Patent EP0270259B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0270259B1
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Improvements relating to video signal processing systems
Assignee: Quantel Ltd
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Filing: 1987-11-09
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Granted: 1995-02-01
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Expires: 2007-11-09
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Robin Alexander Cawley
- 👤 Neil Roy Hinson
- 👤 Robert James Long
- 👤 Alan Lewis Stapleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/74; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; H04N1/00; H04N1/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An electronic processing apparatus for processing digital image data defining pixels which together represent at least one image, wherein output image data representing each pixel in terms of one of a multiplicity of available characteristic values is produced from input image data representing each pixel in terms of a desired characteristic value which is defined to an accuracy greater than that of the output data such that the desired characteristic value can be defined as a value between available output characteristic values, the apparatus comprising: a source (18,20,40,51,52,53,54) of input image data defining the desired characteristic value of each pixel in terms of a high order number corresponding to one of said multiplicity of available values and a low order number representing the difference between the desired value and said corresponding available value; generating means (30,46,55,56) for generating data representing a random number; comparing means (31,45,55) for comparing the random number with the low order number and for producing a binary output value depending on whether the random number is greater than or less than the low order number; and output means (32,43,57) for outputting as the output image data an available characteristic value determined by the high order number and the binary value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input image data for each pixel comprises an m-bit binary number representing said desired characteristic value, with the most significant n-bits of said m-bit binary number corresponding to said high order number and the least significant m-n bits of said binary number corresponding to said low order number, where m and n are integer numbers and m-n is an integer number greater than one.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said source comprises a drawing processor (20).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said source comprises a frame store (18).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said output means comprises an adder (32) for incrementing the corresponding available characteristic value depending on the binary value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image comprises a plurality of image lines, said source comprises a computer (40) for providing for each pixel a line count number corresponding to said low order number and indicating the line in which said pixel is positioned, and for providing data corresponding to said high order number representing a first available characteristic value and a second available characteristic value adjacent said first available characteristic value.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said output means comprises a switch (43) for switching between said first available characteristic value and said second available characteristic value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said generating means comprises a random number generator (30,46,55,56).
Claim 9
Independent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said comparing means comprises a comparator (31,45,55).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
192 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source comprises a first multiplier (51) for multiplying image data (S1) for a first image by a first weighting factor (K), a second multiplier (52) for multiplying image data (S2) for a second image by a second weighting factor (1-K), said first and second multipliers respectively outputting first and second intermediate data comprising an intermediate high order number and an intermediate low order number, a first adder (54) for adding said first and second intermediate low order numbers to produce a low order sum and a carry which together correspond to said low order number, a second adder (53) for adding said first and second intermediate high order numbers and said carry to produce a high order sum corresponding to said high order number; said generating means and comparing means comprise a look-up table (55) responsive to the low order sum from the first adder (54) for generating said binary value; and said output means comprises a third adder (57) for incrementing the high order sum output from the second adder (53) depending on the binary value to produce the output image data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said generating means and said comparing means together comprise an addressable memory (55) containing data representing multiple look-up tables stored at different respective addresses in the memory with each table containing a set of binary data distributed randomly in the table with a probability related to the address at which the table is stored, and a counter (56) for generating address data for selecting a look-up table in the memory (55), and wherein said low order number is applied to the memory so as to select a binary datum from an addressed look-up table as said binary output value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said image characteristic comprises the colour of each pixel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
186 words
A method of processing digital image data defining pixels which together represent at least one image, wherein output image data representing each pixel in terms of one of a multiplicity of available characteristic values is produced from input image data representing each pixel in terms of a desired characteristic value which is defined to an accuracy greater than that of the output data such that the desired characteristic value can be defined as a value between available output characteristic values, the method comprising: obtaining input image data defining the desired characteristic value of each pixel in terms of a high order number corresponding to one of said multiplicity of available values and a low order number representing the difference between the desired value and said corresponding available value; generating data representing a random number; comparing the random number to the low order number and producing a binary output value depending on whether the random number is greater than or less than the low order number; and outputting as the output image data an available characteristic value determined by the high order number and the binary value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said input image data for each pixel comprises an m-bit binary number representing said desired characteristic value, with the most significant n-bits of said m-bit binary number corresponding to said high order number and the least significant m-n bits of said binary number corresponding to said low order number, where m and n are integer numbers and m-n is an integer number greater than one.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein said outputting of output image data comprises incrementing the corresponding available characteristic value depending on the binary value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said image comprises a plurality of image lines, the method comprising providing for each pixel a line count number indicating the line in which said pixel is positioned, which line count number comprises said low order number; and providing data corresponding to said high order number representing a first available characteristic value and a second available characteristic value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said outputting comprises switching between said first available characteristic value and said second available characteristic value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
171 words
A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said obtaining input image data comprises multiplying image data (S1) for a first image by a first weighting factor (K) to obtain first intermediate data, multiplying image data (S2) for a second image by a second weighting factor (1-K) to obtain second intermediate data, said first and second intermediate data comprising an intermediate high order number and an intermediate low order number, adding said first and second intermediate low order numbers to produce a low order sum and a carry which together correspond to said low order number, and adding said first and second intermediate high order numbers and said carry to produce a high order sum corresponding to said high order number; said generating and comparing comprise referencing a look-up table depending on a generated count and the low order sum from the first adder in order to generate said binary value; and said outputting comprises incrementing the high order sum depending on the binary value to produce the output image data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0259695A2
Cited
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