CN1050255C - Horizontal panning for wide screen television - Google Patents

Abstract

A television system includes a video display 244 having a wide display format ratio for displaying television signals. The signal processor 304 has an interpolator (337) and a first-in-first-line memory 356 with asynchronous write and read ports for selectively expanding and compressing the frames represented by the data in the video signal. By controlling the data written to the line memory, the picture is intercepted to determine the sub-picture for display. The microprocessor (340) provides control signals of selectable temporal width and phase relative to the synchronization component of the video signal to select the boundaries of the displayed sprites. The microprocessor can select the time width and phase according to the user's instruction.

Description

Horizontal picture capture system for widescreen television

The present invention relates to the technical field of televisions capable of displaying zoomed and/or trimmed images, and more particularly to methods and devices for capturing such enlarged or trimmed images horizontally on televisions with wide display format ratio screens . The display format ratio (ie, the ratio of horizontal width to vertical height) of most television screens is 4:3. A wide display format ratio of, for example, 16:9 is closer to that of a movie. The present invention is applicable to both direct-viewing television and projection television.

Televisions with a display format ratio of 4:3 (often referred to as 4x3) are limited in their ability to display single and multiple video sources. Television signals transmitted by commercial television broadcasters (with the exception of experimental material) are broadcast in a 4×3 display format. Many television viewers feel that the 4×3 display format does not look as pleasing as the wider display formats associated with movies. Wide display format TVs not only display more pleasing effects, but also can display wide display format source signals in corresponding wide display formats. A movie should "look" like a movie, not a frame-limited or distorted version of it. The video source should not be frame limited whether it is converted from film to television eg by a telecine player, or converted by a processor in the television.

The wide display format is also suitable for a wide variety of displays than television, both for common and wide display format signals, and for the combined display of these two display formats in the form of multi-image display. But using wide aspect ratio screens brings many problems. To change the display format ratio of multiple signal sources, to generate consistent timing signals from asynchronous but simultaneously displayed signal sources, to switch between multiple signal sources to produce multi-image displays, and to generate multiple image displays from compressed data Signals provide high-definition images, which fall within the scope of the above-mentioned problems. The wide screen television of the present invention can solve all these problems. Widescreen televisions designed in accordance with the various aspects of the present invention are capable of providing high definition single and multiple image displays from single and multiple sources of the same or different display format ratios, and the display format ratios can be selected.

Wide display format ratio televisions can be implemented in television systems that display video signals in both interlaced and non-interlaced modes at the fundamental or standard horizontal scanning frequency and multiples thereof. For example, a standard NTSC video signal is displayed by interlacing the successive fields of each video frame, each field being generated by a raster formed by a sweeping action at a basic or standard horizontal scanning frequency of about 15,734 Hz. The basic scanning frequency of a video signal has various names: f, 1f, and 1H are all. The actual frequency of the 1f signal varies with different video standards. In order to improve the image quality of television equipment, a television system that displays video signals line by line in a non-interlaced manner has been developed. Progressive scanning requires that each display frame be scanned in the same amount of time that is allocated to scanning one of the two fields of an interlaced format. An AA-BB display without flickering requires scanning each field twice in succession. In each case, the horizontal scanning frequency must be twice the standard horizontal frequency. This scanning frequency for progressive or flicker-free displays has various names: 2f and 2H. The scanning frequency of 2f is, for example, approximately 31,468 Hz according to US standards.

Most of the signal processing on the main video signal is necessary to realize the multiple display formats especially suitable for wide screen television. The video data must be selectively compressed and expanded according to the required format. For example, in one case it is necessary to compress 4x3 NTSC video by a factor of 4/3 or 4:3 to avoid display aspect ratio distortion. In another case, for example, a video is extended to achieve a horizontal zoom operation normally done by a vertical zoom. Horizontal zoom operations of up to 33% can be achieved by performing compression below 4/3, eg 5/4. The sample interpolator is used to recalculate new pixel positions for the input video, since the luma video bandwidth of S-VHS format up to 5.5MHz occupies a large percentage of the Nyquist folding frequency, which is 8MHz for the 1024f system clock .

The main signal luma data path is the main signal path consisting of a FIFO (first in first out) line store for compressing (pausing) and expanding (repeating) the data and an interpolator for recomputing the samples to smooth the data. However, the relative positions of the FIFO and the interpolator are different when compressed than when expanded. In accordance with the design of the present invention, the switch or router inverts the topology of the main signal path relative to the location of the FIFO and interposer, eliminating the need for two main signal paths requiring two FIFOs and two interposers . Specifically, these switches select whether the interpolator is placed before the FIFO as required by compression or after the FIFO as required by expansion. The switch responds to a routing control circuit controlled by a microprocessor.

The interpolator control circuit generates pixel position values, interpolation compression filter weights and clock gating information for the luminance data. The FIFO data is paused (decimated) or repeated by clock gating information so that samples are not written at certain clock times to perform compression, or certain samples are read out multiple times for expansion. To handle 4/3 compression, eg 4/3 means the ratio of the number of input samples to the number of output samples, every 3 samples are disabled from being written to the FIFO. The ramp readout of the luma FIFO has an average slope that is 33% steeper than the corresponding input ramp. Note that the effective read time required to read the ramp is reduced by 33% compared to the time required to write the data. This constitutes 4/3 compression. The function of the interpolator is to recalculate the luma samples written to the FIFO so that the data read from the FIFO is smooth rather than jagged.

Expansion can be achieved in the exact opposite way of compression. When compressed, the write enable signal has clock gating information in the form of an inhibit pulse for writing to the output FIFO. To expand the data, clock gating information is added to the read enable signal. The data is interrupted when read from the FIFO. The average slope of the luma FIFO ramp readout signal is 33% shallower than the corresponding input ramp at 3/4 extension or zoom. In this case, the interpolator function is to recompute the FIFO jagged samples to smooth after expansion. When expanding, the data must be suspended while reading from the FIFO and writing to the interpolator. This differs from compression where the data is continuously recorded through the interpolator. Clock gating operations can be easily implemented in a synchronous manner for both compression and expansion cases, ie events can occur on the rising edge of the 1024f system clock.

