Transition Or Edge Sharpeners Patents (Class 348/625)
  • Publication number: 20030048385
    Abstract: The picture processing apparatus of the present invention has pixel judgment means and pixel correction means. The pixel judgment means comprises target pixel detection means for detecting a target pixel having a peak level out of the input picture signal, and edge detection means for detecting edges, each presenting at a distance of n pixels (n≧1) preceding and succeeding the target pixel. Further, the pixel correction means has correction coefficient selection means wherein a peak level correction coefficient is selected according to an output from the target pixel detection means, and an edge correction coefficient is selected according to an edge detection output. With the picture processing apparatus of the present invention, a level of the target pixel is corrected and an edge of the input picture signal is corrected with the pixels of the input picture signal being corrected according to the peak level correction coefficient and the edge correction coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Hidekazu Tomizawa, Hiroshi Yamashita, Nobuo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6529637
    Abstract: In an image replication circuit, the improvement of replicating a given element at a certain location with the most similar of surrounding sets of image elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignees: Pixel Instruments Corporation, IP Innovation LLC
    Inventor: Carl Cooper
  • Publication number: 20030030753
    Abstract: An effective pixel area calculating circuit (11) detects position information indicating the position of a target pixel in a frame. A lacking pixel creating circuit (12) determines the class of the target pixel from a plurality of classes in accordance with the position information, then selects a plurality of pixels from an input image signal as a prediction tap, and carries out arithmetic processing based on conversion data obtained in advance by learning for each class and the prediction tap, thus outputting an output image signal of higher quality than the input image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Hideo Nakaya, Tsutomu Watanabe, Hideki Ohtsuka, Yasuaki Takahashi, Seiji Wada, Takahiro Nagano, Koji Ohta
  • Publication number: 20030025838
    Abstract: The contrast of a time varying video signal is enhanced. Each digital picture is represented by samples having gradation levels in a range from a lower limit C to an upper limit U. The mean value of the gradation levels of the samples representing a first digital picture is determined. A first transform function is constructed in dependence on a distribution of samples with gradation levels less than or equal to the mean value. A second transform function is constructed in dependence on a distribution of the samples with gradation levels equal to or greater than the mean. The first transform function and the second transform function are used to form a contrast enhancement transform, which is preferably constructed in the form of a look-up table. The contrast enhancement transform is applied to a set of samples representing the first digital picture or representing the temporally subsequent picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Publication number: 20030020835
    Abstract: Techniques for removing ringing artifacts from video data. A deringing filter in accordance with the present invention preserves real image edges in a video frame, while smoothing out the interiors of objects. In one aspect, a 9-tap low-pass filter is applied to an adaptive processing window. The filter window is initialized with the values in a 3×3 mask centered on the position whose output is computed. Then all values that are very different from the central one are replaced with the central value. The deringing filter varies between 3×3 low-pass and identity, depending on how much the central value differs from its surrounding ones. A deblocking filter in accordance may also be suitably used in conjunction with the deringing filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: BOPS, Inc.
    Inventor: Doina Petrescu
  • Publication number: 20030020836
    Abstract: A picture quality improvement device has two-dimensional low-pass filter that takes as input a luminance signal YIN that is obtained from a video signal and that extracts low-pass components for a vertical direction and a horizontal direction of the input luminance signal YIN. The picture quality improvement device adds an edge signal, which is obtained by subtracting from luminance signal YIN the low-pass extraction signal (LPF) that has been extracted by two-dimensional low-pass filter, to luminance signal YIN. Two-dimensional low-pass filter is constituted such that the extraction gain of the vertical direction low-pass component and the extraction gain of the horizontal direction low-pass component are independently adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: NEC VIEWTECHNOLOGY, LTD.
