generating apparatus, a blurred image generating method, and a recording medium on which an image processing program is recorded.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that processes image data, wherein a first memory and a second memory that hold image data, and a rectangle that performs data transfer between the first memory and the second memory. A memory transfer unit having a transfer function, a filter unit for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory, and a filtering process on the image data of one of the memories. And control means for rectangularly transferring the image data in the memory by the memory transfer means.
[0010]
More preferably, the control means performs rectangular transfer of the image data of the second memory with respect to the image data of the first memory which has been subjected to the filter processing, and stores the image data as first image data. The first image data stored in the memory is copied to the second memory, and the first image data stored in the first memory is subjected to a filtering process. The control of rectangularly transferring the image data of the second memory to the first image data and storing the image data in the first memory as the second image data is repeated n times to obtain the n-th image data.
[0011]
Further, the control means may transfer an n-th rectangular transfer image smaller than the (n-1) -th rectangular transfer image, and the control means may reduce the rectangular transfer image as the processing proceeds to the final stage. The transfer may be performed by changing the width.
[0012]
Further, as a more preferable specific mode, the memory transfer means is a DMA transfer device.
Further, the filter means may be a spatial filter, and the filter means may be a smoothing filter.
Further, it is more preferable that the apparatus further comprises a filter coefficient setting means for setting a filter coefficient of the filter means.
[0013]
In this case, the filter coefficient setting means may reduce the filter coefficient as the processing proceeds to the final stage, and the filter coefficient setting means may determine that the image data adjacent to the unfiltered image data The filter coefficient of data may be reduced.
The processing effect of the filter means may be image blurring.
[0014]
Further, the image processing apparatus may further include a decoding unit that decodes the encoded data and outputs the decoded data to the first memory or the second memory. The image data stored in the first memory or the second memory may be provided. It may include an encoding means for encoding.
[0015]
Also, a blurred image generating device according to the present invention is a blurred image generating device for generating a blurred image by diffusing pixels with respect to image data, wherein the first memory and the second memory holding image data; A memory transfer unit having a rectangular transfer function of transferring data between the first memory and the second memory; a filter unit for performing a filter process on the image data held in the first memory; Control means for rectangularly transferring the image data of the second memory to the image data of one memory by the memory transfer means, wherein the control means controls the image data of the first memory which has been subjected to the filter processing. Transferring the image data of the second memory in a rectangular form and storing the image data as first image data; and transferring the first image data stored in the first memory to the second memory. At the same time, the first image data stored in the first memory is subjected to a filtering process, and the filtered first image data in the first memory is transformed into a rectangular image data in the second memory. The control for transferring and storing the second image data in the first memory as the second image data is repeated n times to generate a blurred image.
[0016]
Further, in the blurred image generating method of the present invention, in the blurred image generating method for generating a blurred image by diffusing pixels with respect to image data, a step of holding the image data in a first memory and a second memory; A first filtering step of performing a first filtering process on the image data held in the one memory; and a rectangular transfer of the image data of the second memory to the image data of the first memory subjected to the first filtering process. Storing the first image data stored in the first memory into the second memory; storing the first image data stored in the first memory into the second memory; A second filter processing step of performing two filter processing, and an image of the second memory with respect to the first image data of the first memory that has been subjected to the second filter processing. The chromatography data and a step of storing the second image data and rectangular transfer sequentially n times repeatedly is characterized by performing.
[0017]
According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus for processing image data, a first memory and a second memory for storing image data, and a rectangular transfer function for performing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory A memory transfer unit having: a filter unit for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory; A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for functioning as an image processing apparatus including a control unit for transferring image data in a rectangular shape by the memory transfer unit.
[0018]
According to the present invention, in an image processing apparatus for processing image data, a first memory and a second memory for storing image data, and a rectangular transfer function for performing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory A memory transfer unit having: a filter unit for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory; This is a program for functioning as an image processing apparatus including: a control unit that transfers image data in a rectangular shape by the memory transfer unit.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus and a blurred image generating method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus that creates a blurred image according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is an example applied to a mobile communication terminal of a camera-equipped mobile phone / PHS (Personal Handy-Phone System).
[0020]
In FIG. 1, an image processing device 10 (blur image generation device) includes a storage device 11 for storing image data, a decoder 12 (decoding means) for decoding encoded data, and an encoder for encoding image data. 13 (encoding unit), image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) (first memory) for holding image data, image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) (second memory) for holding image data A spatial filter circuit 16 (filter means) for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the image holding memories 14 and 15, an image holding memory 14 (memory <1>), and an image holding memory 15 (memory <2>). ), A memory transfer circuit 17 (memory transfer means) having a rectangular transfer function for transferring data to and from the processor 18 (control means, filter coefficient setting means) for controlling the entire apparatus. Configured to include a.
