Changing Number Of Lines For Standard Conversion Patents (Class 348/458)
  • Patent number: 6297847
    Abstract: Visible artifacts introduced into a digitally sampled video signal are removed from a non-interlaced version of the video signal. The non-interlaced version of the video signal is generated by a converter that converts a digitally sampled interlaced video stream to a non-interlaced video stream. An artifact removal module responds to at least a first component of the non-interlaced video stream by adaptively modifying the first component of the non-interlaced video stream to reduce artifacts introduced into the non-interlaced video stream by the converter to generate a modified non-interlaced video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eberhard H. Fisch
  • Patent number: 6295091
    Abstract: Methods of interpolating missing pixels between interlaced scan lines is disclosed. A first method interpolates a desired pixel by selecting the median pixel from a first pixel above and to the left of the desired pixel, a second pixel above the desired pixel, a third pixel above and to the right of the desired pixel, a fourth pixel below and to the left of the desired pixel, a fifth pixel below the desired pixel, a sixth pixel below and to the right of the desired pixel, and a seventh pixel from the previous video field having same position of the desired pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Samson Huang
  • Patent number: 6288745
    Abstract: There is provided a scanning line interpolation device which is capable of providing an interpolated image with increased reproducibility of vertical high-frequency components in a still picture part. Preceding-field image data is stored in a field memory, and thereafter reference pixels which are located in an interpolation pixel position and its surrounding positions and required for interpolation are extracted from the preceding-field image data stored in the field memory and current-field image data. An inter-field motion judgement portion detects whether or not there is a motion of an image between preceding and current fields based on the extracted reference pixels. If the inter-field motion judgement portion detects that there is a motion, a selection circuit selects in-field interpolation data calculated in an in-field interpolation value calculation circuit from the current-field image data among the reference pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Okuno, Jun Someya, Hironobu Arimoto
  • Patent number: 6285402
    Abstract: An input image signal is converted into a digital form in an A/D converter 6 by clock pulses 53 from VCO 4 of a PLL circuit 1. The frequency of the clock pulses 53 is fixed. After the number of scanning lines is converted in a primary processing circuit 7, the digital image signal is written in field memory 10. The image signal is read out from the field memory 10 by second clock pulses 63 generated in a PLL circuit 11. A frequency divider 15 in the PLL circuit 11 is changed in frequency division ratio by a control signal. As a result, the sampling number in one horizontal period of the image signal read out from the field memory 10 is changed. Since the number of pixels in the effective image period of the image signal written in the memory is constant, by changing the sampling number in one horizontal period on the read-out side, the ratio of the effective image period relative to one horizontal period can be changed to adjust the horizontal size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Miyazaki, Makoto Kondo
  • Publication number: 20010017667
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Craig R. Frink, Raymond D. Cacciatore
  • Patent number: 6281873
    Abstract: For conversion of component (VGA) video to television, a hardware efficient process implements line rate vertical scaling within a single integrated circuit without the support of external memory. Scaling and filtering are combined into a single process which is a polyphase filter. The polyphase filter is a low pass filter with a fixed cut off frequency and a programmable delay. By changing the coefficients of the kernel of the polyphase filter, the scaled video signal is time shifted by fractions of the pixel clock. In one example, for every nine incoming horizontal video scan lines, eight lines are outputted thus accomplishing the vertical scaling. The vertical scaling may include a field buffer memory for accommodating a range of incoming video refresh rates, or in concert with special timing of incoming video, may omit the field buffer memory and instead use a one or two line FIFO memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David Oakley
  • Patent number: 6268887
    Abstract: When a video signal is double-speed processed by the first device, a slight vertical deflection process is performed for redundant similar scan lines by the second device, and any slight deflection in the second device is controlled by the first device to thereby enable setting so as to always display images with excellent resolution. More particularly, a discrimination signal is generated by the first device to designate interlaced scanning and flag a need for vertical scan-line deflection, and such discrimination signal is provided to the second device such that the second device can always appropriately determine the need for vertical scan-line deflection. Through monitoring for the discrimination signal, an image display apparatus is capable of preventing vertical resolution from being deteriorated when video signals possibly requiring vertical line-shifting are inputted from an external source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Watanabe, Masahisa Tsukahara, Nobuaki Kabuto
  • Patent number: 6262773
