Abstract: Systems and methods for block noise detection and filtering are disclosed. One embodiment includes, computing difference magnitudes in pixel values for adjacent pixels in the image. The difference magnitudes can include horizontal difference magnitudes for horizontally adjacent pixels and vertical difference magnitudes for vertically adjacent pixels. One embodiment further includes using normalized sums of the difference magnitudes to determine a set of noise characteristics of the block noise and a set of image characteristics of the image and configuring inputs to the block noise filter using the set of noise and image characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for performing time base correction and frame rate conversion with respect to signals. An apparatus includes circuitry to synthesize an output video clock. The apparatus has circuitry that receives an input video synchronization signal. The apparatus has circuitry to change a frequency of the output video clock based on an intended number of video clock cycles per input vertical period and a period of the input video synchronization signal.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a deinterlacing processor that is implemented upon a digital processing unit. The deinterlacing processor is coupled to an input operable to receive an interlaced video stream, a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video signal, and an output operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor is operable to perform frequency analysis upon the received interlaced video stream in order to generate the deinterlaced video stream having reduced motion artifacts.

Abstract: A technique for reducing noise in a digital video signal is disclosed. In one embodiment, the technique involves receiving a digital signal. The digital signal can be filtered thereby generating a filtered signal. The digital signal and the filtered signal can be mixed according to a composite blend map thereby generating an optimized signal. The optimized signal can be provided as an output.

Abstract: A portable DVD player includes a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display. The enclosure further includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure. A digital processing system within the enclosure includes a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller. The decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into the enclosure to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, the deinterlacer converts the interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and the display controller uses the deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on the video display. Preferably, the portable DVD player is both mechanically and electronically isolated for physical shocks to the player.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel class of molecular coordination compounds, and more particularly, square supramolecular metal coordination grids of the formula (I): [Ma2(L)2a]Xz (I), wherein M is a transition metal: a is 3, 4, 5 or 6; X is a counterion; z is 2 to 60 and L is as defined in the application. The present invention also provides the use of the square supramolecular metal coordination grids in a binary information recording medium, and a method of forming such a binary information recording medium.

Abstract: A digital image enhancer includes a deinterlacing processor receptive to an interlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor includes a first deinterlacer and a second deinterlacer and provides a deinterlaced video stream. The digital image enhancer also includes a video output processor receptive to the output of the deinterlaced video stream to provide a scaled, deinterlaced video stream. A portable DVD player including the digital video enhancer has a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display, and the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for delaying an audio signal in conformance with the format of the audio signal. An input device is receptive to an audio signal having one of a plurality of formats. A processing device coupled to the input device is operable to provide a delay in the audio signal corresponding to the format of the audio signal. The delayed audio signal is output through an output device. An audio format detection circuit is operable to detect the number of edge transitions within a known period in a processed audio signal and thereby determine the format of the audio signal by comparing a detected edge transition count to model data representative of the plurality of formats.

Abstract: A digital image enhancer includes a deinterlacing processor receptive to an interlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor includes a first deinterlacer and a second deinterlacer and provides a deinterlaced video stream. The digital image enhancer also includes a video output processor receptive to the output of the deinterlaced video stream to provide a scaled, deinterlaced video stream. A portable DVD player including the digital video enhancer has a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display, and the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for delaying an audio signal in conformance with the format of the audio signal. An input device is receptive to an audio signal having one of a plurality of formats. A processing device coupled to the input device is operable to provide a delay in the audio signal corresponding to the format of the audio signal. The delayed audio signal is output through an output device. An audio format detection circuit is operable to detect the number of edge transitions within a known period in a processed audio signal and thereby determine the format of the audio signal by comparing a detected edge transition count to model data representative of the plurality of formats.

