Abstract: Techniques for performing combined scaling, filtering, and/or scan conversion are disclosed that reduce that amount of line buffer space required in the overall design of a video processing system. In particular, coefficients from all or a sub-set of the scaling, filtering (smoothing/sharpening), and scan conversion filters are combined into one representative coefficient that can be applied in a single generic algorithm. Thus, implementation costs are reduced, particularly in system-on-chip implementations.

Abstract: The processing unit (1) for generating a scan velocity modulation signal (DS) has an input for receiving a video signal (VS) and an output for supplying a modulation signal (DS). The unit (1) comprises a series connection of, successively, a coring circuit (C), a differentiator (D), and a limiter (L). The display device (16) comprises a cathode ray tube (10) and the processing unit (1).

Abstract: The contour correction processing of a still picture that can suppress the generation of a black edge due to an undershoot in a contour portion is enabled while increasing a feeling for resolution. Moreover, an interpolation device that improves the sharpness of a digital picture is provided without increasing a circuit scale.

Abstract: In the case where an input signal is an interlace signal such as NTSC signal, a flicker interference as aliasing interference brought about by the sampling theorem is contained in a region where a vertical frequency component is high. Accordingly, in the conventional processing in which rate of change in gradation is improved by making a drive voltage of liquid crystal at the time of change in gradation larger than normal liquid crystal drive voltage to increase response rate of the liquid crystal panel, interference component is also emphasized. As a result, quality level of a video picture to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel is deteriorated. The invention provides a compensation device capable of improving rate-of-change in gradation at a part where there is no flicker interference and changing rate-of-change in gradation to suppress the flicker at a part where there is any flicker interference.

Abstract: A superior Color Transient Improvement technique is adaptive to the local image features, so that more natural color edge transition improvement can be accomplished. A gain control function is provided that depends on the local image feature so that different regions of the image can be treated differently. Further, a correction signal is controlled in such a way (by the local image feature) that neither undershoot nor overshoot occurs, eliminating the need for post-processing for undershoot/overshoot removal.

Abstract: A general shoot suppression method and system for image detail enhancement that provides good suppression in shoot areas while preserving the enhancement (with less or no suppression) in non-shoot areas. Asymmetry checker checks the luminance variation of pixels around the current pixel within a filtering range. Based on the checking result, different patterns of luminance variation in the neighborhood of the current pixel are categorized. Higher suppression is applied to those patterns that are more likely to cause overshoot/undershoot. Optionally, suppression is further associated with the intensity of detail signal at each pixel position. An intensity checker checks the magnitude of the detail signal. If the detail signal is weak at a current pixel position, it is unlikely that obvious shoot artifacts appear at that position, and little or no suppression is applied. Such a method and system provide shoot suppression only in shoot areas while maintaining good enhancement in non-shoot areas.

Abstract: A processor for enhancing an input luminance signal including: a circuit for calculating a chroma edge value associated with the input luminance signal; a circuit for measuring a luminance gradient associated with the input luminance signal; a peaking filter for processing the input luminance signal; a gain adjustment circuit having a gain function that is adjustable relative to the calculated chroma edge value, the gain adjustment circuit being operable to adjust the magnitude of the output of the peaking filter wherein: in a first range of luminance gradients, the output is an attenuated version of the input; in a second range of luminance gradients the output is directly proportional to the input; in a third range of luminance gradients, the output is inversely proportional to the input; wherein the enhanced luminance signal is the sum of the input and output of the peaking filter.

Abstract: A method of de-interlacing a video signal by conducting three linear filtering operations on the input to produce three filtered signals, each linear filtering operation comprising the taking of a weighted sum of pixels; and multiplying together the three filtered signals to produce an output video signal.

Abstract: An impulse-reducing module (200) reduces random noise in video pixels by providing an impulse detector (244) and an impulse reducer, such as a median filter (250). The impulse detector (244) generates filter control signals in response to detection of impulses, and the median filter (250) generates filtered pixel values in response to the filter control signals. The control signals set the median filter to a plurality of filter operating modes.

