Picture signal processing method and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

A picture signal processing method for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines, comprising the steps of: sampling the input picture signal at each horizontal scanning line thereof by means of first sampling signals generated at an interval substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period of the input picture signal; filtering the signal obtained by sampling with said first sampling signals to obtain vertical scanning signals; and sampling the vertical scanning signals a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 3

A picture signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein said filtering step comprises low-pass filtering.

Claim 4

A picture signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the interval at which the vertical scanning signals are sampled is variable.

Claim 5

A picture signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the interval at which the vertical scanning signals are sampled is variable.

Claim 6

A picture signal processing method according to claim 1, wherein the phase of generation of the first sampling signals for obtaining a certain vertical scanning line is constant with respect to the horizontal synchronizing signals of the picture signals.

Claim 7

A picture signal processing method according to claim 5, wherein the difference between said phase of generation for a j-th vertical scanning line and for a (j+1)-th vertical scanning line is constant, where j=0, 1, 2, . . . , for one field of the input picture signal.

Claim 8

A picture signal processing method according to claim 6, wherein said difference between the phases of generation is variable for different fields of the input picture signal.

Claim 9

A picture signal processing method for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines in mutually interlaced first and second field signals, comprising the steps of: sampling the first field signals at each horizontal scanning line thereof by means of sampling signals generated at an interval substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period of the input picture signal and storing the thus sampled signals in a first memory; sampling the second field signals by means of said sampling signals and storing the thus sampled signals in a second memory; reading the contents of said first and second memories alternately by means of readout signals of a determined frequency; filtering the signals read from the first and second memories to obtain vertical scanning signals; and sampling the vertical scanning signals a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 10

A picture signal processing method for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines in mutually interlaced first and second field signals, comprising the steps of: sampling the first field signals at each horizontal scanning line thereof by means of sampling signals generated at an interval substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period of the input picture signal and storing the thus sampled signals in a first memory; sampling the second field signals by means of said sampling signals and storing the thus sampled signals in a second memory; reading the contents of said first and second memories alternately by means of readout signals of a determined frequency; filtering the signals read from the first and second memories to obtain vertical scanning signals; and sampling the vertical scanning signals a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 11

A picture signal processing method according to claim 8, wherein said filtering step comprises low-pass filtering.

Claim 12

A picture signal processing method according to claim 8, wherein the interval at which the vertical scanning signals are sampled is arbitrarily variable.

Claim 13

A picture signal processing method according to claim 8, wherein the phase of generation of said sampling signals for obtaining a certain vertical scanning line is constant with respect to the horizontal synchronizing signals of the picture signals.

Claim 14

A picture signal processing method according to claim 11, wherein the difference between said phase of generation for a j-th vertical scanning line and that for a (j+1)-th vertical scanning line is constant, where j=0, 1, 2, . . . , for one field of the input picture signal.

Claim 15

A picture signal processing method according to claim 12, wherein said difference between the phases of generation is arbitrarily variable for different fields of the input picture signal.

Claim 16

A picture signal processing method according to claim 12, wherein the interval at which the vertical scanning signals are sampled is arbitrarily variable.

Claim 17

A picture signal processing apparatus for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines, the apparatus comprising: a first sample-hold circuit for sampling the input picture signal at each horizontal scanning line thereof by means of first sampling signals generated at an interval substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period of the input picture signal; a filter circuit for filtering the output signals of said first sample-hold circuit to obtain vertical scanning signals; and a second sample-hold circuit for sampling the vertical scanning signals a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 18

A picture signal processing apparatus for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines, the apparatus comprising: a first sample-hold circuit for sampling the input picture signal at each horizontal scanning line thereof by means of first sampling signals generated at an interval substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period of the input picture signal; a filter circuit for filtering the output signals of said first sample-hold circuit to obtain vertical scanning signals; and a second sample-hold circuit for sampling the vertical scanning signals a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 19

A recording apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising recording means for recording in response to the output signals of said second sample-hold circuit.

Claim 20

A recording apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said recording means is capable of recording a color image.

Claim 21

A picture signal processing apparatus for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines in mutually interlaced first and second field signals, the apparatus comprising: sampling signal generating means for generating sampling signals for sampling the input picture signal at intervals substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period thereof; first memory means for storing the sample signals obtained by sampling said first field signals with said sampling signals; second memory means for storing the sample signals obtained by sampling said second field signals with said sampling signals; readout means for alternately reading the sample signals stored in said first and second memory means, said readout means including selecting means for alternately selecting the outputs of said first and second memory means; and a sample-hold circuit for sampling the output signals from said readout means a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 22

A picture signal processing apparatus for obtaining a picture signal having plural vertical scanning lines from an input picture signal having a plurality of horizontal scanning lines in mutually interlaced first and second field signals, the apparatus comprising: sampling signal generating means for generating sampling signals for sampling the input picture signal at intervals substantially corresponding to the horizontal scanning period thereof; first memory means for storing the sample signals obtained by sampling said first field signals with said sampling signals; second memory means for storing the sample signals obtained by sampling said second field signals with said sampling signals; readout means for alternately reading the sample signals stored in said first and second memory means, said readout means including selecting means for alternately selecting the outputs of said first and second memory means; and a sample-hold circuit for sampling the output signals from said readout means a number of times, which number is different from the number comprising the plurality of horizontal scanning lines in the input picture signal.

Claim 23

A picture signal processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first and second memory means are composed of analog shift registers.

Claim 24

A picture signal processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a filter circuit positioned between said readout means and said sample-hold circuit for filtering the output signals from said readout means.

Claim 25

A picture signal processing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said filter circuit comprises a low-pass filter having an edge enhancing characteristic.

Claim 26

A recording apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising recording means for recording in response to the output of said sample-hold circuit.

Claim 27

A recording apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said recording means is capable of recording a color picture.