    Abstract: A system processes an image containing a first line and a second line, where the first and second lines includes a plurality of pixels, to generate an interpolated line. The system selects a first and second set of pixels from the lines and generates a first set and second set of filtered values. The system identifies in the first line an edge location in the first set of the filtered values by a first filtered value of the first set of filtered values being at least one of less than and equal to a first predetermined value and a second filtered value of the fist set of the filtered values being at least one of greater than and equal to the first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Alan Westerman
  • Patent number: 6256069
    Abstract: The generation of progressive output video from interlaced source video is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a computerized system includes an interlaced source video and a progressive output video. The interlaced source video has a number of lines and includes a first field having odd lines and a second field haveing even lines. The progressive output video has a number of lines half that of the number of lines of the interlaced source video. Each line of the progressive output video heavily weight weights a corresponding line of each of the first field and the second field of the interlaced source video. Desirably, each line of the progressive output video also lightly weights an immediately successive and an immediately preceding line of each of the first field and the second field of the interlaced video source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Rosen, William J. Heaton, John A. Painter, Philip G. Zack
  • Patent number: 6256068
    Abstract: An image data format conversion apparatus comprises: a memory storing image data; a data reading means reading image data from the memory to output it; a format converting means converting the image data output from the data reading means to a predetermined format to output it or making the image data pass through without converting it; a vertical filter vertically interpolating the image data output from the format converting means by filtering operation to output the data or making the image data pass through without interpolating it; a horizontal filter vertically interpolating the image data output from the vertical filter by filtering operation to output the data or making the image data pass through without interpolating it; an image synthesizing means performing logic operation for image data output from the filter, and synthesizing the image data to output it; and an image output means outputting the image data from the image synthesizing means to a designated display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Takada, Toshiyuki Kajimura
  • Publication number: 20010003467
    Abstract: A video display apparatus includes a display device, resolution conversion unit, and display position setting unit. The resolution conversion unit converts the resolution of an input video signal into that of the display device. The display position setting unit sets the display position of a first video signal in each field to be displayed on the display device on the basis of the temporal relationship between a time from generation of a vertical sync signal to input of the first video signal and the generation timing of a horizontal sync signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: June 14, 2001
    Inventor: Kazuo Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6233019
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for converting a first image signal that is comprised of plural pixel data into a second image data that is comprised of plural pixel data. In particular, according to the image converter and the image converting method of the invention, even if the image quality of the inputted image data is poor, it is able to extract the optimal pixel data as the class tap or the predictive tap, and to perform the adequate prediction processing, since clipping of the class tap or the predictive tap is controlled in response to the feature quantity that represents the quantity of fuzz of the inputted image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasushi Tatehira, Hideo Nakaya, Takaya Hoshino, Masaaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 6229571
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scan converter with an interpolating function comprising: a plurality of frame buffers for dividing and storing video data of a first scan system and for reading the video data at a timing in accordance with a second scan system; and an interpolator for performing interpolation in the vertical direction for the video data read from the frame buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinobu Sato
  • Patent number: 6226038
    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: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Frink, Raymond Cacciatoro
  • Patent number: 6225990
    Abstract: A display apparatus has a plurality of display scanning lines and supplies image signals for a number of image scanning lines less than the number of the plurality of display scanning lines to display elements controlled by the plurality of display scanning lines. The apparatus includes: storage member for storing image signals corresponding to a number of image scanning lines less than the number of the plurality of display scanning lines at least by an amount corresponding to one image scanning line; control member for reading image signals for one image scanning line stored in the storage member N times (an integer of 1 or more); and driving member for supplying image signals read N times by the control member to display elements controlled by N display scanning lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Aoki, Nobuyuki Shimotome