    Inventor: Michio Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20030007100
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic circuit 100 and method for enhancing an image, in particular used in TV-applications. The known circuit comprises a N-dimensional image enhancement filter 130 for receiving a low-pass-filtered image signal and at least one also—low-pass-filtered—further image signal; all image signals representing different pixels of said image. An intermediate signal output from said filter 130 is combined with a high-frequency component of said image signal in order to generate an enhanced image output signal. It is the object of the invention to improve an electronic circuit 100 and method for enhancing an image such that the costs for their implementation are reduced without loss of quality in the output image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Olukayode Anthony Ojo, Tatiana Georgieva Kwaaitaalspassova, Gerard De Haan
  • Publication number: 20020196355
    Abstract: Electronic data output from CCD is separated into a brightness component Y and color difference components Cb and Cr and an edge is extracted for each of the components. The edge amounts are calculated from the extracted edges and the component having the maximum edge amount is selected. Edge information (for example, edge gradient direction) is calculated based on the selected component having the maximum edge amount, a filter is selected based on the calculated edge information about the component having the maximum edge amount, and smoothing processing is performed for the electronic data output from the CCD based on the filter. The electronic data subjected to the smoothing processing is written into flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Hiroshige, Yoshihiro Nakami
  • Patent number: 6498626
    Abstract: A video display deflection circuit includes a source of a video signal for displaying picture information contained in the video signal in a screen of a cathode ray tube. The video signal on-provides selectively an on-screen-display information and a non-screen-display information. A source of a first control signal has a first value, when the video signal provides on-screen-display information and a second value, when said video signal provides non- on-screen-display information. A comb filter responsive to the first control signal has selectively a first delay element, when the first control signal is at the first value and a second delay element, when the first control signal is at the second value. The filter selectively establishes, in accordance with the first value, a first frequency response characteristic and, in accordance with the second value, a second frequency response characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Rick Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 6496645
    Abstract: A video recorder for playing video recordings recorded on magnetic tapes, these recordings being available with different playback qualities, and including a reproduction apparatus for scanning a magnetic tape and for supplying a playback signal; and a playback-signal processing apparatus for processing the playback signal and including at least one controllable signal-influencing stage for controllably influencing at least one component (luminance signal Y) of the playback signal, and an entry device for cooperating with the video recorder and providing entry of characteristic information which characterizes different playback qualities of video recordings; and a control apparatus for generating control information corresponding to the characteristic information. The at least one controllable signal-influencing stage is controlled depending on the control information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Willibald Friedreich
  • Publication number: 20020180893
    Abstract: In a method of picture signal enhancement, a picture signal is subjected (3, 7) to a histogram-based picture signal modification based on a luminance level distribution over a whole picture or a first part of the picture, and the histogram-based picture signal modification is locally adjusted (5) in dependence on locally measured picture signal properties other than contrast and brightness, the locally measured picture signal relating to second parts of the picture that are each substantially smaller than the whole picture or the first part of the picture, the second parts being within the whole picture or the first part of the picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Marina Marie Pierre Nicolas, Michel Wouter Nieuwenhuizen
  • Publication number: 20020171772
    Abstract: The video signal enhancement unit (100) and the image display apparatus containing the unit have a processing unit (102) for contrast modification of the video signal. The processing unit (102) receives input data from a contrast counter (112), designed to store a contrast count. The contrast count is decreased by a pixel counter (104) each time the total number of pixels, that occur within a predetermined period of time and which have video signal levels that are higher than a predetermined video level, exceeds a predefined threshold. This predetermined period of time is a number of times shorter than one video field interval. The contrast count is increased each time a trigger means (114) generates a pulse. A contrast comparator (116) can be coupled to the contrast counter (112) to limit the contrast count to a maximum contrast value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Eric Peter Funke
  • Patent number: 6483551
    Abstract: An electro-optical device and a method for displaying an image are disclosed. A clear image with a clear profile can be displayed therein by processing input image data, for example input image data of TV broadcasting received by the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunepi Yamazaki, Akira Mase, Masaaki Hiroki, Yasuhiko Takemura
  • Publication number: 20020167614
    Abstract: In an edge correcting circuit of an image to be represented by a digitized image signal, a high-frequency signal extracting circuit (5) extracts a high-frequency signal of the image by calculation based on a signal of a target pixel, a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by m (m being an integer not smaller than 2) pixels in the right or lower direction, and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by m pixels in the left or upper direction, an amplitude-restricting signal generator (6) determines an amplitude-restricting signal (Si) based on a minimum value or a maximum value of an absolute value of a difference between the signal of the target pixel and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by n (n being an integer not smaller than 1 and smaller than m) pixels in the right or lower direction, and an absolute value of a difference between the signal of the target pixel and a signal of a pixel shifted from the target pixel by n pixels in the left or upper direction, an amplitu
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Kouji Minami
  • Patent number: 6476876
    Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit in which VE detected by a vertical contour component detecting unit and HE detected by a horizontal contour component detecting unit are added by a first adder and then multiplied by a coefficient, and the product is added to an input video signal by a second adder to output an emphasized-contour video signal. The circuit contains a comparing/judging unit for comparing VE with HE and judging whether or not the absolute value of the difference between them is smaller than a present value S, and a coefficient change-over multiplier unit for changing the coefficient by which the sum (VE+HE) is multiplied over to K/2 or K according to the judging signal. For a pixel from which both HE and VE are detected, the coefficient change-over multiplier is changed from K or K/2 by a judgment signal of the comparing/judging unit to decrease the contour emphasizing component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Seiji Matsunaga, Toru Aida
  • Publication number: 20020140864
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for performing segmentation-based enhancements of a video image. The apparatus comprises: 1) an input buffer for storing video frames of an incoming video signal; 2) a segmentation controller capable of segmenting a first stored frame into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments comprising a plurality of pixels having at least one common property; 3) an image processor capable of calculating a probability function associated with at least one pixel in the first stored frame, the probability function indicating a probability that the at least one pixel belongs within a first selected one of the plurality of segments; and 4) an enhancement controller capable of enhancing a parameter of the at least one pixel as a function of the probability function of the at least one pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Stephen Herman, Johan G. Janssen
  • Publication number: 20020140854
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing resolution in a video image includes acquiring a relatively low resolution video signal and applying a peaking function and analyzing the peaked signal to identify potential edges. The low resolution signal is then upconverted to a higher resolution format. Actual edges in the image are detected and linked in the higher resolution format, and a luminance transition improvement function is applied to the edges to sharpen the image. Analysis of the image while at low resolution reduces computation time, yet still produces a high quality output image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Tse-Hua Lan
  • Publication number: 20020135702
    Abstract: An image emphasizing apparatus includes: an outline component extraction section; a threshold value calculation section for calculating first and second threshold values; and an outline correction section for generating an outline emphasizing signal from the outline component based on the first and second threshold values, and adding the outline emphasizing signal to the input video signal, thereby generating an output video signal, wherein the outline correction section includes: an emphasizing signal generation section for generating the outline emphasizing signal, which is generated while limiting an absolute value of the outline component so as to be equal to or smaller than the first threshold value when the absolute value of the outline component is equal to or smaller than the second threshold value; and a signal addition section for adding the outline compensation signal generated based on the outline emphasizing signal to the input video signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: Kenichiro Yamaki
