US5633956A
Expired / Lapsed
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Video image processing
Assignee: British Broadcasting Corp
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Filing: 1993-02-26
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Granted: 1997-05-27
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Expires: 2013-02-26
Abstract
Abstract In a digital video display system, a composite time-compensated video picture, generated from a plurality of input fields, includes discontinuities, e.g. aliases resulting from relative movement of a foreground object and a background. These discontinuities are the results of time-projections from the sequential input fields or frames, which include movement of objects between the respective instants of the frames. These discontinuities are detected and are smoothed by a softening filter, in order to improve the quality of the resulting output image. In a preferred embodiment, the filtering is applied directionally, based on the nature of the discontinuity detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Burl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 02:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/144; H04N5/145; H04N19/00; H04N19/50; H04N19/503; H04N19/51; H04N19/577; H04N19/80; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0127; H04N7/0132; H04N7/0135; H04N7/014
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of improving a video image by detecting, and compensating for, discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields, wherein the discontinuities arise from differential motions between adjacent areas of an input field, comprising the steps of: assigning motion vectors to elementary areas of each of a plurality of input fields in a sequence of video images; generating a shift field from a time projection of the motion vectors assigned to at least one of the plurality of input fields in the sequence of video images, detecting transitions in displacement in the shift field between adjacent areas of the shift field, and disguising, by use of a filter, any transition detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of improving a video image by detecting, and compensating for, discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields, wherein the discontinuities arise from differential motions between adjacent areas of an input field, comprising the steps of: assigning motion vectors to elementary areas of each of a plurality of input fields in a sequence of video images; generating a shift field from a time projection of the motion vectors assigned to at least one of the plurality of input fields in the sequence of video images, detecting transitions in displacement in the shift field between adjacent areas of the shift field, and disguising, by use of a filter, any transition detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, in which only transitions above a predetermined threshold are detected.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the step of disguising a transition comprises applying a softening filter to areas of the composite picture corresponding to any detected transition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 3, in which a softening filter is only applied to a transition detected from an output field which contributes more than a predetermined proportion of the output field.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of detecting the direction of any discontinuity which is detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the softening filter is applied in a particular direction, which direction is dependent on the direction of the discontinuity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the shift field generated comprises a shifted vector field.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for improving a video image by detecting, and compensating for, discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields wherein the discontinuities arise from differential motion between adjacent areas of an input filed comprising means for assigning motion vectors to elementary areas of each input field in a sequence of video images; means for generating a shift field from a time projection of the motion vectors assigned to at least one of the plurality of input fields, means for detecting transitions in the vectors of the shift field between adjacent areas of the shift field and means for disguising any transition detected by filtering at that transition, prior to display of a motion-compensated picture.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for improving a video image by detecting, and compensating for, discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields wherein the discontinuities arise from differential motion between adjacent areas of an input filed comprising means for assigning motion vectors to elementary areas of each input field in a sequence of video images; means for generating a shift field from a time projection of the motion vectors assigned to at least one of the plurality of input fields, means for detecting transitions in the vectors of the shift field between adjacent areas of the shift field and means for disguising any transition detected by filtering at that transition, prior to display of a motion-compensated picture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus for detecting discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture, generated from a plurality of input fields, according to claim 8, in which the detecting means comprises differentiating filter means, receiving the shift field, and means for generating a control signal when the output of the filter means exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, for detecting discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields according to claim 8 or 9, in which the shift field comprises a shifted vector field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 for detecting discontinuities in a motion-compensated composite picture generated from a plurality of input fields, including means responsive to the control signal to apply a softening filter to an area of the composite picture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-05-26 | 2000-11-25 | 2001-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-05-26 | 2004-11-25 | 2005-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-05-26 | 2008-11-25 | 2009-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |