Statistical resolution conversion technique

Claim 1

In a raster scanned imaging system, the improvement comprising a resolution converter for interfacing input and output terminals having different, predetermined vertical resolution characteristics; said input terminal including means for supplying a digital input signal containing a series of video data elements from successive input scan lines; said output terminal including means for responding to a digital output signal containing another series of video data elements for successive output scan lines; said resolution converter including multi-stage register means having a plurality of parallel outputs and a series output, said parallel outputs being taken from preselected stages of said register means to define a prediction matrix containing a plurality of input data elements from at least a pair of input scan lines, means for serially shifting the input data elements through said register means, thereby providing a series flow of raw input data elements at said series output while sequentially entering successive patterns of input data elements into said prediction matrix, interpolation means coupled to the parallel outputs of said register means for sequentially predicting statistically likely output data elements in response to said prediction matrix patterns, buffer means having one input coupled to receive said raw input data elements and a second input coupled to receive said predicted output data elements, and means for multiplexing the inputs of said buffer means at a rate determined by the ratio of the vertical resolutions of said input and output terminals, whereby said output signal is assembled by accepting raw data elements for certain of said output scan lines and predicted data elements for the other of said output scan lines.