Television – Image signal processing circuitry specific to television – Chrominance-luminance signal separation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-22
2001-10-02
Eisenzopf, Reinhard J. (Department: 2711)
Television
Image signal processing circuitry specific to television
Chrominance-luminance signal separation
C348S441000, C348S453000, C348S659000, C348S660000, C348S661000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297855
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a signal conversion apparatus and a signal conversion method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a signal conversion apparatus and a signal conversion method for converting a composite video signal into component video signals.
As is well known in the art, an NTSC (national television system committee) television signal is produced by multiplexing a luminance signal (Y) and a chrominance signal (C; having I and Q components) by quadrature modulation. Therefore, to receive a television signal and display a picture, it is necessary to separate a luminance signal and a chrominance signal from the television signal (Y/C separation) and then to convert those signals into component signals such as RGB signals by matrix conversion.
However, in a conventional apparatus performing Y/C separation, for example, a luminance signal and a chrominance signal of a particular subject pixel are determined by performing an operation that includes using composite signals of the subject pixel and pixels in the vicinity of the subject pixel, and predetermined fixed coefficients. However, if the coefficients are not suitable for the subject pixel, dot interference, cross-color, or the like may occur, and picture quality will be deteriorated.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide an apparatus and method that make it possible to produce pictures in which deterioration in picture quality due to dot interference, cross-color, or the like is reduced.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved signal conversion apparatus and method.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved signal conversion apparatus and method for converting a composite video signal into component video signals.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved signal conversion apparatus and method utilizing a classification adaptive processing system for a subject pixel to determine the various coefficients to be used for converting the subject pixel of a composite signal into component signals.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved signal conversion apparatus and method which through the use of a classification adaptive processing system for a pixel to be converted reduces dot interference, cross-color or the like between various pixels.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved signal conversion apparatus and method which utilizes a classification adaptive processing system in order to reduce deterioration of picture quality during conversion from a composite video signal into component video signals, and during subsequent display.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a signal conversion apparatus and a signal conversion method are provided in which a plurality of luminance signals of a subject pixel are calculated based on a composite signal of the subject pixel and composite signals of pixels that are close to the subject pixel spatially or temporally, and correlations therebetween are determined. Then, classification is performed for classifying the subject pixel in one of a plurality of prescribed classes based on the correlations between the plurality of luminance signals. Component signals of the subject pixel are determined by performing operations by using coefficients corresponding to the class of the subject pixel. Therefore, it becomes possible to obtain a high-quality picture of component signals.
Furthermore, in a learning apparatus and a learning method according to the invention, component signals for learning are converted into a composite signal for learning, and a plurality of luminance signals of a subject pixel are calculated based on a composite signal of the subject pixel and composite signals of pixels that are close to the subject pixel spatially or temporally. Then, correlations between the plurality of luminance signals are determined and classification is performed by determining the class of the subject pixel based on the correlations. Operations are then performed for determining the coefficients that decrease errors with respect to the component signals for learning for each of the classes of component signals that are obtained by performing operations by using the composite signal for learning and the coefficients. Therefore, it becomes possible to obtain coefficients for obtaining a high-quality picture of component signals.
The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relationship of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the apparatus embodying features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which are adapted to affect such steps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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Hoshino Takaya
Kobayashi Naoki
Kondo Tetsujiro
Nakaya Hideo
Nishikata Takeharu
Eisenzopf Reinhard J.
Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Kessler Gordon
Sony Corporation
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