  • Patent number: 6219104
    Abstract: An interpolation interval Vdp obtained by the picture sizes of the original picture and the converted picture is cumulated by an adder. In the odd field, a selector selects [0.5] as an offset corresponding to an odd/even field determination signal. In the even field, the selector selects [0] as an offset corresponding to the odd/even field determination signal. In a vertical blanking interval, the offset is selected as an output. Thus, in the odd field, the offset value [0.5] is added to the cumulated value of Vdp. Thereafter, Vdp is cumulated again. Corresponding to the cumulated value, a line read address n and linear interpolating coefficients qn1 and qn2 are obtained. When Vdp is cumulated, offsets corresponding to the scanning start points in the odd field and the even field are added. Thus, the interlace accuracy is kept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirahama, Shinichiro Miyazaki, Takeshi Ono, Nobuo Ueki
  • Patent number: 6211918
    Abstract: A video signal converter converts a video signal to a required form. The required form of the signal is the display format for displaying the signal. The input signal is converted to a digital signal and stored in a memory using the output of a first clock pulse generator synchronized to the horizontal synchronizing signal of the input signal. The digital signal is read out from the memory using the output of a second clock pulse generator synchronized to the vertical synchronizing signal of the input signal from a position specified by the controller. The output digital signal is then reconverted to an analog signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyo Uwabata, Minoru Miyata
  • Patent number: 6208382
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for receiving an interlaced color video signal, and processing the signal to produce a progressively scanned video signal. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the following steps: scan converting, by field combining and high pass filtering, the luminance component of the received signal, to obtain a progressively scanned high pass luminance component; deriving, from the luminance component of the received signal, a low pass luminance component; scan converting, by line rate conversion, to progressively scanned format, the chrominance components of the received signal and the low pass luminance component; and combining the progressively scanned low and high pass luminance components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Florida Atlantic University
    Inventor: William E. Glenn
  • Patent number: 6184935
    Abstract: A video down conversion system compliant with the Advanced Television Systems Standard (ATSC) includes a decoder which decodes a Main Profile, High Level (MP@HL) image and employs a downconversion processor to produce a standard definition video signal. The system stores a subsampled image in order to reduce memory requirements and employs an upsampling filter to generate reference image data from the stored. subsampled image. The reference image data spatially correspond to the image data produced by the video decoder before it is subsampled. The upsampling filter uses different filter coefficients based on the subsampling phase of the stored image and the half-pixel indicator in the motion vector which is used to locate the downsampled reference image data in the stored subsampled image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial, Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Iaquinto, Hee-Yong Kim, Edwin Robert Meyer, Ren Egawa
  • Patent number: 6151074
    Abstract: A video processing unit (13) that decodes compressed video data and resizes the image represented by the video data. The video processing unit (13) has two processing engines--a decoding engine (24) and a scaling engine (25), which share a memory (23). A memory manager (22) handles data requests from the two engines, and handles reading and writing of the memory (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: William B. Werner
  • Patent number: 6144410
    Abstract: Telecine signal conversion method for converting an interlaced scan telecine signal generated by 2-3 pull-down system, wherein a picture of the first frame is converted into an interlaced signal of the first and second fields and a picture in the following second frame is converted into an interlaced signal in the third, fourth and fifth fields, into a progressively scanned telecine signal comprising steps of detecting a pull-down phase of the interlaced scan telecine signal, specifying the first and second fields based on the detected pull-down phase, composing picture signals of the specified first and second fields and generating progressively scanned telecine signals from the picture signals of the first and second frames, and specifying the third and fourth fields based on the detected pull-down phase, composing picture signals of the specified third and fourth fields and generating progressively scanned telecine signals from the picture signals of the third, fourth and fifth frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Nippon Television Network Corporation
    Inventors: Hidehiko Kikuchi, Masayuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 6133956
    Abstract: A video signal processor interpolating lines in a vertical filter (24) in dependence on whether the lines are of a 625 line frame or a 525 line frame. The interpolated lines are filtered in a horizontal filter (26). The resultant lines are vertically and horizontally decimated by controlling the writing of the lines into a FIFO (28). A reduced size image is produced which has the same number of lines and pixels per line for both 525 and 625 line frames. The reduced size image is data compressed in a JPEG codec (50). The compression factor for a 525/60 signal is 6/5 of that for a 625/50 signal so the data rate per unit time is the same for both signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Ludgate, Jonathan Mark Greenwood, Mark John McGrath