Abstract: A detail enhancement system uses a detail filter bank including multiple detail filters covering different frequency ranges. An input video signal representing a digital image is processed in the detail filter, wherein detail signals are extracted by the detail filters at different frequency ranges. Shoot suppression blocks and coring blocks are provided for each detail filter to prevent overshoot/undershoot artifacts and small ringing artifacts, respectively. The overall detail signal is amplitude scaled, and added back to the input signal as an enhancement, to generate a detail enhanced output signal.

Abstract: A picture quality improvement device has two-dimensional low-pass filter that takes as input a luminance signal YIN that is obtained from a video signal and that extracts low-pass components for a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the input luminance signal YIN. The picture quality improvement device adds an edge signal, which is obtained by subtracting from luminance signal YIN the low-pass extraction signal (LPF) that has been extracted by two-dimensional low-pass filter, to luminance signal YIN. Two-dimensional low-pass filter is constituted such that the extraction gain of the vertical direction low-pass component and the extraction gain of the horizontal direction low-pass component are independently adjusted.

Abstract: A time-discrete picture signal is formed from an analog picture signal, such as a luminance signal or a chrominance signal. Corresponding to the time-discrete picture signal, a time-discrete filter signal is formed, specifically a so-called “peaking signal,” which has a sequence of peaking signal values, of which one value each is associated with one signal value of the time-discrete picture signal. The discrete peaking signal is formed by a digital peaking filter from the discrete picture signal or by an analog peaking filter from the analog picture signal during subsequent sampling of the analog peaking signal. The peaking filter increases the amplitude of selected frequency components of the picture signal.

Abstract: A method comprising determining an optimal color correction matrix accounting for both total noise variance and color reproduction error for a captured image; and correcting the colors of said captured image using said optimal color correction matrix.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for processing a signal, and more particularly, a control apparatus and method for preventing a signal from being processed repeatedly by transmitting and receiving information related to a signal processing in a composite signal processing system that contains a television and a peripheral device. A signal providing device transmits enhancer information related to the signal processing by means of a wired or wireless communication. A signal receiving device uses the enhancer information and controls a signal processing block. Therefore, since the signal receiving device prevents the enhancer signal from being processed repeatedly, distortion of the signal can be avoided and an optimum signal can be output.

Abstract: A gray scale correction unit intended to provide a gray scale correction unit for preventing aliasing-like noise generation and gray-scale degradation of a gradation portion adaptively controls a correction value in accordance with the slope of a video signal, detects generation of aliasing-like noise, steepens an edge having a large amplitude without deterioration in the image quality, and improves a spatial frequency of the video signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting asymmetry in transient signals and to a method and apparatus for correcting such asymmetry.

Abstract: The invention relates to the simultaneous operation of items of electrical apparatus, such as but not exclusively, a broadcast data receiver and a DECT telephone system. A problem with this type of apparatus is that the operating frequencies of the same can overlap and in turn cause interference in the operation of the respective items. The invention provides a method for identifying the overlap of the RF ranges of the apparatus, and having identified the same, adjusting the operating characteristics of one of the items to allow the interference to be avoided or minimized and the opportunity for the items of apparatus to be combined into one unit.

Abstract: An impulse-reducing module (200) reduces random noise in video pixels by providing an impulse detector (244) and an impulse reducer, such as a median filter (250). The impulse detector (244) generates filter control signals in response to detection of impulses, and the median filter (250) generates filtered pixel values in response to the filter control signals. The control signals set the median filter to a plurality of filter operating modes.

Abstract: A parallel scanning circuit outputs a parallel scanning signal for making forward and backward scanning lines parallel. A vertical correlation detection circuit detects a portion where the change in luminance in the vertical direction exceeds a predetermined value on the basis of a luminance signal, and outputs a movement control signal representing the distance of movement on the screen of the scanning line. A retrace period reversion circuit reverses the lime axis of the movement control signal in a retrace period. A clamping circuit clamps the movement control signal to a predetermined DC voltage at the timing of horizontal synchronizing signal. A synthesizing circuit synthesizes the parallel scanning signal and the movement control signal, and feeds a synthesized signal as a vertical velocity modulation signal to a vertical velocity modulation coil.

