Method and apparatus for enhancing video-recorded images to film grade quality

#The present invention relates to video signal processing and more particularly to a method and apparatus for enhancing a video signal generated by a video camera and/or recorded on videotape to emulsion film grade quality.

#It is well known that program material originally generated by a video camera and recorded on videotape produces a television picture aesthetically less pleasing than program material originally produced on film and then transferred to videotape. The difference in the "look" of film as compared to video is due to fundamental differences in the manner in which the basic images are recorded, as well as the differing physical characteristics of the two recording mediums. Video recording, however, has certain economic and practical advantages as compared to film recording. For example, because recorded video images can be immediately monitored and played-back, it is considerably less expensive to shoot and edit program material on video rather than film, which requires expensive and time consuming development and post-production processes.

#It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for generating program material which retains the practical benefits of video recording, but at the same time produces an output which has the "look" of program material originally recorded on film.

#For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred system configuration of the present invention for enhancing video-recorded images to emulsion film grade quality;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the filter of FIG. 1 for generating the enhanced video-recorded images;

#Referring now to the Figures wherein like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred system 10 for enhancing video-recorded images according to the present invention. The system 10 includes a plurality of input devices typically associated with video recording, for example, video camera 12 and videocassette tape recorder (VTR) 14. Either of these devices can be used to provide a conventional NTSC video signal to a filter 16, which as will be described below serves to enhance this signal to make it "look" as if originally recorded by an emulsion film recording process.

#The video signal provided by video camera 12, VTR 14 or any other suitable input device is gated to the emulsion filter 16 by gate 18 under the control of a general purpose microprocessor 20. Microprocessor 20 has conventional storage devices associated therewith, including a read only memory (ROM) 22 for permanently storing application programs used to control the operation of the system, and a random access memory (RAM) 24 for temporary storage of programs being run by the microprocessor 20. RAM 24 also provides an intermediate storage area for data calculations. Microprocessor 20 also includes associated input/output (I/O) devices 26 such as a keyboard, display and printer. Under the control of a conventional display prompting scheme, an operator enters data and instructions via the keyboard to control various processing functions. For example, if the operator desires to process a video signal from the video camera 12, data identifying the video camera is entered via the keyboard and processed by an I/O routine in the microprocessor 20. This processing generates a signal to control gate 18, which then operates to pass the video signal from the video camera 12 to the filter 16.

#As will be described below, microprocessor 20 also serves to adjust various operating parameters of the filter 16 in accordance with data input to the system by the operator via the I/O interface 26. Video signals processed by the filter 16 are then output to a gate 28, which is also controlled by the microprocessor via operator-selected data input via the I/O interface 26. These video signals are then provided to a suitable storage device such as VTR 30, displayed on a conventional monitor 32, or broadcast "live." Operation of the filter 16 serves to enhance the video-recorded images to produce an output signal which when broadcast or reviewed, appears as if it was originally recorded by an emulsion film process.