  • Patent number: 6456325
    Abstract: An image signal processing device of the present invention includes an RGB-YC conversion for converting color component signals output from a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor to luminance signals and components thereof lying in a high frequency range. The luminance signals and their components lying in a high frequency range are fed to a first, a second and a third low pass filter (LPF), respectively. Luminance signals output from a third LPF are fed to an adder while components lying in a high frequency range are fed from the first LPF to a selector. Further, the components output from the second LPF are fed to the selector via a resolution correcting section. The selector selects either one of the two different kinds of components input thereto. The adder adds the luminance signals output from the third LPF and the components selected by the selector and thereby outputs second luminance signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20020118303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting asymmetry in transient signals and to a method and apparatus for correcting such asymmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventor: Michel Wouter Nieuwenhuizen
  • Publication number: 20020109788
    Abstract: A method for digitally processing motion image signals comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining digital motion image signals that originated from a sequence of motion picture frames; (b) using a frame averaging technique to reduce noise in the digital motion image signals, thereby producing noise-processed motion image signals; and (c) producing output digital motion image signals by sharpening the noise-processed motion image signals with a sharpening filter designed in the spatial domain with a 2D kernel that increases the noise in order to provide a desired grain response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Roger A. Morton, Gabriel Fielding, Christian L. Lurin
  • Patent number: 6433836
    Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit is provided with a number-of-pixels changing circuit (37) which changes the numbers of pixels of digital R, G, and B signals, a gamma correction circuit (39) which performs gamma correction on the output of the circuit (37), a Y-signal generating circuit (36) which generates luminance signals from the output of the circuit (37), an contour extracting circuit (38) which extracts contour components from the output of the circuit (36), a coefficient multiplying circuit (42) which outputs contour components for R, G, and B by multiplying the extracted contour components by coefficients Kr, Kg and kb contour adding circuit (34r), (34g), and (34b) which respectively add the outputs of the circuit (39 and 42). Thus, the contour emphasizing circuit performs contour emphasis on the digital R, G, and B signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Suzuki, Masanori Kurita
  • Patent number: 6424383
    Abstract: An object is to provide a vertical contour correcting device for a video signal which reduces noise without deteriorating effect of the entire contour correction. A vertical contour correcting device (VCP1) which corrects vertical contour components (S1v, S1v′) of a video signal (S1) with a given quantity of correction (K) to enhance the vertical contour (Ev) of the video signal (S1) comprises a vertical contour component extracting device (3) for detecting said vertical contour components (S1v, S1v′) from said video signal (S1), a vertical contour component correlation detector (3, 29, 8c, 8d, 4) for detecting correlation between horizontally adjacent vertical contour components (Sb, Sb′, Sb′′) from said detected vertical contour components (S1v, S1v′), and a controller (5) for determining said quantity of correction (K) on the basis of said detected correlation (Sj1), thereby varying the quantity of correction (K) in accordance with the correlation (Sj1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumi Terai, Naoji Okumura, Yutaka Nio, Kazuhito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6415053
    Abstract: The image processing method and apparatus calculate and store gradients representing directions and intensities of a pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels from pixel values of the pixel of interest and its surrounding pixels of image composed of the color image signals that are to be subjected to image processing, calculate connectivity of the pixel of interest with its surrounding pixels from the directions of the stored gradients, calculate directivities of respective R, G and B of the pixel of interest by calculating gradients of respective R, G and B channels of the pixel of interest and decide whether the pixel of interest is an edge portion or not from the calculated connectivity and directivities of respective R, G and B to extract the edge portion. As a result, the method and the apparatus can raise extraction precision of the edge portion, accurately perform the edge portion extraction and increase image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20020067435