Abstract: An image comprises pixels, and has repetitive high-frequency information. Decision circuitry identifies the repetitive high-frequency information in at least a subset of the pixels of the image to provide a repetitive-sequence signal. A low-pass filter filters the image to produce low-pass filtered pixels. A switch outputs the pixels of the image as adaptive-filter output, and in response to the repetitive-sequence signal, outputs the low-pass filtered pixels as the adaptive-filter output.

Abstract: A scanning velocity modulation deflection signal generator comprises a variable conduction device coupled to said scanning velocity modulation deflection signal generator. In a first condition the variable conduction device provides a feedback path to control a scanning velocity modulation deflection signal, and in a second condition the variable conduction device interrupts the feedback path and inhibits generation of the scanning velocity modulation deflection signal.

Abstract: In an edge correcting circuit of an image to be represented by a digitized image signal, a high-frequency signal extracting circuit (5) extracts a high-frequency signal of the image by calculation based on a signal of a target pixel, a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by m (m being an integer not smaller than 2) pixels in the right or lower direction, and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by m pixels in the left or upper direction, an amplitude-restricting signal generator (6) determines an amplitude-restricting signal (Si) based on a minimum value or a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between the signal of the target pixel and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by n (n being an integer not smaller than 1 and smaller than m) pixels in the right or lower direction, and an absolute value of a difference between the signal of the target pixel and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by n pixels in the left or upper direction, an amplitu

Abstract: The contour correction processing of a still picture that can suppress the generation of a black edge due to an undershoot in a contour portion is enabled while increasing a feeling for resolution. Moreover, an interpolation device that improves the sharpness of a digital picture is provided without increasing a circuit scale.

Abstract: A detail enhancement system uses a detail filter bank including multiple detail filters covering different frequency ranges. An input video signal representing a digital image is processed in the detail filter, wherein detail signals are extracted by the detail filters at different frequency ranges. Shoot suppression blocks and coring blocks are provided for each detail filter to prevent overshoot/undershoot artifacts and small ringing artifacts, respectively. The overall detail signal is amplitude scaled, and added back to the input signal as an enhancement, to generate a detail enhanced output signal.

Abstract: Feature quantities of a transmitted picture and a received picture are extracted from a first and second block-by-block feature quantity extraction parts which are provided on a transmitting and receiving sides, respectively. The extracted feature quantities are transmitted to a block degradation calculation part which compares the transmitted feature quantities and finds the degree of picture quality degradation for each block. Next, a median filter replaces the degree of picture quality degradation for the each block with a median of the degrees of picture quality degradation among the neighboring blocks of the each block. Then, a degraded block detection part compares the median with a predetermined threshold and detects a degraded block. Finally, a degraded region detection part removes an isolated degraded block and detects a degraded region. According to the invention, local picture quality degradation in a frame caused by transmission failure can be automatically detected with high accuracy.

Abstract: A ringing detector detects mosquito noise and ringing for outputting an image signal smoothed by a horizontal/vertical high-pass filter when mosquito noise and ringing are detected while outputting the image signal as such when neither mosquito noise nor ringing is detected, thereby properly correcting the image signal without reducing the texture specific to the image signal also in a portion continuously exhibiting fine details.

Abstract: In the case where an output signal of an image pickup device is compressed and is transmitted through a transmission path with band limitation, when a conventional compression and expansion technique is directly applied, there is a lot of waste and a circuit scale becomes large, so that the cost of the system is raised. In an image processing system or a camera system of the invention in which an output signal of an image pickup device is compressed and is transmitted, the output signal of the image pickup device is made to pass through a luminance signal forming portion and a contour correcting signal forming portion, so that the signal is divided into a luminance signal and a contour correcting signal. These signals are separately compressed by compression processing portions, and multiplexed by a multiplexing portion, and then transmitted through a transmission path with band limitation such as a USB.

