Abstract: A method for enhancing a digital image for printing or display on a high resolution device is described. The method includes receiving a digital source image and selecting a block of source pixels from the image. An edge array is generated from edges detected in the block of source pixels and processed with a set of logic operations to detect one of a set of edge patterns. The source coordinate system is transformed into a second coordinate system in response to the detected edge pattern and a transformed source location for the output pixel is determined. A modified transformed source location is determined by applying a modifier function. The modifier function is selected from a set of functions in response to the detected edge pattern. An effective source location is generated by applying a reverse transformation. The value of the output pixel is interpolated from the values of the block of source pixels based on the effective source location.

Abstract: A circuit records data on an optical disk while the disk is rotated at a constant angular velocity. A velocity detector determines a velocity of a rotating disk as a detected velocity. A memory stores sets of write signal control values, and each set of write signal control values is associated with a predefined velocity. A control circuit retrieves at least two sets of write signal control values based on the detected velocity and selected predefined velocities of the sets of write signal control values. A write strategy circuit generates one or more write signals in accordance with the write signal control values of the selected set and write data. The control circuit designates a selected set of write signal control values from the at least two sets of write signal control values while generating the one or more write signals.

Abstract: A method of processing a DVD bitstream includes the steps of reading the DVD bitstream, the bitstream including a sync frame. A sync window is created, the sync window being open at least during the expected timing of a sync detection signal within the sync frame. The sync pattern is detected within the sync frame and the sync detection signal is generated only when the sync pattern has been detected and the sync window is open. A DVD sync pattern detection circuit includes a sync window generator to generate a sync window signal, a sync pattern detector, the sync pattern detector generating a sync detection signal only when both a sync pattern is detected in a DVD input stream and the sync window signal is asserted. A read channel bit counter generates a read counter signal to control the sync window generator, the read channel bit counter being reset when the sync pattern detector detects the sync pattern.

Abstract: An audio interface is coupled to received a music signal and a microphone signal. The music signal and a volume control signal are combined in a multiplier to produce a volume adjusted music signal. In response to an input signal from a user, the volume control signal is gradually changed in predetermined increment levels. Thus, the multiplier gradually changes the audible volume in these predetermined increment levels. The resulting music and microphone signal are stored in corresponding partitions of a single memory, and thereafter provided to a mixing circuit. The mixing circuit combines signal samples read from the memory to produce four output signals each containing first and second channel samples. The resultant 8 channel samples are gated in a formatter with respective channel mute signals which, when asserted, effectively mute their corresponding channel sample.

Abstract: A method for computing Reed-Solomon error control checkbytes in reduced time and with reduced gate count. Two syndromes, s0 and s1, are computed for a sequence of data elements, using a selected primitive &agr; that satisfies a selected primitive polynomial relation p(&agr;)=0. Each of two checkbytes, c0 and c1, is expressed as a linear combination of the syndromes s0 and s1, where each coefficient of each linear combination is expressed as a single power of the primitive &agr; and is stored at the checkbyte generator for multiple use. This approach reduces gate count and associated time delay in formation of the usual Reed-Solomon multiplier coefficients.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing memory access requests includes first and second state machines for controlling access to first and second memory banks and an arbiter. While the first state machine is processing a current memory access request for the first memory bank, the arbiter recieves a next memory access and determines wheather the next memory access request will interfere with the processing of the current memory access request. If no interference will occur, and if the next access request is directed to the second memory bank, the second state machine begins processing he next memory access request before completion of processing of the current memory access request. The second state machine begins processing of the next memory access request during a mandatory wait period implemented by the first state machine. The first and second state machines process the current and next memory access request concurrently.

Abstract: A memory efficient method for translating and displaying sub-picture images for DVD data. The method uses less memory than prior systems. Rather than storing the sub-picture image in a memory, the method decodes and displays the sub-picture images on-the-fly. Subsequent sub-picture pixels are being translated as a given sub-picture pixel is being displayed on a display.

Abstract: A pixel image enhancement system which operates on color or monochrome source images to produce output cells the same size as the source pixels but not spatially coincident or one-to-one correspondent with them. By operating upon a set of input pixels surrounding each output cell with a set of logic operations implementing unique Boolean equations, the system generates “case numbers” characterizing inferred-edge pieces within each output cell. A rendering subsystem, responsive to the case numbers and source-pixel colors, then produces signals for driving an output device (printer or display) to display the output cells, including the inferred-edge pieces, to the best of the output device's ability and at its resolution.

Abstract: A floating frame for an optical disc loader. It includes a pivoting-type sub-chassis of 1-degree of freedom of movement. It is rigidly connected to a chassis without any floaters. Floaters are placed at the four comers of the chassis to support the entire loader. The floater has a wide mid-section and a narrow tip. Above the mid-section are upper slots, and below the mid-section are lower slots. The floater should preferably be made of flexible material such as rubber.

Abstract: A compact disk drive controller to control the access of information from an optical compact disk (CD) digital data storage device by a host computer using an integrated drive electronics (IDE) data bus or an industry standard architecture (ISA) data bus is disclosed. A digital signal processor (DSP) interface to the drive electronics of the CD drive, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) controller, an error correction code (ECC) data corrector, an error detection and correction (EDC) device employing cyclical redundancy checking techniques (EDC/CRC), and a host computer interface are described.

