Image display apparatus, method of displaying images, image processing apparatus, and method of processing images

• US 6,642,971 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2001
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kesatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/778,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20010024242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 348/745, 348/746, 348/781, 348/580, 348/806, 348/807, 348/189, 353/69, 353/70, 345/645-647, 345/660-665
• US Class Current: 348/746
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4023 based on decimating pixels or lines of pixels; based on inserting pixels or lines of pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0414 Vertical resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0421 Horizontal resolution change
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/395 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of the bit-mapped memory to the screen G09G5/399 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/745 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/7466 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/14 Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7416 involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

The technique of the present invention effectively relieves potential deterioration of the picture quality due to an interpolating process carried out simultaneously with a skipping process. When a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, an image display apparatus of the present invention carries out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously carries out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixel, thereby generating an interpolated image. The image display apparatus subsequently carries out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus, comprising:

an image adjustment section that adjusts a given original image; and

an image display section that displays the adjusted image,

wherein the image adjustment section includes;

an interpolating process section that, when a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, carries out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously carries out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixel, thereby generating an interpolated image; and

a filtering section that carries out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

2. An image display apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filtering process uses one composite image filter which is obtained by combining the spatial low pass filter with the spatial high pass filter.

3. An image display apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image adjustment section further includes:

a contrast compensation section that compensates contrast of a resulting image processed by the filtering section,

wherein the filtering section includes;

a first image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a second image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first image filtering section and the second image filtering section carrying out the filtering process with a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively, the selected first filtering coefficient and the selected second filtering coefficient being related to each other,

the contrast compensation section carrying out the compensating with a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, the selected contrast compensation value being related to the selected first and second filtering coefficients,

available combinations of the selected first and second filtering coefficients and the selected contrast compensation value being determined in advance.

4. An image display apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image adjustment section further includes:

a contrast compensation section that compensates contrast of a resulting image processed by the filtering section,

wherein the filtering section includes;

a first image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a second image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first image filtering section and the second image filtering section carrying out the filtering process with a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively,

the contrast compensation section carrying out the compensating with a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, and

the selected second filtering coefficient and contrast compensation value being related to each other in advance, whereas the first filtering coefficient being selected independently of the second filtering coefficient and the contrast compensation value.

5. An image display apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image display apparatus is a projection display apparatus that displays a projected image, and

the interpolating process section carries out the skipping process to correct a keystone distortion of the projected image.

6. A method of displaying an image, comprising the steps of:

adjusting a given original image; and

displaying the adjusted image,

wherein the step of adjusting the original image includes the steps of;

when a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, carrying out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously carrying out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixels, thereby generating an interpolated image; and

carrying out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

7. A method of displaying an image in accordance with claim 6, wherein the filtering process uses one composite image filter which is obtained by combining the spatial low pass filter with the spatial high pass filter.

8. A method of displaying an image in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of adjusting the original image further includes:

compensating contrast of a resulting image processed by the step of carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the step of carrying out filtering process includes;

carrying out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

carrying out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively, the selected first filtering coefficient and the selected second filtering coefficient being related to each other,

the step of compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, the selected contrast compensation value being related to the selected first and second filtering coefficients,

available combinations of the selected first and second filtering coefficients and the selected contrast compensation value being determined in advance.

9. A method of displaying an image in accordance with claim 6, wherein the step of adjusting the original image further includes:

compensating contrast of a resulting image processed by the step of carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the step of carrying out filtering process includes;

carrying out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

carrying out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively,

the step of compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, and

the selected second filtering coefficient and contrast compensation value being related to each other in advance, whereas the first filtering coefficient being selected independently of the second filtering coefficient and the contrast compensation value.

10. A method of displaying an image in accordance with claim 6, wherein the method is for a projection display apparatus that displays a projected image, and

the step of carrying out the skipping process is carried out to correct a keystone distortion of the projected image.

11. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an image adjustment section that adjusts a given original image,

wherein the image adjustment section includes;

an interpolating process section that, when a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, carries out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously carries out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixel, thereby generating an interpolated image; and

a filtering section that carries out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

12. An image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the filtering process uses one composite image filter which is obtained by combining the spatial low pass filter with the spatial high pass filter.

13. An image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the image adjustment section further includes:

a contrast compensation section that compensates contrast of a resulting image processed by the filtering section,

wherein the filtering section includes;

a first image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a second image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first image filtering section and the second image filtering section carrying out the filtering process with a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively, the selected first filtering coefficient and the selected second filtering coefficient being related to each other,

the contrast compensation section carrying out the compensating with a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, the selected contrast compensation value being related to the selected first and second filtering coefficients,

available combinations of the selected first and second filtering coefficients and the selected contrast compensation value being determined in advance.

