US4967263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Widescreen television signal processor system with interpolator for reducing artifacts
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1988-09-07
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Granted: 1990-10-30
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Expires: 2008-09-07
Abstract
Abstract An NTSC compatible widescreen EDTV system encodes a television signal via a process including intraframe averaging of mutually exclusive successive paired groups of image pixels above a given frequency. At a decoder, intraframe averaged luminance image information is interpolated on a line-by-line basis to help reduce unwanted jagged diagonal image artifacts. Vertical peaking is associated with intraframe averaging at the encoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles B. Dieterich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:24
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/015; H04N11/00; H04N11/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising: means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements (pixels); translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts attributable to said pixel groups, said interpolating means providing different interpolation during alternate image fields of a video signal containing said pixel groups.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising: means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements (pixels); translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts attributable to said pixel groups, said interpolating means providing different interpolation during alternate image fields of a video signal containing said pixel groups.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein: each said group comprises a pair of vertically spaced pixels associated with correlated image information; and said interpolating means vertically interpolates said processed signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 2, wherein: said vertically spaced pixels are spaced 262H apart, where H is a horizontal image line scanning interval.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein: said translating means includes means for intraframe processing pixels associated with each said group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 4, wherein: said intraframe processing means intraframe averages pixels associated with each said group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein: said processed video signal contains luminance and chrominance components; and said interpolating means interpolates said luminance component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein: said video signal is a television-type signal representative of a widescreen image having side panel information and main panel information and an aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; and said translating means is responsive to said main panel information.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements: translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group, said translating means including means for intraframe processing pixels associated with each said group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts; wherein said translating means also includes means for vertically peaking pixel information subjected to intraframe processing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
88 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements: translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group, said translating means including means for intraframe processing pixels associated with each said group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts; wherein said translating means also includes means for vertically peaking pixel information subjected to intraframe processing.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements; translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts; wherein said video signal is an interlaced signal having odd-numbered image line pixels in a first field and even-numbered image line pixels in a second field forming an image frame with said first field; pixels within each said group are spaced 262H apart where H is an image scanning line; and said interpolating means interpolates said processed signal in accordance with the expression x=3/4(B)+1/4(C) y=1/4(A)+3/4(B), where A is the value of a first group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart; B is the value of a second group of identically valued pixels spaced 262 apart and successive to said first group; C is the value of a third group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart and successive to said second group; x is a pixel in said first field coinciding with said second group; and y is a pixel in said second field coinciding with said second group.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for processing a video signal, comprising means for providing a video signal containing image information defined by picture elements; translating means responsive to said video signal for providing a processed video signal with groups of mutually exclusive pixels of identical value within each group; and means for interpolating said processed signal to reduce unwanted image artifacts; wherein said video signal is an interlaced signal having odd-numbered image line pixels in a first field and even-numbered image line pixels in a second field forming an image frame with said first field; pixels within each said group are spaced 262H apart where H is an image scanning line; and said interpolating means interpolates said processed signal in accordance with the expression x=3/4(B)+1/4(C) y=1/4(A)+3/4(B), where A is the value of a first group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart; B is the value of a second group of identically valued pixels spaced 262 apart and successive to said first group; C is the value of a third group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart and successive to said second group; x is a pixel in said first field coinciding with said second group; and y is a pixel in said second field coinciding with said second group.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein: A is the average value of pixels in said first group, and B is the average value of pixels in said second group.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a system for receiving a television-type video signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type video signal to produce an interpolated signal with reduced unwanted image artifacts attributable to said pixel groups, said interpolating means providing different interpolation during alternate image fields of said television-type video signal; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a system for receiving a television-type video signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type video signal to produce an interpolated signal with reduced unwanted image artifacts attributable to said pixel groups, said interpolating means providing different interpolation during alternate image fields of said television-type video signal; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein: each said pixel group comprises a pair of vertically spaced pixels associated with correlated image information; and said interpolating means vertically interpolates said television signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein: said vertically spaced pixels are spaced 262H apart, where H is a horizontal image line scanning interval.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein: pixels within each said group have been subjected to intraframe averaging.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein: said television signal contains luminance and chrominance components; and said interpolating means interpolates said luminance component.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 12, wherein: said television signal is representative of a widescreen image having side panel information and main panel information and an aspect ratio greater than that of a standard television image; and said pixel groups are associated with said main panel information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a system for receiving a television-type signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements (pixels) of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type signal to produce an interpolated signal; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel; wherein said television signal is an interlaced signal having odd-numbered image line pixels in a first field and even-numbered image line pixels in a second field forming an image frame with said first field; pixels within each said group are spaced 262H apart where H is an image scanning line; and said interpolating means interpolates said processed signal in accordance with the expression x=3/4(B)+1/4(C) y=1/4(A)+3/4(B), where A is the value of a first group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart; B is the value of a second group of identically valued pixels spaced 262 apart and successive to said first group; C is the value of a third group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart and successive to said second group; x is a pixel in said first coinciding with said second group; and y is a pixel in said second field coinciding with said second group.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
201 words
In a system for receiving a television-type signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements (pixels) of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type signal to produce an interpolated signal; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel; wherein said television signal is an interlaced signal having odd-numbered image line pixels in a first field and even-numbered image line pixels in a second field forming an image frame with said first field; pixels within each said group are spaced 262H apart where H is an image scanning line; and said interpolating means interpolates said processed signal in accordance with the expression x=3/4(B)+1/4(C) y=1/4(A)+3/4(B), where A is the value of a first group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart; B is the value of a second group of identically valued pixels spaced 262 apart and successive to said first group; C is the value of a third group of identically valued pixels spaced 262H apart and successive to said second group; x is a pixel in said first coinciding with said second group; and y is a pixel in said second field coinciding with said second group.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein: A is the average value of pixels in said first group, and B is the average value of pixels in said second group.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a system for receiving a television-type signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements (pixels) of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type signal to produce an interpolated signal, said interpolation being frequency limited such that high frequency information is interpolated substantially exclusive of low frequency information; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a system for receiving a television-type signal having image information defined by groups of mutually exclusive picture elements (pixels) of identical value within each group, apparatus comprising: means for interpolating said television-type signal to produce an interpolated signal, said interpolation being frequency limited such that high frequency information is interpolated substantially exclusive of low frequency information; and means for conveying said interpolated signal to an image signal processing channel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-29 | 1994-04-30 | 1994-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-29 | 1998-04-30 | 1998-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-29 | 2002-04-30 | 2002-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |