Abstract: A method for enhancing an edge transition in a video signal comprising the steps of receiving a video signal including an edge transition, generating a correction signal for the edge transition, applying the correction signal to the video signal to produce a corrected signal and restricting the amplitude of the corrected signal to extend between extended maximum and minimum amplitude limits in dependence on the measured maximum and minimum amplitudes of a predefined pattern of pixels adjacent to the edge transition.

Abstract: Unnecessary flare correction at the boundary between a blanking area and video signal area is suppressed. An image quality improving apparatus includes 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 that extracts low-frequency components from an input video signal; subtractor circuit 4 that obtains high-frequency components by subtracting the low-frequency components extracted by 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 from the input video signal; and adder circuit 6 that adds the high-frequency components obtained by subtractor circuit 4 as a correction signal to the input video signal. The input video signal contains blanking signals without any video information. 2-dimensional low-pass filter circuit 2 starts extraction of the low-frequency components after a lapse of a predetermined unit time from when the input video signal changed from the blanking signal to the signal that contains the video information.

Abstract: In a display device having a plurality of scan signal line driving circuits, its display quality is improved. The display device comprises a plurality of scan signal lines, a plurality of image signal lines, and a plurality of scan signal line driving circuits for generating scan signals for driving the scan signal lines. Each of the scan signal line driving circuit internally generates a driving signal having the waveform of such potential variation that the potential decreases with a slope from a high potential to an intermediate potential between the high potential and a low potential. Each of the scan signal line driving circuits further includes a signal wiring for connecting the scan signal line driving circuits to one another and applying the driving signal.

Abstract: A visual processing device inhibits artifacts, even when a special image is input. The visual processing device includes a spatial processing portion extracting surrounding image information from an input image signal, and a special image detection portion outputting a special image effect adjustment signal according to a degree of a statistical bias of the input image signal. The visual processing device also includes a continuous changing portion outputting an effect adjustment signal in which the special image effect adjustment signal is continuously changed between frames, an effect adjustment portion outputting a synthesized signal in which the effect of the visual processing differs depending on the effect adjustment signal, and a visual processing portion outputting a processed signal obtained by visually processing the image signal based on the image signal and the synthesized signal.

Abstract: It is possible to inhibit side effects even when an image that has sharp edge regions has been input, using a spatial processing portion (10) outputting surrounding image information US from an input image signal, a control signal generation portion (40) outputting an effect adjustment signal MOD according to a degree of flatness of an edge proximal region, and an effect adjustment portion (20) outputting a synthesized signal MUS that is synthesized by changing a ratio of the image signal IS and the surrounding image information US according to the effect adjustment signal MOD. Further, the side effects are inhibited using a visual processing portion (30) visually processing the image signal IS based on the synthesized signal MUS and the image signal IS.

Abstract: A method and a system for adaptive image enhancement are provided for measuring the image quality of a pixel region in a frame, performing an image classification based on the image quality measurement, and enhancing image quality by applying operations according to image classification of the region. Also provided is a method as above including the steps of dividing a frame into P pixel regions; and for each one of the pixel regions measuring the image quality; assigning an image quality class; and enhancing the image. Also provided is a system for adaptive image enhancement including a circuit to measure the image quality of a pixel region in a frame in a source video image; a circuit to perform an image classification of the region based on the image quality measurement; and a circuit to enhance the image quality of the region in the source video image a by applying operations based on the image classification of the frame.

Abstract: A projector includes an input unit which inputs an image signal, a projection unit which projects an achromatic luminance image and a chromatic image on the basis of the image signal input by the input unit, an image processing unit which performs a sharpening processing to emphasize a high-frequency component in the image signal in accordance with a sharpening parameter to the image signal input by the input unit, and a projection control unit which controls a luminance image projection time of the luminance image for the chromatic image projected in the projection unit, a value of the sharpening parameter and the luminance image projection time being associated with each other.

Abstract: A noise removal device that removes noise from an image signal includes: a separation unit that separates the image signal into at least two subband signals; a parameter setting unit that sets a plurality of coring ranges in relation to at least one of the subband signals; and a coring unit that performs coring processing on the basis of the plurality of coring ranges.