  • Patent number: 6133957
    Abstract: A method or device for increasing the resolution of an image generates additional pixels in the image using interpolation. Various tests are performed for each additional pixel to determine whether conditions render the interpolation direction ambiguous or uncertain. In a television image, for example, an interpolation direction is derived for each additional pixel from a weighted combination of a vertical direction and a best-choice diagonal direction. If a potential interpolation condition cannot be determined with a high level of confidence, the weighted combination favors the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Faroudja Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Jack J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6128343
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for converting a video signal in the scanning line order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung Joo Kang
  • Patent number: 6124893
    Abstract: A versatile video transformation device and adaptive image processing methodology thereof to digitally scan convert, that is, reformat TV raster scan video and particularly high definition (HD) and/or digital DTV (particularly those for example in 1920.times.1080i or 1280.times.720p format) video data and associated synchronizing signals, for the purpose of making present standard television sets compatible at low cost with the latest advancements in free HD whilst allowing a multitude of other DTV programs and ancillary data to fill to a greater extent the remaining channel allocations by FCC to TV broadcasters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Inventor: John J. Stapleton
  • Patent number: 6118486
    Abstract: A multiple format video signal processing system operating in conjunction with a display device timing system to produce synchronized video and timing signals suitable for use by a fixed horizontal scanning frequency display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn A. Reitmeier
  • Patent number: 6118429
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display system which can accept display data having a resolution different from that of a screen for the liquid crystal display and display the display data. For example, a CPU outputs display data of 1120.times.780 dots and a liquid crystal panel has a 1024.times.768-dot resolution which is smaller than the display data resolution. The display screen of the liquid crystal panel comprises a linear arrangement of pixels. A data conversion section generates display data for a new horizontal or vertical line based on display data for two horizontal or vertical lines contiguous to each other and repeats replacement of display data of the two lines with the display data of the one line for reducing the number of horizontal lines of one screen and the number of dots of one line so as to match the resolution of the display data output by the CPU with the liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naruhiko Kasai, Toshio Tanaka, Hiroyuki Mano, Shigeyuki Nishitani, Mitsutoshi Uchida, Kazuko Hasegawa, Tetsuya Suzuki, Shinji Wakisaka, Hiroko Sato, Tatsuzo Hamada
  • Patent number: 6118487
    Abstract: For compatible transmission of a television picture having an aspect ratio of 16:9 within a 4:3 system, transmission is effected in the letterbox format in accordance with the PALplus system specification. The receiver reconstructs the original picture with the aid of vertical filters and is able, furthermore, to suppress crosstalk interference from the luminance signals in the chrominance signals. To further improve the picture quality, the picture is displayed at a frame frequency of 100 Hz. For this purpose, the picture supplied at 50 Hz with line interlacing must be converted to a frame frequency of 100 Hz. Known concepts for PALplus decoding and 100 Hz conversion carry out these processes separately and in doing so require a great deal of memory space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Deutsch Thompson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventors: Gangolf Hirtz, Thomas Hollmann, Michael Maier
  • Patent number: 6115073
    Abstract: A delay register section 31 holds SD pixels of a luminance signal and a classification section 33 decides a class, reads a coefficient corresponding to the decision result from a coefficient RAM section 40, and outputs the coefficient to a product-sum section 38. The product-sum section 38 captures the pixel data for 17 taps from the delay register section 31, converts the pixel data into seven taps, and outputs them to the product-sum section 38. The product-sum section 38 performs the product-sum operation of pixel data and coefficients and outputs the operation result as HD pixels. An interpolation pixel operation section 42 applies a simple interpolation processing different from the case of a luminance signal to the pixel data of a color signal component to generate HD pixels of a color signal. Thus, downsizing and cost reducing can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Horishi, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 6111610