For luminance interpolation, this topology has many advantages. Clock gating operations, ie, data decimation and data repetition, can be performed in a synchronous manner. If the switchable video datapath topology were not used to swap the interpolator and FIFO locations, the read or write clock would require a doubled clock to pause or repeat the data. The term double clock means that two data points have to be written into the FIFO within a single clock cycle or read out from the FIFO within a single clock cycle. The resulting circuit cannot run synchronously with the system clock because the write or read clock frequency must be twice the system clock frequency. However, switchable topologies require only one interpolator and one FIFO to perform compression and expansion. Compression and expansion can only be accomplished by using two FIFOs to avoid the double clock situation without using the video path switch layout described in this article. For expansion, a FIFO needs to be placed before the interpolator, and for compression, it needs to be placed after the interpolator.

A circuit for compressing and expanding video data includes a first line memory and an interpolator. The timing circuit generates control signals for writing data to and reading data from the line memory to compress and expand the data. The interpolator smoothes the compressed or expanded data in the FIFO line store. a switch network selectively forming a first signal path in which the line memory precedes the interpolator to effectuate the data expansion and a second signal path in which the interpolator precedes the line memory to effectuate the data compression path. The switching network is controlled, for example by a microprocessor, according to the selected display format which requires compression or expansion.

In accordance with the circuitry of the present invention, a television system for horizontal picture capture includes a video display having a wide display format ratio for displaying television signals. The signal processor has an interpolator and a first-in-first-line memory with asynchronous write and read ports for selectively expanding and compressing the images represented by the data in the television signal. By controlling the writing of the data into the line memory, the picture is trimmed to define sub-pictures of the displayed image. A microprocessor for control provides selectable time width and selectable phase control signals associated with the synchronizing component of said television signal. to select the border of the displayed sub-picture. The microprocessor can select the time width and phase according to the user's command.

Figures 1(a)-1(i) illustrate different display formats for wide-screen television.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a wide screen television adapted to operate at 2f for horizontal scanning in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wide screen processor shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the wide screen processor shown in FIG. 3 in greater detail.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the picture-in-picture processor shown in FIG. 4 .

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of the gate array shown in Fig. 4, showing the main signal path, the auxiliary signal path and the output signal path.

Figures 7 and 8 are timing diagrams useful in explaining the process of producing a display format with a very frame-constrained signal as shown in Figure 1(d).

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the main signal path of FIG. 6 in greater detail.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the auxiliary signal path of FIG. 6 in greater detail.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the timing and control portion of the picture-in-picture processor of FIG. 5. FIG.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram of a circuit for generating an internal 2f signal in a 1f to 2f conversion.

FIG. 13 is a combined block diagram and circuit diagram of the deflection circuit shown in FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the RGB interface shown in FIG. 2 .

Fig. 15 shows waveforms for explaining image compression.

Fig. 16 shows waveforms for explaining image expansion.

Fig. 17 is a diagram for explaining trimming of a zoomed image.

18 and 19 are timing charts for explaining horizontal pickup of trimmed images.

Portions of Figure 1 illustrate some, but not all, various combinations of single and multiple image display formats that may be implemented in various designs of the present invention. All selected here are examples for the ease of explanation of the specific circuit that constitutes the wide-screen TV according to the design of the present invention. The designs of the present invention lead in some cases to their own display formats, in addition to dedicated initial circuitry. For purposes of illustration and discussion, a conventional display format aspect ratio of a video source or signal is generally assumed to be 4x3, and a video source or signal's widescreen display format aspect ratio is generally assumed to be 16x9. The individual configurations of the invention are not restricted by these provisions.

Figure 1(a) shows a direct view or projection television with a typical display format ratio of 4x3. When a 16×9 display format image is transmitted as a 4×3 display format signal, black stripes appear at the top and bottom of the screen, which is commonly referred to as letterbox format. The image seen at this time is smaller than the entire available display area. Otherwise, the signal source with a display format ratio of 16×9 can also be converted before transmission so that it fills the vertical direction of the 4×3 display format picture. But then there will be a lot of information may be limited from the left and or right frame. Alternatively, the letterboxed image can be extended vertically but not horizontally, so that the resulting image is distorted by the vertical extension. None of these three approaches is particularly desirable.

Figure 1(b) shows a 16x9 screen. The video source with 16×9 display format ratio can be fully displayed, and the frame is neither limited nor distorted. The letterbox image of 16×9 display format ratio is itself in the signal of 4×3 display format ratio. This image can be scanned progressively by doubling or adding rows to provide sufficient vertical Larger format display for clarity. No matter the signal source is the main signal source, the auxiliary signal source or the external RGB signal source, the wide-screen TV of the present invention can display the signal with the display format ratio of 16×9.

Figure 1(c) shows the main signal for a 16x9 display format ratio, in which an inset for a 4x3 display format ratio is displayed. If both the main video signal and the auxiliary video signal are signal sources with a display format ratio of 16×9, the display format ratio of the illustration can also be 16×9. Insets can be displayed in many different positions.

In the display format shown in FIG. 1(d), both the main video signal and the auxiliary video signal are displayed with images of the same size. The display format ratio of each display area is 8×9, which is of course different from the display format ratios of 16×9 and 4×3. To display a 4x3 display format ratio source on such a display area without horizontal or vertical distortion, the signal must be frame limited on the left and/or right. If the aspect ratio is allowed to be somewhat distorted due to the image being squeezed in the horizontal direction, more images can be displayed with less frame limitation. Squeeze Horizontally stretches objects in the image vertically. The wide-screen television of the present invention can provide any combination of "frame limited" and "aspect ratio distortion" in the following combination range, that is, one extreme of this range is: the maximum "frame limited" "limited" with no "aspect ratio distortion"; at the other extreme: no "frame limited" combined with maximum "aspect ratio distortion".

