PIPELINED ARCHITECTURE OF 2D-DCT, QUANTIZATION AND ZIGZAG PROCESS FOR JPEG IMAGE COMPRESSION USING VHDL

International Journal of VLSI design & Communication Systems (VLSICS) Vol.2, No.3, September 2011
DOI : 10.5121/vlsic.2011.2308 99
PIPELINED ARCHITECTURE OF 2D-DCT,
QUANTIZATION AND ZIGZAG PROCESS FOR
JPEG IMAGE COMPRESSION USING VHDL
T.Pradeepthi1
and Addanki Purna Ramesh2
Department of ECE, Sri Vasavi Engg College, Tadepalligudem, West Godavari (dt),
Andhra Pradesh, India
purnarameshaddanki@gmail.com,pradeepthi.t@gamil.com
ABSTRACT
This paper presents the architecture and VHDL design of a Two Dimensional Discrete Cosine Transform
(2D-DCT) with Quantization and zigzag arrangement. This architecture is used as the core and path in
JPEG image compression hardware. The 2D- DCT calculation is made using the 2D- DCT Separability
property, such that the whole architecture is divided into two 1D-DCT calculations by using a transpose
buffer. Architecture for Quantization and zigzag process is also described in this paper. The quantization
process is done using division operation. This design aimed to be implemented in Spartan-3E XC3S500
FPGA. The 2D- DCT architecture uses 1891 Slices, 51I/O pins, and 8 multipliers of one Xilinx Spartan-3E
XC3S500E FPGA reaches an operating frequency of 101.35 MHz One input block with 8 x 8 elements of 8
bits each is processed in 6604 ns and pipeline latency is 140 clock cycles .
KEYWORDS
JPEG, discrete cosine transform (DCT), quantization, zigzag, FPGA
1. INTRODUCTION
One of the most popular lossy compression methods is JPEG. JPEG stands for Joint Photographic
Expert Group. According to Magli [3], widely used in JPEG image included on the internet web
pages. The picture using JPEG can be accessed faster than the image without compression.
The JPEG compression can be divided into five main steps [6], as shown in Fig.1 color space
conversion, down-sampling, 2-D DCT, quantization and entropy coding. The first two operations
are used only for color images. For gray scale image we use only last three steps. In this present
paper we concentrated on hardware architecture of 2D-DCT, quantization and zigzag
arrangement. To achieve high throughput, this paper uses pipelined architecture, rather than
single clock architecture designed by Basri et.al [4].

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Fig.1 JPEG Compression Steps for Colour Images
1.1. Color Space Converter
The process of the JPEG starts with color space conversion. This process is not applicable to
gray-scale image, where there is only one luminance component for gray scale image. Color
image data in computers is usually represented in RGB (Red-Green-Blue) format. Each color
component uses 8 bits to store, thus, a full color pixel would require 24 bits. From the fact that
human eyes are more sensitive to intensity change rather than color change, the JPEG algorithm
exploits this by converting the RGB format to another color space called YCbCr. Y is luminance
component, Cb and Cr are chrominance components. After converting the color space, the
encoder stores the luminance Y in more detail than the other two chrominance components.
The Y component represents the brightness of a pixel, the Cb and Cr components represent the
chrominance (split into blue and red components). This is the same color space as used by digital
color television as well as digital video including video DVDs, and is similar to the way color is
represented in analog PAL video and MAC but not by analog NTSC, which uses the YIQ color
space. The YCbCr color space conversion allows greater compression without a significant effect
on perceptual image quality (or greater perceptual image quality for the same compression). The
compression is more efficient as the brightness information, which is more important to the
eventual perceptual quality of the image, is confined to a single channel, more closely
representing the human visual system.
The RGB image is converted to YCbCr by using the following equations
Y= 0.299R+ 0.587G +0.114B
Cb=0.564B– 0.564 Y
Cr=0.713R– 0.713 Y
1.2. Down Sampling
Due to the densities of color- and brightness sensitive receptors in the human eye, humans can see
considerably more fine detail in the brightness of an image (the Y component) than in the color of
an image (the Cb and Cr components). Using this knowledge, encoders can be designed to
compress images more efficiently. The transformation into the YCbCr color model enables the
next step, which is to reduce the spatial resolution of the Cb and Cr components (called "down
sampling" or "chroma sub sampling"). The ratios at which the down sampling can be done on
JPEG are 4:4:4 (no down sampling), 4:2:2 (reduce by factor of 2 in horizontal direction), and
most commonly 4:2:0(reduce by factor of 2 in horizontal and vertical directions). For the rest of
the compression process, Y, Cb and Cr are processed separately and in a very similar manner.
Down sampling the chroma components saves 33% or 50% of the space taken by the image
without drastically affecting perceptual image quality.

