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Motion compensation image interpolation--frame rate conversion for HDTV

  • US 6,229,570 B1
  • Filed: 09/25/1998
  • Issued: 05/08/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of converting a frame rate of an existing video signal having a sampling resolution to a higher frame rate video signal, the existing video signal having a sequence of successive-in-time video frames each containing an amount of pels having pel values, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) defining a number (n) of sampling locations to be present in a given sequence of the successive-in-time video frames of the existing video signal, wherein n is an even number;

    (b) increasing the sampling resolution of the existing video signal by performing linear spatial interpolation on an image sequence represented by the successive-in-time video frames of the existing video signal for a number of times to form a high resolution sequence of frames having a number of available frames;

    (c) estimating integer pel-shift values from the high resolution sequence of available frames;

    (d) constructing vectors Sx and Sy representing estimated pel value displacements at a time value (t) in a first time vector (t1) of available frames with respect to a first available frame in the high resolution sequence of available frames, wherein vector Sx represents horizontal displacement pel values and vector Sy represents vertical displacement pel values;

    (e) performing a polynomial curve fit of the values of vectors Sx and Sy for each value in time vector t1 to obtain a motion estimate of an image represented by the sequence of available frames;

    (f) estimating, based upon the polynomial curve fit, pel shift values for the horizontal and vertical directions at time values corresponding to times at which interpolated frames are to be used to form the higher frame rate video signal;

    (g) segregating the frames of the existing signal into groups utilizing the estimated displacements of available frames from said step (d) and the pel shift values from said step (f) so that frames sharing common sampling grids are grouped together; and

    (h) interpolating, based upon at least one of the groups of frames of the existing signal, one or more new frames for use in the higher frame rate video signal.

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