    Abstract: In arrangements for the frame rate upconversion of motion-picture-source video, a 60 Hz (interlaced field rate or progressive scan frame rate) television signal is converted to a form suitable for display on a variable-frame-rate high-resolution progressively-scanned monitor of the type typically associated with a computer or with a television set employing an increased frame rate. The inherent 3-2 motion picture film pulldown pattern in the source signal is changed to an equal time frame pattern, such as 3-3, 4-4, or 5-5, when the source signal is converted to a higher frame rate. This may be accomplished when the increased progressively-scanned video display frame rate is an integral multiple of the motion picture frame rate, namely 72 Hz, 96 Hz and 120 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Faroudja Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Yves C. Faroudja
  • Patent number: 6108041
    Abstract: Video sources from a progressively scanned camera are processed so as to simulate a video source derived from motion picture film. The simulated film source video creates a distinctive "pseudo-film pattern," in which at least some of every SDTV video field has no motion or low motion with respect to corresponding picture areas of the SDTV video field paired with it (occasional rare camera-originated scenes result in a field in which the entire picture has high motion, breaking the pseudo-film pattern). Corresponding picture areas within the pairs of fields having no motion or low motion are merged, in the manner in which interlaced fields derived from the same motion picture frame are merged. Corresponding picture areas within the pairs of fields having high motion are subject to interlace-to-progressive scan conversion processing which is not purely a merger of fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Faroudja Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yves C. Faroudja, Peter D. Swartz, Jack J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6097438
    Abstract: A one-line memory is provided for sequentially writing input picture data of one horizontal scanning line and for sequentially reading the written picture data. A plurality of expansion and contraction circuits are provided for increasing and decreasing the number of picture data of a plurality of sequentially inputted horizontal scanning lines. The expansion and contraction circuits produce picture data increased or reduced in line in dependency on coefficients. A picture memory is provided for storing the picture data from the expansion and contraction circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuro Nagakubo, Manabu Honda
  • Patent number: 6084637
    Abstract: In a decoding/displaying device, the memory capacity or mapping to B pictures is set in consideration of a decoding waiting period, thereby avoiding the competition between a write-in operation and a read-out operation for a memory. Therefore, the decoding operation of coded picture data can be performed with no decoding waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masuo Oku, Yukitoshi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 6069664
    Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an apparatus and method for converting a progressive video signal to an interlaced video signal from which the progressive video signal may be recovered. The invention is further embodied in an apparatus and method for converting such an interlaced video signal to a progressive video signal. A progressive-to-interlaced video converter includes a progressive video preprocessor and a converter. The progressive video preprocessor replaces at least one scan line in a video frame by its preceding or succeeding scan line. Alternatively, the preprocessor may assign a predetermined value to one or multiple scan lines at appropriate position(s) in a frame. In either scenario, each frame will carry at least one redundant scan line. The frame modification information will be encoded to an ancillary data section of a digital video stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel Qiang Zhu, Kaarlo Juhani Hamalainen, Thomas James Leacock, Kevin John Stec
  • Patent number: 6057885
    Abstract: An ADRC circuit 3 generates spatial classes with SD data extracted by an area extracting circuit 2. A moving class determining circuit 5 generates a moving class with SD data extracted by an area extracting circuit 4. A class code generating circuit 6 generates a class code with the spatial class and the moving class. A tap decreasing ROM 7 supplies additional code data for each class code to a tap decreasing code 10. The additional code data is used to decrease taps of SD data. The tap decreasing circuit 10 decreases the SD data extracted by an area extracting circuit 9. A prediction calculating circuit 11 receives coefficient data corresponding to the class code from a ROM table 8 and obtains HD data with the decreased SD data corresponding to a linear prediction equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Horishi, Masashi Uchida, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 6054977
    Abstract: A method of display unconversion wherein each output field line is interpolated from at least three input field lines from each of at least three input fields. By increasing the field rate by 1.5 (instead of simple field doubling) and by increasing the line rate by 1.5 (instead of simple line doubling) a substantial increase in picture quality can be achieved while maintaining data flow rates within manageable limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Snell & Wilcox Limited
    Inventors: Martin Weston, Chris Owen, Simon Longcroft
  • Patent number: 6040869