[0021]
The storage device 11 includes, in addition to a disk device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a compact flash (CF) including, for example, an SRAM (StaticRAM) card that holds information written by power backup, a flash memory that does not require power backup, and the like. Smart media, memory sticks and the like.
[0022]
The image holding memories 14 and 15 are dedicated memories for image processing, and include a DRAM (Dynamic RAM) unit and a SAM (serial access) unit, which are general-purpose memories, and their control. The image holding memories 14 and 15 need to have a memory size corresponding to the given resolution. For example, if the RGB code level of the expanded image is 8 bits each and the vertical and horizontal resolutions are XY (X and Y are any natural numbers except 0), then X × Y × 3 (RGB) × 8 A bit of memory is required.
[0023]
The spatial filter circuit 16 is a high-frequency emphasis filter used for the purpose of sharpening to prevent “blur” after the image enlargement processing, or smoothing (smoothing) to prevent “glitter” after the image reduction processing. ) Is a spatial filter such as a median filter used for the purpose.
[0024]
Even an embedded device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone often has a minimum spatial filter of about 3 × 3 for the purpose of sharpening or smoothing an image. Also in the present embodiment, by utilizing an existing spatial filter, it is realized at low cost without adding new members.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a 3 × 3 spatial filter.
In the case of a spatial filter having a 3 × 3 configuration, filter coefficients are set for each of a central pixel, upper and lower left and right pixels, and pixels in four oblique directions. For example, when the coefficient setting shown in FIG. 2 is performed, it means that the center pixel of interest is quadrupled, twice the element is added up, down, left, and right, and the original component of the pixel of interest is added diagonally. In this state, the energy of the signal becomes excessive with respect to the original image. Thereafter, the result is rounded by division processing. In this case, by making the obtained result 1/16, there is no contradiction in the sum of the signals. The spatial filter circuit 16 has the function of setting the coefficient for each filter stage and the function of setting the division level (bit shift value) for the result.
[0026]
The memory transfer circuit 17 performs a data transfer between the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) and the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) independently without intervention of a processor (CPU). It is a DMA (direct memory access) transfer circuit having a transfer function.
[0027]
The processor 18 is formed of, for example, a microcomputer, controls the entire apparatus including execution of application processing such as image reproduction processing, and generally controls each control unit. The processor 18 includes a ROM, a RAM, an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash ROM which is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and various programs such as a program, communication control data, and an identification code of the image processing apparatus 10. Store the data. Various specifications in the image processing apparatus 10 can be changed by changing a program to be written in the EEPROM.
[0028]
In particular, the processor 18 rectangularly transfers the image data of the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) to the image data of the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) on which the filtering process has been performed by the filter circuit 16. Control to put on. Specifically, it instructs the memory transfer circuit 17 to perform data transfer and rectangular trimming transfer, instructs the spatial filter circuit 16 to perform a filtering process, and sets a filter coefficient.
[0029]
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the rectangular transfer function of the memory transfer circuit 17.
A general-purpose memory-to-memory transfer device (in most cases, a DMA) performs a memory-to-memory transfer by giving the following three items.
(1) Memory transfer source start position
(2) Memory transfer destination start position
(3) Transfer length
The memory transfer circuit 17 having the rectangular transfer function according to the present embodiment can perform the following settings in addition to the above.
(4) Memory transfer start position
(5) Memory transfer destination position
That is, in FIG. 3, transfer between memories is indicated by A, B, and C in the figure in addition to (1) a memory transfer source start position, (2) a memory transfer destination start position, and (3) a transfer length. It has a rectangular transfer function that specifies (4) a memory transfer start position and (5) a memory transfer destination position.
A: Length of transfer in one processing unit (corresponding to image width)
B: Offset to the next transfer start position after transfer of one processing unit
C: Total number of processing units (corresponding to image height)
By having such a function, transfer between images or transfer of rectangular trimming of an image can be performed instead of simple transfer between memories.
Hereinafter, the blurred image generation operation of the image processing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described. First, the overall operation of the image processing apparatus 10 will be described.
[0030]
In the blurred image generation processing, a file encoded by appropriate means is read from the storage device 11, the read file is decoded by the decoder 12, and is stored in the image storage memory 14 (memory <1>).