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1.3. Block Splitting
After sub sampling, each channel must be split into 8×8 blocks (of pixels). If the data for a
channel does not represent an integer number of blocks then the encoder must fill the remaining
area of the incomplete blocks with some form of dummy data: Filling the edge pixels with a fixed
color (typically black) creates dark artifacts along the visible part of the border. Repeating the
edge pixels is a common but nonoptimal technique that avoids the visible border, but it still
creates artifacts with the colorimetric of the filled cells. A better strategy is to fill pixels using
colors that preserve the DCT coefficients of the visible pixels, at least for the low frequency ones
(for example filling with the average color of the visible part will preserve the first DC
coefficient, but best fitting the next two AC coefficients will produce much better results with less
visible 8×8 cell edges along the border).
1.4. Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)
The discrete cosine transforms (DCT) is a technique for converting a signal into elementary
frequency components. It is widely used in image compression. Before compression, image data
in memory is divided into several blocks MCU (minimum code units). Each block consists of 8x8
pixels. Compression operations including DCT-2D in it will be done on each block [3].
Two dimensional DCT, because of its advantage in image compression, is an interesting research
subject that invite many researcher [1],[2], [4], [6] and others to participate in. That makes many
algorithms of DCT is developed.
1.4.1. 2-D Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT)
There are several ways to compute 2-D DCT. It can be computed with straightforward
computation just multiply input vector by raw DCT coefficients without any algorithm [1]. This
method is fast but need large logic utilization, especially multiplier. This method is fully
pipelined in this paper. FPGA chip usually has only a few multipliers. In this case, Spartan-3E
XCS500E has only 20 multipliers. This paper adopts the work of [2] The Discrete Cosine
Transform is an orthogonal transform consisting of a set of basis vectors that are sampled cosine
functions. The 2-D DCT of a data matrix is defined as equation (1)
……………………. (1)
Where X is the data matrix, C is the matrix of DCT Coefficients, and Ct
is the Transpose of C.
An expanded form of (1) is as followed:
Where, for an N x N data matrix,

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…(2)
For k = 1, 2… N, l = 2, 3… N, and ck, l = N -1/2
for l = 1.
The 2-D DCT (8 x 8 DCT) is implemented by the row-column decomposition technique. We
first compute the 1-D DCT (8 x 1 DCT) of each column of the input data matrix X to yield Xt
C.
after appropriate rounding or truncation, the transpose of the resulting matrix, Ct
X, is stored in
an transpose buffer. We then compute another 1-D DCT (8 x 1 DCT) of each row of Ct
X to
yield the desired 2-D DCT as defined in equation (1). A block diagram of the design is shown in
Fig 2.
Fig 2: 2D-DCT Architecture
1.5. Quantization
Our 8x8 block of DCT coefficients is now ready for compression by quantization. A remarkable
and highly useful feature of the JPEG process is that in this step, varying levels of image
compression and quality are obtainable through selection of specific quantization matrices. This
enables the user to decide on quality levels ranging from 1 to 100, where 1 gives the poorest image
quality and highest compression, while 100 gives the best quality and lowest compression. As a
result, the quality/compression ratio can be tailored to suit different needs. Subjective experiments
involving the human visual system have resulted in the JPEG standard quantization matrix. With a
quality level of 50, this matrix renders both high compression and excellent decompressed image
quality. From [5] the Quantization matrix is obtained.
Fig 3. Quantization Matrix

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1.6. Zigzag Reordering Buffer
Each block of data that is output by the quantization module needs to be reordered in a zigzag.
This reordering is achieved using an 8 x 8 array of register pairs organized in a fashion similar to
the transpose buffer. Quantized output is sent sequentially byte-by-byte in zigzag pattern. Zigzag
operation is done for every 8X8 block. The pattern is shown in figure 2 [5]. Numbers listed in the
figure are the address of 64 data that is arranged in a zigzag pattern.
Fig.4 Zigzag Pattern
2. FPGA IMPLEMENTATION
2.1. System Architecture
The entire system architecture to be implemented in FPGA is shown in figure 5. Input data is
inserted into the system every 8 bit sequentially. Actually, many DCT designs insert the input to
the DCT in parallel. For example is 8 x 8 bit [1], [4],[6]. This is ideal for DCT computing because
it only consumes a clock cycle to insert data to 1D-DCT unit. With sequential manner, it takes 8
clock cycles to insert a set of data (8 points) to the DCT unit. The sequential architecture is
chosen to save I/O port in FPGA chip. Some 2D-DCT intellectual property designs from Xilinx
also use 8-bit input [10]. The 8-bit input architecture is also fit to many camera modules.
Fig.5 System Architecture
The 2D-DCT architecture, combined with zigzag and quantization used in this paper is shown in
Fig. 5. The 2DDCT module construction is modified from [2] that also put the data sequentially

104
into the module. Thus, the architecture of 2D-DCT was divided into two 1D DCT modules and
one transpose buffer. The same 1D DCT module is used twice. The transpose buffer operates like
a temporal barrier between the first and the second 1D DCT. It made from static RAM with two
sets of data and address bus. One for read process and the other for write.
2.2.1D-DCT Pipeline Process
Since the DCT input/output has 8 points and data has to be entered and released in sequential
manner, it takes 8 clock cycles for each input and output process. Totally, 8 points 1D-DCT
computation needs 22 clock cycles. Design for data input and output in this paper is inspired by
design from [2]. The input and output process visualization is shown in figure 6. In this paper,
system computes every step in a clock cycle, so DCT computation can be done faster.
Fig.6 Data input/output process visualization of clock cycles for 8 points 1D-DCT
2.3. Transpose Buffer
Transpose buffer is static RAM, designed with two set of data and address bus. It has input and
output data and address buses, the structural construction of transpose buffer is shown in fig.7.
The input to the transpose buffer comes from output of first 1D-DCT. Address in, out, and WE
(write enable) are generated from controller module. Input address is generated in normal
sequence (0,1,2,3,4,5,6, …, 63) but output address is generated in transposed sequence
(0,8,16,24,32,40,48,56,1,9,17,..,55, 63). Output process begins after the entry of all 64 inputs. It
gives the time latency between first input and first output. The output of transpose buffer is fed
directly to the input of second 1D-DCT unit and the chain of sequences continues in same order.

105
Fig.7 Transpose Buffer Block Diagram
2.4. Quantizer
The Quantization process in JPEG image compression is done by dividing each and every 2D-
DCT coefficient by quantizing values from quantization table shown in fig 3. This quantizer
module consists of ROM and divider. These quantizing values are first stored in ROM. The
divider carries out division in a pipelined manner. The first DCT coefficient coming out from 2D-
DCT module is divided by the first value from the quantization table (which was already stored
in ROM), and second DCT coefficient is divided by second value from the table, like wise total
64 coefficients are divided by the values in quantization table. In this quantization process also
we used pipeline architecture. Block Diagram of the implementation is shown in fig 8.
2.5. Zigzag Buffer
Zigzag buffer is made from static RAM. Its construction is like transpose buffer. It has two sets of
data – address bus. Input address bus is accessed by normal sequence, but output address is given
some zigzag sequence described in fig 4. Zigzag address is generated by a zigzag RAM. The
sequence is stored in the RAM. When the RAM address bus is accessed by normal address
sequence, RAM data bus will emit zigzag value. Figure 8 describe zigzag buffer and RAM
construction in the system.

