Abstract: A video system includes: analyzing video data, having a block; performing a transition change detection for determining a spatial intensity transition within the block; performing a block-wise similarity measurement on the block in the video data for identifying a blocking artifact; and filtering with a two dimensional cross filter every pixel in the block for removing the blocking artifact.

Abstract: A low complexity upscaling method to generate higher resolution image and video with high quality is described herein. Natural edge smoothness and sharpness are preserved while overshooting artifacts and the “edge dilation” problem are eliminated. To obtain edge smoothness and remove jaggy artifacts along the edge, a bi-directional filtering which is based on two orthogonal directions is used to generate higher resolution pixels. The direction close to the edge direction is heavily weighted, and the direction far from the edge direction is lightly weighted. The weight of each direction is determined by the developed directional vector difference measurement method. To eliminate the overshooting artifacts and solving the thick edge problem, a dual-sided interpolation method is implemented. By using the dual-sided interpolation method, the interpolation result is pushed towards a dominant transition desired location which removes overshooting artifacts.

Abstract: Reducing artifacts and improving quality for image and video encoding is performed in one pass to preserve natural edge smoothness and sharpness. To reduce artifacts and improve quality, several steps are implemented including spatial variation extraction, determining if a block is flat or texture/edge, classifying the pixels as texture or noise, detecting a dominant edge, checking the spatial variation of neighboring blocks, generating base weights, generating filter coefficients, filtering pixels and adaptive enhancement. A device which utilizes the method of reducing artifacts and improving quality achieves higher quality images and/or video with reduced artifacts.

Abstract: Low complexity edge detection and DCT type selection method to improve the visual quality of H.264/AVC encoded video sequence is described. Encoding-generated information is reused to detect an edge macroblock. Variance and Mean Absolute Difference (MAD) of one macroblock shows a certain relationship that is able to be used to differentiate the edge macroblock and the non-edge macroblock. Also, the variance difference of neighbor macroblocks provides a hint for edge existence. Then, a block-based edge detection method uses this information. To determine the DCT type for each block, the detected edges are differentiated as visual obvious edge, texture-like edge, soft edge and strong edge. 8×8 DCT is used for texture-like edges and the 4×4 DCT is used for all the other edges. The result is an efficient and accurate edge detection and transform selection method.

Abstract: A method of image color tone correction is disclosed, which may include the steps of (a) providing a reference image and one or more source images, wherein all images are comprised of pixels of a scene; (b) correcting a designated portion of one of the source images based on the reference image to create a color tone corrected image; and (c) outputting the color tone corrected image to a computer readable medium. The designated portion may be any subset of one of the source images, and may be a simple cropping, interlace, or other form of selection, such as areas of interest in the scene. Additionally, the designated portion may be used for determining a set of coefficients for overall color image correction of the complement of the source images. This method brings the increased tonal and saturation qualities of still images to those in motion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing ringing artifacts when generating super-resolution pictures and/or videos and for controlling the balance between sharpness and introduction of artifacts. After motion estimation and motion masking for all input frames, the method enters a frame loop within which high frequency information is extracted from the input SR image for each low-resolution input image. Extracted information from each input frame is not directly utilized within the frame loop for changing the SR input as with conventional SR processes, but is used within a means for averaging high frequency information over a desired number of frames (N) and outputting higher resolution versions of low resolution images. Changing (N) alters the tradeoff between ringing suppression and sharpness boosting. Invention can be implemented in a number of imaging apparatus, in particular those having a processor for executing the method steps.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the quality of super-resolution video imaging by suppressing ringing artifacts, reducing high-frequency noise, reducing blocking artifacts, and smoothing out jagged edges of the image to generate pictures that appear cleaner with less edge degradation. The method operates in a recursive manner within a sequence of low resolution images. Conventional SR processing is primarily enhanced within the invention by adding an artifact suppression section which creates a high frequency component signal ?SRi having significantly reduced artifacts therein achieving higher quality super-resolution image output. The method can be applied to images and image sequences (video) in monochrome or color and in any desired pixel format. The method can be implemented within image processing devices, in particular those containing programming for executing the described method steps.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating a shutter-time compensated high spatial resolution (HR) image output by enhancing lower spatial resolution (LR) video images with information obtained from higher spatial resolution still images which are temporally decimated. Super-resolved images and LR SAD information is generated from the LR images and used for directing the extracting of information from the temporally decimated HR images to enhance the spatial resolution of the LR images in a blending process. By way of example blending can comprise: motion estimation, motion compensation of a temporally displaced HR still images and a super-resolved (SR) image input, transformation (e.g., DCT), generating motion error output, blending motion compensated images in response to LR motion error information; inverse-transformation into a shutter-time compensated HR video image output. Accordingly, a more cost effective solution is taught for obtaining a desired shutter time and video resolution.

Abstract: An adaptive picture mode selection transcoder selects an encoding mode in a second format for frames of video previously encoded in a first format by determining a magnitude of interlacing phenomenon in the using picture information obtained during decoding of the video from the first format. In one aspect, the picture information includes discrete cosine coefficients for macroblocks in the frame. In another aspect, the picture information includes an encoding mode for the macroblocks in the first format. In yet another aspect, the picture information includes motion vector information for the macroblocks. In still another aspect, the determining is specific to an encoding mode for the frame.

