Method and apparatus for video deinterlacing and format conversion

• US 7,362,376 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Linzer, Elliot N., Winger, Lowell L., Wells, Aaron G., Cote, Guy, Booth, Simon, Jia, Yunwei
• Primary Examiner(s): Yenke; Brian P.
• Application Number:
  US10/744,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 348/448, 348/452, 348/458, 348/625, 348699-701, 382/199, 382/262, 345/606
• US Class Current: 348/448
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/142 Edging; Contouring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0135 involving interpolation processes interpolation-based image scaling G06T3/4007; interpolation for video coding H04N19/587, H04N19/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0142 the interpolation being edge adaptive edge detection in television signals H04N5/142; edge-driven scaling G06T3/403

Abstract

A method for deinterlacing a picture is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of primary scores by searching along a plurality of primary angles for an edge in the picture proximate a location interlaced with a field of the picture, (B) generating a plurality of neighbor scores by searching for the edge along a plurality of neighbor angles proximate a particular angle of the primary angles corresponding to a particular score of the primary scores having a best value and (C) identifying a best score from a group of scores consisting of the particular score and the neighbor scores to generate an interpolated sample at the location.

Claims

1. A method for deinterlacing a picture, comprising the steps of:

(A) generating a plurality of primary scores by searching along a plurality of primary angles for an edge in said picture proximate a location interlaced with a field of said picture;

(B) identifying a particular angle of said primary angles corresponding to a particular score of said primary scores having a best value;

(C) generating a plurality of neighbor scores by searching for said edge along a plurality of neighbor angles proximate said particular angle after identifying said particular angle; and

(D) identifying a single best score among said particular score and said neighbor scores to generate an interpolated sample at said location.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

calculating said interpolated sample at said location by directional filtering said field along a best angle among said particular angle and said neighbor angles corresponding to said single best score.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said primary angles comprise six unique angles within a 180 degree range.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said primary angles are evenly separated from each other by a constant angle.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating said interpolated sample at said location by vertical filtering in response to determining that said location is not proximate said edge in response to finding said edge.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

generating said interpolated sample at said location by vertical filtering in response to failing to find said edge.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

modifying said interpolated sample at said location by blending said interpolated sample with a co-located sample in another field.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

modifying said interpolated sample at said location by blending said interpolated sample with a motion compensated sample from another field.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said primary angles and said neighbor angles comprise approximately 15 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 45 degrees, approximately 60 degrees, approximately 75 degrees, approximately 90 degrees, approximately 105 degrees, approximately 120 degrees, approximately 135 degrees, approximately 150 degrees and approximately 165 degree as measured from horizontal.

10. A method for deinterlacing a picture, comprising the steps of:

(A) generating a plurality of primary scores by searching along a plurality of primary angles passing through a location for an edge in said picture proximate said location interlaced with a field of said picture;

(B) generating a plurality of neighbor scores by searching for said edge along a plurality of neighbor angles through said location and proximate a particular angle of said primary angles corresponding to a particular score of said primary scores having a best value, said neighbor angles defining an acute angle containing said primary angle having said best value; and

(C) identifying a single best score from a group of scores limited to said particular score and said neighbor scores to generate an interpolated sample at said location.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

calculating said interpolated sample at said location by directional filtering said field along a best angle among said particular angle and said neighbor angles corresponding to said single best score.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said primary angles comprise single angles with a 180 degree range.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said neighbor angles comprise two angles, one on each side of said particular angle such that an acute angle between said neighbor angles contains a single one of said primary angles.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said primary angles are evenly separated from each other by a constant angle.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said primary angles and said neighbor angles comprise approximately 15 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 45 degrees, approximately 60 degrees, approximately 75 degrees, approximately 90 degrees, approximately 105 degrees, approximately 120 degrees, approximately 135 degrees, approximately 150 degrees and approximately 165 degree as measured from horizontal.

16. A method for deinterlacing a picture, comprising the steps of:

(A) generating a plurality of scores by searching along at least six unique angles for an edge in said picture proximate a location interlaced with a field of said picture;

(B) generating two additional scores of said scores by searching along two subsequent angles for said edge after searching along said unique angles, wherein said subsequent angles define an acute angle containing one of said unique angles;

(C) identifying a single best score among said scores; and

(D) generating an interpolated sample at said location by direction filtering along a particular angle said unique angles and said subsequent angles corresponding to said single best score.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of:

generating said interpolated sample at said location by vertical filtering in response to determining that said location is not proximate said edge in response to finding said edge.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

modifying said interpolated sample at said location by blending said interpolated sample with a co-located sample in another field.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of:

modifying said interpolated sample at said location by blending said interpolated sample with a motion compensated sample from another field.