Abstract: In the video signal processing device, the first color space converting section performs color space conversion on an input video signal, to generate a converted video signal configured of H, S and V signals. The first high-frequency separating section separates a high-frequency component from the luminance signal in the input video signal, to generate high-frequency luminance signals. The combining section performs a combining process based on the V signal or the S signal or both, and the high-frequency luminance signal, to generate a combined V signal or a combined S signal or both. The second color space converting section performs color space conversion on a video signal, configured of the H signal, the S signal or the combined S signal, and the V signal or the combined V signal, to generate an output video signal defined in RGB color space.

Abstract: Embodiments for video content source resolution detection are provided. Embodiments enable systems and methods that measure video content source resolution and that provide image-by-image source scale factor measurements to picture quality (PQ) processing modules. With the source scale factor information. PQ processing modules can be adapted dynamically (on a picture-by-picture basis) according to the source scale factor information for better picture quality enhancement. In addition, embodiments provide source resolution detection that is minimally affected by video coding artifacts and superimposed content (e.g., graphics).

Abstract: A Gaussian filter 2 having a first cutoff frequency extracts a low frequency component signal of a video signal. A subtracter 3 extracts a high frequency component signal by subtracting the low frequency component signal from the video signal. A low pass filter 5 having a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency extracts a lower high frequency component signal, which is a low-frequency-side signal of the high frequency component signal. A multiplier 6 generates a corrected component signal by multiplying the lower high frequency component signal by a predetermined gain G1. An adder 7 adds the corrected component signal to the video signal.

Abstract: When a multi-level image having a first resolution is converted into a multi-level image having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, attribute data including a conversion processed flag indicating a kind of conversion and a conversion result is generated and held associated with pixel data of a pixel on interest undergone the conversion corresponding to an attribute flag indicating an attribute in which a pixel before the conversion is located. When the multi-level image having the first resolution is restored from the multi-level image having the second resolution, the pixel data of the pixel of interest is replaced with pixel data of a plurality of pixels in correspondence with the conversion processed flag in the attribute data held associated with the pixel data of the pixel on interest and pixel data of pixels around the pixel of interest.

Abstract: An image quality adjusting circuit in an image processing apparatus is provided with a line memory unit, a delay circuit unit, a first to fourth filter processing circuits, and an adder. In the delay circuit unit, delay circuits are arranged in a matrix form. Delay circuits arranged in a horizontal direction receive an image data directly or via line memories. The image quality adjusting circuit each perform filter processing on the received image data signals lying in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, in a down-right direction, and in a down-left direction. The image quality adjusting circuit performs addition of the image data on a focus pixel and the filter-processed data, and thus performs edge correction processing.

Abstract: An image processing device, method, an image display device and method which can obtain a high-definition display image by properly controlling processing of reducing the blur of a displayed image caused by the time integration effect of an image sensor. The image display device comprises a motion detection part (1) which detects the moving amount of an input image signal, and an edge emphasis part (2) which subjects the input image signal to edge emphasis processing, and the image display device increases an edge emphasis degree of edge emphasis processing to an area where the moving amount of the input image signal is large.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes an interpolation filter for outputting an interpolation value of signal levels at positions of ¼ phase and ¾ phase between two original pixels of the input digital image adjacent in the predetermine direction; a phase shift circuit for outputting signal value of each of the two original pixels by shifting the phases of the signals of the two original pixels in the predetermined direction to ¼ phase and ¾ phase, respectively, between the two original pixels; a edge detection circuit for detecting a edge portion of the image from a signal level change of a plurality of pixels including the two original pixels of the input digital image in the predetermined direction; and a first signal selection circuit for outputting the output of the phase shift circuit when the edge is detected, and outputting the output of the interpolation filter when no edge is detected, based on the result of detection by the edge detection circuit.