The data sampling limitations in the auxiliary video signal processing path complicate the overall signal processing to produce a display image of high definition and image size as large as that produced by the main video signal. There are various approaches to solving these complex problems.

The display format of FIG. 1( e ) is to display an image with a display format ratio of 14×3 at the central portion of the screen with a display format ratio of 16×9. The black bars on the right and left are noticeable.

The display format shown in Figure 1(f) simultaneously displays one large image with a 4x3 display format ratio and three smaller images with a 4x3 display format ratio. A display format with a smaller image outside the perimeter of the larger image is sometimes called POP, or Picture Outside Picture, rather than PIP (Picture in Picture). Here, the term PIP or picture-in-picture is used for both display formats. In the case where the wide-screen TV is provided with two tuners, no matter whether the two tuners are located inside or configured one inside and one outside (such as in a video cassette recorder), it is possible to make the two images in each display image The image shows real-time motion consistent with the signal source. The remaining images can be displayed in freeze frame format. It will be appreciated that more than two moving pictures can be provided by adding additional tuners and additional auxiliary signal processing paths. It should not be difficult to understand that the positions of the large image and the three small images can be swapped, as shown in Figure 1(g).

Another kind of display format shown in Fig. 1 (h) is: a 4 * 3 display format ratio image is in the middle, and 6 smaller images of 4 * 3 display format ratio arranged in columns are respectively on both sides. As with the above formats, a widescreen TV with two tuners can provide two moving images. The remaining 11 images are displayed in freeze frame format.

Fig. 1(i) shows a display format of a grid consisting of twelve 4x3 display format ratio images. This display format is particularly suitable as a channel selection guide in which each image is a freeze frame of at least one different channel. As before, the number of moving pictures depends on the number of tuners and signal processing channels available.

The various formats shown in Figure 1 are illustrative only, and not limiting, and may be implemented in wide screen television as shown in the following figures and described in detail below.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a wide-screen television adapted to work in a 2f _H horizontal scanning mode according to the present invention, which is generally numbered 10 . Wide-screen TV 10 generally includes video signal input part 20, chassis or TV microprocessor 216, wide-screen processor 30, _1fH - _2fH converter 40, deflection circuit 50, RGB interface 60, YUV-RGB converter 240, display Picture tube driver 242, direct view or projection picture tube 244 and power supply 70. The grouping of various circuits into different functional blocks is done for convenience of description, and it is not intended to limit the actual placement of these circuits with each other.

The video signal input section 20 is used to receive a plurality of composite video signals from different video sources. The video signals can be selectively switched so that they are displayed as main video signals and auxiliary video signals. The RF switch 204 has two antenna input terminals ANT1 and ANT2. These are the inputs for receiving the signal from the broadcast antenna and the signal from the cable, respectively. The RF switch 204 controls which of the inputs is provided to the first tuner 206 and the second tuner 208 . The output terminal of the first tuner 206 is the input terminal of the single chip 202, and the single chip 202 performs a series of functions related to tuning, horizontal and vertical deflection, and video control. The specific single chip shown in the figure is called a TA7730 type chip in the electronics industry. The baseband video signal VIDEO OUT produced by the single chip according to the signal from the first tuner 206 is output to the input terminal of the image switch 200 and the widescreen processor 30 TVI. The other baseband video inputs to video switch 200 are named AUX1 and AUX2. They are used in television cameras, laser disc players, video players, video game consoles, and more. The output of the video switch 200 is controlled by the chassis or television microprocessor 216 and is named SWITCHED VIDEO (switched video). SWITCHEDVIDEO is another input to the widescreen processor 30.

See Figure 3 again. The switch SW1 widescreen processor selects one of the two signals TV1 and SWITCHED VIDEO as the SEL COMP OUT video signal, which is an input signal of the Y/C decoder 210. Y/C decoder 210 may be an adaptive row comb filter. The other two video sources S1 and S2 are also inputs to the Y/C decoder 210 . S1 and S2 each represent a different S-VHS source, each consisting of separate luminance and chrominance signals. There is a switch, either as part of the Y/C decoder (as in some adaptive line comb filters) or as a discrete switch, which responds to the television microprocessor 216 to select a pair of chrominance and chrominance signals as outputs named Y_M and C_IN respectively. The selected pair of luminance and chrominance signals is then used as the main signal and processed along the main signal path. Signal names containing _M or _MN in the signal name refer to the main signal path. The widescreen processor reintroduces the chrominance signal C_IN back to the single chip to generate color difference signals U_M and V_M. Here, U corresponds to (R-Y), and V corresponds to (B-Y). Y_M, U_M and V_M signals are converted to digital form in the widescreen processor for further signal processing.

The second tuner 208 is functionally part of the widescreen processor 30 and generates the baseband video signal TV2. Switch SW2 selects a signal between TV2 and SWITCHED VIDEO as an input to Y/C decoder 220. Y/C decoder 220 may be an adaptive row comb filter. Switches SW3 and SW4 select signals between the luminance and chrominance outputs, respectively, of Y/C decoder 220 and the luminance and chrominance signals from an external video source, designated Y_EXT and C_EXT, respectively. The Y_EXT and C_EXT signals correspond to the S_VHS input S1. Y/C decoder 220 and switches SW3 and SW4 may be combined as in some adaptive comb filters. Thereafter, the outputs of switches SW3 and SW4 are used as auxiliary signals and processed along the auxiliary signal path. The selected luminance output is named Y_A. Signal names labeled _A, _AX, and _AUX refer to auxiliary signal paths. The selected chrominance outputs are converted into color-difference signals U_A and V_A. The Y_A, U_A and V_A signals are converted into digital form for further signal processing. The switching design of the video signal source on the main signal and the auxiliary signal path allows the management process of the signal source selection of each different part of different image display formats to achieve maximum flexibility.

