JP2010245768A - Image processing apparatus, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand image data, on which run-length compression has been performed, at high speed, and to achieve reduction in a storage capacity and reduction in in-vehicle unit price. <P>SOLUTION: Run-length compressed image data, on which run-length compression has been performed, are expanded forward, the run-length compressed image data are expanded backward, and expanded image data after expansion are generated on the basis of expanded data which are respectively expanded forward and backward. When expanding data forward and backward, on the basis of a total sum of the numbers of repetitions included in run-length compressed image data to be expanded, the end of forward and backward expansion can be determined. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for displaying an image using an in-vehicle device, and in particular, can perform high-speed expansion processing of run-length compressed image data and reduce the storage capacity. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of reducing the cost of the image processing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for compressing data such as image data has been widely adopted in order to reduce storage capacity and communication volume.

  For example, run-length compression that compresses data by encoding data of a certain continuous value with one piece of data and the number of repetitions, and a code expansion device that decodes and expands the compressed data that has been run-length compressed Is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In particular, in an in-vehicle device equipped with a DTV (Digital Television) receiver and having a car navigation (hereinafter referred to as “car navigation”) function, an OSD (On Screen Display) is used to superimpose a car navigation system on a television image. Information, operation buttons, etc. are displayed.

  Recently, as the size of the liquid crystal panel increases, the size of image data such as the operation buttons of car navigation systems also increases proportionally, and it takes time to expand. Therefore, it is necessary to perform run-length expansion processing at high speed. was there.

  For this reason, the above-described code decompression apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 discloses a method for increasing the processing speed of the run length decompression process by performing decompression processes in parallel from the top of the compressed data.

JP 2008-109196 A

  However, in the code decompression apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when performing decompression processing in parallel, it is necessary to distribute to each processing unit that performs processing in parallel. There was a problem that it took.

  In addition, when image data is to be decompressed, there is a problem that it is difficult to divide the image data into a plurality of areas and perform the run length decompression processing for each area in parallel.

  Specifically, when run-length compression / expansion is applied to image data, it is generally performed using a minimum unit called image data when handling image data. However, when the run-length compressed image data is divided at a predetermined position, it is unclear how many pixels are included in the divided compressed data.

  For example, when the image data is equally divided into two, the number of pixels of each divided image data is not the same. Accordingly, when decompression processing is performed in parallel, it is not known from which part of the decompressed image data the decompressed data should be written, so the image data cannot be divided in advance. As described above, the image data cannot be divided at predetermined positions and decompressed in parallel.

  For these reasons, even if the data size of image data, etc. increases with the increase in the size of the liquid crystal panel in an in-vehicle device equipped with a DTV receiver, run-length compressed image data can be A major issue is how to realize an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can be expanded and that can reduce the storage capacity and reduce the price of an in-vehicle device.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems caused by the prior art, and the data size of image data and the like has increased with an increase in the size of a liquid crystal panel in an in-vehicle device or the like equipped with a DTV receiver. Even in such a case, an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of expanding the run-length compressed image data at high speed, reducing the storage capacity, and reducing the price of the in-vehicle apparatus are provided. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention is an image processing apparatus for decompressing compressed image data, and is a positive processing for decompressing run-length compressed run-length compressed image data from the positive direction. Direction data decompression means, reverse data decompression means for decompressing the run-length compressed image data from the reverse direction, and decompressed data respectively decompressed by the forward direction data decompression means and the reverse direction data decompression means. And a decompressed image data generating means for generating decompressed image data after decompression.

  According to the present invention, the run-length compressed run-length compressed image data is expanded from the forward direction, the run-length compressed image data is expanded from the reverse direction, and is expanded from the forward direction and from the reverse direction, respectively. There is an effect that it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of generating decompressed image data after decompression based on the decompressed data.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the expansion processing of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the end determination process. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the forward direction expansion processing procedure according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the end determination processing procedure according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the in-vehicle device according to the present embodiment.

  Exemplary embodiments of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, the outline of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1, and then an embodiment of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. It will be explained using.

  First, the outline of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when run-length compression / decompression is applied to image data, the run-length compressed image data 1 is associated with color information representing the color of one pixel, The number of repetitions indicating how many times the color information is repeated is stored.

  In the conventional decompression process, data is read from the beginning of the compressed image data 1 (see (A-1) in the figure), the read data is run-length decompressed (see (A-2) in the figure), The expanded image data is generated by arranging the data sequentially expanded in a certain direction on the completed image 2.