Abstract: A visual processing device, display device, visual processing method, program, and integrated circuit that change a strength of visual processing of an image in real-time. A spatial processing portion (2) creates an unsharp signal US from an input signal IS. A target level setting portion (4) sets a predetermined target level value L for setting a range according to which the strength of the visual processing is adjusted. An effect adjustment portion (5) creates a synthesized signal MUS by synthesizing the predetermined target level value L and the unsharp signal US in accordance with an effect adjustment signal MOD that has been set externally. A visual processing portion (3) outputs an output signal OS in accordance with the input signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS, making it possible to change the strength of the visual processing.

Abstract: A video processing device includes an input to receive pixel values for a set of pixels comprising a pixel window substantially centered around a select pixel that initially has a first pixel value. The video processing device further includes a first filter unit to determine a horizontal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a horizontal direction, a second filter unit to determine a vertical transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a vertical direction, a third filter unit to determine a first diagonal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a first diagonal direction, and a fourth filter unit to determine a second diagonal transient improvement value based on non-linear filtering of the pixel values in a second diagonal direction that is perpendicular to the first diagonal direction.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, degradation of edges of stationary subjects can be suppressed in a moving image obtained by converting moving image data having F frames per unit time into moving image data having 2F sub frames per the unit time. For this purpose, pixel data is inputted in order of raster scanning into an input terminal. Then three contiguous pixel data X1 to X3 are obtained by the input terminal and two delay circuits. A differentiator calculates a difference d1 (=X1?X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X1 and a difference d2 (=X3?X2) between the pixel data of interest X2 and the neighbor pixel data X3. A multiplier coefficient for low-pass filter calculation is determined based on the differences d1 and d2, and pixel data X2? is calculated as pixel data after filter-processing of the pixel data of interest X2.

Abstract: A system of edge direction detection for comb filter includes a buffer, first and second filters, first and second oblique detectors, and a comparator. The buffer receives and stores a composite signal. The first filter performs filtering operation on the composite signal to produce a first filter signal. The second filter performs filtering operation on the composite signal to produce a second filter signal. The first oblique detector detects an oblique in the first filter signal to produce a first oblique indication signal and a first oblique direction signal and output a first minimum oblique difference. The second oblique detector detects an oblique in the second filter signal to produce a second oblique indication signal and a second oblique direction signal and output a second minimum oblique difference. The comparator compares the first and second oblique indication signals and the first and second oblique direction signals to produce edge information.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the detail edges and transitions in an input video signal. This enhancement may be accomplished by enhancing small detail edges before up-scaling and enhancing large amplitude transitions after up-scaling. For example, detail edge enhancement (detail EE) may be used to enhance the fine details of an input video signal. An edge map may be used to prevent enhancing the large edges and accompanying mosquito noise with the detail enhancement. Noise may additionally be removed from the signal. After the fine details are enhanced, the signal may be up-scaled. Luminance transition improvement (LTI) or chrominance transition improvement (CTI) may be used to enhance the large transitions of the input video signal post scaler.

Abstract: The present invention can be implemented in a video coder or decoder or directly in any type of display device. According to the invention, a distance representative of the edge orientation in the input picture is calculated, for at least one point situated inside a zone delimited by a first set of neighbouring pixels of the input picture, it is calculated independently from the grid of pixels of the output picture. For at least one pixel of the output picture situated in this zone, a second set of pixels is determined in the input picture from the distance and the position of said pixel of the output picture in this zone. The value of this output pixel is then determined from the value of the pixels of said second set of pixels. This method enables a reduction in the number of calculations for this format conversion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a device for image sharpness adjustment. The device comprises a color analyzer, a color sharpness setting unit, a computing circuit, and a luminance adjusting unit. The color analyzer is for analyzing an input color signal to generate a plurality of color flags. The color sharpness setting unit is for generating a plurality of first sharpness gains according to the plurality of the color flags. The computing circuit is for generating a second sharpness gain according to the plurality of the first sharpness gains and the input color signal. The luminance adjusting unit is for adjusting a luminance signal according to the second sharpness gain.

