Abstract: A method of color processing determines whether a pixel color is within at least one range of predetermined colors corresponding to a viewer expected color. If so, the method altering the pixel color to better approximate the viewer expected color. For detection of skin tones determining whether the pixel color is within a range of predetermined colors includes discounting an illuminant of the pixel color. The viewer expected colors are preferably skin tone, grass green and sky blue. The saturation level of grass green and sky blue are enhanced and that of skin tones are suppressed. The saturation s is limited based upon lightness J and hue h to convert to an allowable RGB color format range.

Abstract: Film mode detection with bad edit detection used in de-interlacing video includes use of combing artifact detection in both 3-2 pull down detection and 2-2 pull down detection. Further, combing artifact detection uses only two field memories by accumulation of partial field statistics for comparisons.

Abstract: A method for motion detection is provided that includes determining a first motion measure for a pixel based on differences between first neighboring pixels of the pixel, determining a detail measure for the pixel, wherein the detail measure is indicative of an amount of detail in second neighboring pixels of the pixel, adapting a first coring threshold and a first gain of a first transfer function based on the detail measure, and using the adapted first transfer function to map the first motion measure to a first motion parameter.

Abstract: Motion detection in interlaced video fields, as useful in de-interlacing, includes spatial-temporal maximum filtering, temporal IIR filtering dependent upon spatial-temporal variance, and spatial variance dependent moving-still interpolation blending factor.

Abstract: This invention is a preprocessor apparatus and method algorithm facilitating black bar detection in video frames or fields. The preprocessing marks a sharp discontinuity between pixels a predetermined distance apart on each line. On first detection of this discontinuity the location and pixel value is stored. The location and pixel value is also stored for the last discontinuity in the line. This data enables software to detect top horizontal bars, bottom horizontal bars, left vertical bars and right vertical bars.

Abstract: This invention is a preprocessor apparatus and method algorithm facilitating black bar detection in video frames or fields. The preprocessing marks a sharp discontinuity between pixels a predetermined distance apart on each line. On first detection of this discontinuity the location and pixel value is stored. The location and pixel value is also stored for the last discontinuity in the line. This data enables software to detect top horizontal bars, bottom horizontal bars, left vertical bars and right vertical bars.

Abstract: A method for motion detection is provided that includes determining a first motion measure for a pixel based on differences between first neighboring pixels of the pixel, determining a detail measure for the pixel, wherein the detail measure is indicative of an amount of detail in second neighboring pixels of the pixel, adapting a first coring threshold and a first gain of a first transfer function based on the detail measure, and using the adapted first transfer function to map the first motion measure to a first motion parameter.

Abstract: Digital video contrast enhancement and skin tone correction by conversion to CIECAM02 color space with lightness transformation and a skin tone probability density function of hue and saturation.

Abstract: Base band compensation for an IF stage in a television provides significant advantages over compensation applied to the composite signal. Each base band color difference signal is filtered to obtain cross-talk elements, which are then applied to the opposite channel to eliminate the cross-talk components from the color difference signal channels. The compensation technique is applicable to IF stages generally, including those based on SAW filters. High and low gain compensation of the cross-talk compensated signals may also be performed to reduce distortion in the compensated signals. The base band compensation tends to reduce or eliminate visual artifacts in a television image, especially where sharp contrast transitions occur in the image.

Abstract: A system to reduce noise includes a noise measurement device that provides a measure of noise associated with a digital input video signal. A noise reduction filter provides a noise-reduced digital output video signal corresponding to the luma and chroma of the digital input video signal. The noise reduction filter has a parameter that varies on a pixel basis for the component of the digital input video signal as a function of the measure of noise. The range and sensitivity of the noise reduction can be user programmable.

