Television receiver having picture magnifying apparatus

• US 4,528,585 A
• Filed: 03/30/1983
• Issued: 07/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Bolger, Thomas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, John C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunnam, Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/480,595
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 358/22, 358/180, 358/287, 358/166, 358/160, 358/183
• US Class Current: 348/580
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4007 based on interpolation, e.g. bilinear interpolation image demosaicing G06T3/4015; edge-driven or edge-based scaling G06T3/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4728 for selecting a Region Of Interest [ROI], e.g. for requesting a higher resolution version of a selected region
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4854 for modifying image parameters, e.g. image brightness, contrast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 for frame-grabbing

Abstract

Apparatus providing a magnified picture display for a television receiver employs a reduced-size digital memory which stores only the digitized video signal components necessary to generate video signals to produce the magnified picture display. A simplified user-controlled picture positioning arrangement generates write and read addressing signals for the digital memory representative of both the picture area of the magnified picture display and of the normal picture display therein which is to be magnified. Writing of the digitized video signal components of the normal picture display into the digital memory is accomplished in "real time" whereas reading of the stored data from the memory and signal processing to develop interpolated digitized video signal components of the magnified picture is accomplished at a reduced processing rate on a line-by-line basis in between memory write cycles. User selection of discrete degrees of magnification and of freeze-frame (still) or continuously-updated (essentially real-time) displays is provided.

Claims

1. In a television receiver including a source of analog video signals, an analog-to-digital converter for producing digital samples representative of said analog video signals, a digital signal processor for producing digital luminance and digital chrominance samples from said digital samples, and a converting means for developing image representative signals from said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples to produce a raster-scanned image on a raster-scanned display device,

apparatus modifying said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples for magnifying a predetermined area of said image by a factor 2^I, said predetermined image area including M image elements and N lines of said raster scan, wherein I, M and N are integers, comprising:

window generating means for locating said predetermined image area at selectable predetermined horizontal an vertical positions of said image and for locating said magnified image area in predetermined horizontal and vertical relationship to said predetermined image area;

a user-actuated device coupled to said window generating means for selecting said selectable predetermined horizontal and vertical positions;

a first digital memory to which said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied, said first digital memory having first addressable storage registers for storing a number MxN of said digital luminance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area, and having second addressable storage reqisters for storing a number no greater than (M×

N)/2 of said digital chrominance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area;

addressing means responsive to said window generating means for developing first addressing signals to address said first and second addressable storage registers to store ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times when lines of said raster scan correspond to said predetermined image area, and for developing second addressing signals to address said first and second addressable storage registers to produce said stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times of said lines other than times of said lines corresponding to said magnified image area;

interpolating means to which said produced stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied for developing 2^I ×

M image samples representing modified digital luminance and modified digital chrominance samples corresponding to one line of said raster scan of said magnified image area, said interpolating means including a second digital memory for storing said 2^I ×

M image samples developed during an interval between times of said lines during which said magnified image is produoed, and for producing said 2^I ×

M stored image samples at said times of said lines during which said magnified image is produced, said interpolating means repeating the sequence of developing, storing and producing 2^I ×

M image samples for each line corresponding to the 2^I ×

N lines of said magnified image area; and

multiplexing means responsive to said window generating means for applying said modified digital luminance and said modified digital chrominance samples in place of the digital luminance and digital chrominance samples, respectively, corresponding to said magnified image area,

whereby the image produced on said display device includes a magnified portion thereof in accordance with said position selected by said user-actuated device.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnified image is produced having selectable magnifications of 2^I and 2^I+J, where J is an integer, said addressing means including means for modifying said second addressing signals developed to include 1/(2^J) values thereof when said 2^I+J magnification is selected, whereby only 1/(2^J) of said 2^I ×

M image samples stored by said digital memory are produced during times when said 2^I+J magnified image area is produced.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second digital memory includes addressable storage registers addressed for storing and for producing said 2^I ×

