US 7,432,979 B2 · Interlaced to progressive scan image conversion

Abstract

An image processing apparatus that can convert an interlaced signal generated by the 3-2 or 2-2 pull-down process, to a progressive signal without degrading the quality of the image represented by the interlaced signal, even if the interlaced signal contains an ordinary 60-fields/sec signal. The apparatus has a progressive conversion unit 11. The progressive conversion unit 11 generates an intra-field interpolated signal and an a motion-adaptive interpolated signal to convert an interlaced signal generated by the 3-2 or 2-2 pull-down process and containing an ordinary 60-fields/sec signal, to a progressive signal. The unit 11 then determines, for each pixel, whether the intra-field interpolated signal contains a double-image error. If a double-image error is detected, the unit 11 replaces, for each pixel, the intra-field interpolated signal by the motion-adaptive interpolated signal.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An image processing apparatus for converting to a progressive signal an interlaced signal containing a signal that has been converted from a different format to an image signal with original-image frames re-arranged in a prescribed sequence and with a standard frame rate, the apparatus being operable whether or not the interlaced signal also contains an unconverted image signal of said standard frame rate and comprising:

signal-generating means for performing intra-field interpolation on a present field to generate a pixel of interest in an interpolated scanning line in a progressive, intra-field interpolated signal from a scanning line in a field that follows the present field in time and is located at the same position as the interpolated scanning line of the present field, or from a scanning line in a field that precedes the present field in time and is located at the same position as the interpolated scanning line of the present field;
and
double-image detecting means for determining, for each pixel in the interpolated field, whether the pixel of interest in the intra-field interpolated signal, is a pixel included in pixels that constitute a double-image portion of the intra-field interpolated signal by sensing whether a pair of lines spaced closer to each other in the interpolated field exhibit a lower correlation than the correlation exhibited by a pair of lines spaced farther from each other in said interpolated field.

An image processing method of converting to a progressive signal an interlaced signal containing a signal that has been converted from a different format to an image signal that with original-image frames re-arranged in a prescribed sequence and with a standard frame rate, the method being performed whether or not the interlaced signal also contains an unconverted image signal of said standard frame rate and comprising the steps of:

performing intra-field interpolation on a present field to generate a pixel of interest in an interpolated scanning line in a progressive, intra-field interpolated signal from a scanning line in a field that follows the present field in time and is located at the same position as the interpolated scanning line of the present field, or from a scanning line in a field that precedes the present field in time and is located at the same position as the interpolated scanning line of the present field;
and
determining, for each pixel in the interpolated field, whether the pixel of interest in the intra-field interpolated signal, is a pixel included in pixels that constitute a double-image portion of the intra-field interpolated signal by sensing whether a pair of lines spaced closer to each other in the interpolated field exhibit a lower correlation than the correlation exhibited by a pair of lines spaced farther from each other in said interpolated field.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interlaced to progressive scan image conversion

Life of this patent

Interlaced to progressive scan image conversion

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23