Abstract: A projector includes: a first image projection section adapted to project a first image based on a first image signal, a second image projection section adapted to project a second image based on a second image signal such that pixels of the second image are shifted from pixels of the first image, a correction section adapted to correct the image signal input to the image projection section using a correction filter adapted to correct a difference in optical transfer function between the plurality of image projection sections; and a sharpening section adapted to execute a sharpening process of sharpening an edge portion of the image to be displayed, on the image signal having been corrected by the correction section and to be input to the plurality of image projection sections.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed. The method includes receiving video data performing pre-filtering on the data, performing content analysis is applied to identify an area of the data, applying a two-dimensional (2-D) 2nd gradient operation to extract a high frequency component and normalizing the high frequency component related to high frequency information from a previous picture.

Abstract: A method for adaptive spatio-temporal filtering is disclosed. Local motion vectors between a current video frame and other nearby video frames are determined. Local motion-aligned temporal confidence parameters are determined. Local spatial orientation parameters are determined. The local motion vectors, the local motion-aligned temporal confidence parameters, and the local spatial orientation parameters are used to adaptively determine spatio-temporal kernel weights. The spatio-temporal kernel weights are used to perform spatio-temporal filtering on input video data.

Abstract: A method for deinterlacing a picture is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of primary scores by searching along a plurality of primary angles for an edge in the picture proximate a location interlaced with a field of the picture, (B) generating a plurality of neighbor scores by searching for the edge along a plurality of neighbor angles proximate a particular angle of the primary angles corresponding to a particular score of the primary scores having a best value and (C) identifying a best score from a group of scores consisting of the particular score and the neighbor scores to generate an interpolated sample at the location.

Abstract: A request recognition section (373) recognizes an input operation for a source switching request to switch broadcast program contents extracted from broadcast waves to contents recorded in a recording and reproducing apparatus to display the contents on a display unit (350). Values of a plurality of setting factors such as brightness, contrast, and black level related to picture quality, which correspond to the source to be switched, specified corresponding to the previous contents source are read from a memory (360). Predefined values of the setting factors set corresponding to the previous contents source are compared with values newly read, and the values of the respective setting factors are sequentially changed stepwise. It is possible to prevent a flicker on a screen caused by a sudden change in the picture quality during processing of changing the picture quality, thereby favorably adjusting the picture quality.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes a histogram generator, a determination module and a sharpening processor. The histogram generator generates a histogram based on a luminance level of pixels of a video signal. The determination module determines whether the video signal is a captured video based on the histogram. The sharpening processor sharpens the video signal based on an imaging model function in which a blur due to imaging is not considered, if the video signal is not the captured video.

Abstract: A video processor includes a video filter and a calculation circuit. The video filter performs a low-pass filtering operation on first frame data to obtain brightness distribution data. The calculation circuit obtains difference data between the brightness distribution data and second frame data. The calculation circuit multiplies the difference data and a weighting parameter together to obtain a product, and then summates the product and the second frame data together to generate processed frame data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video picture display method that aims to reduce the effects of blurring and multiple contours when the picture display frequency is doubled. According to the invention, for each source video picture, a video level dissymmetry is created between the two pictures from the source video picture after doubling the frequency in the areas in motion of the source video picture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a circuit for peaking video signals to be provided to a dynamic range limiter for displaying images on a display device. The circuit comprises a peaking filter including a filter input configured to receive a video signal. A first filter output provides a peaking signal for the video signal. A second filter output provides a peaked video signal based upon the peaking signal. The circuit further comprises a throttle circuit including a throttle input coupled to the second filter output. A throttle output provides a throttle signal based upon the peaked video signal. A scaler is coupled between the first filter output and the dynamic range limiter. The scaler is further coupled to the throttle output. The scaler adjusts the peaking signal based upon the throttle signal.

