Signal enhancement system

Claim 2

A signal enhancement system for utilizing a full dynamic display range of a display unit, comprising: an identification circuit for identifying at least one preselected characteristic of an original signal, wherein the preselected characteristics of the original signal are determined by statistical properties contained within the original signal, the statistical properties being comprised of at least a first property, a second property, and a third property; a first control circuit responsive to said identification circuit configured to automatically adjust the DC offset of said original signal based on said identified characteristic and the first property to produce a resultant signal; and a second control circuit responsive to said identification circuit configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said resultant signal based on said identified characteristic of said original signal, the full dynamic display range of the display unit, and the second property and the third property, wherein the full dynamic range of the display unit is used.

Claim 3

The signal enhancement system of claim 1, wherein: the first property is a minimum amplitude within a sample of the original signal; and said first control circuit is configured to automatically reduce the DC offset of said original signal according to the magnitude of said minimum amplitude.

Claim 4

The signal enhancement system of claim 2, wherein: the second property is a maximum amplitude within a sample of the original signal; and said second control circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said resultant signal based on said maximum amplitude.

Claim 5

The signal enhancement system of claim 2, wherein: the third property is an average amplitude within a sample of the original signal; and said second control circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said resultant signal according to the magnitude of said average amplitude.

Claim 6

The signal enhancement system of claim 4, wherein said second control circuit includes a memory, wherein said memory contains at least one gain curve, and said signal is amplified according to one of said gain curves.

Claim 7

The signal enhancement system of claim 1, wherein: at least one of said preselected characteristics includes an average amplitude within a sample of the original signal; and said first control circuit is configured to automatically adjust the DC offset of said original signal according to the magnitude of said average amplitude.

Claim 8

The signal enhancement system of claim 6, wherein: at least one of said preselected characteristics includes a signal deviation within a sample of the original signal; and said second control circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said resultant signal based on said signal deviation.

Claim 9

The signal enhancement system of claim 7, wherein said second control circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said resultant signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve based on said signal deviation, wherein said second control circuit amplifies resultant signal components within the deviation more than signal components outside the deviation.

Claim 10

The signal enhancement system of claim 1, wherein said second control circuit amplifies said resultant signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve selected according to said at least one of said identified preselected characteristics.

Claim 11

The signal enhancement system of claim 1, wherein said second control circuit amplifies said resultant signal according to a nonlinear gain curve selected according to said at least one of said identified preselected characteristics.

Claim 12

A signal enhancement system for use in connection with a signal source configured to generate a signal and a display having a predetermined dynamic range, comprising: a signal identification circuit configured to identify aspects of the signal relating to desired information contained therein; and a signal enhancement circuit configured to adjust the amplitude of portions of the signal based upon said identified aspects such that said desired information is displayed over a greater portion of the display's dynamic range, wherein: at least one of said identified aspects includes a minimum amplitude of the signal; and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically reduce the DC offset of said signal according to said minimum amplitude.

Claim 13

A signal enhancement system for use in connection with a signal source configured to generate a signal and a display having a predetermined dynamic range, comprising: a signal identification circuit configured to identify aspects of the signal relating to desired information contained therein; and a signal enhancement circuit configured to adjust the amplitude of portions of the signal based upon said identified aspects such that said desired information is displayed over a greater portion of the display's dynamic range, wherein: at least one of said identified aspects includes a minimum amplitude of the signal; and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically reduce the DC offset of said signal according to said minimum amplitude.

Claim 14

The signal enhancement system of claim 11, wherein: at least one of said identified aspects includes a maximum amplitude of the signal; and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of the signal based on said maximum amplitude.

Claim 15

The signal enhancement system of claim 11, wherein: at least one of said identified aspects includes an average amplitude of the signal; and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of the signal according to said average amplitude.

Claim 16

The signal enhancement system of claim 13, wherein said signal enhancement circuit includes a memory, wherein said memory contains at least one gain curve, and wherein the signal is amplified according to one of said gain curves selected according to said average amplitude.

Claim 17

A signal enhancement system for use in connection with a signal source configured to generate a signal and a display having a predetermined dynamic range, comprising: a signal identification circuit configured to identify aspects of the signal relating to desired information contained therein; and a signal enhancement circuit configured to adjust the amplitude of portions of the signal based upon said identified aspects such that said desired information is displayed over a greater portion of the display's dynamic range; wherein at least one of said identified aspects is an average amplitude within a sample of the signal, and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the DC offset of said signal according to said average amplitude; and wherein at least one of said identified aspects is a signal deviation of the signal, and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said signal based on said signal deviation; and wherein said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve based on said signal deviation, wherein said signal enhancement circuit amplifies signal components within the deviation more than signal components outside the deviation.

Claim 18

A signal enhancement system for use in connection with a signal source configured to generate a signal and a display having a predetermined dynamic range, comprising: a signal identification circuit configured to identify aspects of the signal relating to desired information contained therein; and a signal enhancement circuit configured to adjust the amplitude of portions of the signal based upon said identified aspects such that said desired information is displayed over a greater portion of the display's dynamic range; wherein at least one of said identified aspects is an average amplitude within a sample of the signal, and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the DC offset of said signal according to said average amplitude; and wherein at least one of said identified aspects is a signal deviation of the signal, and said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said signal based on said signal deviation; and wherein said signal enhancement circuit is configured to automatically adjust the amplification of said signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve based on said signal deviation, wherein said signal enhancement circuit amplifies signal components within the deviation more than signal components outside the deviation.

Claim 19

The signal enhancement system of claim 11, wherein said signal enhancement circuit amplifies said signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve selected according to said at least one of said identified aspects.

Claim 20

The signal enhancement system of claim 11, wherein said second control circuit amplifies said signal according to a nonlinear gain curve selected according to said at least one of said identified aspects.

Claim 23

The method of claim 18, wherein said first statistical property includes a minimum amplitude of the signal.

Claim 24

The method of claim 19, wherein said second statistical property includes a maximum amplitude of the signal.

Claim 25

The method of claim 19, wherein said third statistical property includes an average amplitude of the signal.

Claim 26

The method of claim 21, wherein said step of automatically adjusting the amplification includes: accessing a memory containing at least one gain curve; and adjusting the amplification of the video signal according to one of said gain curves.

Claim 27

The method of claim 21, wherein said distribution property includes a signal deviation of the signal, and said step of automatically adjusting the amplification includes adjusting the amplification of the signal based on said signal deviation.

Claim 28

The method of claim 23, wherein said step of automatically adjusting the amplification includes adjusting the amplification of said signal according to a piecewise linear gain curve based on said signal deviation, wherein signal components within said deviation are amplified more than signal components outside said deviation.

Claim 29

The method of claim 18, wherein said step of automatically adjusting the amplification includes adjusting the amplification according to a piecewise linear gain curve selected according to said distribution property.

Claim 30

The method of claim 18, wherein said step of automatically adjusting the amplification includes adjusting the amplification according to a nonlinear gain curve selected according to said distribution property.