Method and circuit configuration for reducing flicker in a television set

• US 5,708,480 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 01/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Grundig EMV Elektro-Mechanische Versuchsanstalt Max Grundig Holland Stiftung & Company KG, Entropic Communications Incorporated (Maxlinear Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Grundig E.M.V. Electro-Mechanische Versuchsanstalt, Siemens AG, Stiftung & Company KG
• Inventors: Maul, Konrad, Bromba, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/603,932
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 348/620, 348/910, 348/618, 348/619, 348/447
• US Class Current: 348/620
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0132 the field or frame frequency of the incoming video signal being multiplied by a positive integer, e.g. for flicker reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 348/91 Flicker reduction

Abstract

A method and a circuit configuration for flicker reduction in a television set include counting the number of partial areas of a field/frame which have been ascertained to be moving, through the use of a motion detector. When a threshold value is exceeded, a changeover is made from a field reproduction sequence with reduced flicker to a field reproduction sequence with reduced flicker and correct motion. The method can be practiced by using standard components.

Claims

1. A method for reducing flicker in a television set, which comprises:

determining motion of contents of a frame to be processed with a device for motion detection, by detecting if motion of the contents of each of a multiplicity of parts of the frame to be processed exists with the device for motion detection, wherein the parts encompass a number of coherent pixels, and

indicating a motion event for each part with a signal, by counting the motion events frame by frame with a counting device, comparing the number of motion events with a threshold value, carrying out a first frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker if no motion is detected by executing the first frame reproduction sequence when the threshold value is undershot, and carrying out a second frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker and correct motion if movement is detected by executing the second frame reproduction sequence when the threshold value is exceeded.

2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises:

executing the frame reproduction according to a line interlacing method by successively reproducing a first and a second field for one frame,

by repeating the first and second fields of a frame after the first and second fields of the same frame in each case, for the first frame reproduction sequence, and

by repeating the first field after the first field of the same frame and repeating the second field after the second field of the same frame, for the second frame reproduction sequence.

4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises carrying out the motion detection both horizontally in a line direction and vertically over at least two lines.

3. A method for reducing flicker in a television set, which comprises:

determining motion of contents of a frame to be processed with a device for motion detection, by detecting if motion of the contents of each of a multiplicity of parts of the frame to be processed exists with the device for motion detection, wherein the parts encompass a number of coherent pixels;

indicating a motion event for each part with a signal, by counting the motion events frame by frame with a counting device, comparing the number of motion events with a threshold value, carrying out a first frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker if no motion is detected by executing the first frame reproduction sequence when the threshold value is undershot, and carrying out a second frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker and correct motion if movement is detected by executing the second frame reproduction sequence when the threshold value is exceeded; and

executing a changeover from the first frame reproduction sequence (ABAB) to the second frame reproduction sequence (AABB) at a first threshold value, and executing a changeover from the second frame reproduction sequence (AABB) to the first frame reproduction sequence (ABAB) at a second threshold value, for producing a hysteresis.

5. A circuit configuration for reducing flicker in a television set, comprising:

a device for motion detection having an input for a video signal and an output for a signal indicating that motion can be detected for a multiplicity of parts of a frame to be processed, wherein the parts encompass a number of coherent pixels;

a counting device having an input connected to said device for motion detection for changing a counter reading when a motion event occurs;

a comparison device having an input connected to said counting device for comparing the counter reading of said counting device with a threshold value; and

a control device being connected to said comparison device for changing over from a first frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker to a second frame reproduction sequence with reduced flicker and correct motion.

6. The circuit configuration according to claim 5, wherein the threshold value of said comparison device is set as a function of the frame reproduction sequence being just set.

7. The circuit configuration according to claim 5, wherein said counting device is reset in a manner coupled to the frame.

8. The circuit configuration according to claim 5, wherein said motion detector detects horizontal and vertical motion.

9. The circuit configuration according to claim 5, including a device for access control being controlled by said control device, and at least two field memories each being connected to said device for access control.