M image samples in response to a first portion of said second addressing signals developed by said addressing means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interpolating means includes:

averaging means for developing interpolated samples by averaging respective adjacent ones of said produced stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples as they are produced by said first digital memory;

timing means for developing timing signals representative of at least first and second intervals within said interval betwee times of said lines during which said magnified image is produced; and

multiplexing means responsive to said timing signals for coupling said produced stored ones of said digital luminance samples to said averaging means during said first intervals and for coupling said produced stored ones of said digital chrominance signals thereto during said second intervals.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said averaging means includes a latch means for storing a first one of said produced stored digital samples, a digital adder, a second multiplexing means for applying said first one digital sample to said adder to produce substantially said first one digital sample and for applying said stored first one digital sample and a next one digital sample to said adder to produce said interpolated sample.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second digital memory produces selected ones of said image samples during said first and second intervals, said averaging means includes second latch means for storing samples produced by said adder, and said second multiplexing means further couples said produced selected ones of said image samples and said samples stored by said second latch means to said adder.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said window generating means includes positioning means for periodically changing the selected location of said magnified image area according to a predetermined sequence.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said positioning means develops said predetermined sequence to move said magnified image area from left to right and from top to bottom.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said window generating means includes a digital window counter having a plurality of counting states, a first digital detector to which said digital window counter is coupled for detecting first and second counting states thereof as boundaries of said magnified image area, and a second digital detector to which said digital window counter is coupled for detecting third and fourth counting states thereof intermediate said first and second counting states as boundaries of said predetermined image area, whereby the boundaries of said predetermined image area are within the boundaries of said magnified image area.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said addressing means includes a first digital counter responsive to a first clocking signal for counting to develop said first addressing signals, a second digital counter responsive to a second clocking signal for counting to develop said second addressing signals, and means for inhibiting said first digital counter from counting to develop said first addressing signals, whereby the same stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are repeatedly produced in response to said second clocking signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said addressing means includes a first digital counter responsive to a clocking signal for counting to develop a first portion of said second addressing signals, a second digital counter responsive to an output developed by said first digital counter for counting to develop a second portion of said second addressing signals, and means responsive to said window generating means for developing said clocking signal to produce said first portion of said second addressing signals at least twice during the interval between times during which said magnified image is produced.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for developing said clocking signal develops said clocking signal to further produce said first portion of said second addressing signals during said time during which said magnified image is produced, and said second digital memory stores said 2^I ×

M image samples in response to said first portions of said second addressing signals developed during the interval between times of said lines during which said magnified image is produced and produces said 2^I ×

M stored image samples in response to said first portion of said second addressing signals developed during said time of said lines during which said magnified image is produced.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said interpolating means includes:

averaging means for developing interpolated samples by averaging respective adjacent ones of said produced stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples as they are produced by said first digital memory;

timing means for developing timing signals representative of first and second intervals corresponding to the times when said first portion of said second addressing signals are twice produced during the interval between times of said lines during which said magnified image is produced; and

multiplexing means responsive to said timing signals for coupling said produced stored ones of said digital luminance signals to said averaging means during said first intervals and for coupling said produced stored ones of said digital chrominance signals to said averaging means during said second intervals;

wherein said averaged digital luminance and digital chrominance samples are stored in said second digital memory during said first and second intervals, respectively, as respective interpolated luminance and chrominance components of said 2^I ×

M image samples.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising noise reducing means for processing said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples before they are applied to said first digital memory, said noise reducing means including means for selectively combining presently received ones of said digital luminance and of said digital chrominance samples with corresponding respective ones thereof produced by said first digital memory.

15. In a television receiver including a source of analog video signals, an analog-to-digital converter for producing digital samples representative of said analog video signals, a digital signal processor for producing digital luminance and digital chrominance samples from said digital samples, and a converting means for developing image representative signals from said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples to produce a raster-scanned image on a raster-scanned display device,

apparatus modifying said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples for magnifying a predetermined area of said image by a factor 2^I, said predetermined image area including M image elements and N lines of said raster scan, wherein I, M and N are integers, comprising:

window generating means for locating said predetermined image area at selectable predetermined horizontal and vertical positions of said image and for locating said magnified image area in predetermined horizontal and vertical relationship to said predetermined image area;

a user-actuated device coupled to said window generating means for selecting said selectable predetermined horizontal and vertical positions;

a digital memory to which said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied, said digital memory having first addressable storage registers for storing a number M×