The widescreen processor supplies sync separator 212 with composite sync signal COMP SYNC corresponding to Y_M. The horizontal and vertical synchronous components H and V serve as inputs to the vertical countdown circuit 214, respectively. The vertical countdown circuit produces a VERTICAL RESET (vertical reset) signal that is added to the widescreen processor 30. The wide-screen processor generates an internal vertical reset output signal INTVERTRST OUT and supplies it to the RGB interface 60 . A switch in the RGB interface selects the signal between the internal vertical reset output signal and the vertical sync component of the external RGB source. The output of this switch is the selected vertical sync component SEL_VERT_SYNC which is directed to deflection circuit 50 . Horizontal and vertical sync signals for the auxiliary video signal are generated by sync separator 250 in the widescreen processor.

The 1f _H -2f _H converter 40 is used to convert an interlaced video signal into a progressive non-interlaced signal, such as one in which each horizontal line is displayed twice or another set of horizontal lines is generated by interpolating adjacent horizontal lines of the same field. OK signal. In some cases, the use of the previous line or the use of an interpolated line depends on the level of movement detected between adjacent fields or frames. Conversion circuit 40 works in conjunction with video RAM.420. Video RAM can be used to store one or more fields of a frame so that they can be displayed sequentially. The converted video data is applied to the RGB interface 60 as Y_2f _H , U_2f _H and V_2f _H signals.

The RGB interface 60, shown in more detail in FIG. 14, allows converted video data or external RGB video data to be selected by the video signal input section for display. The external RGB signal can be regarded as a wide display format ratio signal suitable for 2f scanning. The widescreen processor supplies the vertical synchronous component of the main signal to the RGB interface as INT VERT RST OUT, so that the deflection circuit 50 can obtain the selected vertical synchronous signal (fvm or fvest). When the wide-screen TV is working, the TV user can select the external RGB signal by generating the internal/external control signal INT/EXT. However, when the external RGB signal input is selected without the external RGB signal, the grating will disappear in the vertical direction and damage the cathode ray tube or projection display tube. Therefore, in order not to select the external RGB input in the absence of the signal, the RGB interface circuit detects the external synchronous signal. WSP microprocessor 340 also controls the color and hue of the external RGB signals.

The widescreen processor 30 includes a picture-in-picture processor 320 for performing special signal processing on the auxiliary video signal. The term picture-in-picture is sometimes abbreviated to PIP or pix-in-pix. Gate array 300 combines the main and auxiliary video signal data into a variety of display formats, as shown in the examples of FIGS. 1(b) through 1(i). The picture-in-picture processor 320 and gate array 300 are under the control of a wide-screen microprocessor (WSPμP) 340 . Microprocessor 340 is responsive to television microprocessor 216 via a serial bus. The serial bus includes four signal lines for data, clock signal, start signal and reset signal. The widescreen processor 30 also generates a composite vertical blanking/reset signal as a three levels and castle signal. Alternatively, the vertical blanking and reset signals can also be generated separately as separate signals. The composite blanking signal is supplied to the RGB interface by the video signal input part.

Deflection circuit 50 (this is shown in more detail in Figure 13) receives a vertical reset signal from the widescreen processor, a selected 2f _H horizontal sync signal from RGB interface 60 and other control signals from the widescreen processor. These additional control signals are related to horizontal phasing, vertical size adjustment, and east-west pin adjustment. The deflection circuit 50 supplies the _2fH retrace pulse to the widescreen processor 30, _{the 1fH} - _2fH converter 40, and the YUV-RGB converter 240.

The power supply 70 is powered by AC mains and generates the working voltage of the whole wide-screen TV.

Figure 3 shows the widescreen processor 30 in more detail. The main components of the widescreen processor are gate array 300 , picture-in-picture circuit 301 , analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters, second tuner 208 , widescreen processor microprocessor 340 and widescreen output encoder 227 . Figure 4 shows the widescreen processor in greater detail (eg PIP circuit), which is common to the 1f _H and 2f _H chassis. FIG. 5 shows the picture-in-picture processor 320 forming the main part of the PIP circuit 301 in more detail. FIG. 6 shows gate array 300 in more detail. The series of components shown in Figure 3 that make up each part of the main and auxiliary signal paths have already been described in detail.

The second tuner 208 is connected to an intermediate frequency stage 224 and an audio stage 226 . The second tuner 208 also works in conjunction with the WSP μP 340. The WSPμP 340 includes an input/output I/O section 340A and an analog output section 340B. I/O section 340A provides hue and color control signals, INT/EXT signals for selecting an external RGB video source, and control signals for switches SW1 through SW6. The I/O section also monitors the EXT SYNC DET signal from the RGB interface to protect the deflection circuit and cathode ray tube. Analog output section 340B provides control signals for vertical size, east-west adjustment and horizontal phase through respective interface circuits 254, 256 and 258.

Gate array 300 is responsible for combining video information from the main and auxiliary signal paths to achieve a composite widescreen display, such as the one shown in various parts of FIG. The PLL 374 and the low-pass filter 376 work together to provide the clock pulse information of the gate array. The main video signal is supplied to the widescreen processor in analog form and in YUV format as signals named Y_M, U_M and V_M. These main signals are converted from analog to digital form by analog-to-digital converters 342 and 346 shown in more detail in FIG. 4 .

The color component signals are denoted by the general designations U and V, and these signals are either assignable to RY or BY signals or to I and Q signals. The sampled luminance bandwidth is limited to 8 MHz because the system is clocked at 1024f _H , which is about 16 MHz. Since the U and V signals are limited to 500 kHz or 1.5 MHz for a width of I, a single analog-to-digital converter and an analog switch can be used for sampling the color component data. The select line UV_MUX of the analog switch or multiplexer 344 is an 8 MHz signal obtained by dividing the system clock pulse by two. A line start pulse SOL having a width of one clock signal synchronously resets this signal to 0 at the beginning of each horizontal video line. The UV_MUX line then toggles its state every clock cycle within the entire horizontal row. Since the line length is equal to an even number of clock pulse periods, the state of UV_MUX will always be flipped without interruption once it is started: 0, 1, 0, 1, .... Both the Y and UV data streams from A-to-D converters 342 and 346 are shifted due to a 1 clock period delay in each A-to-D converter. To accommodate this data shift, the clock gating information from the interpolator controller 349 in the main signal processing path 304 must be similarly delayed. Without delaying the clock gating information, the UV data will not be properly paired when erased. This is important because each UV pair represents a vector. It is not possible to pair the U component of one vector with the V component of another vector without causing a color shift. Instead, the previous pair of V samples will be deleted together with the current U sample. Since each pair of color component (U, V) samples has two luminance samples, this UV multiplexing method is called a 2:1:1 modulation method. This effectively reduces the Nyquist frequency of both U and V to half the luminance Nyquist frequency. Thus the Nyquist frequency of the A/D converter output for the luminance component is 8 MHz and the Nyquist frequency of the A/D converter output for the color component is 4 MHz.

The PIP circuit and/or gate array may also include means for improving the clarity of the auxiliary data despite data compression. A range of data reduction and data recovery schemes have been developed to date, including eg pairwise pixel compression and dithering and dedithering. Also considered are different dither tuning sequences involving different bit numbers and different pairwise pixel compressions involving different bit numbers. WSPµP 340 can select one of a series of specific data reduction and restoration schemes to achieve the highest resolution of the displayed image for each specific type of image display format.

The gate array includes interpolators working in conjunction with the respective row stores, which in turn may be FIFOs 356 and 358 . Interpolators and FIFOs are used to resample the main signal when necessary. An additional interpolator resamples the auxiliary signal. Clocking and synchronization circuits in the gate array control the data management process for both the main and auxiliary signals, including composing them into a single output video signal with Y_MX, U_MX and V_MX components. These output components are converted to analog form by digital-to-analog converters 360, 362 and 364. The signals in analog form, designated Y, U and V, are applied to a 1f _H - 2f _H converter 40 for conversion to non-interlaced scanning mode. The Y, U and V signals are also encoded into Y/C format by encoder 227 to form wide format ratio output signals Y_OUT_EXT/C_OUT-EXT available at the panel jack. The switch SW5 selects the synchronous signal C_SYNC-MN from the gate array for the encoder 227, or selects the synchronous signal C_SYNC-AUX from the PIP circuit. Switch SW6 selects the signal between Y_M and C_SYNC_AUX as the sync signal at the output of the widescreen panel.

Figure 12 shows the various parts of the horizontal synchronization circuit in more detail. Phase comparator 228 is part of a phase locked loop that includes low pass filter 230 , voltage controlled oscillator 232 , divider 234 and capacitor 236 . A voltage controlled oscillator 232 operates at a frequency of 32f _H in response to a ceramic resonator or the like 238 . The output of the VCO is divided by 32 to generate a second input signal of the correct frequency to the phase comparator 228 . The output of divider 234 is the 1f _H REF timing signal. The 32f _H REF and 1f _H REF timing signals are divided by 16 by counter 400 . The 2f _H output is provided to pulse width circuit 402 . The preset divider 400 using the 1f _H REF signal ensures that the divider operation is synchronized with the phase locked loop of the video signal input section. The pulse width circuit 402 ensures that the _2fH -REF signal has the proper pulse width to ensure proper operation of a phase comparator 404, such as a CA1391 type, which forms a second lock comprising a low pass filter 406 and a _2fH voltage controlled oscillator 408 phase ring part. The VCO 408 generates an internal 2f _H timing signal for driving progressive scan displays. Another input signal to phase comparator 404 is the 2f _H retrace pulse or a timing signal related thereto. A second phase locked loop including a phase comparator 404 is used to ensure that each 2f _H scan period is symmetrical within each 1f _H input signal period. Otherwise, the display will exhibit raster cracks, eg, half of the video line is shifted to the right and the other half of the image is shifted to the left.

Figure 13 shows the deflection circuit 50 in more detail. Circuit 500 is used to adjust the vertical size of the raster according to the desired amount of vertical overscan required to achieve different display formats. As shown in the schematic diagram, the constant current source 502 provides a constant current I _RAMP to charge the vertical ramp capacitor 504 . Transistor 506 is connected in parallel with the vertical ramp capacitor which is periodically discharged in response to the vertical reset signal. Current I _RAMP causes the vertical dimension of the raster to be the maximum achievable without any adjustment. This may be equivalent to the amount of vertical overscan required when an expanded 4x3 display format ratio source fills a widescreen display (as shown in Figure 1a). In the case of smaller raster vertical dimension requirements, adjustable current source 508 diverts current I _ADJ of variable magnitude from I _RAMP , causing vertical ramp capacitor 504 to charge at a slower rate and to a smaller peak value . The variable current source 508 is responsive to a vertical size adjustment signal, eg in analog form, generated by the vertical size control circuit. The vertical size adjustment circuit 500 has nothing to do with the manual vertical size adjustment circuit 510, which can be a potentiometer or a back panel adjustment button. In either case, the vertical deflection coil 512 receives an appropriate amount of drive current. The horizontal deflection signal is provided by phase modulation circuit 518 , east-west pincushion correction circuit 514 , 2f _H phase locked loop 520 and horizontal output circuit 516 .

Figure 14 shows the RGB interface circuit 60 in more detail. The final signal to be displayed is selected between the output of the 1f _H -2f _H converter 40 and the input of the external RGB. The wide-screen TV described here assumes that the external RGB input is a progressive-scan source with a wide-format aspect ratio. The external RGB signal and composite blanking signal from the video signal input section 20 are input into the RGB-YUV converter 610 . The outer 2f composite sync signal of the outer RGB signal is used as the input of the outer sync demultiplexer 600 . Selecting the vertical sync signal is performed by switch 608 . Selecting the horizontal sync signal is performed by switch 604 . Selecting the video signal is performed by switch 606 . Each switch 604, 606 and 608 responds to internal/external control signals generated by WSP μP 340. The selection of internal or external video source is made by the user. However, if the user accidentally selects an external RGB source, when the signal source is not connected or not connected or if the external signal source is lost, the vertical grating will disappear, which will cause serious damage to the cathode ray tube. Therefore, the external sync detector 602 detects whether there is an external sync signal. In the absence of such a signal, there is a switch deny control signal to each of the switches 604, 606 and 608 to prevent selection of an external RGB source by these switches in the absence of a signal. RGB-YUV converter 610 also receives hue and color control signals from WSP μP 340 .

