Abstract: An image enhancement unit and method for enhancing the image quality of a video stream is presented. The image enhancement unit combines a contour enhancement unit, a luminance contrast stretching unit, a color transient improvement unit, and a color saturation control unit to enhance both the luminance and chrominance values in the video stream. Specifically, the contour enhancement unit processes the luminance values to improve the contours of the images in the video steam. The luminance contrast stretching unit further improves the luminance by enhancing the contrast in the images. The color transient improvement unit processes the chrominance values to remove blurring around along the edges of color transitions and the color saturation control unit increases the color saturation to improve the appearance of the images.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting selected colors of an image is presented. A chrominance adjustment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determines whether the color of the current pixel is near a selected color. When the color of the current pixel is near the selected color the chrominance adjustment system calculates a color specific chrominance adjustment factor based on the current color and the selected color and adjusts the color of the current pixel using the color specific chrominance adjustment factor.

Abstract: A method and system for scaling an original image into a scaled image is disclosed. Rather than using the corresponding position in the original image to generate the pixels values of a current pixel in the scaled image, image scalers in accordance with the present invention, calculate a high frequency adjusted position based on the high frequency components of pixels near the corresponding position. Pixel values based on the high frequency adjusted position provide better picture quality for the scaled image than pixel values based on the corresponding position. Furthermore, some embodiments of the present invention also use sharpness compensation to further improve the picture quality of the scaled image.

Abstract: A method and system for performing still pixel detection is presented. In accordance with the present invention, still pixel detection can use multiple thresholds and multiple windows of pixels. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, a still pixel detection test is performed using a first window. If the first window test determines the pixel is a still pixel then the pixel is classified as a still pixel. If the first window test determines the pixel is not a still pixel, a still pixel detection test is performed using a second window. If the second window test determines the pixel is a still pixel then the pixel is classified as a still pixel. Otherwise, the pixel is not classified as a still pixel. Some embodiment of the present invention the still pixel tests use multiple thresholds to determine if a pixel is a still pixel.

Abstract: A method and system for characterizing structures in an image are presented. The method and system generates a structure checksum value based on a plurality of pixels in the image. The structure checksum is used as an index of a look-up table containing structure characteristics corresponding to the structure checksum values.

Abstract: A system and system for performing adaptive recursive noise reduction with still pixel detection on a video stream is presented. After processing a field pixels that were modified are stored in the field so that processing of later fields uses the modified pixels. Furthermore, the system uses novel still pixel detection routines that include multiple thresholds and multiple windows of pixels so that noise reduction is only performed on still pixels.

Abstract: A method and system for suppressing color-crossing error in decoded video signals is presented. The color-crossing error suppression method and system uses a first suppression technique at a pixel location for a first subset of fields exhibiting color-crossing error at a pixel location then uses a second suppression technique at the pixel location for a second subset of fields exhibiting color-crossing error at the pixel location. The second subset of fields follows the first subset of fields in the video signals.

Abstract: A color saturation control unit and method for increasing the color saturation of an image is presented. A scaled saturation enhancement factor calculation unit generates a scaled saturation enhancement factor using a base saturation enhancement factor. A multiplier generates a saturation enhanced U chrominance value and a saturation enhanced V chrominance for the current pixel by multiplying the scaled saturation enhancement factor multiplied with the current chrominance values. The ratio of the saturation enhanced chrominance values should be equal to the ratio of the current chrominance values. A lookup table contains tabled saturation enhancement factors that can be used as the scaled saturation enhancement factor when the base saturation enhancement factor would cause the saturation enhanced U chrominance value or the saturation enhanced V chrominance value to exceed a valid range of chrominance values.

Abstract: An image enhancement unit and method for enhancing the image quality of a video stream is presented. The image enhancement unit combines a contour enhancement unit, a luminance contrast stretching unit, a color transient improvement unit, and a color saturation control unit to enhance both the luminance and chrominance values in the video stream. Specifically, the contour enhancement unit processes the luminance values to improve the contours of the images in the video steam. The luminance contrast stretching unit further improves the luminance by enhancing the contrast in the images. The color transient improvement unit processes the chrominance values to remove blurring around along the edges of color transitions and the color saturation control unit increases the color saturation to improve the appearance of the images.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting color-crossing error in decoded video signals is presented. The color-crossing error detection method and system detects a color-crossing pattern in a set of corresponding pixels that share a pixel location. Each pixel of the set of corresponding pixels comes from a different field of a set of fields, which includes a current field having a current pixel. The method and system determines that color-crossing error exists at the current pixel when the color-crossing pattern exists for a user configurable number of sequential fields of the same field type at the pixel location.