    Abstract: An interlace to progressive scan video signal conversion system interpolates lines between respective lines of upper and lower fields which constitute an interlace-scan image frame to produce lines of a progressive-scan image frame. The produced lines have effective spatial and temporal positions between the respective lines of the lower field and the lines of the upper field. One line from the upper field is interpolated with two lines from the lower field which are immediately above and immediately below the one line in the interlaced frame in order to generate two lines for the progressive frame. Optionally, the interlace-scan to progressive-scan method is applied only to relatively low-frequency components of the luminance signal with the higher frequency luminance signal components being selected from one of the two interlaced fields and either line-doubled or interpolated and line-doubled before being added to the progressive-scan low-frequency luminance signal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee Robert Dischert
  • Patent number: 6034734
    Abstract: In a scan conversion method of generating an output video signal from an interlaced input signal, including the steps of furnishing (1) a first signal having first lines (F.sub.i (x-(0, 1).sup.T, n)) corresponding to original lines of the interlaced input signal, and second lines (F.sub.i (x, n)) in addition to the first lines (F.sub.i (x-(0, 1).sup.T, n)); and providing (5, 11, 7, 13) a second signal which is delayed or advanced with respect to the first signal, the second signal having first processed lines (F.sub.out (x-(0, 1).sup.T -D, n-1)) corresponding to the original lines, and second processed lines (F.sub.out (x-D, n-1)) corresponding to the second lines (F.sub.i (x, n)); output lines (F.sub.out (x, n)) of the output video signal are obtained in dependence upon a first difference between the first processed lines (F.sub.out (x-(0, 1).sup.T -D, n-1)) and the first lines (F.sub.i (x-(0, 1).sup.T, n)), and a second difference between the second processed lines (F.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Gerard De Haan, Paul W. A. C. Biezen
  • Patent number: 6025883
    Abstract: A resolution conversion apparatus for a display device which converts input image signals to image signals having different resolution is provided. The resolution conversion apparatus for a display device can increase or decrease the number of scanning lines by using interpolation function to prevent the non-linear distortion due to the nonuniform insertion of scanning lines. The resolution conversion apparatus for a display device can also vary the interpolation function according to the frequency of image information to compensate the decrease of sharpness resulting from the conventional interpolation method using simple proportional values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Gon Jun
  • Patent number: 6020873
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display apparatus including a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of source lines, a plurality of liquid crystal pixels, and a gate line driving circuit, for driving the gate lines, the gate line driving circuit is formed by shift registers for shifting a vertical start pulse signal in response to a clock signal including first pulses and second pulses. Also, a circuit generates said first pulses at an interval of H/a where H is a time period of a horizontal synchronization signal and "a" is a positive integer. Further, a circuit generates the second pulses associated with "c" pulses of "a.multidot.b" successive ones of the first pulses where "b" and "c" are positive integers and "c" is smaller than "b".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Hori
  • Patent number: 6020927
    Abstract: A video signal converter converts a first video signal into a second video signal by changing the number of scanning lines. A horizontal pulse synchronized with the first video signal is fed into a PLL circuit, which generates a first clock signal synchronized with the horizontal pulse. The first video signal undergoes A/D conversion by sampling with the first clock signal. The converter receives a first digital video signal which has undergone the A/D conversion, the first clock signal, the horizontal pulse, and a vertical pulse synchronized with the first video signal, and thus changes a number of scanning lines of the first video signal. The converter, next, writes a second digital video signal into a memory by synchronizing the first clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Tanaka, Yutaka Nio
  • Patent number: 6002813
    Abstract: An improved interpolation method in which a threshold value used for determining a pixel value of a pixel generated by interpolation according to a context which is a state value of adjacent pixels. In the interpolation method, the ambiguity between the interpolation value and the threshold value is removed by using the context, thereby reducing the blocking and smoothing phenomena in the restored binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sung Cho, Jae-seob Shin
  • Patent number: 6002812
    Abstract: An improved interpolation method in which a threshold value used for determining a pixel value of a pixel generated by interpolation according to a context which is a state value of adjacent pixels. In the interpolation method, the ambiguity between the interpolation value and the threshold value is removed by using the context, thereby reducing the blocking and smoothing phenomena in the restored binary image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-sung Cho, Jae-seob Shin
  • Patent number: 5991464
    Abstract: A system (1) for enhancing the resolution of a video image by a predetermined enhancement factor is provided. System (1) generally includes an interpolation subsystem (10), a data storage module (20), and a pixel insert positioning module (30). Included within interpolation subsystem (10) are a classification module (100), a bilinear interpolation module (200), and an adaptive interpolation module (300). Classification module (100) receives the original image pixels in a specified field of the given video image and designates for each original image pixels it receives one of a plurality of predefined classifications. Based upon this classification, one of the bilinear interpolation (200) and adaptive interpolation (300) modules is selected for actuation in generating the supplementary image pixels necessary to support resolution enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Odyssey Technologies