Abstract: A method of recovering a pixel clock for generating a digital image from an analog video signal is presented. The on and off-transition times for the active video portion of a digital image and the image size defined in a video standard are used to generate a pixel clock. The analog video signal is digitized according to the pixel clock and the image size of the resulting digital image is compared with the image size defined in the video standard. The pixel clock frequency is adjusted in response to the image size comparison. The optimum phase of the pixel clock relative to the analog video signal is determined through a repetitive phase adjustment technique. A first image coordinate is determined for a pixel clock at one phase and a subsequent image coordinate is determined for a pixel clock after decrementing the phase of the pixel clock. The first image coordinate and the subsequent image are compared.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide positive lens position control when reading information from a disk storing data using a first and a second encoding format. When reading the data encoded in the second encoding format, the lens is maintained in a substantially stationary radial position with respect to the disk. When the data encoded in the second encoding format has an error, the lens position is changed to find a better position for reading the data.

Abstract: A method for the conversion of grayscale images with a non-white background into halftone images is disclosed. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention addresses the difficulties current conversion methods have in converting multi-bit grayscale images with a non-white background into single bit halftone images. Through manipulation of the grayscale image data, the edges of text and line art features in the grayscale image data are located and extracted from the non-white background through the use of a weight driven conversion algorithm resulting in more defined halftone images.

Abstract: The present invention provides an approach to simulating increased printer resolutions. The present invention comprises a printing system that includes a print engine for printing at a native resolution. Also, the printing system includes a bitmap for at least a portion of an image at a higher resolution, wherein the higher resolution is higher than the native resolution. Further, the printing system has a processing unit for using a window structure for processing the bitmap to generate output for controlling the print engine to produce a printed output that simulates the higher resolution.

Abstract: A fast-acting method of regenerating track crossing signals for track searches across unrecorded areas on read/write optical discs is provided. This is accomplished by comparing the in-phase and quadrature-phase track crossing signals generated by the optical pickup head when a track search is being performed. A blank signal is generated when no quadrature-phase signal transition occurs between two successive in-phase signal transitions. Fake quadrature-phase signals are continuously generated. Upon occurrence of a blank indicating signal, the fake quadrature-phase signals are immediately supplied to the track crossing counter mechanism in place of the missing quadrature-phase signals. As a result, there is no loss of track count.

Abstract: Method and device to update a data count in a data transfer operation in which a data counter generates an intermediate count value in accordance with a first amount of data to be transferred to a storage media; and an augmenter augments the intermediate count value by a specified count value in accordance with data to be transferred to the storage media in addition to the first amount of data, wherein the updated count value is loaded into the data counter such that the intermediate count value becomes equal to the updated count value during the data transfer operation.

Abstract: A controller architecture optimized for processing audio and video information in playback systems used for reproducing information stored on optical discs such as CDs and DVDs. The controller uses a unique parallel interface to facilitate the transfer of CD data and DVD data from the controller to a MPEG decoder. The controller also performs servo control operations, data processing and error detection and correction operations for CD data and DVD data, and provides shared memory resources for internal operations of the controller. DVD/CD playback systems incorporating the present invention occupy less real estate, have smaller pin counts, are less complex, and are cheaper to manufacture than conventional playback systems.

Abstract: An audio interface is coupled to received a music signal and a microphone signal. The music signal and a volume control signal are combined in a multiplier to produce a volume adjusted music signal. In response to an input signal from a user, the volume control signal is gradually changed in predetermined increment levels. Thus, the multiplier gradually changes the audible volume in these predetermined increment levels. The resulting music and microphone signal are stored in corresponding partitions of a single memory, and thereafter provided to a mixing circuit. The mixing circuit combines signal samples read from the memory to produce four output signals each containing first and second channel samples. The resultant 8 channel samples are gated in a formatter with respective channel mute signals which, when asserted, effectively mute their corresponding channel sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digitized analog signal read from a DVD media and provided to a digital processing system is described herein. The apparatus includes a DVD reading apparatus for providing a signal comprised of a stream of actual data read from a DVD media; and a processor for determining, based upon the comparison of actual data to the known ideal contents of the data on said DVD media, the magnitude of no more than two variables representing at least three coefficients in an impulse response equation which models the digital processing system. The magnitude of the two variables are determined by the processor so that the error rate between the first and second sets of data is minimized.

Abstract: Methods and devices for selectively highlighting one or more regions of arbitrary shape on a display. The method for creating highlight effects in multimedia data (data including video and/or graphics, for example) includes the steps of receiving a video and/or graphics data stream from an input source; performing an arithmetic operation upon at least one color component value of constituent pixels of the data stream that are to be hightlighted to provide a selectively highlighted video and/or graphics data stream; and outputting the selectively highlighted video and/or graphics data stream directly to a display. The arithmetic operation may include addition or subtraction. Because the original multimedia data in memory is not modified or copied in order to create the highlight effects, both memory bandwidth and area are saved. Moreover, once highlighting is turned off, the original (non-highlighted) data may be immediately re-displayed.