Television – Format conversion – Line doublers type
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-07
2001-09-25
Lee, Michael (Department: 2614)
Television
Format conversion
Line doublers type
C348S458000, C382S262000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295091
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of computer graphics and video processing. More specifically the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for de-interlacing video fields.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted television broadcast formats use an interlaced video signal. In an interlace video signal format only half the lines that comprise full image are transmitted during each scan field. Thus, during each scan of the television screen, every other scan line is transmitted. Specifically, first the odd scan lines are transmitted and then the even scan lines are transmitted in an alternating fashion. The two fields are interlaced together to construct a full video frame. In the American National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) television format, each field is transmitted in one sixtieth of a second. Thus, a full video frame (an odd field and an even field) is transmitted each one thirtieth of a second.
Computer monitors do not use the interlace video format. Instead, computer monitors use a progressive format where an entire video image is drawn in a single frame scan. Thus, during each frame scan of the monitor, every scan line is refreshed.
In order to display an interlaced television signal on a non-interlaced computer monitor the interlace video signal must be de-interlaced. De-interlacing consist of filling in the missing even or odd scan lines in each field such that each field becomes a full video frame. The process of creating the missing odd or even scan lines for the even or odd fields respectively is referred to as line-doubling.
The video recording, video editing, and video display have become popular applications of computer systems. Since video applications have become so important, high quality video de-interlacing techniques are needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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.
A second method of interpolating a desired pixel between scan lines first selects a minimal variance direction between: a first direction comprising a first pixel above and to the left of the desired pixel and a second pixel below and to the right of the desired pixel, a second direction comprising a third pixel above the desired pixel and a fourth pixel below the desired pixel, and a third direction comprising a fifth pixel above and to the right of the desired pixel and a sixth pixel below and to the left of the desired pixel. Then the second method selects the two pixels comprising the minimal variance direction as a minimal variance above pixel and a minimal variance below pixel. Finally, the second method selects the median pixel of the minimal variance above pixel, the minimal variance below pixel, and a pixel from the previous video field having same position of the desired pixel.
Other objects feature and advantages of present invention will be apparent from the company drawings and from the following detailed description that follows below.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5119193 (1992-06-01), Noji
patent: 5475438 (1995-12-01), Bretl
patent: 5579053 (1996-11-01), Pandel
patent: 6133957 (2000-10-01), Campbell
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Intel Corporation
Lee Michael
LandOfFree
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