  However, in the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment, as shown in (B) of the figure, the compressed image data 3 is read from the beginning (see (B-1) of the figure) and read. The extended data is run-length expanded (see (B-2) in the figure), and the expanded image data is generated by arranging the expanded data from the starting end in the completed image 4.

  In parallel with this processing, the compressed image data 3 is read from the end (see (B-3) in the figure), the read data is run-length expanded (see (B-4) in the figure), and completed. Expanded image data is generated by arranging data expanded from the end in the image 4.

  Here, how the decompressed data is arranged in the completed image and the run-length decompression process is performed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the expansion processing of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment.

  In the compressed image data subjected to run-length compression, as shown in the upper part of the figure, color information representing the color for one pixel and the number of repetitions representing how many times the color information is repeated are one run-length decompression. It is a unit.

  For example, when black color information is “a” and white color information is “b”, “a: 3 times”, “b: 3 times”, “a: 4 times” from the beginning of the compressed image data. Will be described.

  As shown in the lower part of the figure, the run-length-expanded decompressed image data, which is the original data of the completed image, has pixels arranged in a grid pattern, and one pixel has one color information set. . For example, data that has been expanded from the top end of the completed image, for example, in the row unit from the upper left (hereinafter referred to as “positive direction”) is arranged as “aaa”, “bbb”, “aaaa”, and the expanded image data is extracted from the positive direction. Generate.

  On the other hand, the compressed image data is read from the end of the compressed image data, and the end of the completed image, for example, decompressed data is arranged in the row unit from the lower right (hereinafter referred to as “reverse direction”), and the reverse direction The decompressed image data is generated from

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment, the compressed image data is processed in parallel by performing the process of generating the expanded image data from the forward direction and the process of generating the expanded image data from the reverse direction. In addition to being able to expand at high speed, it is possible to reduce the storage capacity.

  Note that here, the compressed image data has been described when the data of the completed image is sequentially compressed in units of rows, that is, when the compression direction is horizontal, the processing for generating the expanded image data has been described. It may be compressed in units of columns, that is, in the vertical direction.

  Embodiments of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus and the image processing method include an image processing apparatus 10 and a storage unit 20. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11 and an output unit 12, and the storage unit 20 stores compressed image data 21. The control unit 11 further includes an input unit 11a, a forward direction expansion unit 11b, a reverse direction expansion unit 11c, and an end determination unit 11d.

  The input unit 11a acquires the compressed image data 21 subjected to run length compression in the forward direction, passes the acquired forward direction acquired data to the forward direction decompression unit 11b, and transfers the compressed image data 21 in the reverse direction. It is a processing unit that performs processing to acquire and pass the acquired reverse direction acquisition data to the reverse direction expansion unit 11c.

  The input unit 11a can read and acquire the compressed image data 21 in various file formats. For example, an RGB format file represented by three colors of red, green, and blue, an αRGB format file composed of RGB and an alpha channel representing transparency, and luminance ( There are compressed image data 21 of various file formats such as a file of YC format composed of Y) and a color signal (C).

  Furthermore, the input unit 11a is a processing unit that performs processing for notifying the end determination unit 11d of the number of repetitions included in the data acquired in the forward direction or the reverse direction.

  The forward direction decompression unit 11 b is a processing unit that performs processing of decompressing forward direction acquisition data from the input unit 11 a and passing the decompressed data to the output unit 12. The backward decompression unit 11c is a processing unit that performs decompression of backward direction acquisition data from the input unit 11a and passes the decompressed data to the output unit 12.

  The end determination unit 11d is a processing unit that performs a process of determining the end of the decompression process based on the total number of repetitions included in the data acquired in the forward direction or the reverse direction. Here, the end determination process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the end determination process.

  As shown in the figure, the decompressed data decompressed from the normal direction is expanded in the reverse direction by the decompressed data expanded from the reverse direction, in parallel with the process of generating the expanded image data that is the original data of the completed image in the normal direction. Processing to generate image data is performed.

  At this time, if the area 101 where the expanded image data is generated in the forward direction and the area 102 where the expanded image data is generated in the reverse direction collide, that is, the total number of repetitions included in the data acquired in the forward direction or the reverse direction. However, if it matches the number of pixels of the completed image, it is considered that the expansion process is completed.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the description of the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10 will be continued. The output unit 12 generates decompressed image data after decompression based on the decompressed data decompressed by the forward direction decompression unit 11b and the reverse direction decompression unit 11c, and delivers the generated decompressed image data to a display device or the like. It is a processing part to perform.