[0031]
Then, the two image holding memories 14, 15 of the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) and the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) are used alternately. The utilization of the two image holding memories 14 and 15 means that the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) is an original image, a filtered image, a copy image to a transfer destination, and a rectangular transfer. The image is temporarily stored, and the image storage memory 15 (memory <2>) is a temporary storage of the original image of the rectangular transfer and the copy image from the transfer source.
[0032]
The memory transfer circuit 17 transfers (copies) data from the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) to the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>), and transfers data from the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>). The rectangular transfer is performed to specify the memory transfer start position and the memory transfer destination position to the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>). The spatial filter circuit 16 performs a process of applying a spatial filter to the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>). The processor 18 controls the spatial filter circuit 16 and the memory transfer circuit 17 to generate a diffuse blurred image.
[0033]
The result is obtained in the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) or the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) depending on the number of repetitions of the processing. Then, the sequence is ended by storing the data in the storage device 11.
Next, a blurred image generation process by rectangular transfer using the two image holding memories 14 and 15 will be described.
[0034]
FIGS. 4 and 5 are views showing the actual blurred image generation processing, and it is assumed that the processing proceeds in the order of Step 1 to Step 9 in FIGS. 4 (a) to 5 (i). In each figure, the left side shows the image of the memory <1>, and the right side shows the image of the memory <2>. A rectangular portion shown by a frame indicates an image to be processed, and a hatched portion indicates that a spatial filter has been applied to the image.
The processing described below is processing for one of RGB, for example, “R”, and similar processing is performed for “G” and “B”.
[0035]
Step1
Original images 31 and 32 are prepared in the memory <1> and the memory <2>. Specifically, the file read from the storage device 11 is decrypted by the decoder 12 and stored in the memory <1> and the memory <2>.
[0036]
Step2
The memory <1> is subjected to the blurring level 1 filtering by the spatial filter circuit 16. Thus, the image in the memory <1> becomes the blurred image 33 of the blur level 1 (see hatching in FIG. 4B). The image in the memory <2> remains as it is.
[0037]
Step3
A part 34 of the image 32 of the memory <2> is rectangularly transferred to the memory <1> using the DMA rectangular transfer function of the memory transfer circuit 17, and is copied over the image 33 of the memory <1>. Then, the image in the memory <1> becomes an image 35 in which the image 34a without the spatial filter is superimposed on the blurred image 33a once subjected to the spatial filter.
[0038]
Step4
The image 35 in the memory <1> is directly copied to the memory <2>. The DMA transfer in Step 4 is not a rectangular transfer but copies the entire image 35 in the memory <1> to the memory <2>. Thus, the memory <2> holds the same image 35 as the image 35 of the memory <1>.
[0039]
Step5
The spatial filter circuit 16 performs filtering at the blur level 1 on the memory <1> holding the image 35 in which the image 34a not subjected to the spatial filter is superimposed on the blurred image 33a once subjected to the spatial filter. As a result, the image in the memory <1> is further subjected to the spatial filter on the blurred image 33a once subjected to the spatial filter and the image 34a not subjected to the spatial filter. Therefore, the image in the memory <1> is a blurred image 36 in which the blurred image 33b that has been spatially filtered twice and the blurred image 34b that has been spatially filtered once are superimposed, and the blurred image of the blurred barrel 1 is obtained. 33b and the blur level 34b at the blur level 2 are mixed. The image 35 in the memory <2> remains as it is.
[0040]
Step6
A portion 37 of the image 35 of the memory <2> is rectangularly transferred to the memory <1> using the DMA rectangular transfer function of the memory transfer circuit 17, and is copied over the image 36 of the memory <1>. Then, in the image in the memory <1>, the blurred image 34b that has been spatially filtered once overlaps the blurred image 33b that has been spatially filtered twice, and the image 37a that has not been spatially filtered is further superimposed thereon. An image 38 is obtained. As a result, in the memory <1>, images of the blur level 2, the blur level 1, and the blur level 0 (no blur) are mixed.
Here, the size of the image to be rectangularly transferred from the memory <2> to the memory <1> is designated so as to gradually decrease. This designation is performed by the processor 18 with respect to the memory transfer circuit 17. In the present embodiment, the rectangular transfer image is reduced stepwise in the image center direction. Further, when the rectangular transfer image is reduced stepwise, the rectangular transfer image is not limited to being uniformly reduced (therefore, the degree of blurring is also uniform). For example, the rectangular transfer image is first greatly reduced, and the reduction rate is gradually reduced. Is also good. Also, the present invention is not limited to the case where the rectangular transfer image is reduced in the image center direction, and may be specified in an arbitrary direction (for example, the upper part of the screen). These examples will be described later.