The wide-screen television of the present invention can be implemented with 1f _H horizontal scanning instead of 2f _H horizontal scanning, but the circuit for 1f _H horizontal scanning is not shown here. A 1f _H circuit may not need a 1f _H -2f _H converter and RGB interface. There is therefore no measure for displaying external wide format display ratio RGB signals at 2f _H scanning frequency. The widescreen processor is very similar to the picture-in-picture processor of the 1f _H circuit. Gate arrays are basically the same, but not all inputs and outputs are used. The resolution enhancement schemes described here generally apply to televisions operating in either 1f _H scan or 2f _H scan mode.

The block diagram of Figure 4 shows in greater detail details of the widescreen processor 30 shown in Figure 3, which is the same for both the 1f _H and 2f _H chassis. The Y_A, U_A and V_A signals are an input to the picture-in-picture processor 320 , which may include a resolution processing circuit 370 . Wide screen televisions according to these aspects of the invention can expand and compress video. The special effects embodied in the composite display format shown in part in FIG. V_RP. It is not necessary to use sharpness processing all the time, but it should be used when the display format is selected. Figure 5 shows the picture-in-picture processor 320 in more detail. The main components of the picture-in-picture processor are analog-to-digital conversion section 322 , input section 324 , fast switch (FSW) and bus section 326 , timing and control section 328 , and digital-to-analog conversion section 330 . The timing and control section 328 is shown in more detail in FIG. 11 .

Picture-in-picture processor 320 may employ a modified version of the basic CPIP chip developed by Thomson Consumer Electronics. The basic CPIP chip is more fully described in a publication entitled "CTC 140 Picture-in-Picture (CPIP) Technology Training Manual" available from Thomson Consumer Electronics, Indianapolis, Indiana. This processor can make it have a series of special features or special effects, a few examples are given below. The basic special effect is a small image superimposed on a part of a large image as shown in Fig. 1(c). Large and small images can be generated from the same video signal or from different video signals, and can be interchanged or replaced. In general, the audio signal is always switched so as to correspond to the large picture. The small image can be moved to any position on the screen or progressively moved into a series of predetermined positions. The variable focal length feature allows small images to be enlarged and reduced to, for example, any predetermined size. Sometimes, such as in the display format shown in Figure 1(d), the large and small images are actually the same size.

In a single-image display state, such as that shown in Figure 1(b), 1(e) or 1(f), the user can, for example, step by step from 1.0:1 to 5.0:1 The image of the image is enlarged by zooming. At the same time, in the zoom mode, the user can search or scan the entire screen, so that the images on the screen can move across different image areas. In both cases, whether it is a small image, a large image or a zoomed image, it can be displayed in a freeze frame (still image format). This feature enables strobe display formats, where the last nine frames of the video signal are displayed repeatedly on the screen. The frame repetition rate can be changed from 30 frames/s to 0 frames/s.

The picture-in-picture processor used in the wide-screen TV of another design of the present invention is different from the current structure of the above-mentioned basic CPIP chip. If the basic CPIP chip is used with a TV with a 16×9 screen and the video speed-up circuit is not used, the actual horizontal expansion will be 4/3 times due to scanning across the wider 16×9 screen, so that the illustration will appear width and height than the phenomenon of distortion. Then the real object in the image may be stretched horizontally. If an external speed-up circuit is used, there will be no aspect ratio distortion, but the image will not occupy the entire screen.

Existing picture-in-picture processors based on the basic CPIP chip used for conventional televisions behave in a certain way with somewhat undesirable results. The input video signal is locked to the 640f _H clock of the main video source's horizontal sync signal for sampling. In other words, the data stored in the video RAM associated with the CPIP chip is not quadrature sampled with respect to the input auxiliary video signal source. This is a fundamental limitation of the basic CPIP approach to field synchronization. The non-orthogonal nature of the input sampling frequency results in diamond-shaped errors in the sampled data. This limitation is a consequence of the video RAM used for the CPIP chip, which must use the same clock for writing and reading data. When displaying data from a video RAM such as video RAM 350, the diamond errors appear as random jitter along the vertical boundaries of the image, and these errors are generally considered to be very undesirable.

The picture-in-picture processor 320, which is another design of the present invention than the basic CPIP chip, is adapted to asymmetrically compress video data into one of multiple display states. In this operating state, the images are compressed 4:1 in the horizontal direction and 3:1 in the vertical direction. Asymmetrical compression produces aspect ratio distorted images stored in video RAM. Each object in the image is extruded in the horizontal direction. But if the data is read out for display by a wide-screen TV (especially a wide-screen TV with a 16*9 display format ratio screen) in a normal manner, the objects in the image will look normal. The image fills the screen without image aspect ratio distortion. The asymmetrical compression scheme according to this aspect of the invention makes it possible to produce special display formats on a 16x9 screen without the need for an external speed up circuit.

Figure 11 is a block diagram of the timing and control section 328 of a picture-in-picture processor (such as an improved version of the CPIP chip described above), which includes a decimation circuit 328C for performing asymmetrical processing on more than one of the selectable display modes compression. The remaining display modes provide auxiliary images of different sizes. Each horizontal and vertical decimation circuit contains counters under the control of WSPμP 340 that program the compression factor according to a table of values. The value range can be 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and so on. According to the table setting method, the compression factor can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, and the control of the compression ratio can also be realized by a fully programmable general-purpose sampling circuit under the control of WSPμP 340.