14. An image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the image adjustment section further includes:

a contrast compensation section that compensates contrast of a resulting image processed by the filtering section,

wherein the filtering section includes;

a first image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a second image filtering section that carries out a filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first image filtering section and the second image filtering section carrying out the filtering process with a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively,

the contrast compensation section carrying out the compensating with a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, and

the selected second filtering coefficient and contrast compensation value being related to each other in advance, whereas the first filtering coefficient being selected independently of the second filtering coefficient and the contrast compensation value.

15. An image processing apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the image processing apparatus is a projection display apparatus that displays a projected image, and

the interpolating process section carries out the skipping process to correct a keystone distortion of the projected image.

16. A method of processing an image, comprising the step of:

adjusting a given original image,

wherein the step of adjusting the original image includes the steps of;

when a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, carrying out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously carrying out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixels, thereby generating an interpolated image; and

carrying out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

17. A method of processing an image in accordance with claim 16, wherein the filtering process uses one composite image filter which is obtained by combining the spatial low pass filter with the spatial high pass filter.

18. A method of processing an image in accordance with claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting the original image further includes:

compensating contrast of a resulting image processed by the step of carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the step of carrying out filtering process includes;

carrying out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

carrying out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively, the selected first filtering coefficient and the selected second filtering coefficient being related to each other,

the step of compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, the selected contrast compensation value being related to the selected first and second filtering coefficients,

available combinations of the selected first and second filtering coefficients and the selected contrast compensation value being determined in advance.

19. A method of processing an image in accordance with claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting the original image further includes:

compensating contrast of a resulting image processed by the step of carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the step of carrying out filtering process includes;

carrying out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

carrying out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively,

the step of compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, and

the selected second filtering coefficient and contrast compensation value being related to each other in advance, whereas the first filtering coefficient being selected independently of the second filtering coefficient and the contrast compensation value.

20. A method of processing an image in accordance with claim 16, wherein the method is for a projection display apparatus that displays a projected image, and

the step of carrying out the skipping process is carried out to correct a keystone distortion of the projected image.

21. A computer program product for processing an image, comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a computer program, stored on the computer readable medium, for adjusting a given original image,

wherein the computer program includes;

a program for causing a computer, when a skipping rate of the original image is set in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, to carry out a skipping process at selected positions in the at least one of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and simultaneously to carry out interpolation on non-skipped pixels adjacent to skipped pixels, thereby generating an interpolated image; and

a program for causing the computer to carry out a filtering process on the interpolated image, the filtering process being carried out with a spatial low pass filter and a spatial high pass filter which are used substantially in this sequence.

22. A computer program in accordance with claim 21, wherein the filtering process uses one composite image filter which is obtained by combining the spatial low pass filter with the spatial high pass filter.

23. A computer program in accordance with claim 21, wherein the program for adjusting the given original image further includes:

a program for causing the computer to compensate contrast of a resulting image processed by the program for carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the program for carrying out filtering process includes;

a program for causing the computer to carry out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a program for causing the computer to carry out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively, the selected first filtering coefficient and the selected second filtering coefficient being related to each other,

the program for compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, the selected contrast compensation value being related to the selected first and second filtering coefficients,

available combinations of the selected first and second filtering coefficients and the selected contrast compensation value being determined in advance.

24. A computer program in accordance with claim 21, wherein the program for adjusting the given original image further includes:

a program for causing the computer to compensate contrast of a resulting image processed by the program for carrying out the filtering process,

wherein the program for carrying out filtering process includes;

a program for causing the computer to carry out a first filtering process with the spatial low pass filter; and

a program for causing the computer to carry out a second filtering process with the spatial high pass filter,

the first filtering process and the second filtering process being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of first filtering coefficients and a selected one of a plurality of second filtering coefficients, respectively,

the program for compensating contrast being carried out by using a selected one of a plurality of contrast compensation values, and

the selected second filtering coefficient and contrast compensation value being related to each other in advance, whereas the first filtering coefficient being selected independently of the second filtering coefficient and the contrast compensation value.

25. A computer program in accordance with claim 21, wherein the computer is a projection display apparatus that displays a projected image, and

the program for carrying out the skipping process is carried out to correct a keystone distortion of the projected image.