US5809175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for effecting A/D conversation on image signal
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-24
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2017-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for coding an input analog video signal to a digital code. The apparatus comprises an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal to a first quantization code having a first number of bits, a class sorting circuit supplied with the first quantization code from the A/D converter, for effecting a class sorting process on a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on the first quantization code corresponding to the pixel and the first quantization code corresponding to each of the pixels provided near the periphery of the pixel, and a quantizing circuit supplied with the first quantization code produced from the A/D converter and the result of class sorting by the class sorting means, for adaptively converting the first quantization code into a second quantization code having a second number of bits smaller than the first number of bits, based on the result of class sorting by the class sorting circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Tetsujiro Kondo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:00
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/41; H04N19/00; H04N19/90; H04N19/98; H03; H03M; H03M7/00; H03M7/30; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising: an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; class sorting circuit for receiving said first quantization code from said A/D converter and for detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked and for determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes including a class corresponding to a flat portion in which luminance variation is relatively low based on said characteristic, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; and quantizing circuit for receiving said first quantization code produced from said A/D converter and the class determined by said class sorting circuit and for adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code corresponding to said class determined by said class sorting circuit, in which a difference in time between said pixel to be marked and a previous pixel is utilized by said quantizing circuit in adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into said second quantization code when the determined class for said pixel to be marked is the class corresponding to the flat portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
259 words
An apparatus for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising: an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; class sorting circuit for receiving said first quantization code from said A/D converter and for detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked and for determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes including a class corresponding to a flat portion in which luminance variation is relatively low based on said characteristic, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; and quantizing circuit for receiving said first quantization code produced from said A/D converter and the class determined by said class sorting circuit and for adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code corresponding to said class determined by said class sorting circuit, in which a difference in time between said pixel to be marked and a previous pixel is utilized by said quantizing circuit in adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into said second quantization code when the determined class for said pixel to be marked is the class corresponding to the flat portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of predetermined classes further includes a class corresponding to an edge portion and a class corresponding to an extreme-value portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second quantization code has a second number of bits which are smaller than the first number of bits.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising the steps of: converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; receiving said first quantization code and detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes including a class corresponding to a flat portion in which luminance variation is relatively low based on said characteristic; receiving said first quantization code and the determined class; and adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code corresponding to said determined class, in which a difference in time between said pixel to be marked and a previous pixel is utilized in adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into said second quantization code when the determined class for said pixel to be marked is the class corresponding to the flat portion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising the steps of: converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; receiving said first quantization code and detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes including a class corresponding to a flat portion in which luminance variation is relatively low based on said characteristic; receiving said first quantization code and the determined class; and adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code corresponding to said determined class, in which a difference in time between said pixel to be marked and a previous pixel is utilized in adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into said second quantization code when the determined class for said pixel to be marked is the class corresponding to the flat portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of predetermined classes further includes a class corresponding to an edge portion and a class corresponding to an extreme-value portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said second quantization code has a second number of bits which are smaller than the first number of bits.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising: an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; class sorting circuit for receiving said first quantization code from said A/D converter and for detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked and for determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes, based on said characteristic, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; and quantizing circuit for receiving said first quantization code produced from said A/D converter, the class determined by said class sorting circuit, and an image-quality switching signal which designates an image quality characteristic of an image and for adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code based on said class determined by said class sorting circuit and said image-quality switching signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising: an A/D converter for converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; class sorting circuit for receiving said first quantization code from said A/D converter and for detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked and for determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes, based on said characteristic, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; and quantizing circuit for receiving said first quantization code produced from said A/D converter, the class determined by said class sorting circuit, and an image-quality switching signal which designates an image quality characteristic of an image and for adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code based on said class determined by said class sorting circuit and said image-quality switching signal.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising the steps of: converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; receiving said first quantization code and detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes, based on said characteristic; receiving said first quantization code, the determined class, and an image-quality switching signal which designates an image quality characteristic of an image; and adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code based on said determined class and said image-quality switching signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
172 words
A method for converting an input analog video signal to a digital code, comprising the steps of: converting the input analog video signal into a first quantization code having a first number of bits; receiving said first quantization code and detecting a characteristic of a plurality of pixels including a pixel to be marked, based on said first quantization code corresponding to said pixel to be marked and said first quantization code corresponding to each of said plurality of pixels provided near the periphery of said pixel to be marked, said characteristic representing a level distribution pattern in said plurality of pixels; determining a class corresponding to said pixel to be marked from a plurality of predetermined classes, based on said characteristic; receiving said first quantization code, the determined class, and an image-quality switching signal which designates an image quality characteristic of an image; and adaptively converting said first quantization code of said pixel to be marked into a second quantization code based on said determined class and said image-quality switching signal.
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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |