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US5574572A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Video scaling method and device

Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
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Filing: 1994-09-07
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Granted: 1996-11-12
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Expires: 2014-09-07
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Abstract

Abstract A linear interpolator and decimating FIR filter with constant coefficients may be used in various configurations to scale a still or moving color video image horizontally (changing the number of pixels per row) or vertically (changing the number of pixels per column). For downscaling, the input pixel stream is initially upscaled with an interpolator by an upscaling factor of between one and two chosen so that the result can be subsequently downscaled with a decimation-by-power-of-two finite impulse response (FIR) filter to provide the desired final scaling. Upscaling is a special case accomplished by means of linear interpolation. Vertical and horizontal scaling may be performed with different, independent scaling factors.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christopher W. Malinowski
  • 👤 Stanley R. Zepp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 08:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T3/00; G06T3/40; G06T3/4007; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06T3/4023; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; G09; G09G; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/04; G09G2340/0407

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the device comprising as a set: an upscaling interpolator comprising (a) a buffer for storing the input pixels, and (b) a linear interpolator that sequentially receives each of the stored input pixels from said buffer and the pixel subsequent thereto for providing interpolated output pixels therefrom responsive to a predetermined upscaling factor; and a decimating finite impulse response (FIR) filter for reducing the number of output pixels from said upscaling interpolator responsive to a predetermined downscaling factor, said decimating FIR filter comprising no more than two row buffers for each of the pixel components, said second plurality being equal to said first plurality times said upscaling and downscaling factors, wherein repetitive operation of said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter will provide an output of the second plurality of pixels that forms the image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 184 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the device comprising as a set: an upscaling interpolator comprising (a) a buffer for storing the input pixels, and (b) a linear interpolator that sequentially receives each of the stored input pixels from said buffer and the pixel subsequent thereto for providing interpolated output pixels therefrom responsive to a predetermined upscaling factor; and a decimating finite impulse response (FIR) filter for reducing the number of output pixels from said upscaling interpolator responsive to a predetermined downscaling factor, said decimating FIR filter comprising no more than two row buffers for each of the pixel components, said second plurality being equal to said first plurality times said upscaling and downscaling factors, wherein repetitive operation of said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter will provide an output of the second plurality of pixels that forms the image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 66 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said set of said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter is for horizontal scaling, and further comprising a second said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter for vertical scaling, said two sets being arranged in series so that the output of one said set is the output of the other said set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said second set provides its output to the other said set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the predetermined upscaling and downscaling factors of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter of said set are independent from the predetermined upscaling and downscaling factors of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter of said second set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 55 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said components comprise luminance data and chrominance data, and wherein said device comprises one said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter for scaling said chrominance data, and a second said set of said upscaling interpolator and said decimating FIR filter for scaling said luminance data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said components comprise N color data components, and wherein said device comprises N ones of said set of said upscaling interpolators and said decimating FIR filters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said decimating FIR filter decimates in powers of two.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said upscaling factor is at least one and no greater than two.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 78 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, the device comprising two sets of: an interpolator for increasing the number of input pixels to a third plurality of interpolated pixels; and a decimating-by-power-of-two FIR filter with only two row buffers for reducing the number of interpolated pixels to said second plurality of output pixels.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 78 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, the device comprising two sets of: an interpolator for increasing the number of input pixels to a third plurality of interpolated pixels; and a decimating-by-power-of-two FIR filter with only two row buffers for reducing the number of interpolated pixels to said second plurality of output pixels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
The device of claim 9 wherein each said interpolator is responsive to a scaling factor of at least one and no greater than two, said scaling factor for each said interpolator being independent of said scaling factor for the other said interpolator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
The device of claim 9 wherein one said interpolator comprises one row buffer and one said FIR filter comprises N taps, with N being one greater than the power of two decimation of said one FIR filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
The device of claim 9 wherein one said interpolator comprises one row or pixel buffer and one said FIR filter comprises N taps, with N being three greater than the power of two decimation of said one FIR filter.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 116 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the device comprising: first means for vertically scaling pixels responsive to a vertical scaling factor; and second means connected in series with said first means for horizontally scaling pixels responsive to a horizontal scaling factor, said horizontal scaling factor being independent from said vertical scaling factor, each of first and second means comprising an upscaling interpolator and a decimating-by-power-of-two FIR filter with no more than two row buffers per component.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 116 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the device comprising: first means for vertically scaling pixels responsive to a vertical scaling factor; and second means connected in series with said first means for horizontally scaling pixels responsive to a horizontal scaling factor, said horizontal scaling factor being independent from said vertical scaling factor, each of first and second means comprising an upscaling interpolator and a decimating-by-power-of-two FIR filter with no more than two row buffers per component.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 16 words
The device of claim 13 wherein said first means provides an output to said second means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 117 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N color components, the device comprising: first means for vertically scaling pixels; and second means for horizontally scaling pixels connected in series with said first means, each of said first and second means comprising plural sets of an upscaling interpolator and a decimating FIR filter with no more than two row buffers per color component connected in series therewith, each of said sets for scaling at least one of said N color components.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 117 words
A device for scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal rows and vertical columns that form an image in order to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N color components, the device comprising: first means for vertically scaling pixels; and second means for horizontally scaling pixels connected in series with said first means, each of said first and second means comprising plural sets of an upscaling interpolator and a decimating FIR filter with no more than two row buffers per color component connected in series therewith, each of said sets for scaling at least one of said N color components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 40 words
The device of claim 15 wherein at least one of said sets is for scaling two of said N color components, and for subsampling said two color components at a rate related to a decimating power of said FIR filter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 62 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said N color components are Y, U, and V components, and one of said sets is for scaling said U and V components, and for subsampling said U and V components at a rate related to a decimating power of said FIR filter, and another of said sets is for scaling said Y components without subsampling.
Claim 22
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels that form an image to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the method comprising the steps of: (a) upscaling the input pixels in an interpolator responsive to an upscaling factor; and (b) decimating the upscaled pixels in decimation-by-power-of-two FIR filter using no more than two row buffers, the upscaling factor being selected so that the subsequent decimation by power of two provides the second plurality of pixels.
Claim 23
Independent Claim 93 words
A method of scaling an input of a first plurality of pixels that form an image to provide an output of a second plurality of pixels that forms the image, each of the pixels having N components, the method comprising the steps of: (a) upscaling the input pixels in an interpolator responsive to an upscaling factor; and (b) decimating the upscaled pixels in decimation-by-power-of-two FIR filter using no more than two row buffers, the upscaling factor being selected so that the subsequent decimation by power of two provides the second plurality of pixels.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 18 wherein steps (a)-(b) are for vertically scaling responsive to a vertical scaling factor, and further comprising the step of horizontally scaling the vertically scaled image responsive to a horizontal scaling factor by repeating steps (a)-(b).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4328426A Cited
US4991022A Cited
US5125042A Cited
US5335295A Cited
US5289292A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-11-12 2000-05-13 2000-11-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-11-12 2004-05-13 2004-11-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-11-12 2008-05-13 2008-11-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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