FPGA Based JPEG-LS Encoder for Onboard Real-time Lossless Image Compression

In this study, a hardware efficient field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) implementation of the JPEG-LS encoder for lossless image compression is introduced. Encoder architecture comprises both regular mode and run mode with run interruption sample encoding procedures for full compliance with the ISO/ITU standard. Differently from former reported implementations, prediction error computation is optimized with pipeline data forwarding technique for optimum delay and minimum complexity. Besides, procedures of the run-length encoding are realized with normalization scheme using look-up tables without update latency. Synthesis results showed that proposed optimizations improved the processing speed of the encoder noticeably while FPGA hardware footprint is significantly reduced.