# US 12,015,884 B2 · Method of layer blending and reconstruction based on the alpha channel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,884 B2 - Document ID: US12015884B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/179,440 - Filed: 2021-02-19 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-13 - Assignees: Novatek Microelectronics Corp. - Applicants: Novatek Microelectronics Corp. - Inventors: Hung-Ming Wang; Yuan-Po Cheng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015884B2 ## CPC - H04N 9/76: for mixing of colour signals (H04N9/75 takes precedence) - H04N 9/646: {for image enhancement, e.g. vertical detail restoration, cross-colour elimination, contour correction, chrominance trapping filters} - H04N 19/44: Decoders specially adapted therefor, e.g. video decoders which are asymmetric with respect to the encoder - H04N 19/46: Embedding additional information in the video signal during the compression process (H04N19/517, H04N19/68, H04N19/70 take precedence) - H04N 19/85: using pre-processing or post-processing specially adapted for video compression - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A device and method for blending image data and the alpha channel and reconstructing to obtain the image again after transmission. An encoder blends the alpha channel and the red-green-blue (RGB) image data through a layer blending method that is supported by the general application processor (AP). Transporter image data, such as a checkerboard pattern, is blended with 1-alpha channel data to obtain a transporter. The blended image data (RGB+alpha) is mixed with the transporter to obtain mixed image data. The mixed image data is then transmitted through the existing transmission interface. After receiving the mixed image data, reconstruction processing is performed by a decoder to obtain the original RGB image data and the alpha channel again. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel comprising: receiving mixed image data; removing transporter image data from the mixed image data to obtain blended image data; reconstructing red-green-blue (RGB) image data and the alpha channel from the blended image data; calculating a plurality of cost values based on the mixed image data; interpolating an estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to the plurality of cost values; and calculating an alpha value according to the estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to expressions of Cr1=RGB*alpha, Cr2=RGB*alpha+255*(1-alpha), and alpha=1+(Cr1−Cr2)/255. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 1, wherein the RGB image data comprises 30-bit RGB image data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 1, wherein the alpha channel comprises an 8-bit alpha channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 1, wherein the transporter image data comprises a checkerboard pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 1, wherein the transporter image data comprises a colored checkerboard pattern. ### Claim 6 An electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel comprising: a decoder for receiving mixed image data; removing transporter image data from the mixed image data to obtain blended image data; and reconstructing red-green-blue (RGB) image data and the alpha channel from the blended image data, wherein the decoder is configured to: calculate a plurality of cost values based on the mixed image data, interpolate an estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to the plurality of cost values; and calculate an alpha value according to the estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to expressions of Cr1=RGB*alpha, Cr2=RGB*alpha+255*(1-alpha), and alpha=1+(Cr1−Cr2)/255. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 6, wherein the RGB image data comprises 30-bit RGB image data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 6, wherein the alpha channel comprises an 8-bit alpha channel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 6, wherein the transporter image data comprises a checkerboard pattern. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 6, wherein the transporter image data comprises a colored checkerboard pattern. ### Claim 11 An electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel comprising: an encoder for layer blending the alpha channel and red-green-blue (RGB) image data to obtain blended image data; blending transporter image data with 1-alpha channel data to obtain a transporter; blending the transporter with the blended image data to obtain mixed image data; and transmitting the mixed image data to a decoder; and the decoder for receiving the mixed image data from the encoder; removing the transporter from the mixed image data to obtain blended image data; and reconstructing the red-green-blue (RGB) image data and the alpha channel from the blended image data, wherein the decoder is configured to: calculate a plurality of cost values based on the mixed image data, interpolate an estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to the plurality of cost values; and calculate an alpha value according to the estimated value of Cr1 or Cr2 according to expressions of Cr1=RGB*alpha, Cr2=RGB*alpha+255*(1-alpha), and alpha=1+(Cr1−Cr2)/255. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 11, wherein the RGB image data comprises 30-bit RGB image data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 11, wherein the alpha channel comprises an 8-bit alpha channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 11, wherein the transporter image data comprises a checkerboard pattern. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electronic device for layer blending and reconstruction based on an alpha channel of claim 11, wherein the transporter image data comprises a colored checkerboard pattern.