← Back to Patent Explorer
US4677482A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dual mode progressive scan system with automatic mode switching by image analysis

Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
•
Filing: 1985-12-31
•
Granted: 1987-06-30
•
Expires: 2005-12-31
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The line rate of a video input signal is doubled for display in progressive scan fashion by dual mode processor which generates added lines for the display by interpolation when displaying normal television pictures and by replication (repeating lines) when displaying characters. The processor mode is automatically controlled by an image analyzer which identifies fields of text by counting "major" transitions of the video input signal occurring within a field and comparing the count with a threshold value. Errors in identification are minimized by a further counter which integrates the field count and a hysteresis detector which controls the processor operating mode in accordance with high and low limits of the integrated field count.

Inventors

  • 👤 Henry G. Lewis, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 03:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0117; H04N7/012

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 212 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; image analysis means coupled to said source for analyzing a parameter of said image and coupled to said processor means for controlling said operating mode in accordance with said analysis of said parameter; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein: said image analysis means being responsive to a frequency of occurrence of brightness changes occurring in a horizontal scan direction of said video input signal for placing said processor means in said first mode when the number of changes per field is below a threshold value and for placing said processor means in said second mode when the number of changes per field is above said threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 212 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; image analysis means coupled to said source for analyzing a parameter of said image and coupled to said processor means for controlling said operating mode in accordance with said analysis of said parameter; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein: said image analysis means being responsive to a frequency of occurrence of brightness changes occurring in a horizontal scan direction of said video input signal for placing said processor means in said first mode when the number of changes per field is below a threshold value and for placing said processor means in said second mode when the number of changes per field is above said threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 77 words
A progressive scan system as recited in claim 1 wherein said image analysis means comprises: first means including a counter for providing a count indicative of the total number of changes in amplitude of said video input signal in the horizontal line scan direction which exceed a given level within a field period of time; and second means responsive to said count for generating a mode control signal for controlling said operating mode of said processor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
A progressive scan system as recited in claim 2 further comprising means for inhibiting counting of said changes during a blanking interval of said video input signal to minimize a tendency for said count to be biased by transitions a said video input signal occurring in said blanking interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 177 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first circuit means coupled to said source for providing an identification pulse for each field of said video input signal that contain more than a given number of amplitude changes in a horizontal line scan direction which exceed a given threshold level; second circuit means for controlling said operating mode of said processor means as a function of said identification pulses provided by said first circuit means; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 177 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first circuit means coupled to said source for providing an identification pulse for each field of said video input signal that contain more than a given number of amplitude changes in a horizontal line scan direction which exceed a given threshold level; second circuit means for controlling said operating mode of said processor means as a function of said identification pulses provided by said first circuit means; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 211 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first means for providing an output pulse for each change in amplitude of said video input signal greater than a threshold value; second means for providing an identification pulse for each given number of lines of said video input signal in which the number of output pulses of said first means exceeds a threshold value; third means for counting said identification pulses over a limited range of values; fourth means for detecting values of the count of said identification pulses that fall within two portions of said limited range of values for generating a mode control signal for controlling the operating mode of said processor means; and display means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 211 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first means for providing an output pulse for each change in amplitude of said video input signal greater than a threshold value; second means for providing an identification pulse for each given number of lines of said video input signal in which the number of output pulses of said first means exceeds a threshold value; third means for counting said identification pulses over a limited range of values; fourth means for detecting values of the count of said identification pulses that fall within two portions of said limited range of values for generating a mode control signal for controlling the operating mode of said processor means; and display means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 229 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first circuit means coupled to said source for providing an identification pulse for each group of lines of said video input signal that contain more than a given number of amplitude changes which exceed a given threshold level; second circuit means for controlling said operating mode of said processor means as a function of said identification pulses provided by said first circuit means; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein said second circuit means compries counter means for counting said identification pulses; control means for limiting the count of said counter means to a predetermined range of values; and detector means coupled to said counter means for controlling the operating mode of said processor means as a function of the count of said pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 229 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video input signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; first circuit means coupled to said source for providing an identification pulse for each group of lines of said video input signal that contain more than a given number of amplitude changes which exceed a given threshold level; second circuit means for controlling said operating mode of said processor means as a function of said identification pulses provided by said first circuit means; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein said second circuit means compries counter means for counting said identification pulses; control means for limiting the count of said counter means to a predetermined range of values; and detector means coupled to said counter means for controlling the operating mode of said processor means as a function of the count of said pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 253 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video imput signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; image analysis means coupled to said source of analyzing a parameter of said image and coupled to said processor means for controlling said operating mode in accordance with said analysis of said parameter; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein said image analysis means comprises first means for providing a count indicative of the number of changes in amplitude of said video input signal which exceed a given level within a given period of time, and second means responsive to said count for generating a mode control signal for controlling said operating mode of said processor means; and wherein said second means comprises first detector means responsive to said count for providing an identification pulse for each given number of lines of said video input signal for which said count exceeds a threshold value; and third means responsive to said identification pulses for generating said mode control signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 253 words
A progressive scan system, comprising: a source for providing an interlaced video imput signal of a given line rate and representative of an image to be displayed; progressive scan processor means coupled to said source for providing a processed video output signal of double said given line rate, said processor means having a first operating mode for doubling said line rate by interpolation of input lines of said video input signal and a second operating mode for doubling said line rate by replication of input lines of said video input signal; image analysis means coupled to said source of analyzing a parameter of said image and coupled to said processor means for controlling said operating mode in accordance with said analysis of said parameter; and display means coupled to said processor means for displaying said processed video output signal in progressive scan fashion; and wherein said image analysis means comprises first means for providing a count indicative of the number of changes in amplitude of said video input signal which exceed a given level within a given period of time, and second means responsive to said count for generating a mode control signal for controlling said operating mode of said processor means; and wherein said second means comprises first detector means responsive to said count for providing an identification pulse for each given number of lines of said video input signal for which said count exceeds a threshold value; and third means responsive to said identification pulses for generating said mode control signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
A progressive scan system as recited in claim 7 wherein said third means comprise means for counting said identification pulses and for comparing the pulses counted with a second threshold value for generating said mode control signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 33 words
A progressive scan system as recited in claim 8 wherein said means for counting said indentification pulses includes under-flow and over-flow inhibit means for limiting the count to a predetermined range of values.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4090221A Cited
US4303940A Cited
US4400719A Cited
US4509071A Cited
US4415931A Cited
JPS5940772A Cited
US4568964A Cited
US4593315A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag