Video image processing apparatus and video image processing method

A video image processing method that is carried out in a video image processing apparatus that converts an interlaced video image signal to a progressive video image signal by interpolation,

• the video image processing method comprising:
• a determination step of determining whether an interpolation pixel generation position is an edge portion in an oblique direction, and determining the edge direction when the interpolation pixel generation position is an edge portion in an oblique direction;
• and
• a generation step of generating an interpolation pixel by interlaced-to-progressive conversion, this generation step being a step of generating an interpolation pixel at an interpolation pixel generation position which has been determined, in the determination step, to be an edge portion in an oblique direction, in use of a pixel that is present in the edge direction, wherein
• in the determination step determination is made on whether the interpolation pixel generation position is an edge portion in an oblique direction on the basis of signs of slopes of changes in the pixel values in a horizontal direction at one line above and one line below the interpolation pixel generation position when pixel values one line above and one line below the interpolation pixel generation position neither increase nor decrease locally at positions that are adjacent, in a vertical direction, to the interpolation pixel generation position, and a difference between two pixel values adjacent above and below the interpolation pixel generation position is smaller than a predefined threshold value.