    Abstract: Gamma correction, color saturation, tint, brightness, and contrast correction are provided for digital YUV signals by use of video hardware or software in a personal computer. The video hardware receives a digital YUV signal from a source such as a DVD player. An algorithm is empirically determined for the type of display device used to display the signal. A least-squares fit polynomial equation or a lookup table is used to determine a correction for displayed intensity by applying one or more corrections such as gamma correction, color saturation, tint, brightness, or contrast correction. The resulting image is displayed with the proper gamma for both video source and display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventor: MARK RAPAICH
  • Patent number: 6400846
    Abstract: A method determines a surface of an object in a sequence of images. The method begins by estimating a boundary of the object in each image of the sequence using motion information of adjacent images of the sequence. Then, portions of each image of the sequence are ordered to produce an ordered sequence of images. The ordered portions are exterior to the estimated object boundary. Edges in each ordered image are filtered using the motion information, and each ordered image of the sequence is searched to locate the filtered edges to form a new boundary outside the estimated boundary. The filtering and searching are repeated, while projecting the new object boundaries over the sequence of images, until the new object boundaries converges to a surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: I-Jong Lin, Anthony Vetro, Huifang Sun, Sun-Yuan Kung
  • Patent number: 6392616
    Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel which can perform a good image display even if a video signal having a jitter is supplied is provided. At least one of the execution time of a pixel data writing step in each sub-field, the execution time of a light emission sustaining step, and the number of sub-fields to be executed during a display period of one field is adjusted in accordance with the jitter of a vertical sync signal in the input video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Suzuki, Nobuhiko Saegusa
  • Patent number: 6384872
    Abstract: A method for image enhancement for an interlaced display includes receiving a first group of pixels aligned about an axis, detecting a second group of pixels within the first group of pixels, each pixel of the second group of pixels having a luminous disparity between adjacent pixels less than a first threshold, determining whether each pixel within the second group of pixels is part of a line or edge, the determination including a comparison of luma or chroma disparities between neighboring pixels and filtering each pixel determined to be part of a line or edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest Tinyork Tsui, Mei Kuen Leong
  • Publication number: 20020051089
    Abstract: When a display image is a photographic image or a moving image, an ON signal is inputted from the ON-OFF circuit and the ON-OFF circuit to the sharpness circuit and the gamma correction circuit under a control signal from the control circuit. An inputted image signal Fc is subjected to sharpness processing for edge enhancement by the sharpness circuit, and the intermediate signal level of the image signal Fc is raised by gamma correction of the gamma correction circuit. Thus, the CRT can display a sharp, high-quality photographic or moving image having an enhanced edge and emitting light with its luminance proportional to the signal level. When a display image is a code display image of letters or the like, the sharpness circuit is controlled to be in an unactivated state and the gamma correction circuit is controlled to be in an activated state under a control signal from the control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Inventors: Akira Arimizu, Shigeto Nishijima
  • Publication number: 20020047908
    Abstract: A horizontal contour signal generation circuit in a single chip color camera comprises a first horizontal contour signal generation circuit provided in a stage succeeding a first horizontal low-pass filter, a second horizontal contour signal generation circuit provided in a stage succeeding a second horizontal low-pass filter, and a selection circuit for adaptively selecting and outputting the first horizontal contour signal generated by the first horizontal contour signal generation circuit and the second horizontal contour signal generated by the second horizontal contour signal generation circuit on the basis of chroma information for each predetermined area calculated on the basis of a color difference signal, the first horizontal low-pass filter having the property of passing a higher frequency component, as compared with the second low-pass filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: Tetsuo Mise, Yukio Mori, Seiji Okada, Ryuichiro Tominaga, Masahiro Seto
  • Publication number: 20020047933
    Abstract: An objectionable outlining effect, seen as dark edges and white edges outlining everything in a scene, is eliminated by clipping or limiting the spikes generated by excessive enhancement. Specifically, a method is used for improving the quality of an enhanced video image, while simultaneously maintaining or improving image sharpness, by clipping the RGB levels of the enhanced video image, at the points of enhancement, to upper and lower level bounds representing the signal levels of the video signal prior to its enhancement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Publication date: April 25, 2002
