Patent EP0424111A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0424111A2
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Video signal processing apparatus
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Video signal processing apparatus is provided for use with a video camera (13) having a line scanning line period during which useful video information is provided and a flyback period during which an optical black signal level. Replacement black signal information that is a function of the optical black signal level is inserted (17) into a portion of the flyback period. When the camera (13) is of the type having a complementary colour matrix filter which produces odd and even raster scan lines of image pick-up signals with different modulation components, contour correction is provided. Modulation components in a scan line of image pick-up signals caused by the patterns of filter elements included in the matrix are removed (56), thereby producing an averaged scan line of image signals from which is extracted a signal component that is uncorrelated from one line to the next. Prior to such extraction, that portion of an averaged scan line of image signals which exceeds a predetermined level that is less than the lowest average level of a scan line of image signals which would saturate video processing circuitry (67, 69, 70) is clipped (61, 63, 65). The extracted, uncorrelated signal component is combined (73) with an averaged scan line of image signals to produce a contour-emphasized luminance signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Masatoshi C/O Patents Division Sase
- 👤 Makoto C/O Patents Division Onga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/16; H04N5/18; H04N23/00; H04N23/80; H04N23/84; H04N25/00; H04N25/10; H04N25/11; H04N25/13; H04N25/135; H04N25/136; H04N25/60; H04N25/63; H04N25/633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
Video signal processing apparatus for use with video imaging means (13) having line scanning and flyback periods, the apparatus comprising: image signal means (14) for providing useful video information during said line scanning period and an optical black signal level during at least one portion of said flyback period; and replacement means (25) for inserting during another portion of said flyback period a replacement back signal level that is a function of said optical black signal level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
Video signal processing apparatus for use with video imaging means (13) having line scanning and flyback periods, the apparatus comprising: image signal means (14) for providing useful video information during said line scanning period and an optical black signal level during at least one portion of said flyback period; and replacement means (25) for inserting during another portion of said flyback period a replacement back signal level that is a function of said optical black signal level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said image signal means (14) includes a reference source (23) for providing a reference signal, comparator means (22) for providing a comparison of said optical black signal level with said reference signal, and adjustment means (21) for adjusting said optical black signal level as a function of said comparison.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said replacement means (25) includes means (26) for deriving said replacement black signal level from said reference signal; and switch means (25) for normally selecting said useful video information and the adjusted optical black signal level and for selecting said replacement black signal level during said other portion of said flyback period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said replacement means (25) further includes timing signal generating means (12) for supplying a change-over timing signal to said switch means (25) having a duration equal to said other portion of said flyback period to cause said switch means (25) to select said replacement black signal level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said timing signal generating means (12) further generates an enabling signal during said one portion of said flyback period for enabling said comparator means (22).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said adjustment means (21) comprises DC level shifting means (21) for receiving said useful video information and said optical black signal level and responsive to the comparison provided by said comparator means (22) for shifting the DC level of said useful video information and optical black signal level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said means (26) for deriving said replacement black signal level comprises level processing means (26) for processing said reference signal to a level substantially equal to said optical black signal level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said video imaging means (13) includes pick-up means (13) having an image pick-up surface and an optical black surface, and means for scanning said image pick-up surface during said line scanning period and for scanning said optical black surface during said flyback period to produce an image pick-up signal, and wherein said image signal means (14) comprises sampling means (15) for sampling said image pick-up signal and automatic gain control means (16) coupled to said sampling means (15) to provide said useful video information and said optical black signal level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
216 words
Video signal processing apparatus for use with image pick-up means having an optical complementary colour matrix filter provided with successive rows of patterns of colour filter elements such that one raster scan line of image pick-up signals is derived from adjacent rows of said filter elements, and wherein the patterns of the adjacent rows of filter elements from which an even scan line of image pick-up signals is derived differ from the patterns of the adjacent rows of filter elements from which an odd scan line of image pick-up signals is derived, said apparatus comprising: filter means (56) for removing modulation components in a scan line of image pick-up signals caused by said patterns of filter elements to produce an averaged scan line of image signals; processing means (67, 69, 70) for extracting an uncorrelated signal component from adjacent scan lines of averaged image signals; clipping means (61, 63, 65) coupled to said processing means (67, 69, 70) for clipping that portion of an averaged scan line of image signals which exceeds a predetermined level less than the lowest average level of a scan line of image signals which would saturate said processing means (67, 69, 70); and combining means (73) for combining the extracted uncorrelated signal component with an averaged scan line of image signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
216 words
Video signal processing apparatus for use with image pick-up means having an optical complementary colour matrix filter provided with successive rows of patterns of colour filter elements such that one raster scan line of image pick-up signals is derived from adjacent rows of said filter elements, and wherein the patterns of the adjacent rows of filter elements from which an even scan line of image pick-up signals is derived differ from the patterns of the adjacent rows of filter elements from which an odd scan line of image pick-up signals is derived, said apparatus comprising: filter means (56) for removing modulation components in a scan line of image pick-up signals caused by said patterns of filter elements to produce an averaged scan line of image signals; processing means (67, 69, 70) for extracting an uncorrelated signal component from adjacent scan lines of averaged image signals; clipping means (61, 63, 65) coupled to said processing means (67, 69, 70) for clipping that portion of an averaged scan line of image signals which exceeds a predetermined level less than the lowest average level of a scan line of image signals which would saturate said processing means (67, 69, 70); and combining means (73) for combining the extracted uncorrelated signal component with an averaged scan line of image signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said processing means (67, 69, 70) comprises delay means (57, 59) for delaying an averaged scan line of image signals by a scan line interval, and subtracting means (72) for obtaining a difference component between the delayed and undelayed averaged image signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said clipping means (61, 63, 65) comprises first and second clipping circuits (61, 63, 65) for coupling said delayed and undelayed averaged image signals, respectively, to said subtracting means (72).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said clipping means (61, 63, 65) comprises a clipping circuit (61) for coupling said averaged image signals to said delay means (57, 59) and to said subtracting means (72).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said combining means (73) comprises adding means (73) for adding said difference component to the delayed averaged image signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said processing means (67, 69, 70) comprises delay means (57, 59) for delaying an averaged scan line of image signals by one and two scan line intervals to provide one-line and two-line delayed image signals, respectively, and subtracting means (72) for subtracting said two-line delayed image signal and the undelayed averaged image signal from the one-line delayed image signal to produce a difference component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said processing means (67, 69, 70) further comprises weighting means (67, 69, 70) for weighting said one-line delayed image signal applied to said subtracting means (72) at twice that of each of said two-line delayed and undelayed image signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said clipping means (61, 63, 65) comprises individual clipping circuits (61, 63, 65) for coupling said undelayed, one-line delayed and two-line delayed averaged image signals, respectively, to said subtracting means (72).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said clipping means (61, 63, 65) comprises a clipping circuit (61) for coupling said averaged image signals to said delay means (57, 59) and to said subtracting means (72).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said combining means (73) comprises adding means (73) for adding said difference component to the one-line delayed averaged image signals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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