Abstract: A video apparatus includes a circuit for reducing noise in applied input video signals. The noise reducing circuit is provided with a temporal noise filter (S1, LUT, M), a down-sample unit (D) for obtaining a spatial down-sampling of video signals (Vi) of subsequent pixels, these down-sampled video signals being supplied to the temporal noise filter (S1, LUT, M), and an up-sample unit (U) for generating, in response to noise output signals obtained in the temporal noise filter (S1, LUT, M), noise signals of the pixels, and a subtractor (S2) for subtracting the noise signals from the respective input video signals (Vi).

Abstract: A video-apparatus includes a peaking filter (3-5), which, in response to applied video signals, supplies peaking signals (Vp) that are combined with the applied video signals. The peaking filter (3-5) includes a first (3) and a second (4) 1st-first order high-pass or band-pass filter in cascade configuration, while a unit (5, 6) for determining the peaking strength is arranged between the first (3) and second (4) filters.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having a compensation value calculating unit, wherein an XOR element compares the signs of a difference A with a difference r and output the difference A as a compensation value when the signs are the same, while decides that an edge portion of an image data is detected when the signs are different and wherein a comparator compares the absolute value of the difference A with a value obtained by multiplying a constant a with the absolute value of the difference r in a multiplier and adding a constant b in a second adder. When the result of the comparison is that the former is less than the latter, the input predetermined difference A is output as a compensation value.

Abstract: A video signal processor includes a sharpening circuit, a non-correlation detecting circuit, and, optionally, a noise level detecting circuit. The sharpening circuit is capable of receiving an input luminance signal. The sharpening circuit has a transversal filter. The transversal filter is operable to filter the input luminance signal to produce an intermediate signal and to produce a filtered luminance signal with a time lag. The sharpening circuit is operable to multiply the filtered luminance signal by a predetermined factor, to adjust the time lag to produce a resultant luminance signal, and to add the resultant luminance signal to the intermediate signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit detects noise or fluctuation in the intermediate signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit is operable to set the predetermined factor to a selected value based upon the presence of at least one of the noise or the fluctuation in the intermediate signal, according to a threshold voltage.

Abstract: This invention can multiplex noise on multilevel image data to reversibly embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution while maintaining the atmosphere of the multilevel image data subjected to embedding. For this purpose, in this invention, when noise is multiplexed on multilevel image data to embed visible additional information with a noise-multiplexed distribution, information representing whether or not to multiplex noise for each pixel is input as the additional information. Whether a pixel of interest in the multilevel image data is located at a position where noise is to be multiplexed is determined on the basis of the additional information (S106). When the pixel of interest is determined to be located at the position where noise is to be multiplexed, the second bit region where noise is to be multiplexed is specified on the basis of the first bit region in a bit configuration which constitutes the pixel of interest (S110).

Abstract: Image enhancement is achieved by a combination of linear and non-linear techniques. The linear technique is preferably peaking, while the non-linear techniques is preferably LTI. The peaking is applied to non-edge areas of the image. The LTI is applied to edge areas of the image. LTI is of the sub-pixel variety. The image enhancement device is preferably part of a device for converting standard definition to high definition signals.

Abstract: A contour detecting circuit includes a first differentiating circuit which outputs a signal (first-differentiated value) obtained by first-differentiating an input video signal, a second differentiating circuit which outputs a signal (second-differentiated value) obtained by second-differentiating the first-differentiated signal, a detection-computing circuit which detects the degree of a change in the input video signal from the first-differentiated signal by using a signal obtained by first-differentiating a signal adjacent to the first-differentiated signal, and a determining-and-controlling circuit which determines and controls a steep-contour generating process by comparing a value as the computation result in the detection-computing circuit with an externally set threshold value.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for sharpening an edge in a video image. The apparatus comprises: 1) a first circuit for determining a first luminance value of a first pixel associated with the first edge and a second luminance value of a second pixel associated with the first edge, wherein the first and second pixels are adjacent pixels; 2) a second circuit for determining a position of a first subpixel disposed between the first and second pixels, wherein the first subpixel position is disposed approximately at a center of the first edge; 3) a third circuit for increasing a luminance value of a second subpixel disposed on a first side of the first edge center; and 4) a fourth circuit for decreasing a luminance value of a third subpixel disposed on a second side.of the first edge center opposite the first side.

