Automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images

• US 7,432,984 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Oh, Keum-yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael; Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US10/946,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 348/561, 348/578, 348/239, 348/511, 348/240.99, 348/581
• US Class Current: 348/578
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation

Abstract

An automatic zoom apparatus and method for playing dynamic images. The automatic zoom apparatus provides more dynamic images to a user by detecting a dynamic change of image signals to zoom and display a predetermined area where the dynamic change is detected. To this end, the automatic zoom apparatus for playing the dynamic images comprises a motion detector for, when a zoom function is requested to zoom predetermined image signals, detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from the predetermined image signals. Also included is a motion area designator for designating a predetermined area including objects of the motion detected by the motion detector, as a motion area, and a zoom controller for performing a zoom function for zooming an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator. Thereby, the user can enjoy a more dynamic image such that television watching is not as monotonous.

Claims

1. An automatic zoom apparatus for displaying dynamic images, comprising:

a motion detection which detects a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from predetermined image signals;

a motion area designator which designates an area including object of the motion detected by the motion detector as a motion area;

a zoom controller which zooms an image of the image signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator; and

an output unit which displays the image of the image signals of the motion area zoomed by the zoom controller,

wherein the zoomed and displayed image continues to be zoomed by the zoom controller as the motion area moves while the zoomed image is displayed on the output unit.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion detector detects the motion depending on whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zoom controller terminates a dynamic zoom operation for zooming and displaying when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, and displays an image of original image signals.

5. An automatic zoom method for playing dynamic images, comprising:

detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from image signals when a zoom function is requested to zoom the image signals;

designating an area including objects of the motion where the motion is detected, as a motion area; and

zooming and displaying an image of the image signals of the motion area,

wherein the zoomed and displayed image continues to be zoomed as the motion area moves.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detecting the motion comprises determining whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the zooming and displaying the image signals of the motion area comprises, when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, terminating a dynamic zoom operation for zooming and displaying, and displaying an image of original image signals.

9. An automatic zoom apparatus for playing dynamic images, comprising:

means for detecting a motion based on a color change between frames extracted from image signals when a zoom function is requested to zoom the image signals;

means for designating an area including objects of the motion where the motion is detected, as a motion area;

means for zooming an image of the images signals of the motion area designated by the motion area designator; and

means for displaying the image of the image signals of the motion area zoomed by the means for zooming,

wherein the zoomed and displayed image continues to be zoomed by the means for zooming as the motion area moves while the zoomed image is displayed on the means for displaying.

10. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means for detecting determines whether, in the color change between the frames, the color change between predetermined pixels exceeds a critical value.

11. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the motion area moves according to a change between frames for a predetermined time.

12. The automatic zoom apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein when no motion resulting from the image signals is detected for a predetermined time, a dynamic zoom operation is terminated and an original image signals is displayed.

13. An zoom apparatus for playing images, comprising:

a motion detector which detects portions of motion in an image signal based on a color change between frames extracted from the image signal;

a motion area designator which automatically designates an area including the detected portions of the motion of the image signal as a motion area; and

a zoom controller which zooms the automatically designated motion area of the image signal,

wherein the zoomed image continues to be zoomed as the motion area moves.

14. An zoom method for playing images, comprising:

detecting portions of motion in an image signal based on a color change between frames extracted from the image signal;

automatically designating an area including the detected portions of the motion of the image signal as a motion area; and

zooming and displaying the automatically designated motion area of the image signal,

wherein the zoomed and displayed image continues to be zoomed as the motion area moves.