Image processing device and image processing method for high resolution display, and application processor including the same

An image processing method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of layer data, the plurality of layer data representing a plurality of images to be displayed on one screen in a display device;
• generating first image data by blending the plurality of layer data, the first image data including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to the one screen;
• generating pixel map data including a plurality of pixel identifications (IDs) based on the plurality of layer data, the plurality of pixel IDs indicating one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to be applied to the plurality of pixel values;
• generating the plurality of pixel values corresponding to one composite image to be displayed on the one screen by synthesizing the plurality of images based on the plurality of layer data;
• generating the plurality of pixel IDs for the plurality of pixel values corresponding to the one composite image based on the plurality of layer data;
• and
• generating second image data including a plurality of display quality enhancement pixel values by applying the one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to the plurality of pixel values based on the first image data and the pixel map data.

An application processor comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a display controller configured to be interoperable with the at least one processor,
• wherein the display controller comprises:
• a high dynamic range (HDR) unit configured to receive a plurality of layer data from the at least one processor, and to perform a HDR processing on the plurality of layer data based on a first control signal, the plurality of layer data representing a plurality of images to be displayed on one screen in a display device;
• a blender configured to generate first image data by blending the plurality of layer data based on an output of the HDR unit and a second control signal, and to generate pixel map data including a plurality of pixel identifications (IDs) based on the output of the HDR unit and the second control signal, the first image data including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to the one screen, the plurality of pixel IDs indicating one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to be applied to the plurality of pixel values;
• a display quality enhancer configured to generate second image data including a plurality of display quality enhancement pixel values by applying the one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to the plurality of pixel values based on the first image data and the pixel map data;
• a register configured to receive at least one meta data corresponding to at least one of the plurality of layer data from the at least one processor, and to generate the first control signal, the second control signal and a third control signal based on the at least one meta data;
• and
• a frame rate control unit configured to control a frame rate of the display device based on the third control signal.

An image processing device comprising at least one processor configured to implement:

• a blender configured to:
• receive a plurality of layer data;
• generate first image data by blending the plurality of layer data, the first image data including a plurality of pixel values corresponding to one screen of a display device;
• and
• generate block map data including a plurality of block identifications (IDs) based on the plurality of layer data, the plurality of layer data representing a plurality of images to be displayed on the one screen of the display device, the plurality of block IDs indicating one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to be applied to the plurality of pixel values;
• and
• a display quality enhancer configured to generate second image data including a plurality of display quality enhancement pixel values by applying the one or more display quality enhancement algorithms to a plurality of blocks based on the first image data and the block map data,
• wherein the display device includes a plurality of pixels, and each of the plurality of pixel values correspond to a respective one of the plurality of pixels, and
• wherein two or more of the plurality of pixels are grouped to form each of the plurality of blocks, and each of the plurality of block IDs corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of blocks.