Conversion Between Standards With Different Aspect Ratios Patents (Class 348/445)
  • Patent number: 6999127
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for image conversion and automatic error correction for a digital television receiver (TV) which can improve the picture quality by converting an image signal for a TV or PC that displays an image having an RGB format into an image signal of YPbPr for the digital TV and automatically correcting an error produced in the received image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dong Wan Ryoo, Hyung Jik Lee, Jeun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6995780
    Abstract: A picture convert apparatus of the present invention includes a first element which inputs a first picture data and produces a second picture data consisting of a first black area, a second black area and an area consisting of the reduced number of lines of the first picture; a second element which enlarges the second picture; and a third element which display the enlarged picture. A method of the present invention for converting a first picture data to a second picture data, includes: producing a first black area; reducing the line number of the first picture data to a predetermined line number; producing a second black area; forming the first black area, the reduced numbers of lines and the second black area to a frame; enlarging the frame; and displaying the enlarged frame on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Yamada
  • Patent number: 6970205
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device using an LCD panel made for display of computer output, wherein video signals of a predetermined television system are converted by a decoder into field-unit picture data, and frame-unit picture data obtained therefrom by a converter are supplied to an LCD panel to display a picture composed of such video signals. The picture is displayed on an effective screen of the display panel at the original aspect ratio of the video signals of a television system by changing the width-to-height ratio of each unit pixel formed on the effective screen of the display panel, on the basis of the ratio of the number of horizontal pixels to the number of vertical pixels of the frame-unit picture data, and also on the basis of the aspect ratio of the predetermined television system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Junichi Oshima, Hiroshi Murayama
  • Patent number: 6970110
    Abstract: A data compression algorithm which computes from a given probability density, in continuous or histogram form, a “probability centrifuge” probability density and also the Fisher information of the density. The density preserves Shannon entropy of the original density and the Fisher information represents the minimum Fisher information obtainable by “lateral” adiabatic reduction. The data compression algorithm can alternately be used to perform a “vertically” adiabatic reduction, a “radial” adiabatic reduction, or a “sectoral” adiabatic reduction. Said algorithm may provide alternate information for applications such as image reconstruction and protein folding analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Inventor: Dennis G. Collins
  • Patent number: 6970204
    Abstract: An image magnifying circuit is made up of a frame memory 12 for storing input image data, a coefficient memory 18 in which filter coefficients corresponding to a plurality of magnification ratios are stored, a non-linear magnification controller 20 for outputting an enable signal for reading the corresponding image data from the frame memory 12 and a coefficient selecting address AD3 for reading the corresponding filter coefficient from the coefficient memory 18, on the basis of an area width w predetermined to divide a display screen into n parts and a predetermined magnification for the n parts, and a filter 14 for filtering the image data from the frame memory 12 on the basis of the filter coefficients from the coefficient memory 18 to output the image data on the image which is non-linearly magnified in a horizontal direction. These filter coefficients correspond to the magnification ratio which are set for the n parts of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Toru Aida, Hideyuki Ohmori
  • Patent number: 6958780
    Abstract: A image displaying and controlling apparatus for displaying a computer graphics image in square-shaped pixels in an MPEG2 image format in rectangular-shaped pixels at a regular roundness. A graphics processor block produces the data of 640×480 pixels, two-line data of which are stored in two 1H buffers, and are multiplied respectively by weights output by a weight control circuit through a line conversion circuit. As a result, data of 640×432 are produced. A delay circuit delays a vertical synchronizing signal output by the graphics processor block by 14H. A phase comparator circuit compares the 14H delayed vertical synchronizing signal in phase with a vertical synchronizing signal output by an MPEG2 video decoder. The timing of the generation of the vertical synchronizing signal at the graphics processor block is set to be earlier by 14H than the timing of the generation of the vertical synchronization signal of the MPEG2 video decoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 6956625
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method for realizing panorama/waterglass functions, which are capable of reducing the size of a memory and simplifying memory control, are provided. In order to write a plurality of consecutive pixel data into memory devices, and simultaneously to read the plurality of consecutive pixel data from memory devices, the consecutive pixel data are separated into a plurality of first-in first-out (FIFO) buffers having a small size, thereby minimizing the size of a memory. Further, an identical clock signal is used, and the separated FIFOs are used when the consecutive pixel data are written to the memory devices and read from the memory devices, thereby simplifying memory control such as address control. Further, when realizing panorama/waterglass functions, the scaling ratio function is variably set, thereby variably realizing memories having sizes which vary according to the scaling ratio function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Jong-dae Kim