Abstract: The intensities of horizontal and vertical edges of each block of luminance signals of an image are measured, and horizontal and vertical edge intensity data of respective blocks are stored for one frame in an edge intensity mapping memory. A noise removal flag used to specify a filtering block is calculated based on the edge intensity data, and is stored in a noise removal flag mapping memory. A filter controller controls whether or not to apply filtering processing to each block, specified by this noise removal flag, of the current frame of the image based on the horizontal and vertical edge intensity data of that block of the current frame and those of the corresponding block of the immediately preceding frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods of generating depth data using edge detection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, first image data is received corresponding to a scene recorded by an image capture device at a first focus position at a first distance. Second image data is received corresponding to a second focus position at a second distance that is greater than the first distance. Edge detection generates first edge data corresponding to at least a first portion of the first image data and generates second edge data corresponding to at least a second portion of the second image data. The edge detection detects presence or absence of an edge at each location of the first portion and the second portion to identify each detected edge as a hard or soft edge. Depth data is generated based on the edge data generated for the first and second focus positions.

Abstract: A transition enhancement method and system for use with television or computer displays submits single transitions occurring in an input signal to a first transition enhancement process; and submits double transitions of opposite signs occurring in the input signal to a second transition enhancement process that is different from the first transition enhancement process.

Abstract: A method for contrast enhancement of a video signal comprises receiving a video signal frame, gathering statistics about the video signal frame, calculating the effective input dynamic range of the video signal frame, calculating the effective output dynamic range of the video signal frame, and constructing a transform to enhance the picture in the video signal frame by mapping the effective input dynamic range to the effective output dynamic range via the transform.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes an input module and a video processor. The input module is configured to input a video signal. The video processor is configured to apply sharpening processing to pixels in a horizontal direction and pixels in a vertical direction, which are included in the video signal, and to apply image blur correction to the pixels in the horizontal direction and the pixels in the vertical direction based on an imaging model function.

Abstract: An image enhancement unit and method for enhancing the image quality of a video stream is presented. The image enhancement unit combines a contour enhancement unit, a luminance contrast stretching unit, a color transient improvement unit, and a color saturation control unit to enhance both the luminance and chrominance values in the video stream. Specifically, the contour enhancement unit processes the luminance values to improve the contours of the images in the video steam. The luminance contrast stretching unit further improves the luminance by enhancing the contrast in the images. The color transient improvement unit processes the chrominance values to remove blurring around along the edges of color transitions and the color saturation control unit increases the color saturation to improve the appearance of the images.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a video signal processing device includes an input unit to which a brightness signal is input, a high band emphasis unit that extracts a first high band component from the brightness signal and outputs an output signal by adding the first high band component to the brightness signal, an acquisition unit that acquires a first histogram data of brightness levels for one frame of the input brightness signal, and a first processing unit that performs a high band emphasis processing on the input brightness signal based on the first histogram data.

Abstract: A deblocking filter includes a color resolution expansion unit, an edge filtering unit and a color resolution contraction unit. The color resolution expansion unit increases a color resolution of input video data to generate first video data. The edge filtering unit performs a blurring operation on a block edge of the first video data based on block size information to generate second video data. The color resolution contraction unit reduces a color resolution of the second video data to generate output video data, a color resolution of the output video data being the same as the color resolution of the input video data.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for determining motion between a first and second video image. The apparatus includes an input device for receiving the first and the second video image with a plurality of pixels, a block selector for selecting a block of pixels within the first video image, a search area selector for selecting at least part of the second video image to produce a search area, a sampler for sampling the pixels of the search area in a predetermined pattern and a comparator for comparing the selected block of pixels within the first video image with at least one block of the sampled pixels of the search area to determine the motion of the block of pixels between the images. The pattern of sampled pixels varies throughout the search area.