Abstract: An imaging system acquires an image using focal point and field depth information. The system receives focal point and field information via a user interface and analyzes the image based on the focal point and field depth information to calculate characteristics of the content of the image. In addition, the system automatically determines the image exposure based on the characteristics. Furthermore, the system determines the appropriate aperture and exposure based on the field depth information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a coding mode selection method is provided to improve the visual quality of an encoded video sequence. The coding mode is selected based on a human visual tolerance level. Picture data may be received for a video coding process. The picture data is then analyzed to determine human visual tolerance adjustment information. For example, parameters of a cost equation may be adjusted based on the human visual tolerance level, which may be a tolerance that is based on a distortion bound that the human visual system can tolerate. The picture data may be analyzed in places that are considered visually sensitive areas, such as trailing suspicious areas, stripping suspicious areas, picture boundary areas, and/or blocking suspicious areas. Depending on what kind of visually sensitive area is found in the picture data, a parameter in a cost equation may be adjusted based on different visual tolerance thresholds. The coding mode is then determined based on the cost.

Abstract: A high thermal conductivity thermal interface material compound includes 53% by weight of polyethylene glycol, 42% by weight of silicon carbide, and 5% by weight of lithium ions. The method of fabricating the thermal interface material includes the steps of: filling the above-described compound in a container and blending them to form aggregative compound by a blender; mixing the compound by a rolling machine to disperse the aggregative compound and filling the compound to another container; blending the compound and breaking the air bubble generated thereof, and pumping the air out of the container by a vacuum pump at the same time, to fabricate the high thermal conductivity thermal interface material compound without air bubbles.

Abstract: A method for achieving high sub-unit accuracy during global motion estimation of sequential video frame images is described herein. The method estimates the global motion using an existing phase-correlation approach, and further refines it to a sub-unit level using the neighborhood values of the phase correlation surface peak The method determines the sub-unit displacement direction by examining the signs of the peak of phase correlation surface and its two nearest neighbors. The method determines the sub-unit displacement magnitude by applying the ratio of associated phase correlation values to a 5th-order polynomial function. The method then computes the actual motion by adding the sub-unit displacement value to the global motion value as calculated by the phase-correlation approach.

Abstract: Local motion estimation is described herein. Each picture of a video is partitioned into blocks for the local motion estimation. An extended-block FFT is calculated for each block, where the extended-block denotes that a certain area around the block is also included for applying FFT. Extending the block for FFT helps to account for the motion of objects that are moving into or out of the block. Phase correlation is applied to attain a set of Motion Vector (MV) candidates for the blocks, and a cost function is evaluated for each MV. If no MV candidate produces a cost function below a pre-defined threshold, a hierarchical variable block matching search is applied and the process is repeated with blocks for finer resolution. Also, predictive MV candidates are used during the block matching search along with temporal constraints tracking to select an MV that yields the minimum cost function.

Abstract: A method and a device for improving debug time of a display apparatus are provided. The display apparatus includes an input signal connector for receiving an external input signal, an MCU, a bus and a plurality of units. The input signal connector is connected to the MCU via the bus, and the MCU is connected to the plurality of units via the bus. First, whether the MCU has entered the debug mode is detected; and when it is detected that the MCU has entered the debug mode, the bus switches to directly connect to the plurality of units in the display apparatus for allowing the external signal transmitted directly to the plurality of units for debugging.

Abstract: A high thermal conductivity thermal interface material compound includes 53% by weight of polyethylene glycol, 42% by weight of silicon carbide, and 5% by weight of lithium ions. The method of fabricating the thermal interface material includes the steps of: filling the above-described compound in a container and blending them to form aggregative compound by a blender; mixing the compound by a rolling machine to disperse the aggregative compound and filling the compound to another container; blending the compound and breaking the air bubble generated thereof, and pumping the air out of the container by a vacuum pump at the same time, to fabricate the high thermal conductivity thermal interface material compound without air bubbles.

Abstract: A light source is positioned on a lateral side of a light guide of a backlight module, and several optical films are positioned on the light guide for diffusing and enhancing brightness of light projected from the light source; in manufacturing one of the optical films, pigments or dyes are added to and mixed with the coating material of the optical film for modifying color of the optical film; thus, color of the light projected from the light source will be harmonized and mixed with the color of the color modified optical film, and consequently overall color of light projected out of the backlight module is changed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting the sync signal of a data signal are disclosed. The apparatus includes a clamping unit, a subtraction unit and a detection unit. The clamping unit receives the data signal and varies the level of the data signal. The subtraction unit coupled to the clamping unit subtracts the level of the data signal from that of the output of the clamping unit and then outputs the subtracting result. The detection unit coupled to the subtraction unit detects the subtracting result from the subtraction unit and judges the sync signal in the data signal accordingly.

Abstract: Brightness values of image frames are collected and counted to form a brightness distribution. The brightness distribution of the image frames is compared with predetermined brightness distributions. Brightness values of all pixels of successive image frames are adjusted according to a result of the comparison, so as to improve image contrast.

Abstract: Selecting a corresponding procedure of dithering according to a general pattern of gray levels of sub-pixels of each color of an input image. This will enable the input image to be displayed on a display with a lower bit depth.