[0041]
Step7
The image 38 in the memory <1> is directly copied to the memory <2>. The DMA transfer in Step 7 is not a rectangular transfer, but the entire image 38 in the memory <1> is copied to the memory <2> as in the process in Step 4 described above. As a result, the memory <2> holds the same image 38 as the image 38 of the memory <1>.
[0042]
Step8
Similarly to the processing in Step 5, the memory <1> is subjected to the blurring level 1 filtering by the spatial filter circuit 16. Thus, the image in the memory <1> is a blur in which the blur image 33c subjected to the spatial filter three times, the blur image 34c subjected to the spatial filter twice, and the blur image 37b once subjected to the spatial filter are superimposed. The image 39 is obtained, and the blur image 37b of the blur barrel 1, the blur image 34c of the blur level 2 and the blur image 33c of the blur level 3 are mixed. The image 38 in the memory <2> remains as it is.
[0043]
Step9
Similarly to the processing in Step 6, the part 39 of the image 38 in the memory <2> is rectangularly transferred to the memory <1> using the DMA rectangular transfer function of the memory transfer circuit 17, and the image in the memory <1> is transferred. Copy over 39. Then, the image in the memory <1> overlaps the blurred image 33c that has been spatially filtered three times with the blurred image 34c that has been spatially filtered twice, and the blurred image that has been spatially filtered once on the blurred image 34c. An image 40 is obtained by superimposing an image 39a on which the spatial filter 37b is superimposed and on which an image 39a without a spatial filter is applied. As a result, in the memory <1>, images of the blur level 3, the blur level 2, the blur level 1, and the blur level 0 are mixed.
[0044]
Thereafter, by repeating the procedure from Step 2 to Step 9 according to the purpose, a desired diffuse blurred image can be obtained. As described above, the above is the processing for one of RGB or YUV, and the same processing is executed for each color.
In the present embodiment, the processing steps from Step 2 to Step 9 are performed, for example, 16 times (48 steps in total for three colors of RGB).
[0045]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a diffuse blurred image obtained by the above processing, and shows blurred images at a blur level 0 (no blur) to a blur level n (n is any natural number except 0).
FIG. 6A shows an image in which the degree of blur does not change from the center of the screen toward the periphery.
[0046]
FIG. 6B shows an image in which the degree of blur increases as it goes to the periphery. FIG. 6C shows an image in which the image is blurred from the upper center of the screen toward the periphery. FIGS. 6A to 6C are examples, and various diffuse blurred images can be obtained by arbitrarily specifying a memory transfer start position and a memory transfer destination position of a rectangular transfer image. Further, in this case, it is not necessary to change the design of the program or add members, and the change can be easily realized only by changing the setting coefficient.
[0047]
By the way, when a diffuse blurred image is obtained by the method of the present embodiment, the blurred image is formed by a stepwise rectangular image. Since the filtering process is performed, the boundary itself is also subjected to the smoothing process, so that there is no problem.
However, a slight boundary may be recognized between “the central part where no filter is applied” and “the area immediately before the center part”.
[0048]
In such a case, the first spatial filter coefficient setting is set to the maximum in the smoothing direction, and the smoothing coefficient is set to a small value toward the final stage of the processing, whereby the sense of incongruity is eliminated. That is, by setting the coefficients of the spatial filter circuit 16 so that the filter is applied strongly at first, and by gradually changing the degree of smoothing (blurring) so that the way the filter is applied gradually becomes weaker, the boundary lines become less noticeable. Can be. Alternatively, the blur level of the spatial filter circuit 16 may be set to a low value in advance, and the number of the blur processing steps may be increased to increase the number of blur steps to obtain a smooth blur effect. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the degree of blur is increased toward the periphery, the apparent “central part where no filter is applied” and the “periphery immediately before the center” are apparent. The difference is smaller.
