Field to frame video pixel data generation

• US 5,467,138 A
• Filed: 03/29/1995
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Gove, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/412,839
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 348/443, 348/444, 348/447, 348/448-453, 348/458, 348/459, 348/700, 348/910
• US Class Current: 348/452
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 348/91 Flicker reduction

Abstract

A pixel generator and method of generating pixel data for creating frames of video pixel data from fields of input video pixel data. The pixel processor 16 includes a field buffer circuit 36 that stores a plurality of fields of input video pixel data. Coupled to the field buffer are a feature detector 38 and a pixel generator 40. The feature detector 38 generates one or more feature magnitude signals based upon one or more of the fields of input video pixel data. The pixel generator 40 has at least two logic circuits for generating at least two different intermediate pixel data values based on the input pixel data. Coupled to feature detector 38 is feature analyzer 42 that selects a feature weight corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value, the weight being based upon the value of the feature magnitude signals. Coupled to feature analyzer 42 and pixel generator 40, is a pixel averager 44 that generates output pixel data based upon a weighted average of the intermediate pixel data values.

Claims

1. A method of generating pixel data for creating frames of video pixel data from fields of input video pixel data, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of the fields of input video pixel data;

generating one or more feature magnitude signals from on or more of the field of input video pixel data, wherein one of said feature magnitude signals measures acceleration;

processing the input video pixel data with at least two different pixel processing methods to generate at least two different intermediate pixel data values;

selecting a feature weight corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value, wherein the selection is based upon the value of said one or more feature magnitude signals; and

generating output pixel data based upon a weighted average of the intermediate pixel data values wherein the weights consist of the feature weights corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of combining the output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating one or more feature magnitude signals is performed by measuring motion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing step employs the pixel processing method of line averaging as one of the pixel processing methods.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing step employs the pixel processing method of line doubling as one of the pixel processing methods.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a first feature magnitude signal measures motion, a second feature magnitude signal measures image edges and further comprising the step of:

combining the output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of combining the output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of generating one or more feature magnitude signals is performed by measuring motion.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing step employs the pixel processing method of line averaging as one of the pixel processing methods.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said processing step employs the pixel processing method of line doubling as one of the pixel processing methods.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a first feature magnitude signal measures motion, a second feature magnitude signal measures image edges and further comprising the step of:

combining the output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

12. A pixel generator for providing pixel data to create frames of video pixel data from fields of input video pixel data, comprising:

a field buffer for storing a plurality of the fields of input video pixel data;

a feature detector in data communication with said field buffer for generating one or more feature magnitude signals based on said input video pixel data;

a pixel processor in data communication with said field buffer circuit and comprising at least two different logic circuits for generating at least two different intermediate pixel data values based on said input video pixel data;

a feature analyzer in data communication with said feature detector for selecting a feature weight corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value, wherein the selection is based upon the value of said one or more feature magnitude signals; and

a pixel averager in data communication with said feature analyzer and pixel processor for calculating output pixel data based upon a weighted average of the intermediate pixel data values.

13. The pixel generator of claim 12 and further comprising a frame buffer in data communication with said pixel averager and for combining said output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

14. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein said feature detector produces a feature magnitude signal that measures motion.

15. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein said feature detector produces a feature magnitude signal that measures acceleration.

16. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein said feature detector produces a feature magnitude signal that measures image edges.

17. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein one of said logic circuits processes the input video pixel data using line averaging.

18. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein one of said logic circuits processes the input video pixel data using line doubling.

19. The pixel generator of claim 12 wherein said feature detector circuit produces a feature magnitude signal that measures motion and further comprising a frame buffer coupled to said pixel averager and operable to combine the output pixel data with the fields of input video pixel data to produce frames of video pixel data.

20. A digital television system comprising:

a field buffer for storing a plurality of the fields of input video pixel data;

a feature detector in data communication with said field buffer for generating one or more feature magnitude signals based on said input video pixel data;

a pixel processor in data communication with said field buffer circuit and comprising at least two different logic circuits for generating at least two different intermediate pixel data values based on said input video pixel data;

a feature analyzer in data communication with said feature detector for selecting a feature weight corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value, wherein the selection is based upon the value of said one or more feature magnitude signals; and

a pixel averager in data communication with said feature analyzer and pixel processor for calculating output pixel data based upon a weighted average of the intermediate pixel data values.

21. The digital television system of claim 20 wherein said display comprises a spatial light modulator.

22. The digital television system of claim 20 wherein said feature detector circuit produces a feature magnitude signal that measures motion.

23. The digital television system of claim 20 wherein said display comprises a spatial light modulator and wherein said feature detector circuit produces a feature magnitude signal that measures motion.

24. A method of generating pixel data for creating frames of video pixel data from fields of input video pixel data, comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of the fields of input video pixel data;

generating one or more feature magnitude signals from on or more of the field of input video pixel data, wherein one of said one or more feature magnitude signals measures image edges;

processing the input video pixel data with at least two different pixel processing methods to generate at least two different intermediate pixel data values;

selecting a feature weight corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value, wherein the selection is based upon the value of said one or more feature magnitude signals; and

generating output pixel data based upon a weighted average of the intermediate pixel data values wherein the weights consist of the feature weights corresponding to each intermediate pixel data value.