  The storage unit 20 is a storage unit composed of a kind of semiconductor memory that can freely erase and write data such as flash memory and whose contents are not lost even when the power is turned off. Data 21 is stored.

  Since the storage unit 20 is composed of a portable flash memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, the compressed image data 21 can be easily changed by changing the USB memory.

  The compressed image data 21 is run-length compressed image data, includes a header part and a data part (not shown), and is stored in the storage unit 20.

  The header section stores information necessary for decompression of the compressed image data file, such as the file length and the compression direction (vertical / horizontal).

  The data portion stores the number of repetitions that is associated with color information representing the color of one pixel by run length compression and indicates how many times the color information is repeated in the compression direction stored in the header portion. ing. In the run length compression, when compressing image data having the feature that the same pixels are continuous, the compression rate is good and the storage capacity can be greatly reduced.

  Also, the color information for one pixel varies depending on the file format of the image data. Specifically, in the RGB format, it is expressed by a total of 24 bits / pixel of red 8 bits, green 8 bits, and blue 8 bits, and in the αRGB format, it is expressed by 32 bits / pixel.

  In the present embodiment, the storage unit 20 is composed of a portable flash memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. However, the storage unit 20 is built in the image processing apparatus 10 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). It may be configured.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is the image processing apparatus 10, the forward direction data decompression means is the forward direction decompression section 11b, the backward direction data decompression means is the reverse direction decompression section 11c, and the decompressed image data generation means is the output section 12. The end determination means corresponds to the end determination unit 11d.

  Next, the forward direction expansion processing procedure performed by the image processing apparatus and the image processing method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the forward direction expansion processing procedure according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the input unit 11a acquires the compressed image data 21 in the positive direction (step S101).

  Then, the forward direction decompression unit 11b performs decompression processing on the forward direction acquisition data obtained in step S101 (step S102), and the output unit 12 decompresses the forward image based on the decompressed data decompressed in step S102. Data is generated (step S103).

  Thereafter, the input unit 11a notifies the end determination unit 11d of the number of repetitions included in the forward direction acquisition data acquired in step S101 (step S104), and ends the forward direction expansion process.

  On the other hand, the reverse direction expansion processing procedure performed by the image processing apparatus and the image processing method will be described. However, since it is the same as the above-described forward direction expansion processing procedure, the description with reference to the drawings will be omitted. First, the input unit 11a acquires the compressed image data 21 in the reverse direction.

  Then, the backward decompression unit 11c performs decompression processing of the obtained backward acquisition data, and the output unit 12 generates decompressed image data in the reverse direction based on the decompressed decompressed data, and performs reverse direction acquisition data. Is notified to the end determination unit 11d, and the backward expansion process is ended.

  Next, an end determination processing procedure performed by the image processing apparatus and the image processing method will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the end determination processing procedure according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the end determination unit 11d acquires the number of repetitions from the input unit 11a (step S201).

  Then, the end determination unit 11d calculates the total number of repetitions based on the number of repetitions acquired in step S201 (step S202), and determines whether or not the total number of repetitions matches the number of pixels of the completed image. (Step S203).

  When the sum of the number of repetitions matches the number of pixels of the completed image (step S203: Yes), the end determination unit 11d determines that the expansion process has ended and ends the process. On the other hand, if the sum of the number of repetitions does not match the number of pixels of the completed image (step S203: No), the end determination unit 11d repeats the end determination process described above (steps S201 to S203).

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the run-length compressed image data 21 is acquired from the forward direction and the reverse direction in the input unit 11a of the image processing apparatus 10, and the forward direction acquired data is decompressed and acquired in the reverse direction. Data decompression processing is configured to be performed in parallel.

  Further, the end determination unit 11d is configured to perform the end determination based on the number of repetitions included in the forward direction acquisition data and the reverse direction acquisition data acquired by the input unit 11a.

  Accordingly, the storage capacity can be reduced by performing run length compression on the image data. Further, there is no need to switch the processing between the forward expansion unit 11b and the reverse expansion unit 11c, and the processing load on the control unit 11 is not applied.

  Furthermore, there is no need to wait while the forward direction expansion unit 11b and the reverse direction expansion unit 11c are performing parallel processing, the expansion process can be performed at high speed, and the throughput (processing capability) of the storage unit 20 is improved. Can be made.

