Patents Examined by Victor R. Kostak
  • Patent number: 7333149
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for converting a video format of a digital TV and method thereof, by which various functions such as video format detection, color space conversion, chroma format conversion, gamma correction, geometric correction, image quality adjustment, and the like are implemented on one chip to support video signals of various specifications and display devices. The present invention includes an input video format detecting unit detecting a format of an input video, a format converting unit converting spatial resolution, frame rate, scan, aspect ratio, color space, and chroma format of the input video signal detected by the input video format detecting unit into a requested output format, a display characteristic correcting unit correcting the signal converted by the format converting unit to fit a display device, and an image quality adjusting unit adjusting an image quality of the corrected signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Jong Choi
  • Patent number: 7333130
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of re-adjusting convergence of a projection TV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a display device on which an image is projected and at least one light-sensing element (101) being provided around the display device. The light-sensing element (101) is composed of first and second sub-sensors (101a, 101b) that generate separate output signal projected alignment pattern moves over the sub-sensors (101a, 101b). The apparatus further includes a microprocessor calculating a convergence re-adjustment vector by obtaining a location of the light-sensing element (101), from which a previous convergence correction was made. The location of the light-sensing element (101) is obtained by analyzing the output signals. By using the apparatus and method of present invention, the misconvergence of the projection TV can be corrected very quickly and precisely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Katsuo Isono, Kunihiro Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7333131
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting a connection status of a digital video apparatus to a peripheral apparatus includes a digital video encoder configured to receive a digital video signal, and convert and output the digital video signal into an analog video signal, and a determination circuit configured to detect a voltage level of a horizontal synchronization signal of the analog video signal in a vertical blanking time determined by vertical synchronization signals, and determine whether the digital video apparatus is connected to a peripheral apparatus based on a detection result of the voltage of the horizontal synchronization signal of the analog video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Manabe
  • Patent number: 7330218
    Abstract: A video noise reduction system for reducing video noise in a sequence of video frames. In the video noise reduction system, a temporal filter computes multiple temporal average values for the video frames in different temporal directions. A motion detector computes multiple motion signal values for the video frames in different temporal directions. Finally, a control unit selects one of the temporal average values based on the motion signal values as output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Lin, Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Patent number: 7327399
    Abstract: A method for deriving a synchronisation signal (35) from a video signal comprises tracking the blanking level (107) of the video signal with first and second slice level signals (26, 27) and tracking the sync tip level (110) of the horizontal sync signal (109) of the video signal with third and fourth slice level signals (28,29) for determining the blanking level (107) and the sync tip level (110). A value for an intermediate slice level signal (30) is computed from the first, second, third and fourth slice level signals (26, 27, 28, 29) so that the value of the intermediate slice level signal (30) lies approximately halfway between the blanking level (107) and the sync tip level (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Niall Daniel O'Connell
  • Patent number: 7321397
    Abstract: A color frame identifier circuit generates a pseudo-subcarrier signal and compares the pseudo-subcarrier signal to a sliced color burst of at least one selected line in a video frame. Based on this comparison, a processing circuit determines the color frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Gennum Corporation
    Inventor: Nigel James Seth-Smith
  • Patent number: 7321402
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for converting a Y-Pb-Pr component video signal to a R-G-B component video signal. A luminance component video (Y) signal and a red color difference component video (Pr) signal are decoded to produce a red component video (R) signal. The Y signal, a blue color difference component video (Pb) signal and the Pr signal are decoded to produce a green component video (G) signal. The Y and Pb signals are decoded to produce a blue component video (B) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Dongwei Chen
  • Patent number: 7321398
    Abstract: A processing circuit for a sync signal includes a trial circuit and a windowing circuit. The trial circuit includes a counter that generates a count value proportional to the duration between successive sync pulses. When the count value reaches a trial sync spacing count value, a trial window signal is created and the counter is reset. If a predetermined number of subsequent sync pulses occur within the trial window signal, the sync spacing count value is confirmed and stored in a sync spacing register. The windowing circuit includes a counter that generates a count value proportional to the duration between successive window signals, and compares the count value to the value stored in the sync spacing register to generate a window signal. The window signal is compared with the sync signal pass valid sync signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Gennum Corporation
    Inventor: Dwayne G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7319497
    Abstract: A television tuner comprises a tunable bandpass filter (4) for selecting a desired input channel with an image canceling capacitor (C8) for rejecting the image frequency of the desired input channel. In order to avoid the necessity of different printed circuit boards for NTSC-type television tuners and for PAL-type television tuners, the image canceling capacitor (C8) is made of first (8) and second (10) traces of the printed circuit board while a third trace (13) is connected to the second trace (10) by a jumper (15) only in case of a PAL-type tuner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Yeow Teng Toh, Eng Nguen Pang
  • Patent number: 7317495
    Abstract: In a portable receiving device 1 operable with a battery 18 as power supply and capable of receiving the TV broadcast outdoors, a CPU 13 detects the receiving level of the TV receiving unit 12 at timings set in the timer 24, compares the receiving level with a preset threshold level, turns off, when the receiving level becomes lower than a threshold level, the power supply to the TV receiving unit 12, subsequently detecting and performs, when the receiving level subsequently exceeds a threshold level, a control for resuming the power supply to the receiving unit 12. Thus, the power consumption in the TV receiving unit 12 when the TV radio wave receiving status is deteriorated is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7317494
