Method and device for multi-format television

• US 5,570,135 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampsell, Jeffrey B., Gove, Robert J., Markandey, Vishal
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/485,262
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 348/770, 348/771, 348/581, 348/441, 348/458, 348/445
• US Class Current: 348/581
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7458 the modulator being an array of deformable mirrors, e.g. digital micromirror device [DMD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0122 the input and the output signals having different aspect ratios

Abstract

A multi-format display system including hardware and algorithms for digital and High Definition Television. The system includes a light source (120), a tuner/preprocessor unit (114), a processor unit (116), a spatial light modulator (118), and a display surface (128). The processor unit can scale and format the data for a number of standardized-format video broadcast signals, and can perform additional interpolation to eliminate artifacts.

Claims

1. A multi-format television system including:

a. a processing unit operable to perform image scaling, wherein said processor includes;

i. a counter for incrementing each pixel of the scaled image;

ii. a circuit for determining the intensity of the pixel of the scaled image using the intensities of the pixels on either side of said pixel of the scaled image; and

iii. a circuit for determining the location of the pixel of the scaled image using the distance of said pixel from the pixels on either side of said pixel of the scaled image;

b. a spatial light modulator, wherein said array comprises a plurality of lines of elements, each said element comprising;

i. an electrode arranged such that said electrode is in electrical connection with electrodes of adjacent elements, allowing reset of an entire one of said lines of elements;

ii. a reflective surface;

iii. at least two support posts holding said reflective surface above said electrodes, over an air gap; and

iv. flexible hinges connecting said reflective surface to said support posts, such that when one of said electrodes becomes active, said reflective surface can twist about said hinges and allow said reflective surface to deflect in response to said active electrode;

v. a light source, wherein said light is focused upon said spatial light modulator array and forms an image from the reflections of deflected elements; and

c. a surface on which to display said image.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system includes a tuner/preprocessing unit, operable to perform digitization and signal conditioning as necessary on an incoming video signal.

3. A method for scaling digital video data comprising:

a. initializing a counter;

b. defining a first pixel'"'"'s position, wherein said position is dependent upon a ratio of an incoming video format to a desired output video format;

c. determining calculated intensities of a second and third pixel, wherein said calculated intensity for said second pixel is determined from said first pixel'"'"'s position, and said third pixel'"'"'s calculated intensity is determined from said second pixel'"'"'s calculated intensity;

d. finding the distances of said second and third pixels from said first pixel;

e. setting the intensity of said first pixel, wherein said intensity is dependent upon the distance of said second and third pixel, and an actual intensity of said second and third pixels;

f. incrementing said counter; and

g. continuing said process until said counter is equal to the number of pixels to be scaled.