    Inventors: PAUL VLAHOS, ARIE BERMAN, ARPAG DADOURIAN
  • Publication number: 20020039152
    Abstract: A contrast enhancement apparatus of a video signal comprises a coefficient generation unit for generating a low frequency mapping coefficient which increases or attenuates the low frequency component of the video signal, a minimum value processing unit for detecting the minimum value of the video signal, an edge detection unit for detecting rapid luminance change in the vertical and horizontal direction, a logarithmic conversion unit for converting logarithm by receiving the inputted video signal, a low-pass filter for passing a low frequency component of the logarithm-converted signal, a high-pass filter for passing a high frequency component of the logarithm-converted signal, a first multiplier for multiplying the low frequency mapping coefficient and a signal which passes low-pass filter, a second multiplier for multiplying the signal passes the high-pass filter by the signal outputted from the edge detection unit, a first adder for adding the signals outputted from the first multiplier and the second mult
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Sang Um Choi
  • Patent number: 6359659
    Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit has a Y-signal generator (36) which generates a luminance signal from digital R, G and B signals, a contour extracting circuit (38) which extracts contour component from the generated Y signal, a factor multiplier (42) which multiplies the contour component by factors Kr, Kg and Kb and outputs contour components for R, G and B and contour adders (34r, 34g and 34b) which add the contour components for R, G and B to the R, G and B signals respectively and which emphasizes the contour for the digital R, G and B signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Suzuki, Masanori Kurita
  • Publication number: 20020030762
    Abstract: A video processing apparatus according to the present invention includes edge detecting means for detecting an edge direction of an image, coefficient selecting means for selecting a coefficient based on the edge direction detected by the edge detecting means, and filter means for filtering a frequency band by using a frequency characteristic corresponding to the coefficient selected by the coefficient selecting means, wherein the number of pixels of the image is enlarged twice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaki Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20020027618
    Abstract: A video-apparatus comprises a peaking filter (3-5), which, in response to applied video signals, supplies peaking signals (Vp) that are combined with applied video signals. The peaking filter (3-5) includes a first (3) and a second (4) 1st first order high-pass or band-pass filter in cascade configuration, while a unit (5, 6) for determining the peaking strength is put between the first (3) and second (4) filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventors: Jeroen Hubert Christoffel Jacobus Stessen, Christian Hentschel, Michel Wouter Nieuwenhuizen
  • Patent number: 6346970
    Abstract: The invention is a flicker filter for use with video signals. The flicker filter of the invention has at least two user-adjustable inputs adapted to balance image quality versus flicker in the second video image. A first user-adjustable input is adapted to govern an amount of flicker suppression. A second user-adjustable input is adapted to govern an amount of blur, or sharpness. The two inputs are independently adjustable such that a user may dynamically adjust the two-dimensional system characteristics. This ability allows the circuit to be tune to adjust pixel intensities where an amount of pixel intensity adjustment increases with decreasing boundary angle, inter alia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Focus Enhancements, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth A. Boehlke
  • Publication number: 20020015104
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing method capable of improving the picture quality. The image processing method comprises: incorporating input frame pictures to be displayed on a display device, on the basis of an input picture signal and an input synchronizing signal which is synchronized with the input picture signal; recording the incorporated input frame pictures in an input frame memory; and producing output frame pictures from input frame pictures, which have been recorded in the input frame memory, by producing an interpolated picture or inserting a black raster picture or thinning out the frame pictures, between input frame pictures corresponding to a picture information of the input frame picture to be displayed, on the basis of the picture information and the input synchronizing signal and an output synchronizing signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Goh Itoh, Haruhiko Okumura
  • Patent number: 6340994
