Television – Format conversion – Changing number of lines for standard conversion
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-06
2001-05-15
Kostak, Victor (Department: 2611)
Television
Format conversion
Changing number of lines for standard conversion
C348S615000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233019
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to pixel converting devices and methods. Especially, it relates to pixel converting devices and methods for surely correcting a fuzzy image.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The applicant has proposed the technique that makes it possible to obtain pixel data with higher resolution, as the Japanese Provisional Publication No. 51599 of 1996, for instance. In this proposition, in the case where image data that is comprised of HD (High Definition) pixel data is created from image data that is comprised of SD (Standard Definition) pixel data, classification is performed (the class is determined) using SD pixel data that sits on the vicinity of the HD pixel data created. Prediction coefficient value set is previously learned for each class. The HD pixel data that is nearer to the true value is obtained, utilizing inter-frame correlation, in the image quiescent portion, and utilizing inter-field correlation, in the moving portion.
By the way, using this technique, it is able to correct image data whose image quality is very poor (fuzzy image) into image data having favorable image quality, for instance. However, in the case of image data whose image quality is very poor, if classification is performed using this image data whose image quality is very poor, it is not able to perform suitable classification and to determine the suitable class. Therefore, as the suitable class can not be obtained, the suitable predictive coefficient value set can not be obtained, and, after all, there has been such a problem that it is not able to sufficiently correct the image quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of such a situation, the present invention proposes the image converting device and method for surely correcting the image quality even if the image quality of the inputted image data is poor.
The image converter of the present invention is an image converter 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 comprising: a class tap extracting circuit for extracting plural pixel data for producing a class code out of the first image data as a class tap; a classification circuit for classifying the class tap, to generate the class code that represents the class; a generating circuit for generating prediction data that correspond to the class code; a producing circuit for outputting the second image signal by the use of the prediction data; and a detecting circuit for detecting a feature quantity that represents the degree of fuzz of the image of the first image signal, and for controlling the class tap extracting operation of the first extracting circuit in accordance with the result of the detection.
Besides, the image converting method of the present invention is 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, said method comprising the steps of: extracting plural pixel data for producing a class code out of the first image data as a class tap; classifying the class tap, to generate the class code that represents the class; generating prediction data that corresponds to the class code; outputting the second image signal by the use of the prediction data; detecting a feature quantity that represents the degree of fuzz of the image of the first image signal; and controlling the class tap extracting operation in accordance with the result of the detection.
Therefore, according to the image converter and the image converting method of the present invention, even if the image quality of the inputted image data is poor, it is able to extract the optimal class tap and to perform the optimal prediction processing, since the class tap is controlled in response to the feature quantity that represents the quantity of fuzz of the inputted image data.
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Hattori Masaaki
Hoshino Takaya
Kondo Tetsujiro
Nakaya Hideo
Tatehira Yasushi
Chang Dexter T.
Frommer William S.
Frommer Lawrence & Haug LLP.
Kostak Victor
Sony Corporation
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