Image processing method and display apparatus

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for processing an image are provided. A buffer is provided and separated into a series of storage units. Each storage unit has a fixed size. The image is divided into pixel groups, and each pixel group corresponds to one storage unit. Each pixel group is compressed by one of candidate compression methods to obtain compressed data so that the compressed data of each pixel group fits the corresponding storage unit.

1 . A method for processing an image from an image processor with a fixed size compression system in a mobile phone, comprising:
 providing a buffer separated into a series of storage units, each storage unit having a fixed size;   dividing the image into a plurality of pixel groups by a processor, each pixel group corresponding to one of the storage units, each pixel group is composed of four (2×2) pixel;   calculating the pixel group into color components for further compression process with the color components with fixed sizes;   compressing each pixel group by one of candidate compression methods by analyzing a pixel pattern with color components of the pixel group to obtain first a compressed data so that the first compressed data of each pixel group fitting the corresponding storage unit; and,   decompressing the compressed data by using a mapping device to supply data to display output image.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pixel pattern of each pixel group are analyzed to pick said one of the candidate compression methods by analyzing the fixed size pattern with the fixed size color components of the pixel group. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein color components of the pixel pattern of each pixel group are examined to determine whether similarity exists among color components to pick said one compression method for each pixel group. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein if similarity among color components is found existed, redundant bits in color components are not stored repeatedly to fit in the fixed size storage unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the candidate compression methods are tested for each pixel group to find said one compression method to obtained the compressed data for each pixel group, the candidate compression methods are tested with a fixed order, when a compression method fits in the compression ratio, the compression method is said the one compression method to obtained the compressed data for each pixel group. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a mode indicator for each pixel group is stored to indicate said one corresponding compression method applied to each pixel group to generate the compressed data stored in the corresponding storage unit. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pixel groups not corresponding to the portion of the image to be updated are not processed to save processing resource. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the steps of processing the image are performed in a display panel module. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the display panel module receives an updated portion of the image from a host device via a transmission link. 
     
     
         10 . A mobile phone, comprising:
 a mapping device dividing the image into a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group corresponding to one of storage units with a fixed size in a buffer, each pixel group is composed of four (2×2) pixels;   a color component in the buffer to store the separated color components from the pixel group;   a compressor device for compressing each pixel group by one of candidate compression methods by analyzing a pixel pattern with color components of the pixel group to obtain a compressed data so that the compressed data of each pixel group fitting the corresponding storage unit; and   a decompressor to decompress the compressed data and send the decompressed data into a display device to output a display data.   
     
     
         11 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein pixel pattern of each pixel group are analyzed to pick said one of the candidate compression methods. 
     
     
         12 . The display apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein color components of the pixel pattern of each pixel group are examined to determine whether similarity exists among color components to pick said one compression method for each pixel group. 
     
     
         13 . The display apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein if similarity among color components is found existed, redundant bits in color components are not stored repeatedly. 
     
     
         14 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of the candidate compression methods are tested for each pixel group to find said one compression method to obtained the compressed data for each pixel group. 
     
     
         15 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a mode indicator for each pixel group is stored to indicate said one corresponding compression method applied to each pixel group to generate the compressed data stored in the corresponding storage unit. 
     
     
         16 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein pixel groups not corresponding to the portion of the image to be updated are not processed to save processing resource. 
     
     
         17 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the display apparatus is a display panel connected to a host device. 
     
     
         18 . The display apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the display apparatus is a portable electronic device with a fixed size display system to fit a fixed size display process.