[0049]
As described above, the image processing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes the image holding memory 14 (memory <1>) and the image holding memory 15 (memory <2>) that hold image data, and the memory <1>. , A memory transfer circuit 17 having a rectangular transfer function for transferring data between the memory <1> and the memory <2>, and a filter by the filter circuit 16. A processor 18 for performing rectangular transfer of the image data of the memory <2> to the processed image data of the memory <1>; The image data stored in the memory <2> is rectangularly transferred and stored, and the image data stored in the memory <1> is copied to the memory <2> and stored in the memory <1>. The image data of the memory <1> subjected to the filtering process on the image data, and the image data of the memory <2> are rectangularly transferred to the filtered image data of the memory <1> and stored in the memory <1> as image data. (For example, 16 times), a special image processing circuit (such as an expensive high-order filter circuit or a plurality of filter circuits, etc.) may be used in an environment where the processing capability of the processor 18 is low, such as a mobile phone or a digital still camera. ), It is possible to obtain a diffuse blurred image in which the degree of blurring increases from the center of the screen toward the periphery.
[0050]
In addition, even an embedded device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone often has a minimum spatial filter of about 3 × 3 for the purpose of sharpening or smoothing an image. In many cases, a general-purpose DMA transfer circuit is also provided. Therefore, by utilizing these existing spatial filters and DMA transfer circuits, implementation can be performed at low cost without adding new members.
[0051]
Also, a method for obtaining a diffuse blurred image has been described. However, by performing similar processing other than the blurred image, a specific color (for example, green or sepia) is made darker or lighter toward the periphery. It can be raised or lowered. Also in this case, there is almost no change in the processing steps themselves.
[0052]
Note that the image processing apparatus of the above embodiment is an example applied to a mobile communication terminal of a camera-equipped mobile phone / PHS. However, all image processing apparatuses such as a personal digital assistant such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) and a personal computer. Can be realized.
[0053]
Also, in the above embodiment, the present invention can be applied to an image processing method and an image processing apparatus for inputting / outputting an image in JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group). However, the present invention is not limited to JPEG, but is an interlace GIF (Graphics Interchange Format). Etc., and can be applied to other image processing apparatuses. For example, the present invention can be applied not only to an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer but also to a recording / reproducing apparatus that records data on a recording medium such as an HDD or a DVD. The content read from a recording medium such as a disk may be in any format.
[0054]
Further, in the present embodiment, the names of the image processing apparatus, the blurred image generating apparatus and the method are used, but this is for convenience of description, and it goes without saying that a reduced image display apparatus or an image display method may be used.
Further, the number, arrangement, color, display format, and the like of the rectangular images on the screen may be any.
[0055]
Further, the type of the storage device, the recording method, and the like are not limited, and can be applied to all devices. For example, the recording device may be a device that records on a DVD, a CD-R / RW, or an MD (Mini Disc) in addition to the HDD. In particular, if an HDD that has high data transfer speed and random access performance and allows high-speed access is used as a recording medium, it is possible to instantly search for a desired image from a large amount of recorded images and use it immediately. Become. Further, a recording device other than the HDD, such as a magneto-optical disk, may be used, and the same effect can be obtained.
[0056]
Further, it goes without saying that the number and types of circuits and members constituting the image reproducing method and the image reproducing apparatus are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be realized not only by software but also by hardware. .
[0057]
Further, the image processing apparatus, the blurred image generation apparatus, and the method described above are also realized by a program for causing these image processing apparatuses and the like to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, as the recording medium, the main memory itself of the processor 18 shown in FIG. 1 may be a program medium, or a program reading device such as a CD-ROM drive is provided as an external storage device. A program medium such as a CD-ROM that can be read by inserting a recording medium therein may be used. In any case, the stored program may be configured to be accessed and executed by the CPU of the system control unit, or the program may be read in any case, and the read program is not shown. The program may be downloaded to the program storage area and the program may be executed. This download program is stored in advance in each device.
[0058]
Here, the program medium is a recording medium configured to be separable from the communication terminal device or the information processing device, and is a magnetic disk such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a CD-ROM, a CD-R / RW, an MO, an MD. , DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and other optical disc systems, PC cards, compact flash cards, smart media, IC cards, SD cards, memory sticks, etc., or mask ROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, flashes It may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a ROM.
[0059]
Further, the medium may carry a program in a fluid manner such that the program is downloaded from a communication network through a communication connection unit capable of connecting to an external communication network such as an Internet connection provider or a mobile mail service. . When the program is downloaded from the communication network as described above, the download program may be stored in advance, or may be installed from another storage medium. The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to a program, but may be data.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in an environment where the processing capability of a processor is low, such as a mobile phone or a digital still camera, an image can be blurred without using a special image processing circuit for image processing. Can be obtained.
