Automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images

• US 20050151884A1
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Keum-yong
• Granted Patent: US 7,432,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/576
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images. The automatic zoom apparatus provides more dynamic images to a user by detecting a dynamic change of image signals to zoom and display a predetermined area where the dynamic change is detected. To this end, the automatic zoom apparatus for playing the dynamic images comprises a motion detector for, when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals, detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the predetermined image signals. Also included is a motion area designator for designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion detected by the motion detector, as a motion area, and a zoom controller for performing a zoom function for zooming an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator. Thereby, the user can enjoy a more dynamic image such that television watching is not as monotonous.

Claims

1. An automatic zoom apparatus for playing dynamic images, comprising:

a motion detector which detects a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from predetermined image signals;

a motion area designator which designates a predetermined area including objects of the motion detected by the motion detector as a motion area; and

a zoom controller which zooms an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an output unit which displays the image of the image signals of the motion area zoomed by the zoom controller.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion detector detects the motion depending on whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zoom controller terminates a dynamic zoom operation for zooming and displaying when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, and displays an image of original image signals.

6. An automatic zoom method for playing dynamic images, comprising the steps of:

detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the image signals when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals;

designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion where the motion is detected, as a motion area; and

zooming and displaying an image of the image signals of the motion area.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of detecting the motion comprises the step of determining whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the step of zooming and displaying the image signals of the motion area comprises the step of, when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, terminating a dynamic zoom operation for zooming and displaying, and displaying an image of original image signals.

10. An automatic zoom apparatus for playing dynamic images, comprising:

means for detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the image signals when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals;

means for designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion where the motion is detected, as a motion area; and

means for zooming an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator.

11. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising means for displaying the image of the image signals of the motion area zoomed by the means for zooming.

12. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for detecting determines whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

13. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

14. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, a dynamic zoom operation is terminated and an image of original image signals is displayed.