Abstract: A contour correction circuit includes a delay circuit for delaying an input video signal, a corrected waveform generating circuit for generating a contour correction signal out of the input video signal, a variable amplifier for controlling an amplitude of the contour correction signal, a contour control circuit for outputting a gain control signal for controlling a gain in the variable amplifier,. and a first adding circuit for adding an output signal of the delay circuit to an output of the amplifier. When an amplitude-change in an edge portion of the input video signal is over a given level, the smaller amount of contour is corrected at the larger amplitude change. Therefore, even if a signal of a high contrast ratio is adjacent to a signal of a low contrast ratio, desirable contour corrections can be provided to respective signal components.

Abstract: This invention can suppress overshoot/undershoot, and can maintain the improvement effect of the leading edge of an edge portion. For this purpose, a second derivative signal generator (1) generates a second derivative signal (s5) on the basis of time-serially input three successive pixels. A second derivative signal suppression unit (2) generates a signal (s8) obtained by suppressing the second derivative signal, and a signal (s9) indicating the sign of the second derivative signal. The absolute values of the differences between the pixel of interest, and its neighboring pixels are computed, and a smaller one of the absolute values is selected as a signal (s14) by a minimum value selection circuit (18). By multiplying the obtained signals (s8, s9, s14) by a multiplier (19), an edge-emphasizing signal (s15) is generated. The edge-emphasizing signal (s15) is added to the signal of the pixel of interest by an adder (20), thus obtaining an edge-emphasized signal s16.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus and method is capable of variably performing format conversion and image quality improvement according to a kind of an inputted image signal. A detecting section detects a kind of image signal inputted from an external device. A control section controls the format of the image signal to be converted by selecting the format converting coefficient from the first storing section in accordance with the kind of the image signal. A format converting section converts a format of the inputted video signal by the selected format converting coefficient. The control section selects an image quality improving converting coefficient corresponding to the video signal from the second storing section. The image quality improving section improves a quality of the video signal converted by the selected image quality improving converting coefficient.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for image edge enhancement with background noise reduction. According to the method and apparatus, background noise is reduced through use of feed forward gain control and threshold control of a sharpness control amplifier. In a prior art circuit, the sharpness control amplifier was controlled only by a sharpness control signal. By controlling the sharpness control amplifier also with a feed forward gain control and a threshold control, the circuit can be made to have background noise reduction while maintaining a continuous input/output characteristic curve. According to the input/output characteristic curve, when the amplitude of the transitions of the video signal are below a particular threshold value, the amplification of the sharpness control amplifier is reduced by the gain control, such that low amplitude noise signals are reduced.

Abstract: An objectionable outlining effect, seen as dark edges and white edges outlining everything in a scene, is eliminated by clipping or limiting the spikes generated by excessive enhancement. Specifically, a method is used for improving the quality of an enhanced video image, while simultaneously maintaining or improving image sharpness, by clipping the RGB levels of the enhanced video image, at the points of enhancement, to upper and lower level bounds representing the signal levels of the video signal prior to its enhancement.

Abstract: An objectionable outlining effect, seen as dark edges and white edges outlining everything in a scene, is eliminated by clipping or limiting the spikes generated by excessive enhancement. Specifically, a method is used for improving the quality of an enhanced video image, while simultaneously maintaining or improving image sharpness, by clipping the RGB levels of the enhanced video image, at the points of enhancement, to upper and lower level bounds representing the signal levels of the video signal prior to its enhancement.