    Inventors: Pohsiang Hsu, Kuo Juey Ray Liu
  • Patent number: 5978035
    Abstract: Off-line computation and recording is applied (via an under-powered processor) to the encoding, for bandwidth compression, of a high-resolution video signal. This technique permits more compute cycles to be applied to each frame than if the process were attempted to be accomplished in real time. Better compression ratios and/or better visual quality are, thus, achieved than if the process were attempted to be performed by the same processor in a real-time manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: David Michael Geshwind
  • Patent number: 5973746
    Abstract: An image data conversion processing device including an issue unit, plural line storing units and a generating unit for converting to a television signal image data stored in plural kinds of developing formats in a storing unit. The image data comprises plural lines, and the television signal comprises a predetermined number of lines. The issue unit issues a transmission instruction of image data to the storing unit in accordance with a period specified by a ratio of the number of lines of the image data to be converted and the number of lines of the television signal. The plural line storing units cyclically store the image data transmitted from the storing unit line by line on the basis of the transmission instruction of the issue unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamoto, Satoshi Nakamura, Akinori Takayama, Kazunori Takahashi, Akio Takigami, Yasuo Sato, Chiaki Ito, Yoichi Aoki
  • Patent number: 5966183
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal converter and a signal conversion method in which an interpolated image is formed on the basis of suitable classification according to features of an input image signal to obtain a high-definition image signal. In a frequency characteristic determination section, frequency characteristics of an input image signal are classified and evaluated with respect to each of predetermined unit blocks. On the basis of the result of this classification, the desired one of a plurality of pixel patterns is selected with respect to each of the unit blocks of the input image signal, thereby setting a spatial class. In a classification section, the input image signal forming the selected pixel pattern undergoes data compression processing by the number of quantization bits according to the frequency characteristics, thereby forming a spatial class after compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasuhiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 5959681
    Abstract: A method of accurately detecting rapid motion as well as slow motion using two field memories in an interlaced-progressive scanning converter for changing an interlaced-scanned signal into a progressive-scanned signal. A threshold coefficient, which is used for comparison to a difference between temporal interpolation and spatial interpolation values to determine whether a picture is in motion, is determined dynamically in the disclosed method, rather than being a fixed, predetermined value. The threshold coefficient is determined based upon a degree of correlation between data of pixels above and below a pixel to be interpolated. Detection of whether the picture is stationary is based upon the difference between the data of pixels above and below the pixel to be interpolated is greater than a stationary coefficient. The threshold coefficient is maintained as being no less than the value of the stationary coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Hun Cho
  • Patent number: 5946044
    Abstract: In an image signal converting method and an image signal converting apparatus, it is possible to perform a proper classification considering various signal characteristics of input image data and convert low-resolution input image data to high-resolution image data by using not only a classifying means 56 for classifying input images in accordance with the level distribution pattern of the input images but also a classifying means 50 for classifying input images in accordance with the movement of the input images and deciding the final class D32 of input image signals by both CLASS0 and CLASS1 obtained by both classifying means 50 and 56.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Yasuhiro Fujimori, Hideo Nakaya, Masashi Uchida
  • Patent number: 5940132
    Abstract: An input digital image signal (SD signal) is converted into a high resolution digital video signal (HD signal). A considered pixel is categorized as a class corresponding to a one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional level distribution of a plurality of reference pixels of the SD signal. A predicted value of the considered pixel is generated by linear combination of values of a plurality of pixels of the SD signal adjacent to the considered pixel of the HD signal and predicted coefficients that have been learnt. In the learning process, predicted coefficients are determined by linear combination of the values of pixels of the SD signal and the predicted coefficients so that the sum of squares of the predicted value and the true value is minimized. Instead of the predicted coefficients, representative values may be determined for each class. In this case, the representative values are used as predicted values corresponding to the class of the input SD signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Masashi Uchida, Kunio Kawaguchi