  • Patent number: 6927801
    Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus processes input video signals. A video signal source supplies the input video signals carrying at least a first video signal that is an interlaced signal having 480 effective scanning lines and a second video signal that is an interlaced signal having 1080 effective scanning lines. A video signal processor converts at least the first and the second video signals into a third video signal that is a progressive signal having 1440 effective scanning lines, thus outputting the third video signal. The output third video signal may be converted into a fourth video signal that is an interlaced signal by a progressive-to-interlace converter, thus outputting the fourth video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Yugami, Makiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6906860
    Abstract: The present invention provides an immersive rear projection display capable of providing aspect ratios of 2.66:1 or 4:1, or even greater. This allows viewers to be “immersed” in the images being displayed because the images can encompass both the direct and the peripheral views of a viewer. In one implementation, the immersive rear projection display includes two or more electronic projectors (e.g., three) that are positioned behind a curved translucent display screen. The electronic projectors project respective display images adjacent each other onto the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Gary K. Starkweather
  • Patent number: 6900845
    Abstract: A video decoder transcodes video data from various input formats to a predetermined output format. Input data may be standard definition data or MPEG2 compressed data. Standard definition data are rearranged into block format to be compatible with the decoder's single display processor. The display processor selectively processes and conveys either MPEG2 format data or non-MPEG2 format data to a display device. A block based frame memory stores MPEG2 and non-MPEG2 pixel block data, as well as standard definition data in raster line format during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Todd Christopher, Barth Alan Canfield, Steven Wayne Patton
  • Patent number: 6898245
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for decoding a compressed video signal having a first resolution for use by a display unit having a second resolution. The method and apparatus involve downscaling the compressed video bit stream before the bit stream is decoded, which results in a considerable decrease in decoding complexity requiring less memory and lower CPU power usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventor: Harald Brusewitz
  • Patent number: 6894803
    Abstract: In an arrangement in which an image captured by photography is recorded on new-type photographic film having an information recording zone for magnetically recording information relating to the film or frames on the film, information concerning the aspect ratio of the image is exploited in an effective manner and the aspect ratio is capable of being altered at will. The image recorded on the new-type photographic film and the aspect ratio information in the information recording zone are read by a film scanner. Original digital image data obtained by the reading operation, length X and width Y of the image and effective image size data (length A and width B) generated from the aspect ratio information are recorded on a floppy disk or optical disk by a disk device. When an original image represented by the original digital image data obtained from the floppy or optical disk is displayed, the size thereof is made that stipulated by the effective image size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihisa Haneda
  • Patent number: 6891572
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and method for up or down conversion of an interlace signal with a high degree of accuracy. The frequency of a write system clock supplied from a PLL circuit is divided by N by a dividing circuit and then multiplied by M by a multiplying circuit to produce a readout system clock. An interpolation circuit writes a video signal into a frame memory in synchronism with the write system clock from the PLL circuit, and reads out the video signal in synchronism with the readout system clock from the multiplying circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Ueki
  • Patent number: 6876395
    Abstract: Video data of a field necessary for I/P conversion and scanning line conversion is stored in a field memory part (7), vertical frequency conversion is performed by a memory control processing part (2), I/P conversion is performed by an I/P conversion processing part (3), scanning line conversion is performed by a scanning line conversion part (4) and horizontal pixel conversion is performed by a horizontal pixel conversion processing part (5) with the data stored in the field memory part, and a synchronous processing part (6) supplies a prescribed clock, a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal to each block. A single system performs vertical frequency conversion, I/P conversion, scanning line conversion and horizontal pixel conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Muto, Toshio Wakahara, Akio Niwa, Takuma Higashi, Tomoko Morita, Yuji Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 6859495
