Patents by Inventor Christophe Barnichon

Christophe Barnichon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8243195
    Abstract: A method for cadence detection in a sequence of video fields is based on at least a search for cadence patterns in a sequence of bits representative of the motion in at least a part of the field from one field to another in the field sequence. The signaling of field skip and/or field repeat commands as applied to the fields in the field sequence is considered during the cadence detection operation so as to field skips and repeats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Frankie Eymard, Christophe Barnichon
  • Patent number: 8004607
    Abstract: In a method for detecting the cadence of a sequence of images, each pixel in each current field in the sequence of images is compared to at least one pixel in at least one previous field. A pixel motion phase value is assigned to each pixel in the field as a function of the result of that comparison. For each block of pixels in the current field, a block motion phase value is determined from the motion phase values of the pixels in the block. The current field is segmented into at least one region, with each region comprising a whole number of blocks, as a function of at least the determined block motion phase values. A region motion phase value is assigned to each region, based on the block motion phase values for the blocks in the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Frankie Eymard, Christophe Barnichon
  • Patent number: 7773151
    Abstract: A device and a method of deinterlacing a sequence of images from an interlaced format to a progressive format. The sequence of images being composed of successive frames. A plurality of pixels of missing lines of a current frame to be completed, an evaluation of the values of these pixels according to a spatially consistent order. The evaluation comprises, for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, estimating a direction of interpolation, spatial interpolation according to the estimated direction of interpolation. According to the invention, the estimation step comprises, for at least one current pixel of the plurality of pixels, calculating a score for at least two directions, and selecting the direction of interpolation on the basis of the calculated scores and of the estimated direction of interpolation for a distinct pixel situated in the neighborhood of the current pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Barnichon
  • Publication number: 20070296858
    Abstract: A method for cadence detection in a sequence of video fields is based on at least a search for cadence patterns in a sequence of bits representative of the motion in at least a part of the field from one field to another in the field sequence. The signaling of field skip and/or field repeat commands as applied to the fields in the field sequence is considered during the cadence detection operation so as to field skips and repeats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Frankie Eymard, Christophe Barnichon
  • Publication number: 20070291169
    Abstract: In a method for detecting the cadence of a sequence of images, each pixel in each current field in the sequence of images is compared to at least one pixel in at least one previous field. A pixel motion phase value is assigned to each pixel in the field as a function of the result of that comparison. For each block of pixels in the current field, a block motion phase value is determined from the motion phase values of the pixels in the block. The current field is segmented into at least one region, with each region comprising a whole number of blocks, as a function of at least the determined block motion phase values. A region motion phase value is assigned to each region, based on the block motion phase values for the blocks in the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Frankie Eymard, Christophe Barnichon
  • Publication number: 20060256237
    Abstract: A device and a method of deinterlacing a sequence of images from an interlaced format to a progressive format. The sequence of images being composed of successive frames. A plurality of pixels of missing lines of a current frame to be completed, an evaluation of the values of these pixels according to a spatially consistent order. The evaluation comprises, for each pixel of the plurality of pixels, estimating a direction of interpolation, spatial interpolation according to the estimated direction of interpolation. According to the invention, the estimation step comprises, for at least one current pixel of the plurality of pixels, calculating a score for at least two directions, and selecting the direction of interpolation on the basis of the calculated scores and of the estimated direction of interpolation for a distinct pixel situated in the neighborhood of the current pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventor: Christophe Barnichon
  • Patent number: 7129992
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying a video composed of images each comprising a predetermined number M of lines and, a predetermined number N of pixels in each line. Values of a predetermined number P of reference pixels for each line of a current image of the video are stored in memory, where P is less than N. For each line of the current image, the value of a parameter associated with the line is determined, with the parameter corresponding to the number of the reference pixels of the line that are black according to a first predetermined criterion. A first nonblack line and a last nonblack line of the current image are determined to serve as a basis for an automatic reframing of the images of the video before display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: STMicroelectroniccs SA
    Inventor: Christophe Barnichon
  • Patent number: 6980246
    Abstract: A process for controlling a photosensitive device including at least one photosensitive point with a photodiode connected to a switching element. The process submits the photosensitive point to successive imaging cycles. Between a first imaging cycle and a second imaging cycle, the process produces a holding phase terminating at the start of the second imaging cycle. During this holding phase, whose duration is equal to several equal time intervals that are as short as possible, the photosensitive point is exposed to an optical flash at the start of each time interval. Between successive optical flashes, the photodiode is reverse biased. The junction region between the photodiode and the switching element has substantially the same potential at the end of each time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Trixell S.A.S.
    Inventors: Thierry Ducourant, Christophe Chaussat, Robert Neyret, Christophe Barnichon, Clément Atoyan, Paul Apard
  • Publication number: 20040119891
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for displaying a video composed of images each comprising a predetermined number M of lines and, a predetermined number N of pixels in each line. Values of a predetermined number P of reference pixels for each line of a current image of the video are stored in memory, where P is less than N. For each line of the current image, the value of a parameter associated with the line is determined, with the parameter corresponding to the number of the reference pixels of the line that are black according to a first predetermined criterion. A first nonblack line and a last nonblack line of the current image are determined to serve as a basis for an automatic reframing of the images of the video before display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.A.
    Inventor: Christophe Barnichon