Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method of enhancing a contrast ratio of a display device. An exemplary method comprises determining a quantity of pixels in a frame of video data having a predetermined level of blackness, comparing the quantity of pixels to a reference value, and modulating an illumination signal based on a quantity of pixels exceeding the reference value.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a video unit, comprising an illumination source. The video unit additionally comprises a circuit coupled to the illumination source, the circuit adapted to linearize the illumination source using characteristic parameters of the illumination source.

Abstract: A video system (100) includes detection circuitry (200A-200C) operative to detect pseudo-synchronization pulses within a composite synchronization signal in dependence upon at least one timing signal. Timing circuitry (200D-200F) is operative to generate the at least one timing signal without utilizing synchronization information within the composite synchronization signal.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method for processing a video signal, comprising assigning pixels from a set of pixels to at least one of a plurality of bins based on a brightness level associated with each pixel of the set of pixels, each of the plurality of bins containing pixels having a brightness level above or below a specified value, and identifying a coarse horizon value corresponding to a first one of the bins that includes a number of pixels corresponding to a brightness level.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method that enhance contrast ratio of a display device using asymmetrically delayed illumination signal control. An exemplary embodiment comprises determining a pixel brightness level for a video frame, and delaying application of the illumination signal based on a change of the pixel brightness level.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a system and method of enhancing a contrast ratio of a display device. An exemplary method comprises determining a quantity of pixels in a frame of video data having a predetermined level of blackness, comparing the quantity of pixels to a reference value, and modulating an illumination signal based on a quantity of pixels exceeding the reference value.

Abstract: A method (400) and a system (100) for providing video signals to video displays includes the steps of receiving at least one input video signal (150), dithering the non-uniformity color correction (445), applying the non-uniformity color correction to the input video signal to generate a color corrected video signal (450), and increasing a frame rate of the color corrected video signal (120). Gamma correction (125) can be applied to the color correction. Generating a dithered non-uniformity color correction can include selecting from a data storage (115) a plurality of RGB correction matrices (300), measuring at least one brightness level of the input video signal, selecting for the picture level correction a first RGB correction matrix if the brightness is within a first range of values (425), a second RGB correction matrix if the brightness is within a second range of values (435), and interpolating (440) the plurality of RGB correction matrices if the brightness is within a third range of values.

Abstract: A video signal is decomposed into a higher brightness level signal and a lower brightness level signal. The threshold between higher and lower brightness levels is adjustable and related to the transition between lower and higher gain portions of the gamma table for an associated liquid crystal imager. The lower brightness level signal is low pass filtered to reduce the difference in brightness between adjacent pixels. The higher brightness level signal is delayed in time to match the processing delay through the low pass filter. The delay matched signal and the low pass filtered signal are combined to form a modified video signal less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Sparkle reduction processing can be applied to luminance signals and to video drive signals in various combinations, based on independently selectable thresholds.

Abstract: A method for reducing sparkle artifacts in a liquid crystal imager, comprises the steps of: low pass filtering only a first lower brightness level signal component of a video signal; and, slew rate limiting only a second lower brightness level signal component of the video signal having the low pass filtered signal component, the video signal having the low pass filtered and the slew rate limited signal components being less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Brightness thresholds for defining the lower brightness level signal components and slew rate limits can be selected in accordance with transitions between lower and higher level gain portions of a gamma table associated with the imager, for example an LCOS imager.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) for playing data in a digital video disc (DVD) apparatus in which the data was recorded onto a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format. The invention includes the steps of: determining (212) the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium; reading (214) a file structure contained on the non-DVD optical disc medium; and launching (216) a DVD video playback driver if the file structure on the non-DVD optical storage medium is a DVD file structure. In one arrangement, the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium can be determined by checking a focal length in which the focal length is defined by a laser and a reflective surface of the non-DVD optical storage medium. The invention also concerns a DVD apparatus (100) capable of playing data recorded on a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards detecting contouring artifacts in a received video signal and reducing the detected artifacts by dithering and/or by adding least significant bits to selected pixels in the video signal. The contouring artifacts are detected by applying a magnitude difference test and/or an averaging test to a predetermined pixel span. The artifacts are reduced by substituting a replacement pixel for a selected pixel in the pixel span. A replacement pixel is generated by calculating an average pixel value for the predetermined pixel span, by reducing (e.g., rounding or truncated) the average pixel value to a bit resolution that is greater than the bit resolution of the pixels in the predetermined pixel span, or by adding a dither signal to the average pixel value.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards detecting contouring artifacts in a received video signal and reducing the detected artifacts by dithering and/or by adding least significant bits to selected pixels in the video signal. The contouring artifacts are detected by applying a magnitude difference test and/or an averaging test to a predetermined pixel span. The artifacts are reduced by substituting a replacement pixel for a selected pixel in the pixel span. A replacement pixel is generated by calculating an average pixel value for the predetermined pixel span, by reducing (e.g., rounding or truncated) the average pixel value to a bit resolution that is greater than the bit resolution of the pixels in the predetermined pixel span, or by adding a dither signal to the average pixel value.