  In the above embodiment, the image processing apparatus 10 has been described. Here, the configuration of the in-vehicle apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the in-vehicle device according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the image processing device and the image processing method include a storage unit 20 and an in-vehicle device 30. The in-vehicle device 30 includes an image processing unit 31, a DTV receiver 32, a combining unit 33, and a display unit 34, and the storage unit 20 stores the compressed image data 21.

  The image processing unit 31 further includes decompressed image data 31a, and the DTV receiver 32 further includes DTV data 32a. Since the storage unit 20 is the same as the storage unit 20 of FIG. 3, description thereof is omitted here.

  Here, the storage unit 20 is configured by a USB memory or the like installed outside the in-vehicle device 30, but may be configured by a storage unit built in the in-vehicle device 30 such as an HDD.

  Since the image processing unit 31 is the same as the image processing apparatus 10 of FIG. 3 described above, description thereof is omitted here, but the decompressed image data 31a is generated in parallel based on the compressed image data 21, and the generated decompression is performed. It is a processing unit that performs processing for passing the image data 31 a to the combining unit 33.

  The DTV receiver 32 is mounted on the in-vehicle device 30, receives DTV data 32 a of video data via an antenna or the like installed in the DTV receiver 32, and passes the received DTV data 32 a to the combining unit 33. .

  The synthesizing unit 33 generates synthesized data that can display the navigation information, operation buttons, and the like of the car navigation system by superimposing the received decompressed image data 31a and DTV data 32a on a television image by OSD (On Screen Display). It is a processing part which performs the process to perform.

  The composite data may generate an image or video when the expanded image data 31a and the DTV data 32a are superimposed, or when the expanded image data 31a and the DTV data 32a are separately generated and displayed on the display unit 34. In addition, both data may be displayed.

  The display unit 34 is called an OSD, and is a display device having a function that can be operated by displaying an operation menu, an operation button, or the like with other functions superimposed on a video or image displayed on the display. .

  For example, operation buttons for functions such as car navigation and voice reproduction can be displayed on a television image displayed on the display, and can be operated by a remote control or a touch panel.

  As described above, the image processing unit 31 of the in-vehicle apparatus 30 generates the expanded image data 31a by parallel processing, the combining unit 33 combines the expanded image data 31a and the DTV data 32a, and the display unit 34 combines them. Configured to display the displayed data.

  As a result, in the in-vehicle device 30 equipped with the DTV receiver 32, even when the size of the image data or the like increases with the increase in the size of the liquid crystal panel, the run-length compressed image data is expanded at high speed. In addition, the storage capacity can be reduced and the price of the in-vehicle device 30 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the expanded image data 31a and the DTV data 32a are combined and displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the expanded image data 31a and map data as navigation information are displayed. And may be combined and displayed.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus and the image processing method according to the present invention are a case where the data size of image data or the like is increased with an increase in the size of a liquid crystal panel in an in-vehicle apparatus or the like equipped with a DTV receiver. In addition, the run-length compressed image data can be expanded at high speed, and is suitable for reducing the storage capacity and reducing the price of the in-vehicle device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing apparatus 11 Control part 11a Input part 11b Forward direction expansion part 11c Reverse direction expansion part 11d Completion determination part 12 Output part 20 Storage part 21 Compressed image data

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus that decompresses compressed image data,
Forward direction data decompression means for decompressing run length compressed run length compressed image data from the forward direction;
Reverse direction data expansion means for expanding the run length compressed image data from the reverse direction;
An image processing apparatus comprising: decompressed image data generating means for generating decompressed image data after decompression based on decompressed data decompressed by the forward data decompressing means and the backward data decompressing means, respectively.   Based on the sum of the number of repetitions included in the run-length compressed image data targeted for decompression by the forward direction data decompression means and the number of iterations included in the run-length compressed image data targeted for decompression by the backward direction data decompression means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an end determination unit that determines an end of expansion by the forward direction data expansion unit and the reverse direction data expansion unit. An image processing method for decompressing compressed image data,
A forward direction data decompression step of decompressing run length compressed run length compressed image data from the forward direction;
A reverse data expansion step of expanding the run length compressed image data from the reverse direction;
And a decompressed image data generating step of generating decompressed image data after decompression based on the decompressed data respectively decompressed by the forward data decompressing step and the backward data decompressing step.

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