Super-resolution processor and super-resolution processing method

A super-resolution processor that performs super-resolution processing on an input image to generate an output image, the super-resolution processor comprising:

• a 1/K reduction unit configured to generate a 1/K-reduced image by reducing a size of the input image by 1/K, where K is a real number larger than 1;
• a high-pass filter unit configured to extract a high-frequency component of the 1/K-reduced image, as a 1/K-reduced high-frequency image;
• a patch extraction unit configured to extract an estimated patch of a predetermined size from the 1/K-reduced high-frequency image, the estimated patch being a region of the 1/K-reduced high-frequency image;
• and
• an addition unit configured to add the estimated patch to a processing target block of the predetermined size in the 1/K-reduced image, to generate the output image.

A super-resolution processing method for performing super-resolution processing on an input image to generate an output image of a higher resolution than the input image, the super-resolution processing method comprising:

• generating an N-enlarged image by enlarging a size of the input image by a factor N, where N is a real number larger than 1;
• generating an M-enlarged image by enlarging a size of the input image by a factor M, where M is a real number larger than 1;
• extracting a high-frequency component of the M-enlarged image, as an M-enlarged high-frequency image;
• extracting an estimated patch of a predetermined size from the M-enlarged high-frequency image, the estimated patch being a region of the M-enlarged high-frequency image;
• and
• adding the estimated patch to a processing target block of the predetermined size in the N-enlarged image, to generate the output image,
• wherein M is smaller than N.

A super-resolution processing method for performing super-resolution processing on an input image to generate an output image, the super-resolution processing method comprising:

• generating a 1/K-reduced image by reducing a size of the input image by 1/K, where K is a real number larger than 1;
• extracting a high-frequency component of the 1/K-reduced image, as a 1/K-reduced high-frequency image;
• extracting an estimated patch of a predetermined size from the 1/K-reduced high-frequency image, the estimated patch being a region of the 1/K-reduced high-frequency image;
• and
• adding the estimated patch to a processing target block of the predetermined size in the 1/K-reduced image, to generate the output image.