Abstract: System and method for an all-digital audio receiver for a BTSC MTS audio signal or other composite signal that is FM modulated. A preferred embodiment comprises a digital FM demodulator for receiving an analog to digital quantized SIF signal and performing demodulation and outputting a composite audio signal, and a digital audio processor for decomposing the composite audio signal into at least the SAP, stereo and monaural signals for audio reproduction. In a preferred embodiment, the digital audio processor is a programmable digital signal processor. In a preferred embodiment, the digital FM demodulator and the digital audio processor are implemented as an integrated circuit. Methods for processing the audio signal using the digital processors of the invention are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting motion within a composite video signal. A first chroma difference element compares an in-phase chroma component of the composite video signal to a delayed representation of the in-phase chroma component to produce a first chroma difference value for a given pixel. A second chroma difference element compares a quadrature chroma component of the composite video signal to a delayed representation of the quadrature chroma component to produce a second chroma difference value for the pixel. A parameter mapping component maps the first and second difference values to respective first and second motion parameters that indicates the degree of change in the chroma properties of the pixel. A parameter selector determines a composite motion parameter for the pixel from the first and second motion parameters.

Abstract: A method for treating inter-frame motion in a series of consecutive signal frames of a composite video signal includes the steps of, for an evaluation pixel position in each frame of a test frame-set including three successive signal frames: (a) determining whether there is at least a predetermined difference in chroma component or in luma component signals at the evaluation pixel; (b) if in step (a) there is not a predetermined difference in chroma component signals or in luma component signals, determining whether a first and third frame of the test frame-set are substantially identical; (c) determining whether at least a first predetermined number of the luma or chroma component signals in the test frame-set present at least one false color; and (d) determining whether at least a second predetermined number of high frequency luma component signals exist in the test frame-set.

Abstract: Systems and method are provided for luma-chroma separation. A demodulator system demodulates a composite video signal to produce at least two baseband chroma signals. A given baseband chroma signal contains chroma information for one of a plurality of video frames comprising the composite signal. A three-dimensional (3-D) comb filter removes luma information from a given baseband chroma signal by combining sets of at least two baseband chroma signals to form a 3-D filtered baseband signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting color phase error in a video decoder system. A demodulator system demodulates the composite input signal and the at least one delayed signal to produce sets of baseband chroma components based on a phase correction value. Color phase correction logic determines the phase correction value for the demodulator system based upon characteristics of the baseband chroma components associated with a series of at least two consecutive frames.

Abstract: Film mode detection with bad edit detection used in de-interlacing video includes use of combing artifact detection in both 3-2 pull down detection and 2-2 pull down detection. Further, combing artifact detection uses only two field memories by accumulation of partial field statistics for comparisons.

Abstract: Film mode detection with bad edit detection used in de-interlacing video includes use of combing artifact detection in both 3-2 pull down detection and 2-2 pull down detection. Further, combing artifact detection uses only two field memories by accumulation of partial field statistics for comparisons.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a horizontal sync detector circuit (10) comprising a filter portion (12), an equilibrium accumulator portion (14) coupled to the filter portion (12), a horizontal sync detector portion (16) coupled to the filter portion (12) and to the equilibrium accumulator portion (14), and an output logic portion (18) coupled to the horizontal sync detector portion (16), the output logic portion (18) adapted to produce a phase error (116) based on a combination of a coarse phase error (108) and a fine phase error (112).

Abstract: A color comb filter (46), video decoder (40) and method for separating chroma (U,V) and luma (Y) signals from a composite video signal (41). The comb filter (46) includes circuitry (48) for generating color filter selections for filtering a chroma video signal (41) and control logic (62) for determining the filter selections based on color boundary properties of the chroma video signal (U,V). The video decoder (40) includes a comb filter (46), a demodulator (42), low pass filter (44), a remodulator (48) and a subtractor (50). The filtered, remodulated chroma signal (Uout,Vout) is subtracted from the composite video signal (41) to produce a luma signal absent hanging dots and false colors.

Abstract: A technique for detecting three modes of video input signal and outputting a vertical sync signal based on the input signal. In a first mode, a standard video signal is received and a line counter is used to decode and output the vertical sync. In a second mode where a non-standard signal is received, line counter cannot be used, but a vertical sync is detected and output. In a third mode, no video input signal is received, yet a vertical sync is output in free-running mode so that a blank screen is displayed.