    Abstract: An image processing system including a display output processor using Temporal Gamma Processing (TGP) and Reverse Super-resolution (RSR) techniques to process images. TGP assures that the time-related representation of an image is as accurate as possible, and thus, based on a previous frame value and a known transfer function of the display modulation system, adjusts its output values to provide a desired output value during display of a desired frame. RSR performs a superset of the frame rate conversion process for converting between disparate input and output frame rates. RSR, improving display quality when intended display images have apparent resolution higher than can be supported by an image modulator, sequences lower resolution images at higher frame rates to simulate higher resolution outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Pixonics, LLC
    Inventors: Neal Margulis, Chad Fogg
  • Patent number: 6339451
    Abstract: A graphical on-screen display (OSD) system, includes a decoder for decoding graphical OSD image representative data from an auxiliary information component of a video signal. An edge detector is coupled to the decoder and processes the OSD image representative data to detect an edge in the graphical OSD image. An edge smoother is coupled to both the decoder and the edge detector and generates signals representing a reproduced OSD image having a smoothed edge when an edge is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Juri Tults
  • Patent number: 6330037
    Abstract: A picture signal processing method is provided for processing a picture signal containing information including main picture portion and non-picture portions. This method comprises: detecting boundary portions existing between the main picture portion and the non-picture portions of the picture signal; performing inter-field interpolation treatment to produce an interpolation scanning signal; and using the interpolation scanning signal to perform inter-field interpolation treatment on boundary portions between the main picture portion and the non-picture portions of the picture signal, so as to ensure a clearly visible display of the boundary portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignees: Pioneer Corporation, Pioneer Video Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Nakajima, Hiroshi Otaki
  • Patent number: 6330038
    Abstract: A method and device for enhancing the sharpness of a video image. The luminance signal portion of a television signal is boosted in its upper frequency range, e.g., between about 2.0 MHz and about 4.25 MHz. This enhancement of the luminance signal accentuates the transitions between the high brightness levels and low brightness levels of the luminance signal. The resulting video image appears much sharper because this quicker transition reduces the amount of signal carrying intermediate brightness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation
    Inventor: Drew S. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20010048485
    Abstract: Provided are a video signal processor and a video signal processing method. The video signal processor consists mainly of a sharpening circuit, a non-correlation detecting circuit, and a noise level detecting circuit. The sharpening circuit filters an input luminance signal using a transversal filter, multiplies the luminance signal by a predetermined factor, adjusts a time lag the luminance signal undergoes, and adds the resultant luminance signal to an original luminance signal. The non-correlation detecting circuit performs non-correlation detection to discriminate a portion of the filtered luminance signal, which contains only a noise, from a portion thereof, which contains a noise and exhibits a fluctuation, according to a predetermined threshold voltage. The noise level detecting circuit detects a noise level. When a received luminance signal portion is detected to contain only a noise, the sharpening circuit cancels the noise contained in the luminance signal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Ueyama
  • Patent number: 6320625
    Abstract: Since A/D conversion circuits 30r, 30g and 30b to convert for output analog R, G and B signals to digital signals, a phase adjustment circuit 31 to output by delaying in the portion of 1 linc output signals of these A/D conversion circuits 30r, 30g and 30b, a first signal generation circuit 35 to generate Y signals from output signals of A/D conversion circuits 30r, 30g and 30b, a second Y signal generation circuit 37 to generate a Y signal from an output signal of the phase adjustment circuit 31, a contour extracting circuit 39 to extract a vertical contour component and a horizontal contour component from Y signals generated by first and second Y signal generation circuits, and contour adders 34r, 34g and 34b to output signals contour-emphasized adding a vertical contour component and a horizontal contour component extracted by this contour extracting circuit 39 to output signals of the phase adjustment circuit are provided, and since it has been designed that the contour extracting 39 extracts a vertical c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Suzuki, Masanori Kurita
  • Patent number: 6310658
    Abstract: A video signal mixing apparatus and a method thereof, which is capable of minimizing timing jitter caused when onsynchronized video signals are digitally mixed. A signal subtractor subtracts a second video signal synchronized with a clock signal from a first video signal which is not synchronized with the clock signal, and a weighted value extractor divides one period of the clock signal into N intervals, detects the interval where a digital selection signal is generated, among the N divided intervals, and outputs a predetermined value (where 0≦predetermined value≦1) allocated to the detected interval as a weighted value. A multiplier multiplies the weighted value with the output of the signal subtractor and outputs the multiplication result, and a signal mixer mixes the multiplication result with the second video signal and outputs the mixed result as a mixed video signal. Therefore, error causing timing jitter is reduced to 1/N, thereby minimizing dot crawling of the mixed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mal-Seob Kwak, Bong-soon Kang
