Film grain generation and addition
AssigneeMarvell World Trade Ltd.
InventorsNikhil Balram, Bharat Pathak, Uma Jayaraman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
High-frequency noise is generated that approximates the appearance of traditional “film grain” for a digital video signal. By adding a relatively small amount of film grain noise, the video can be made to look more natural and more pleasing to the human viewer. The digital film grain generation can be used to mask unnatural smooth artifacts in digital video such as “blockiness” and “contouring” in the case of compressed video and/or used to provide visual enhancements or special effects to any digital video stream. The digital film grain generator can control grain size and the amount of film grain to be added.
Claims20
A method for providing film grain to a digital image frame, comprising:
- receiving a pixel associated with the digital image frame of an incoming video data stream;
- using a high pass filter, generating a mask of noise values independent of the incoming video data stream, wherein the mask represents film grain;
- selecting an entry from the mask of noise values;
- and
- combining the selected entry with the received pixel whereby film grain is added to the digital image frame to produce a grained digital image frame.
A system for providing film grain to a digital image frame, comprising:
- an input that is configured to receive a pixel associated with the digital image frame of an incoming video data stream;
- a high pass filter that is configured to generate a mask of noise values independent of the incoming video data stream, wherein the mask represents film grain;
- a mask memory that is configured store the mask of noise values that represent film grain;
- circuitry configured to select an entry from the mask memory;
- and
- circuitry configured to combine the selected entry with the received pixel whereby film grain is added to the digital image frame to produce a grained digital image frame.
A system for providing film grain to a digital image frame, comprising:
- means for receiving a pixel associated with the digital image frame of an incoming video data stream;
- means for, using a high pass filter, generating a mask of noise values independent of the incoming video data stream, wherein the mask represents film grain;
- means for selecting an entry from the mask of noise values;
- and
- means for combining the selected entry with the received pixel whereby film grain is added to the digital image frame to produce a grained digital image frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.