Abstract: In, for example, a motion compensated video standards converter wherein blocks in a first field or frame of a video signal are each compared with a plurality of blocks in the following field or frame of the video signal for deriving a plurality of motion vectors representing the motion of the content of respective blocks between the first field or frame and the following field or frame, a respective motion vector is derived, from the plurality of motion vectors for each pixel in each block of each input field or frame by luminance matching each pixel in an input field or frame with the pixels, in the previous and following input fields or frames, pointed to by said plurality of motion vectors, and the respective luminance matches are checked against a threshold value determined in dependence on the local frequency content of the picture corresponding to the video signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for motion vector estimation in a television image uses a block matching technique with successive refinement of the motion vector estimate. The apparatus comprises a vector filter and a vector calculator.

Abstract: A television standards converter comprises a motion analyzer for analyzing the motion between consecutive fields of an input television signal of one television standard and for deriving motion vectors in dependence on the motion, a filter for recursively filtering the motion vectors, and an interpolator for aligning the fields in dependence on the filtered motion vectors so as effectively to represent static pictures, and means to effect conversion using the static pictures to derive the required output television signal of a different television standard.

Abstract: Apparatus for motion vector estimation in a television image using a digitized signal representing the image, comprises a vector filter and a vector calculator for determining motion in the image at points spaced a predetermined number of pixels horizontally and a predetermined number of pixels vertically by a block matching technique, thereby to derive motion vectors, and a sub-pixel motion estimator for refining the selection of the motion vectors by determining a sub-pixel offset representing motion between fields of the image not equal to an integral multiple of the spacing between pixels.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing motion vectors associated with a digital television image comprises a vector filter and a vector calculator for deriving a plurality of motion vectors respectively representing the motion of a pixel in the image, a circuit for testing the accuracy of each motion vector by differencing pixels shifted in dependence on the motion vector from two successive fields of the image to a common position in a field interpolated between the two fields, and a vector selector for selecting a motion vector from the plurality in dependence on the testing.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the number of motion vectors associated with a digital television image comprises a vector filter, a vector calculator and a vector processor for deriving for each block of pixels within the television image a plurality of motion vectors representing the most common motion vectors of pixels in the block, each of the plurality of motion vectors having associated with it a figure of merit based upon the weighted absolute difference of the motion vectors of pixels in the block, and a vector reducer for associating with the plurality of motion vectors, a further motion vector for the same position from the previous field and a further motion vector for the same position from the next field, each of said further motion vectors having associated with it a figure of merit, and for selecting a smaller plurality of motion vectors from the plurality of motion vectors and the further motion vectors in dependence on the figures of merit.

Abstract: A television standards converter comprises a motion analyzer for analyzing the motion between consecutive fields of an input television signal of one television standard, and an interpolator operative to align the fields pixel by pixel in dependence on the analyzed motion so as effectively to represent static pictures, and to effect conversion using said static pictures to derive the required output television signal of a different television standard. A slow motion processor using basically the same circuitry operates in a similar way.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing motion vectors associated with a digital television image, comprises a vector filter and a vector calculator for deriving a plurality of motion vectors respectively representing the motion of pixels in a corresponding plurality of blocks of pixels in the image, a processor for distributing the plurality of motion vectors into groups, each group comprising motion vectors lying within a respective different predetermined range of magnitudes and directions, and a processor for substituting for the motion vectors in each of a plurality of the groups into which the largest number of the motion vectors fall, a single motion vector representing the motion vectors in the respective group.

Abstract: A motion compensated interpolator for digital television images comprises a three-dimensional variable separable finite impulse response interpolation filter operating in the horizontal, vertical and temporal domains.

Abstract: Digital video tape recorder apparatus comprises a recording head assembly having 2n heads, where n is an integer, preferably one, two or three, a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the video samples of an incoming digital television signal sample-by-sample, into 2n channels for supply to the 2n recording heads, and a switching arrangement for switching the connections between the channels and the heads line-by-line and also possibly field-by-field or frame-by-frame of the television signal.