106
Fig.8 Quantization & Zigzag Architecture
3. SIMULATION RESULTS
The 2-D DCT, Quantization and Zigzag architecture was described in VHDL. This VHDL was
synthesized into a Xilinx Spartan 3E family FPGA [7]. System is tested with gray scale image.
Simulation of VHDL values are compared with MATLAB values. The complete synthesis results
to Spartan-3E FPGA are presented in table 1, whose hardware was fit in an XCS500E device. The
table 2 presents the comparison between [1] and the present work in this paper.
Table 1.device utilization using Xilinx spartran-3E for total architecture proposed in this paper.
Logic Units Used Available Utilization
Number of slices 1891 4656 40%
Number of slices FFs 2450 9312 26%
Number of 4 input LUTs 1671 9312 17%
Number of Bonded IOBs 51 231 21%
Number of multipliers
18x18
8 20 40%

107
Table 2.present paper’s 2D-DCT result is compared with work of 2D-DCT design of [1].
Logic Units This paper (only 2D-DCT) Presented[1]
Number of slices 1235 7260
Number of slices FFs 1551 9644
Number of 4 input
LUTs
1239 11194
Number of Bonded
IOBs
23 101
Number of multipliers
18x18
8
-
Table 3. Present paper’s 2D-DCT (with Quantization & zigzag process) result is compared with
result with [8].
Logic units This paper(2D-DCT,quantization,zigzag) Presented [8]
Number of 4 input
LUTs
1671 5276
Number of slices 1891 3070
Clock freq(MHz) 101.35 31.1
According to synthesis result, maximum time delay produced is 9.004 ns. That constraint yields
minimum clock period 9.866 ns. Maximum clock frequency can be used is 101.355MHz.
Maximum delay synthesized is much smaller than delay produced in [4]. 1D-DCT designed in [4]
yields maximum time delay 76.03 ns.System [4] uses fully parallel processing without clock to
compute 8 points 1D-DCT. That system is used as comparison reference because it uses same
FPGA with this system. Since the system in paper [1] uses Vertex FPGA that has higher
frequency than Spartan, the delay is much smaller than this system and maximum frequency is
higher. Maximum frequency in [1] is 308.182 MHz this system is also faster than 2D-DCT
described in [6]. System [6] has minimum period 82.1 ns.The uses of pipeline process gives the
system latency. When results are compared with [8] the slices, LUT’s are decreased and clock
frequency is increased to 101MHz. The output exists several clock cycles after the first input.
Latency produced in 2D-DCT is 94 clock cycles, quantizer output at 118 clock cycles. Overall
system (quantized and zigzag 2D-DCT) has latency 140 clock cycles. As comparison, 2D-DCT

108
designed in [6] has latency 160 clock cycles. The better result reached by system in [1]. It takes
37 clock cycles as system latency to compute 2D-DCT.
Fig 9 Output for only 2D-DCT
Fig 10 Output after for Quantization
Fig 11 Output after zigzag

109
Fig 12 Device Utilization Summery
4. CONCLUSION
The jpeg image compression is designed in VHDL and is tested with gray scale image. The
accuracy of computation is compared to Matlab computation result with similar operation. This
Comparison yields Mean Square Error value MSE = 0.060552, which is computed for 64 bits of
data in pipelined process causes latency in the system. The latency produced from this system is
140 clock cycles. Maximum frequency can be achieved by this system is 101.35 MHz Sequential
pipeline design gives higher frequency than fully parallel design in [4]. The design takes 1891
slices, 2450 slice FF, 1671 LUT’s and 8 multipliers such that the area is also reduced when
compared to previous work. It is suitable for implementing on FPGA like Xilinx XCS500E. The
sequential operation of DCT saves logic utilization in FPGA compared with [1] to a much larger
extent. Each step of DCT algorithm is executed on each clock cycle. Every step consists of 8-9
operation. Thus this method is fast and had very less complexity.
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