    Abstract: A digital video format converter and method therefor includes a first and second converter. The first converter receives a digital video signal and converts, in the frequency domain, inter-coded pictures in the digital video signal into intra-coded pictures. The first converter performs motion compensation in the frequency domain on the inter-coded pictures in the digital video signal to convert the inter-coded pictures into intra-coded pictures. The second converter down converts output of the first converter. Further signal processing then completes placing the digital video signal output by the second converter in a format acceptable to standard lower definition digital decoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tommy C. Poon, Huifang Sun, Jay Bao, Anthony Vetro
  • Patent number: 6839903
    Abstract: A method of selecting a portion of a block of data for display based on characteristics of a display device. The method comprises several steps. In the first step, a block of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data is received at a communication device adapted to process this data. Next, an input is received at the communication device regarding an appearance of the display device. The communication device can be a set-top box. The appearance of the display includes, but is not limited to, the resolution, the aspect ratio (AR), and the physical size of the display. Based on these inputs, the communication device next selects a portion, more or fewer columns or rows, of the block of EPG data to be displayed on the display device. The portion of the EPG data selected is formatted and communicated to the display device, e.g. television, for viewing by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Rae Shintani, Hirofumi Usui
  • Publication number: 20040263683
    Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus capable of converting a video signal having a main picture and blanks into a video signal lessened in unsuitableness of picture. Depending upon a detection of a blank of a picture represented by a video signal, a video signal is generated to represent a processed picture based on a video signal corresponding to a part of the main picture, to thereby generate a video signal including the video signal representative of a processed picture and a video signal representative of the main picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi Matsuno, Hiroshi Ando, Kazunori Ochiai, Tetsuro Nagakubo
  • Patent number: 6831683
    Abstract: In a case where a digital still camera and a printer are connected to each other and marginless printing of an image stored on a memory card provided in the digital still camera is performed on a recording paper, a non-print area of the image not to be printed on the recording paper is displayed on a display of the digital still camera on the basis of a difference between an aspect ratio of the image and an aspect ratio of the recording paper, and the displayed non-print area is set to be able to be shifted in arbitrary directions by using an operation unit of the digital still camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ogiwara
  • Publication number: 20040227852
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting the presence and location of pull-down fields in a video field stream. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise method steps and circuit structure for generating an array of variance indications, each of which represents a degree of variance between two video fields in the video field stream. Various aspects may comprise comparing the array of variance indications to a pattern to detect a pull-down field in the video field stream. Various aspects may comprise comparing corresponding portions of video fields and generating a histogram of differences between the corresponding portions. Various aspects may comprise generating an indication of variance of the histogram and analyzing the indication of variance. Various aspects may comprise analyzing an array of such indications of variance and may comprise comparing the array of such indications to a pattern or plurality of patterns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Darren Neuman, Joseph Del Rio, Vadim Kochubievski, Craig Zinkievich, Shannon Posniewski, Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Publication number: 20040223084
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for border processing of video information in video distribution systems are disclosed. According to one aspect, the disclosed methods and apparatus store a video frame including picture content, determine an expansion coefficient for expansion of the video frame, expand the picture content of the video frame to fill at least a portion of a frame raster and output the expanded picture content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventor: Leon J. Stanger
  • Patent number: 6813074
    Abstract: The present invention provides an immersive rear projection display capable or providing aspect ratios of 2.66:1 or 4:1, or even greater. This allows viewers to be “immersed” in the images being displayed because the images can encompass both the direct and the peripheral views of a viewer. In one implementation, the immersive rear projection display includes two or more electronic projectors (e.g., three) that are positioned behind a curved translucent display screen. The electronic projectors project respective display images adjacent each other onto the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Gary K. Starkweather
  • Publication number: 20040212731