Abstract: An image processing method that demosaicks a mosaic input image to generate a full color output image. The image processing method calculates both vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Next, the image processing method calculates an enhanced version of both vertical and horizontal luminance-chrominance difference components for each pixel of the mosaic input image. Then, the image processing method interpolates a G component for each of the original R and B components. Next, the image processing method detects a signal overshoot or undershoot in each interpolated G component and to clamps each interpolated G component with a detected signal overshoot or undershoot to the closest neighboring original G component. Next, the image processing method interpolates missing R and/or B components in each pixel location of the captured image.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus 100 acquires the image signal F1 and includes a steepening amount calculation unit 110, a contour shift amount calculation unit 120, an integration correction amount calculation 130 and an image generation unit 140, which generate a corrected image signal F9 in such a way that there is an intersection between waveforms, and that there are two regions with different areas bordered by the waveforms which overlap at the intersection point, the waveforms expressing changes in each value in image spaces displayed by the image signal and the corrected image signal respectively, when a waveform which expresses changes in the differential values of the image signal relative to the image spaces is symmetrical in a contour region of the image shown by the image signal.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying frames on a hold-type display to reduce perceived blur are disclosed. One example method includes detecting a parameter associated with an object in an input frame and filtering the input frame to generate at least two filtered sub-frames based on the parameter. The filtered sub-frames are then inserted in place of the input frame in a frame sequence and output to a display. The parameter associated with the object may indicate a magnitude and direction of the object's movement in a sequence of frames including the input frame.

Abstract: A video image processing system is described that generates the interpolated video images with sharp and jaggedness-free edges. A method of video image processing is also described that interpolates video images to generate the video images with sharp and jaggedness-free edges. The video image processing system receives and makes input image data available for further processing; analyzes the local features of the input image data; filters the input image data before performing interpolation process; modifies the phase value adaptive to the local edge distance; rescales the input image data in horizontal interpolation using the modified phase value; and rescales the horizontally interpolated image data in vertical interpolation using modified phase value.

Abstract: A method and a system is provided for deinterlacing interlaced video containing an interlaced image field f including scan lines of multiple pixels. Such deinterlacing involves detecting the one or more edge directions in the image field f using principal component analysis (PCA), and performing spatial interpolation to reconstruct a missing pixel value in the image field f substantially along each of the one or more detected edge directions.

Abstract: A Gaussian filter 2 having a first cutoff frequency extracts a low frequency component signal of a video signal. A subtracter 3 extracts a high frequency component signal by subtracting the low frequency component signal from the video signal. A low pass filter 5 having a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency extracts a lower high frequency component signal, which is a low-frequency-side signal of the high frequency component signal. A multiplier 6 generates a corrected component signal by multiplying the lower high frequency component signal by a predetermined gain G1. An adder 7 adds the corrected component signal to the video signal.

Abstract: A method of shoot suppression when transition properties of an image signal are improved. The method includes improving transition properties of an original image signal and filtering a local overshoot and/or undershoot at edges of the transient-improved image signal. Accordingly, a transition time of the original image signal may be reduced and generation of shoots may be suppressed so that a quality-improved image is generated.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a non-linear smoother for smoothing input video data with an edge component thereof preserved, and outputting smoothed video data, a subtractor for subtracting the smoothed video data from the input video data and outputting high-frequency component video data not containing the edge component, an outline extractor for extracting the edge component from the smoothed video data and outputting edge component video data, a first amplifier for varying a signal level of the edge component video data, a second amplifier for varying a signal level of the high-frequency component video data not containing the edge component, and an adder for adding video data output from the first amplifier and video data output from the second amplifier to one of the smoothed video data and the input video data.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus is disclosed. A peaking signal generation section extracts and amplifies high frequency components contained in an input image signal to generate a peaking signal. An operation section allows a target area for which contour correction is to be performed using the peaking signal to be accepted. A control section generates an area gate signal describing position information corresponding to the designated target area. A mask processing section performs a mask process of outputting an image signal to which the peaking signal has been added to the target area designated through the operation section based on the area gate signal supplied from the control section. A scaling processing section converts pixels of the image signal for which the mask process has been performed is converted at a predetermined scaling ratio.

Abstract: An image processing system including: a CCD which outputs an image signal; an edge extraction unit which extracts an edge signal from the image signal; a false edge estimation unit which estimates an edge signal that arises due to noise components based upon the image signal; an edge correction unit which corrects the edge signal by performing coring processing based upon the edge signal that arises due to noise components; and an edge enhancement unit which performs enhancement processing on the image signal based upon the edge signal thus corrected.