Abstract: A method and device for enhancing the sharpness of a video image. The luminance signal portion of a television signal is boosted in its upper frequency range, e.g., between about 2.0 MHz and about 4.25 MHz. This enhancement of the luminance signal accentuates the transitions between the high brightness levels and low brightness levels of the luminance signal. The resulting video image appears much sharper because this quicker transition reduces the amount of signal carrying intermediate brightness information.

Abstract: Provided are a video signal processor and a video signal processing method. The video signal processor consists mainly of a sharpening circuit, a non-correlation detecting circuit, and a noise level detecting circuit. The sharpening circuit filters an input luminance signal using a transversal filter, multiplies the luminance signal by a predetermined factor, adjusts a time lag the luminance signal undergoes, and adds the resultant luminance signal to an original luminance signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit performs non-correlation detection to discriminate a portion of the filtered luminance signal, which contains only a noise, from a portion thereof, which contains a noise and exhibits a fluctuation, according to a predetermined threshold voltage. The noise level detecting circuit detects a noise level. When a received luminance signal portion is detected to contain only a noise, the sharpening circuit cancels the noise contained in the luminance signal portion.

Abstract: This invention suppresses overshoot and undershoot at an edge of a video signal.

Abstract: A video signal is enhanced using a non-linear combination of left and right difference signals (L and R), constrained to be zero if either L or R is zero, using a minimum absolute value function. Edge enhancement is provided when the polarities of L and R are the same and peak enhancement when the polarities are different. Difference signals are derived with delays (2 and 4) and a subtracter (3). The non-liner combinations are derived in a lookup table (30).

Abstract: A circuit for moiré suppression detects the Nyquist frequency in an input video signal. Based on detected alternating structures indicative of the Nyquist frequency, the circuit fades between outputting the input video signal and a low-pass filtered version of the input video signal. When the output signal is applied to a video display, moiré is suppressed.

Abstract: A contour enhancement method and circuit for adaptively enhancing a contour component of a luminance signal. In the method, a coring operation is performed with respect to the contour component. For the coring operation, a coring value is used which is adjusted according to characteristics of the contour component detected from an input luminance signal. The cored contour component is amplified by a predetermined gain, and the level of the gain-controlled contour component is limited to a predetermined threshold value to output a level-limited contour component. The level-limited contour component is then added to the input luminance signal to become a contour-enhanced luminance signal.

Abstract: A binary shape encoding apparatus encodes a binary alpha block (BAB) consisting of M.times.N binary pixels, M and N each being a positive even integer. The apparatus samples every other horizontal lines of the BAB to generate a first block starting from either a first or a second horizontal line of the BAB and then samples every other vertical lines of the first block to generate a first sample block as a base layer also starting from either a first or a second vertical line of the first block, wherein the first horizontal and vertical lines are the topmost horizontal and the leftmost vertical lines in the BAB and the first block, respectively. Then, the apparatus encodes the first sample block to thereby produce coded base layer data and performs enhancement layer encoding based on the BAB, the first block and the first sample block to thereby provide coded horizontal and vertical enhancement layer data.

Abstract: A sharpness processing method and apparatus, and a storage medium storing a program, for presenting images with increased perspective or three-dimensional effect. At least two points are designated in a direction of distance on an original image displayed on a display screen. The original image is divided by lines extending perpendicular to and touching opposite ends of a vector defined by the two points. An output image in the proper perspective is obtained by applying no processing to a near view area in the original image, applying a uniformly strong blur processing to a distant view area, and processing an intermediate area in a way to increase blur gradually in the direction indicated by the vector.

Abstract: An exposure controller comprises a discharge pulse calculation circuit for calculating a discharge pulse count to be output to a solid-state image pickup device within one field period, and a coring circuit for defining the quotient obtained from the discharge pulse count divided by a predetermined setting value and plus 1 as a coring value. In an electronic camera system incorporating an electronic iris, when one discharge pulse changes, the amount of change in the luminance level of an image signal becomes larger as an exposure time becomes shorter, whereby hunting is prevented from occurring at the convergent point of the luminance level, and an exposure controller which is compact and has excellent characteristics can be embodied.