    Abstract: According to the invention, a video distribution system is disclosed. The video distribution system distributes a video program in a first aspect ratio and includes information to convert the first aspect ratio to a second aspect ratio. Included in the video distribution system are a distribution point and a video converter that is located remotely from the distribution point. The video converter receives the information and the video program from the distribution point. The video converter uses the information to guide conversion between the first aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Applicant: Starz Encore Group, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Sie, John C. Beyler
  • Patent number: 6806914
    Abstract: An image size changing apparatus has a relatively smaller circuitry arrangement for producing a size changed image which exhibits minimum artifacts such as foldover. The image size changing apparatus of the present invention allows image data to be interpolated with a ratio between a visual area determined by pixel data DS0, DS1, and DS2 of an original image and a visual area determined by pixel data DD0 and DD1 of its size changed image, hence yielding the size changed image with less artifacts such as foldover in its relatively smaller circuitry arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Seiki Onagawa
  • Publication number: 20040189864
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for displaying widescreen video images on a stand video display is disclosed. Letterboxing, which occurs when a widescreen image is displayed in its entirety on a standard video display, is removed by enlarging the widescreen image and panning the enlarged widescreen image responsive to a multi-channel audio signal corresponding to the widescreen image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Robert J. Topper, Lee R. Dischert
  • Patent number: 6784941
    Abstract: A digital camera with video input is disclosed. An image sensor is provided to capture an image and convert the captured image into R/G/B image signals the are processed by a video signal processing unit for being converted into pixel data having a first format. A TV decoder converts input analog video signals into pixel data having a second format. A scaling unit performs aspect ratio processing and zoom/pan function to pixel data. A TV interface unit converts pixel data having the second format into pixel data having the first format for being selectively output to the scaling unit directly and output to the scaling unit after transferring to the video signal processing unit for performing edge enhancement. A compressing and storage unit performs compress operation to the pixel data output from the video signal processing unit and the scaling unit. An USB unit converts pixel data after being compressed into serial data for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sunplus Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Te-Sung Su, Jiann-Jong Tsai
  • Patent number: 6771888
    Abstract: A system for playing a selected one of multiple audio tracks recorded in synchronized fashion with a motion picture on an optical disk. The optical disk has encoded on it a mixing master music and effects (“M&E”) track, or a switching master M&E track. Individual audio tracks are provided for language-specific versions of the same motion picture, but these tracks have data recorded in them only where there is dialog. In this way, for many a motion picture, all tracks but masters will have data recorded for well less than half of the running time of the motion picture. When a mixing master is used, it is mixed with a language-specific track when the latter has dialog; the mixing master contains no dialog. If a switching master is used, it may contain dialog recorded with the M&E; when a language-specific track has dialog recorded in it, it also contains M&E and the track is played to the exclusion of the switching master.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cookson, Lewis S. Ostrover, Warren N. Lieberfarb
  • Publication number: 20040114049
    Abstract: Video is received at a standard aspect ratio. The video includes video content having an alternate aspect ratio. The video content is provided in a letterboxed format with black bars to make up the standard aspect ratio. The video is analyzed to identify portions of the video related to changing video content. A boundary for the changing video content is identified as the alternate aspect ratio. The alternate aspect ratio is then applied to the video to present the video at the alternate aspect ratio. Extraneous portions of the video, such as the black bars, are then discarded from the video to present the video at the alternate aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventor: Jitesh Arora
  • Patent number: 6747671
    Abstract: When an image is displayed on a display screen having a larger display area than a displayed image, a size of the displayed image is minutely changed cyclically in order to avoid boundary lines to be recognized when a full size image is displayed on the display screen of the display device. Direction of the size change of the displayed image is in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction. In this case additional non-image signal is added to top, bottom, left and/or right of the displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Saito
  • Patent number: 6727958
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for displaying resized pictures on an interlaced target display system, the contents of an input video source are initially read and decoded to obtain original input picture data and title format information that indicates scan format of the original input picture data. According to the scan format of the original picture data and the identified television system specification of the interlaced target display system, a resizing operation is then performed to resize the original input picture data and obtain resized frames having a frame size sufficient for division into even and odd fields with field size characteristics that comply with the television system specification of the interlaced target display system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Rong-Fuh Shyu
  • Publication number: 20040071211
    Abstract: In an audio-video production system, frame rate transformation is performed so as to simplify editing and/or compression. In the preferred embodiments, the frames surrounding the selected edit points at a scene change are buffered to permit reconstruction, if necessary, to produce “pure” rather than mixed frames. The frames then are intelligently selected or constructed using techniques such as field or frame dropping, frame repeating, and so forth, as necessary. This technique may be applied both to the series of frames leading up to an edit point, and also to the series of frames which follow the edit point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventor: Kinya Washino
  • Patent number: 6710781
    Abstract: When an image having an aspect ratio of 16:9 is compressed in a vertical direction to be displayed on a display screen having an aspect ratio of 4:3, a gray scale signal is inserted into a top and a bottom of an image signal and a brightness level of the inserted gray scale signal is made to correspond to an average brightness level of the image signal. In addition, when an image having an aspect ratio of 4:3 is compressed in a horizontal direction to be displayed on a display screen having an aspect ratio of 16:9, a gray scale signal is inserted into a right edge and a left edge of an image signal and a brightness level of the inserted gray scale signal is made to correspond to an average brightness level of the image signal. Accordingly, a boundary line between a video image area and a non-video image area due to the difference in luminous characteristics of phosphors becomes hardly recognizable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Saito
  • Publication number: 20040036805
    Abstract: A device to adapt any incoming TV signal aspect ratio to a full screen TV with an aspect ratio of 4:3. The device includes a housing with signal input terminals and signal output terminals. The signal input terminals may include cable/satellite input terminals, S-video input terminals, audio input terminals, standard video input terminals, and component input terminals. The signal output terminals may include a cable output terminal, an S-video output terminal, audio output terminals, a standard video output terminal, and component video output terminals. The device may also include an electrical cord with a plug to connect the device to an external power source. The device may also include hand elements for enabling a user to readily carry the device. Contained within the device is electrical circuitry including a video signal detector, a demodulator, a transport demultiplexer, a video decoder, an audio decoder, and an aspect ratio converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Adam B. Nevins, Keith A. Varner
  • Patent number: 6690425
    Abstract: A user selects a predefined aspect ratio format of an image displayed on a display screen. When a change in an aspect ratio format of an incoming signal occurs, that would, otherwise, produce a distorted image, a format controller automatically overrides the user's predefined aspect ratio for establishing a different image aspect ratio. Thereby, the distortion of the image is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Charles William Worrell
  • Publication number: 20040008276
    Abstract: A ratio between an aspect ratio of a digital image signal and an aspect ratio of a display device is converted and a presence image part 2 of digital image data decoded by a digital image signal demodulating part is compressed laterally and is shifted to the center of an image area 1 made of the aspect ratio of the digital image signal and then an absence image part 3 is used as side panels 4 and digital image data made of the aspect ratio of the digital image signal is formed and outputted. Thus, even when the display device converts an image by a lateral uniform expansion method, a display image without lateral expansion can be outputted on a display screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Shuji Moritani
  • Patent number: 6678002
    Abstract: A system provides real-time previsualization of effects to be added to high definition (HD) video data and real-time rendering of the HD video data including the added effects. The computer based system for editing high definition television (HDTV) resolution video includes a high definition video system connected to a standard definition video system and a high definition storage system. A resizer reformats the high definition video data to standard definition resolution for real-time processing and previsualization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Frink, Raymond Cacciatoro
  • Patent number: 6674799
    Abstract: An apparatus converts a screen with an aspect ratio of 4:3 to a screen with an aspect ratio of 16:9. When the input image is given as a frame buffer that is not encoded, the present invention extracts motion vector by performing block motion matching operation, and when the input image is a digitally encoded bit stream, it extracts motion vectors from the decoded data. The motion vectors are subjected to filtering in terms of time and space. The apparatus extracts global motion information from the motion vectors that have been filtered. Utilizing the global motion information extracted from and the partial images from the adjacent frames, the present invention generates the image information that is displayed on the blank regions of the screen. The blank regions on left and right of the screen caused by the differences in the screen aspect ratios are composed from the actual image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seung Hyeon Rhee
  • Publication number: 20030214603