Abstract: A method (400) and a system (100) for providing video signals to video displays includes the steps of receiving at least one input video signal (150), dithering the non-uniformity color correction (445), applying the non-uniformity color correction to the input video signal to generate a color corrected video signal (450), and increasing a frame rate of the color corrected video signal (120). Gamma correction (125) can be applied to the color correction. Generating a dithered non-uniformity color correction can include selecting from a data storage (115) a plurality of RGB correction matrices (300), measuring at least one brightness level of the input video signal, selecting for the picture level correction a first RGB correction matrix if the brightness is within a first range of values (425), a second RGB correction matrix if the brightness is within a second range of values (435), and interpolating (440) the plurality of RGB correction matrices if the brightness is within a third range of values.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method (200) for playing data in a digital video disc (DVD) apparatus in which the data was recorded onto a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format. The invention includes the steps of: determining (212) the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium; reading (214) a file structure contained on the non-DVD optical disc medium; and launching (216) a DVD video playback driver if the file structure on the non-DVD optical storage medium is a DVD file structure. In one arrangement, the physical type of the non-DVD optical storage medium can be determined by checking a focal length in which the focal length is defined by a laser and a reflective surface of the non-DVD optical storage medium. The invention also concerns a DVD apparatus (100) capable of playing data recorded on a non-DVD optical storage medium in a DVD format.

Abstract: A video system (100) includes detection circuitry (200A-200C) operative to detect pseudo-synchronization pulses within a composite synchronization signal in dependence upon at least one timing signal. Timing circuitry (200D-200F) is operative to generate the at least one timing signal without utilizing synchronization information within the composite synchronization signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling MPEG compatible data reproduced in sectors by a digital video disk player. The method comprises the steps of transducing groups of sectors including requested sectors having MPEG compatible data required for processing, and unrequested sectors having MPEG compatible data not required for processing. Coupling the requested sectors exclusive of the unrequested sectors to a data processor for processing. Processing the requested data sectors to extract the required MPEG compatible data representative of video information.

Abstract: An apparatus for reproducing a digitally encoded signal from a disk medium, comprises a transducerwhich transduces the digitally encoded signal. A memory is coupled to the transducer for storing the digitally encoded signal. A decoder is responsive to the digitally encoded signal for decoding a picture therefrom. A controller for the memory, wherein a first operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory responsive to a first sequence and in a second operational mode the controller controls the memory to read the stored digitally encoded signal from the memory in a second sequence.

Abstract: A method for reducing sparkle artifacts in a liquid crystal imager, comprises the steps of: low pass filtering only a first lower brightness level signal component of a video signal; and, slew rate limiting only a second lower brightness level signal component of the video signal having the low pass filtered signal component, the video signal having the low pass filtered and the slew rate limited signal components being less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Brightness thresholds for defining the lower brightness level signal components and slew rate limits can be selected in accordance with transitions between lower and higher level gain portions of a gamma table associated with the imager, for example an LCOS imager.

Abstract: A video signal is decomposed into a higher brightness level signal and a lower brightness level signal. The threshold between higher and lower brightness levels is adjustable and related to the transition between lower and higher gain portions of the gamma table for an associated liquid crystal imager. The lower brightness level signal is low pass filtered to reduce the difference in brightness between adjacent pixels. The higher brightness level signal is delayed in time to match the processing delay through the low pass filter. The delay matched signal and the low pass filtered signal are combined to form a modified video signal less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Sparkle reduction processing can be applied to luminance signals and to video drive signals in various combinations, based on independently selectable thresholds.

Abstract: A video signal is decomposed into a higher brightness level signal and a lower brightness level signal. The threshold between higher and lower brightness levels is adjustable and related to the transition between lower and higher gain portions of the gamma table for an associated liquid crystal imager. The lower brightness level signal is slew rate limited to reduce the difference in brightness between adjacent pixels. The higher brightness level signal is delayed in time to match the processing delay through the slew rate limiter. The delay matched signal and the slew rate limited signal are combined to form a modified video signal less likely to result in sparkle artifacts in the imager. Sparkle reduction processing can be applied to luminance signals and to video drive signals in various combinations, based on independently selectable thresholds.