    Abstract: In the case of a four-eye type stereoscopic viewing system, four videos (dots) “video {circle around (1)}, video {circle around (2)}, video {circle around (3)}, and video {circle around (4)}” composing each of minimum units of video group are repeatedly arranged in a horizontal direction of a screen, and the minimum units of video group are arranged so as to be shifted by one dot in the horizontal direction per row. Edges for defining the width of an aperture are obliquely formed in correspondence with the shift in the horizontal direction of the minimum units of video group, and the aperture is formed so as to extend across the respective minimum units of video group on the rows, the edges being straight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Mashitani, Goro Hamagishi
  • Patent number: 7315332
    Abstract: A display apparatus comprises a signal converter (SC) which converts input text information (IT) and interlaced input video information (IV) with a number of video lines (Li) in a video field (Fi) into a display signal (DS) which comprises display text (Ti) and display video (Vi). An addressing circuit (AD) addresses a display screen (DSC) of the display apparatus in successive non-interlaced display fields (Fi) which have a duration substantially equal to the video field (Fi) and a number of display lines (DLi) which is substantially twice the number of video lines (Li). The signal converter (SC) has an output to supply the display signal (DS) in which the display video (Vi) is present on odd or even display lines (DLi) only, in respective successive display fields (Fi), and in which the display text (Ti) is present on same display lines (DLi) of the successive display fields (Fi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Petrus Maria Van Lammeren
  • Patent number: 7310117
    Abstract: When a time code signal corresponding to an image signal, to which a format conversion changing the number of frames per second is executed, is transmitted, information indicating a frame position where image data is changed through the format conversion in the image signal is attached to the time code signal to be transmitted. Alternatively, information indicating a synchronous state between frame conversion cycles in the format conversion and time code progression is attached to the time code signal. In the foregoing manner, a relationship between the frame position and the time code can be accurately grasped. Further, a secondary conversion (inverse conversion) is accurately executed to the image signal by means of the time code signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaharu Hosoda, Katsuji Uro, Yukio Shimamura, Masaji Ueno
  • Patent number: 7310120
    Abstract: A receiver of analogue video signal having means for analogue video signal conversion has a receiving block (201) for receiving a first analogue video signal, a conversion block (202) for conversion of the first analogue signal into a digital signal, a buffer controller (203) of frame buffers, a video coder (204) for transforming the digital signal into an analogue signal of a second format, a receiver (205) for displaying the analogue signal of a second format and a processor (206) for data processing and controlling the receiving block, the conversion block, the buffer controller, the video coder and the receiver. The buffers controller (203) has three modules, namely, buffers (203b) linked together, a decoding frame controller (203a) and a displaying frame controller (203c). Certain frames in this device will be omitted when the output frames frequency is lower than the input frequency and displayed more than once when the output frames frequency is higher than the input frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Advanced Digital Broadcast Polska Sp. z o.o., Advanced Digital Broadcast Ltd.
    Inventor: Marcin Zalewski
  • Patent number: 7310109
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a protective device for safeguarding a hazardous area and a method for checking the functional reliability of such a device. The protective device has an image recording unit with an image sensor which includes a large number of light-sensitive pixels. During operation, the image recording unit records an object image. The image sensor is also supplied with a defined test image in order to check the functional reliability, wherein the test image recorded by the image sensor is compared with a defined expectation. According to one aspect of the invention, the object image is specifically made dynamic by means of a testing device and the modified object image is used as the test image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Dietmar Döttling, Oliver Fuchs, Mathias Sälzer, Martin Wendler, Christoph Weishaar
  • Patent number: 7307670
    Abstract: A bad editing detection device is provided to pre-detect a bad editing of image signal, so as to avoid zigzag effect in the television image. When the input image is from a film, instead of from a video source, the line doubler performs a de-interlace for the film signal to increase the vertical resolution of the television signal. The detection device detects a bad editing before the image signal is played and adjusts the de-interlace of the line doubler to avoid zigzag effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhi-Ming Lu
  • Patent number: 7304672
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotomo Sai, Akihito Nishizawa, Junji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7304689
    Abstract: Tuners are adapted to accept a received signal input and provide both a desired tuner output and the received signal as an output. Accordingly, a single tuner circuit, preferably an integrated circuit, may be cascaded to provide a multiple tuner configuration. Any number of such integrated circuit tuners may be cascaded together for a multiple tuner application. Alternative embodiments provide a multiple tuner adapter for cascading devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Microtune (Texas), L.P.
    Inventor: Martin H. Englmeier
  • Patent number: 7305695
    Abstract: A system for providing video upon request may transmit encrypted video information to one or more recipients for viewing at a later time. The recipient may make a request to view one of the received video files. This request may be provided to a video transmitter which may provide, in return, video decryption information to allow immediate viewing of the previously received video transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Sundaram Ramakesavan
  • Patent number: RE40074
    Abstract: An interlaced television signal is derived from an interlaced 625 line, nominally 50 Hz field rate television signal, the derived television signal having perceived reduced line structure and reduce flicker. The field rate and the number of lines of the derived television signal are increased with respect to the field rate and the number of lines of the original television signal, such that perceived flicker and line structure in the derived television signal is reduced. The increase in the field rate and the increase in the number of lines in the derived television signal results in a horizontal scanning rate that does not substantially exceed twice the horizontal scanning rate of the original television signal while minimizing undesirable motion artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Genesis Microchip Inc.
    Inventors: Donald S. Butler, Xu Dong, Jack J. Campbell