Abstract: A color transient improvement unit and method for improving color transients to remove blurring along the edges of color transitions is presented. A transient characterization unit calculates various transient characterization values for a color transient detection window surrounding a current pixel. A transient threshold unit analyzes the transient characterization values to determine whether the color transient detection window contains a color transition. If a color transition exists, a transient correction unit generates an improved U chrominance value and an improved V chrominance value for the current pixel.

Abstract: A method and system for smoothing a frame to remove jagged edges are presented. The method and system generates a smoothing filter with consolidated pixels. Edges within the smoothing filter are analyzed to select an edge direction used for smoothing. A smoothed pixel is generated based on a normalized linear combination of a first edge end pixel, a second edge end pixel and center entry of the smoothing filter. Subtle structure checking can be used to determine whether to use the smoothed pixel in place of the current pixel.

Abstract: A differential input circuit with lower power consumption and noise is disclosed. Rather than completely discharging output nodes differential circuits, the present invention equalizes the output nodes to conserver power and to reduce noise. Specifically, an equalization circuit is coupled between the output nodes of the low power and low noise differential input circuit.

Abstract: An integrated circuit with ESD protection for multiple power domains is disclosed. A first ESD protection circuit is coupled in between the power pad of the first power domain and the ground pad of the second power domain to dissipate energy from electrostatic discharges. Similarly, a second ESD protection circuit is coupled in between the power pad of the second power domain and the ground pad of the first power domain.

Abstract: A delay-locked loop (DLL) to produce a plurality of delayed clock signals comprising combinational logic for false lock detection is provided. The combinational logic uses only a subset of the plurality of delayed clock signals to provide a forward indicator indicating a delay period (?t) is longer than a desired delay period. The combinational logic further provides a back indicator indicating the delay period (?t) is shorter than a desired delay period.

Abstract: A delay-locked loop (DLL) to produce a plurality of delayed clock signals comprising combinational logic for false lock detection is provided. The combinational logic uses only a subset of the plurality of delayed clock signals to provide a forward indicator indicating a delay period (?t) is longer than a desired delay period. The combinational logic further provides a back indicator indicating the delay period (?t) is shorter than a desired delay period.

Abstract: A digital image upscaling system enhances the visual quality of enlarged images by detecting diagonal edges and applying an appropriate scaling algorithm, such as a rotated bilinear scaling process, to output pixels associated with those edges. The rotated bilinear scaling process involves detecting diagonal edges and specifying a new frame of reference rotated 45° from the original frame of reference, and then selecting a rotated pixel set based on the new frame of reference. Bilinear interpolation in the new frame of reference using the rotated pixel set provides improved pixel data for the output pixel. Output pixels found not to be associated with diagonal edges are processed using standard bilinear interpolation.

Abstract: A system and system for performing adaptive recursive noise reduction with still pixel detection on a video stream is presented. After processing a field pixels that were modified are stored in the field so that processing of later fields uses the modified pixels. Furthermore, the system uses novel still pixel detection routines that include multiple thresholds and multiple windows of pixels so that noise reduction is only performed on still pixels.

Abstract: A method and system for deinterlacing an interlaced video stream is presented. The method and system determines whether an interlaced video stream is a normal mode video stream or a special mode video stream. Special mode video streams, which interlaced video streams created from a progressive original video stream, are deinterlaced using special mode deinterlacing, which involves merging two fields to form a frame. Normal mode video streams are deinterlaced using normal mode deinterlacing, which involves converting a field into a frame using line repeating or some form of interpolation to generate the missing scan lines.

Abstract: A method and system for adjusting selected colors of an image is presented. A chrominance adjustment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determines whether the color of the current pixel is near a selected color. When the color of the current pixel is near the selected color the chrominance adjustment system calculates a color specific chrominance adjustment factor based on the current color and the selected color and adjusts the color of the current pixel using the color specific chrominance adjustment factor.