Abstract: A hubcap breather assembly is provided for a hubcap housing lubricated wheel bearings in an automotive vehicle. The breather assembly includes a resilient, annular collar that fits into an access opening in a hubcap end wall, a filter cartridge cup, and a filter cartridge lid which fit together to hold a filter therebetween in a filter cartridge chamber. The filter is a hydrophobic, gas-permeable, particular matter filter that is disposed within and extends entirely across the filter cartridge chamber. Ambient air entering the hubcap through the hubcap breather assembly is filtered to exclude both particulate matter and water before entering the wheel bearing chamber. The filter is preferably formed of three layers, including an outboard porous layer of sintered polypropylene plastic, an intermediate hydrophobic layer of polytetrafluoroethylene, and an inboard porous layer of sintered polypropylene plastic. The filter can be replaced by separating the filter cartridge lid from the filter cartridge cup.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a deinterlacing processor that is implemented upon a digital processing unit. The deinterlacing processor is coupled to an input operable to receive an interlaced video stream, a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video signal, and an output operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor is operable to perform frequency analysis upon the received interlaced video stream in order to generate the deinterlaced video stream having reduced motion artifacts.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a deinterlacing processor that is implemented upon a digital processing unit. The deinterlacing processor is coupled to an input operable to receive an interlaced video stream, a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video signal, and an output operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor is operable to perform frequency analysis upon the received interlaced video stream in order to generate the deinterlaced video stream having reduced motion artifacts.

Abstract: A digital image processor includes an input buffer for storing raster-scanned data. A slice-buffer memory is coupled to the input buffer to store a portion of a vertical slice of said raster-scanned data. The vertical slice is processed by a vertical slice processor having an input coupled to the slice-buffer memory. The vertical slice processor reassembles the vertical slices into processed raster-scanned data in an output buffer that is coupled to the output of the vertical slice processor. The digital image processor preferably utilizes multiple sequential processing stages and processes the raster-scanned data along the horizontal axis of the vertical slices.

Abstract: A portable DVD player includes a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display. The enclosure further includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure. A digital processing system within the enclosure includes a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller. The decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into the enclosure to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, the deinterlacer converts the interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and the display controller uses the deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on the video display. Preferably, the portable DVD player is both mechanically and electronically isolated for physical shocks to the player.

Abstract: A digital image processor includes an input buffer operable to receive an interlaced video stream and a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video stream. An output buffer is operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. Also included is a deinterlacing processor coupled between said input buffer and said output buffer and to said digital memory, said deinterlacing processor is operable to store portions of said received interlaced video stream from said input buffer into said digital memory and to detect diagonal features in said portions of said received interlaced video stream in said digital memory, and to generate said deinterlaced video stream having smoothed diagonal features therefrom.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a deinterlacing processor that is implemented upon a digital processing unit. The deinterlacing processor is coupled to an input operable to receive an interlaced video stream, a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video signal, and an output operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor is operable to perform frequency analysis upon the received interlaced video stream in order to generate the deinterlaced video stream having reduced motion artifacts.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a deinterlacing processor that is implemented upon a digital processing unit. The deinterlacing processor is coupled to an input operable to receive an interlaced video stream, a digital memory for storing portions of the interlaced video signal, and an output operable to transmit a deinterlaced video stream. The deinterlacing processor is operable to detect the source type of the received interlaced video stream to generate the deinterlaced video stream having reduced or no motion artifacts.

Abstract: A digital image processor is provided. The digital image processor includes a shift register having a number of serially connected registers. The shift register is receptive to an image data word signal and has a plurality of taps. A coefficient store provides a number of quantized coefficients in which the number of coefficients stored corresponds to an integer multiple of the taps. A number of multipliers are provided, each having a first input coupled to a tap of the shift register and having a second input coupled to the coefficient store to receive a coefficient to provide a number of multiplied output. An adder is coupled to the multiplied outputs, wherein the adder generates a filtered and scaled image data output signal.

Abstract: A digital image processor includes an input buffer for storing raster-scanned data. A slice-buffer memory is coupled to the input buffer to store a portion of a vertical slice of said raster-scanned data. The vertical slice is processed by a vertical slice processor having an input coupled to the slice-buffer memory. The vertical slice processor reassembles the vertical slices into processed raster-scanned data in an output buffer that is coupled to the output of the vertical slice processor. The digital image processor preferably utilizes multiple sequential processing stages and processes the raster-scanned data along the horizontal axis of the vertical slices.