[0061]
In addition, the processing capability of the processor may be low, the special processing for image processing may not be used, and the existing filter circuit or the like may be used. It can be universally applied in an environment where a camera or the like is incorporated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus that creates a blurred image according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a 3 × 3 spatial filter of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a rectangular transfer function of a memory transfer circuit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating actual blurred image generation processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating actual blurred image generation processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a diffuse blurred image obtained by a blurred image generation process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Image processing device (blurred image generation device)
11 Storage device
12 Decoder (Decoding means)
13 Encoder (encoding means)
14 Image holding memory (memory <1>) (first memory)
15 Image holding memory (memory <2>) (second memory)
16. Spatial filter circuit (filter means)
17 Memory transfer circuit (memory transfer means)
18 Processor (control means, filter coefficient setting means)

Claims (17)

In an image processing device that processes image data,
A first memory and a second memory for holding image data;
Memory transfer means having a rectangular transfer function for performing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory;
Filtering means for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory;
An image processing apparatus, comprising: control means for performing rectangular transfer by the memory transfer means with respect to image data of one memory which has been subjected to filter processing. The control means performs rectangular transfer of the image data of the second memory with respect to the image data of the first memory that has been subjected to the filter processing, and stores the image data as first image data;
Copying the first image data stored in the first memory to the second memory, and performing a filtering process on the first image data stored in the first memory;
Control of rectangularly transferring the image data of the second memory to the first image data of the first memory which has been subjected to the filter processing and storing the image data in the first memory as the second image data is performed by n (n is 0 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein n-th order image data is obtained by repeating (an arbitrary natural number excluding) times. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit transfers an n-th-order rectangular transfer image smaller than the (n−1) -th rectangular transfer image. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes the reduced width of the rectangular transfer image and transfers the rectangular transfer image toward a final stage of the processing. 5. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said memory transfer unit is a DMA transfer device. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said filter unit is a spatial filter. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filter unit is a smoothing filter. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a filter coefficient setting unit configured to set a filter coefficient of the filter unit. 9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the filter coefficient setting unit decreases the filter coefficient as the processing proceeds to the final stage. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the filter coefficient setting unit reduces the filter coefficient of image data adjacent to image data that has not been subjected to the filter processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing effect of the filter unit is blurring of an image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a decoding unit that decodes the encoded data and outputs the decoded data to the first memory or the second memory. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an encoding unit that encodes the image data held in the first memory or the second memory. In a blurred image generating apparatus that generates a blurred image by diffusing pixels with respect to image data,
A first memory and a second memory for holding image data;
Memory transfer means having a rectangular transfer function for performing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory;
Filtering means for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory;
Control means for performing rectangular transfer of the image data of the second memory by the memory transfer means with respect to the image data of the first memory which has been subjected to the filter processing;
The control means includes:
For the image data in the first memory that has been subjected to the filter processing, the image data in the second memory is rectangularly transferred and stored as first image data,
Copying the first image data stored in the first memory to the second memory, and performing a filtering process on the first image data stored in the first memory;
The control of rectangularly transferring the image data of the second memory and storing it as the second image data in the first memory with respect to the filtered first image data of the first memory is repeated n times to blur. A blurred image generating apparatus for generating an image. In a blurred image generating method for generating a blurred image by diffusing pixels with respect to image data,
Holding image data in a first memory and a second memory;
A first filter processing step of performing a first filter processing on the image data held in the first memory;
A step of rectangularly transferring the image data of the second memory to the image data of the first memory that has been subjected to the first filter processing and storing the image data as first image data;
Copying the first image data stored in the first memory to the second memory;
A second filter processing step of performing a second filter processing on the first image data stored in the first memory;
Performing a rectangular transfer of the image data of the second memory and storing it as second image data for the first image data of the first memory that has been subjected to the second filter processing, sequentially and repeatedly performing n times A blurred image generating method. An image processing apparatus for processing image data, comprising: a first memory and a second memory for storing image data; and a memory transfer unit having a rectangular transfer function for transferring data between the first memory and the second memory. Filtering means for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory; and transferring the image data in the other memory to the image data in the other memory after the filtering process. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for functioning as an image processing apparatus having a control unit for performing rectangular transfer by a unit. An image processing apparatus for processing image data, comprising: a first memory and a second memory for storing image data; and a memory transfer unit having a rectangular transfer function for transferring data between the first memory and the second memory. Filtering means for performing a filtering process on the image data held in the first memory or the second memory; and transferring the image data in the other memory to the image data in the other memory after the filtering process. And a control unit for performing rectangular transfer by the unit.

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