    Abstract: The formatting of a video image frame (10) having a first aspect ratio to yield an image frame having a different aspect ratio is facilitated by establishing a pan and scan pixel coordinate (P) within the image that defines an image capture window for formatting purposes. A predictor (22) determines the pan and scan pixel coordinate by examining the image frame to determine the location therein of the most pertinent activity. The predictor (22) determines the location of the most pertinent activity by examining at least one of: video data, audio data, and other data such as closed captioning information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventor: John Palmer Manning
  • Publication number: 20030210348
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for image conversion and automatic error correction for a digital television receiver (TV) which can improve the picture quality by converting an image signal for a TV or PC that displays an image having an RGB format into an image signal of YPbPr for the digital TV and automatically correcting an error produced in the received image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Dong Wan Ryoo, Hyung Jik Lee, Jeun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 6636266
    Abstract: An image pick-up device including an image taking optical system, an image pick-up element for photoelectric conversion of an object image to be projected by the image taking optical system, a system conversion circuit for outputting the image pick-up signals output from the image pick-up element as video signals in accordance with a predetermined signal standard, and a focussing control circuit for controlling focussing adjustment of the image taking optical system by using the image pick-up signal before input to the system conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20030184675
    Abstract: A digital video stream is digitally scaled to properly display on a device having a horizontal to vertical aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio leaving a blank area on the device. Graphic data is digitally scaled separately to extend partially or completely into and therefore use the blank area. A compositing blender digitally combines the two prior to a display encoder which produces analog signals for driving the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Francesco A. Campisano, David Allen Hrusecky, Bryan Jay Lloyd
  • Patent number: 6628714
    Abstract: An MPEG encoded interlaced high definition video stream is decoded and down converted to lower resolution by an MPEG decoder with a reduced amount of reference picture memory. Received frame and field DCT coded blocks are down converted to reconstructed pixel field blocks by first converting the received frame DCT coded blocks to converted field DCT coded blocks. A vertical IDCT and a horizontal IDCT are then performed on the received field DCT coded blocks and on the converted field DCT coded blocks in order to produce residual and pixel field blocks as appropriate. The vertical IDCT is an N point vertical IDCT, and the horizontal IDCT is an M point horizontal IDCT, where N corresponds to the original block size, and where N>M. The residual and pixel field blocks are spatially filtered and down sampled vertically. IDCT, filtering, and down sampling operations are efficiently combined into single linear operators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Fimoff, Jin H. Kim, Scott M. LoPresto
  • Patent number: 6611290
    Abstract: An image signal correction device, provided in an electronic still camera, comprises a CPU, an image signal processing circuit, a gamma look-up table and a display in which a recognition information storing unit is provided. A clock pulse, outputted from the CPU, is received by the recognition information storing unit, so that a recognition pulse, corresponding to the gamma characteristics of the display, is outputted from the recognition information storing unit to the CPU, enabling gamma look-up data to be inputted to the gamma look-up table. The image signal, outputted from the image signal processing circuit, is subjected to a gamma correction in the gamma look-up table, and outputted to the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Pentax Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20030128293
    Abstract: Designed for use with widescreen TVs or high-end TVs with a mode for accommodating anamorphic programs, an EPG client is equipped with an electronic program guide (EPG) and a letterbox-to-anamorphic converter. The EPG client evaluates EPG data to determine whether programs are in the letterbox format. When a letterboxed program is selected for viewing, the EPG client vertically stretches the program by a ratio of M/N, where M>N (e.g., 4/3), to convert the program from the letterbox format to an anamorphic format prior to delivery to the television. The converted anamorphic program is output to the television, where it is horizontally expanded to fit the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: James Lundblad, Andrew Walters, J. Wiltse Carpenter
  • Publication number: 20030117525
    Abstract: A method capable of displaying high quality video images although a video capture device and a video display device are of different scanning types is disclosed. For example, a method for outputting video data in a video monitoring system outputting channel video signals of an interlaced scanning type captured by one or more cameras to a video display device of a progressive scanning type, comprises the steps of: scaling each channel video data of the interlaced scanning type digitally converted with different horizontal and vertical scaling ratios; storing the scaled video data for configuring one display screen in a memory; and outputting and displaying the stored video data corresponding to the one display screen to the video display device of the progressive scanning type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Hak-Sung Kim