  • Publication number: 20010030712
    Abstract: An apparatus displays a video signal (VID) by means of a scan (SCAN). The apparatus may be, for example, a television set. The apparatus comprises a device (SCAVEM) for modulating the scanning rate (Vscan) as a function of a derivative (DLUM) of a luminance signal (LUM) extracted from the video signal (VID). This enables the subjective display quality to be improved. The apparatus has the following characteristic feature in order to obtain an even better quality, notably when the apparatus is used for displaying video signals of different types. The derivative (DLUM) of the luminance signal, as a function of which the scanning rate (Vscan) is modulated, is obtained by means of a differentiator circuit (DIFF) having a controllable frequency response (CFR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Philippe Vilard, Marnik Bogaert
  • Patent number: 6297854
    Abstract: A contour emphasizing circuit is provided with a Y-signal generating circuit (36) which generates luminance signals from digital R, G, and B signals, a contour extracting circuit (38) which extracts contour components from the generated Y-signal, a coefficient multiplying circuit (42) which outputs contour components for R, G, and B by multiplying the extracted contour components by coefficients Kr, Kg, and Kb, addition circuits (34r, 34g, and 34b), and a contour emphasis enabling circuit (39) which controls the period for which contour components extracted by the extracting circuit (38) arc supplied. Therefore, the contour emphasizing circuit prevents process errors in the peripheral portion of the screen of a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Susumu Suzuki, Masanori Kurita
  • Patent number: 6295097
    Abstract: A video display deflection circuit includes a source of a periodic, first signal that varies in accordance with a position of an electron beam on a screen of a cathode ray tube. A limiter is responsive to the first signal for generating a second signal having a limited, piece-wise linearized first portion, when the first signal is outside a range of values. The second signal has a second portion that varies, when the first signal varies within the range of values. A modulator is responsive to the second signal and to a video signal for generating a modulated correction signal coupled to an auxiliary deflection winding to produce, in accordance therewith, scan velocity modulated deflection of the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventor: Rick Wayne Miller
  • Patent number: 6295096
    Abstract: To enable interlacing edge-generating means to be used for a progressive image signal that is separated into lines as two sequences of signals, the present invention comprises a pre-edge processing circuit (11) that executes appropriate pre-edge processing on the progressive image signal separated into lines depending on the condition of each of the two signals, and an edge generating circuit (18, 19) that executes on the two signals after pre-edge processing pre-edge generation processing similar to that for interlacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobukatsu Okuda, Yoshiki Yamada
  • Patent number: 6295322
    Abstract: An input data stream of pixel values, representing an original video image having predetermined horizontal and vertical resolutions that has been spatially sampled at a first spatial sampling frequency, is upsampled and interpolated to derive an output data stream of interpolated pixel values at a second spatial sampling frequency that represents an oversampled video image that has been enlarged in size with respect to the original video image but has the same full bandwidth as the original video image. The pixel values of the input data stream and the interpolated pixel values of this output data stream are both employed to synthetically derive the interpolated pixel values of a correction-waveform data stream that defines spatial frequencies that are higher in frequency than the highest frequency in the full bandwidth of the original video image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: North Shore Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James Henry Arbeiter, Roger Frank Bessler
  • Patent number: 6281934
    Abstract: A data slicing device includes an A/D converter for converting a video signal applied thereto into an equivalent digital signal, a sequential integrating circuit for averaging the amplitude of a dc component included in the digital signal obtained by the A/D converter, and a comparator for comparing a value of the digital signal obtained by the A/D converter with the average of the amplitude of the dc component obtained by the sequential integrating circuit so as to extract data from the digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric System LSI Design Corporation, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Nakatani