In the full-screen PIP state, the picture-in-picture processor combined with the self-oscillating oscillator 348 will take the Y/C input from a decoder (such as an adaptive comb filter) and decode the signal into Y, U, V color components and generate horizontal and vertical sync pulses. These signals are processed in the picture-in-picture processor for various full-screen display modes such as focus, freeze frame and channel scan. For example, during the channel scan display mode, since the sampled signals (different channels) will have uncorrelated sync pulses and will be switched regardless of the synchronization between the various signal sources, the level and The vertical sync pulse will have many discontinuities. The sample clock pulses and the read/write video RAM clock pulses are thus determined by the free running oscillator 348 . In freeze frame and zoom modes, the sample clock is locked to the horizontal sync pulse of the incoming video, which in these special cases is the same frequency as the display clock.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the Y, U, V, and C_SYNC (composite sync) outputs in analog form from the picture-in-picture processor can be re-encoded into Y/C components by encoding circuit 366, which is coupled to 3.58 MHz oscillator 380 joint work. The Y/C_RIP_ENC signal can be connected to a Y/C switch (not shown), which allows the re-encoded Y/C component to replace the Y/C component of the main signal. From this point on, the PIP-encoded Y, U, V and sync signals become the basis for the horizontal and vertical timing of the rest of the chassis. This working mode is suitable for implementing the PIP zoom display mode according to the working conditions of the interpolator and FIFO in the main signal path.

Referring again to FIG. 5 , the picture-in-picture processor 320 includes an analog-to-digital conversion part 322 , an input part 324 , a fast switch FSW and a bus control part 326 , a timing and control part 328 and a digital-to-analog conversion part 330 . Typically, the picture-in-picture processor 320 digitizes the video signal into luminance (Y) and color-difference signals (U, V), subsamples the result and stores it in the 1 megabit video RAM 350, as described above like that. The video RAM 350 associated with the picture-in-picture processor 320 has a storage capacity of 1 megabit, which is insufficient to store an entire field of video data with 8 binary bit samples. Increasing the storage capacity is necessarily expensive and requires more complex management circuitry. Reducing the number of bits per sample in the auxiliary channel means reducing the quantization resolution or bandwidth relative to the main signal, which is always processed in 8-bit samples. This bandwidth reduction in practice is usually not a problem when the auxiliary display image is small, but becomes problematic when the auxiliary display image is large, eg, the same size as the main display image. The resolution processing circuit 370 may optionally implement one or more schemes that increase the quantization resolution or effective bandwidth of the auxiliary video data. A range of data reduction and data recovery schemes have been developed to date, including schemes such as pixel-by-pixel compression and dithering and de-dithering. The debounce tuning circuit is operatively disposed downstream of the video RAM 350, for example in the auxiliary signal path of the gate array, as will be described in more detail below. Furthermore, different dithering and dedithering sequences involving different bit numbers and different pairwise pixel compression schemes involving different bit numbers can also be considered. In order to achieve the highest definition of the images displayed in various special image display formats, a program can be selected from a series of data reduction and recovery programs through WSPμP.

Brightness and color difference signals are stored in 8.1:1 six-bit Y, U, V mode. That is, the picture-in-picture processor 320 is operated so that the incoming video data is sampled at a _640fH clock frequency locked to the incoming auxiliary video sync signal. In this way, the data stored in the video RAM is sampled in quadrature. When data is read from the processor-in-picture video RAM 350, it is read using a 640f clock that is also locked to the incoming auxiliary video signal. However, even though this data is quadrature-sampled and stored and can be read out quadrature, it cannot be quadrature-displayed directly from the video RAM 350 due to the asymmetric nature of the main and sub-video signal sources. The main and secondary video sources are only expected to be synchronized if they are display signals from the same video source.

In order to synchronize the auxiliary channel (ie, the output data from video RAM 350) with the main channel, further processing is required. Referring again to FIG. 4, the 8-bit data block from the 4-bit output port of the video RAM is reassembled using two 4-bit latches 352A and 352B. The four-bit latch also reduces the data clock frequency from 1280f _H to 640f _H .

Usually, the video display and deflection system are synchronized with the main video signal. As mentioned above, the main video signal must be sped up to fill the widescreen display. The auxiliary video signal must be vertically synchronized with the primary video signal and with the video display. The auxiliary video signal can be delayed by a fraction of a field period in the field memory and then expanded in the line memory. Synchronization of auxiliary video data with main video data is accomplished using video RAM 350 as field memory and first-in-first-out (FIFO) line memory 354 to expand the signal. The specification of FIFO 354 is 2048×8. The specification of the FIFO is related to the minimum amount of row storage considered necessary to avoid read/write pointer collisions. Read/write pointer collisions occur when old data is read from the FIFO before new data has had a chance to be written to the FIFO. Read/write pointer collisions can also occur when new data overwrites the memory before old data has a chance to be read from the FIFO.

The 8-bit DATA_PIP data block from video RAM 350 is clocked at 640f from the same picture-in-picture processor that was used to sample the video data, (i.e. 640f _H clock locked to the auxiliary signal rather than the main signal) written in 2048×8 FIFO 354. FIFO 354 is read with a display clock pulse of 1024f which is locked to the horizontal sync component of the main video channel. Using a multi-line memory (FIFO) with independent read/write port clock pulses enables quadrature display of data sampled at a first frequency at a second frequency in quadrature. However, due to the asynchronous nature of the read/write clock pulses, various steps do need to be taken to avoid read/write pointer collisions.

FIG. 6 shows the main signal path 304 , the auxiliary signal path 306 and the output signal path 312 of the gate array 300 in block diagram form. The gate array also contains a clock/synchronization circuit 320 and a WSP μP decoder 310 . The data and address output lines of the WSP µP decoder 310, identified as WSP DATA, feed the various main circuits and the aforementioned pathways as well as the picture-in-picture processor 320 and the resolution processing circuit 370. It will be appreciated that whether or not a certain circuit is restricted to be part of a gate array is generally a matter of convenience to the design description of the present invention.