N of said digital luminance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area, and having second addressable storage registers for storing a number no greater than (M×

N)/2 of said digital chrominance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area;

addressing means responsive to said window generating means for developing first addressing signals to addresss said first and second addressable storage registers to store ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times when lines of said raster scan correspond to said predetermined image area, and for developing second addressing signals to address said first and second addressable storage registers to produce said stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times of said lines other than times of said lines corresponding to said magnified image area;

interpolating means to which said produced stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied for developing 2^I ×

M image samples representing modified digital luminance and modified digital chrominance samples corresponding to lines of said raster scan within said magnified image area, said interpolating means developing said 2^I ×

M image samples for each line corresponding to the 2^I ×

N lines within said magnified image area; and

multiplexing means responsive to said window generating means for applying said modified digital luminance and said modified digital chrominance samples in place of the digital luminance and digital chrominance samples, respectively, corresponding to said magnified image area,

whereby the image produced on said display device includes a magnified portion thereof in accordance with said position selected by said user-actuated device.

16. In the apparatus of claim 15 wherein said magnified image is produced having selectable magnifications of 2^I and 2^I+ J, where J is an integer, said addressing means including means for modifying said second addressing signals developed to include 1/(2^J) values thereof when said 2^I+J magnification is selected, whereby only 1/(2^J) of said 2^I ×

M image samples stored by said digital memory are produced during times when said 2^I+J magnified image area is produced.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said addressing means includes a first digital counter responsive to a first clocking signal for counting to develop said first addressing signals, a second digital counter responsive to a second clocking signal for counting to develop said second addressing signals, and means for inhibiting said first digital counter from counting to develop said first addressing signals, whereby the same stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are repeatedly produced in response to said second clocking signal.

18. In a television receiver including a source of analog video signals, an analog-to-digital converter for producing digital samples. representative of said analog video signals, a digital signal processor for produing digital luminance and digital chrominance samples from said digital samples, and a converting means for developing image representative signals from said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples to produce a raster-scanned image on a raster-scanned display device,

apparatus modifying said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples for magnifying a predetermined area of said image by a factor 2^I, said predetermined image area including M image elements and N lines of said raster scan, wherein I, M and N are integers, comprising:

window generating means for locating said predetermined image area at selectable predetermined horizontal and vertical positions of said image and for locating said magnified image area in predetermined horizontal and vertical relationship to said predetermined image area;

positioning means coupled to said window generating means for selecting said selectable predetermined horizontal and vertical positions to periodically change the selected position of said magnified image area according to a predetermined sequence;

a digital memory to which said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied, said digital memory having first addressable storage registers for storing a number M×

N of said digital luminance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area, and having second addressable storage registers for storing a number no greater than (M×

N)/2 of said digital chrominance samples corresponding to said predetermined image area;

addressing means responsive to said window generating means for developing first addressing signals to address said first and second addressable storage registers to store ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times when lines of said raster scan correspond to said predetermined image area, and for developing second addressing signals to address said first and second addressable storage registers to produce said stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples at times of said lines other than times of said lines corresponding to said magnified image area;

interpolating means to which said produced stored ones of said digital luminance and said digital chrominance samples are applied for developing 2^I ×

M image samples representing modified digital luminance and modified digital chrominance samples corresponding to the 2^I ×

N lines of said raster scan within said magnified image area; and

multiplexing means responsive to said window generating means for applying said modified digital luminance and said modified digital chrominance samples in place of the digital luminance and digital chrominance samples, respectively, corresponding to said magnified image area,

whereby the image produced on said display device includes a magnified portion thereof in accordance with the sequence of said position periodically selected by said positioning means.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said positioning means develops said predetermined sequence to move said magnified image area position from left to right and from top to bottom.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said window generating means includes a digital window counter having a plurality of counting states, a first digital detector to which said digital window counter is coupled for detecting first and second counting states thereof as boundaries of said magnified image area, and a second digital detector to which said digital window counter is coupled for detecting third and fourth counting states thereof intermediate said first and second counting states as boundaries of said predetermined image area, whereby the boundaries of said predetermined image area are within the boundaries of said magnified image area.