  • Publication number: 20030117526
    Abstract: There are included a storage section (44) for storing a first image data (41) as an image data for a display unit having a first aspect ratio as a predetermined aspect ratio, an image operation section (46) for providing a horizontal display position (DDA) as a position in a horizontal direction at which the first image data (41) is displayed on a display screen having a second aspect ratio different from the first aspect ratio, and a third enlargement ratio selected from a first enlargement ratio at which the first image data (41) is enlarged non-linearly and a second enlargement ratio at which the first image data (41) is enlarged linearly on the basis of the horizontal display position (DDA); and an image output section (45) for reading the first image data (41) to be enlarged at the third enlargement ratio from the storage section (44), enlarging the first image data (41) at the third enlargement ratio, and outputting a second image data (43) as the image data to be displayable at the horizontal display p
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: NEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Kozai
  • Publication number: 20030112368
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image displaying device having a function of aspect ratio converting. The device has a CRT to display a video signal, an OSD/OSG generation unit to generate an additional signal, and a controller to control a display unit in order to display the additional signal in blanking areas which do not display the video signal. Moreover, the device has a luminance detection unit to detect a luminance level of the video signal displayed on the display unit, and the controller controls a signal generation unit to generate the additional signal corresponding to the luminance level detected from the luminance detection unit. Therefore, as the aspect ratio is changed, the additional signal is output to the blanking area when there is no blanking area in the CRT. Accordingly, the CRT is not different for the displaying area and the blanking area as the color of the screen is not changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ji-Byoung Oh
  • Publication number: 20030112367
    Abstract: Disclosed is a digital broadcast signal reception set-top box facilitating resolution settings for a digital broadcast signal. The set-top box has a receiver for receiving a digital broadcast signal, a resolution converter for converting the digital broadcast signal to a signal having a predetermined resolution value, an output part for outputting to an external display device the digital broadcast signal having the resolution value converted by the resolution converter, and a controller for controlling the resolution converter and the output part to sequentially output at predetermined time intervals the digital broadcast signal having the different resolution values and to output, in case that a selection command is inputted for the resolution value from external, the digital broadcast signal converted to a resolution value corresponding to the selection command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min-Gu Kang, Young-Soo Do
  • Patent number: 6560280
    Abstract: In a video system incoming video having a given frame size is sent over a video transmission system that supports a different frame size. When a transmitting terminal in the transmission system receives the incoming video, the terminal does not scale the video to fit the transmitted frame size. Instead, the video compression encoder only encodes and sends the data associated with the incoming video. The encoder does not encode or send the rest of the standard transmitted frame. At a receiving terminal in the transmission system, all of the received data is decoded. However, because the decoded data will correspond to the original incoming frame size, this data, rather than the entire transmitted frame, is scaled to match the size of the display or the target window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Vcon Ltd.
    Inventors: Yair Shachar, Yaron Menczel
  • Patent number: 6556238
    Abstract: A color-bar signal generation unit compatible with a plurality of television signal formats is provided. The color-bar signal generation unit in accordance with the present invention includes first, second, and third color-bar signal generators for generating a color-bar signal that represents a 16:9 aspect ratio color-bar test pattern, and a color-bar signal switch for switching outputs of the generators. The color-bar signal is structured to contain a 75% color-bar signal and 100% color-bar signals. The 75% color-bar signal represents a portion of the color-bar test pattern defined with an aspect ratio of 4:3 and serves as an NTSC color-bar signal. The 100% color-bar signals represent portions of the color-bar test pattern outside the portion with the aspect ratio of 4:3 and serve as components of an HD color-bar signal. Consequently, the color-bar signal can be used in common for the HD format stipulating the aspect ratio of 16:9 and the NTSC format stipulating the aspect ratio of 4:3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: ASAHI National Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Abe, Yoshiyuki Abe, Kihei Yoshida, Yasushi Kasuga, Tadashi Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 6549240
    Abstract: An apparatus for electronic format and frame rate conversion in a multiple format video processing system adapted to avoid display motion artifacts causes by 3:2 conversion of 24 Hz video source video by tripling the frame rate of the source video and responsively adjusting the format of the resultant video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn A. Reitmeier