The gate array is used to expand and compress the video data of the main video channel and limit its frame when necessary, so as to realize different image display formats. The luma component Y_MN is stored in first-in-first-out (FIFO) line memory 356 for a length of time depending on the nature of the luma component interpolation. The combined chrominance components U/V-MN are stored in FIFO 358. Auxiliary signal luma and chrominance components Y_PIP, U_PIP and V_PIP are generated by demultiplexer 355 . The luminance component is optionally sharpened in circuit 357 and then optionally expanded by interpolator 359, which produces signal Y_AUX as output.

In some cases, the auxiliary display will be as large as the main signal display, as shown in the example in Figure 1(d). The memory limitations associated with the picture-in-picture processor and video RAM 350 can make the number of data points or pixels needed to fill such a large display area insufficient. In this case, resolution processing circuit 357 may be used to restore pixels to the auxiliary video signal to replace those lost during data compression or downscaling. The sharpness processing may correspond to the sharpness processing performed by the circuit 370 shown in FIG. 4 . For example, circuit 370 may be a dither tuning circuit and circuit 357 may be a de-dither tuning circuit.

The auxiliary video input data is sampled at 640f and stored in video RAM 350. Auxiliary data read out from video RAM 350 is designated as VRAM_OUT. PIP circuit 301 also has the ability to asymmetrically compress auxiliary images by horizontally and vertically equal integer factors. With further reference to FIG. 10, the auxiliary channel data is buffered and synchronized to the main channel digital video signal via 4-bit latches 352A and 352B, auxiliary FIFO 354, timing circuit 369, and synchronization circuit 368. VRAM_OUT data is sorted by demultiplexer 355 into Y (luminance), U, V (color components) and FSW_DAT (fast switch data). FSW_DAT indicates which field type is written to video RAM. The PIP_FSW signal is received directly from the PIP circuit and applied to output control circuit 321 to determine which field read from the video RAM is to be displayed during the small picture mode.

The auxiliary channel is sampled at 640f _H , and the main channel is sampled at 1024f. The auxiliary channel FIFO 354 converts data from the auxiliary channel sample rate to the main channel clock frequency. During this process, the video signal is compressed by 8/5 (ie 1024/640). This is more than 4/3 compression needed to properly display the auxiliary channel signal. Therefore the auxiliary channel must be expanded by means of interpolator 359 in order to correctly display the 4x3 small picture. Interposer 359 is controlled by interpolator control circuit 371, which itself responds to WSP µP 340. The amount of expansion required by the interposer is 5/6. The expansion factor X is determined by the following formula:

X＝(640/1024)*(4/3)＝5/6

The chrominance components U_PIP and V_PIP are delay matched by circuit 367 by a delay time depending on the nature of the interpolation of the luminance components, resulting in output signals U_AUX and V_AUX. The respective Y, U and V components of the main and auxiliary signals are mixed in respective multiplexers 315, 317 and 319 in output signal path 312 by controlling enable signals read out by enable FIFOs 354, 356 and 358. Multiplexers 315 , 317 and 319 are responsive to output multiplexer control circuit 321 . Output multiplexer control circuit 321 is responsive to clock pulse signal CLK, row enable signal SOL, H_COUNT signal, vertical blanking reset signal, and fast switching outputs from the picture-in-picture processor and WSPμP 340. The multiplexed luminance and chrominance components Y_MX, U_MX and V_MX are applied to corresponding digital-to-analog converters 360, 362 and 364, respectively. Each digital-to-analog converter is followed by low-pass filters 361, 363 and 365, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4 . Various functions of the picture-in-picture processor, gate array and data reduction circuit are controlled by WSPμP340. WSPµP340 is connected to TVµP216 by means of a serial bus and responds to TVµP216. The serial bus can be a four-wire bus as shown, ie, lines with data, clock signal, enable signal, and reset signal. WSPμP 340 communicates with the various circuits of the gate array through WSPμP decoder 310 .

Sometimes it is necessary to compress 4×3 NTSC by a compression factor of 4/3 in order to avoid aspect ratio distortion of the displayed image. In other cases, the video may be extended for horizontal zooming, which is usually accompanied by vertical zooming. Up to 33% horizontal zoom operation can be achieved by reducing the compression to less than 4/3. The sample interpolator is used to recalculate the incoming video to a new pixel position, since the luma video bandwidth (up to 5.5 MHz for S-VHS format) accounts for the Nyquist fold over frequency (it A considerable percentage of 8 MHz for a 1024f clock pulse).

As shown in FIG. 6, the luminance data Y_MN passes through the interpolator 337 in the main signal path 304, and the interpolator 337 recalculates the samples according to the video compression or expansion. The function of switches or routers 323 and 331 is to change the layout of the relative position of main signal path 304 with respect to FIFO 356 and interpolator 337. In particular, these switches select: either the interpolator 337 precedes the FIFO 356 as required for compression, or the FIFO 356 precedes the interpolator 337 as required for expansion. Switches 323 and 331 are responsive to routing control circuit 335 which itself is responsive to WSP µP 340 . It should be remembered that the auxiliary video signal is compressed for storage in video RAM 350 during the small picture mode and need only be expanded if practical. Accordingly, no similar switching is required in the auxiliary signal path.

Figure 9 shows the signal path in more detail. The switch 323 is realized by two multiplexers 325 and 327 . The switch 331 is realized by a multiplexer 333 . These three multiplexers respond to routing control circuit 335 which itself responds to WSPμP 340. Horizontal timing/synchronization circuit 339 generates timing signals that control the reading and writing of FIFOs and latches 347 and 351 and multiplexer 353 . The clock signal CLK and the start SOL of the row signal are generated by the clock/synchronization circuit 320 . Analog-to-digital conversion control circuit 369 is responsive to the most significant bits of Y_MIN, WSPμP 340 and UV_MN.

Interpolator control circuit 349 generates intermediate pixel position values (K), interpolator compensation filter weights (C), and clock gating information CGY for luminance and CGUV for color components. The FIFO data is paused (decimated) or repeated by clock gating information so that samples are not written at certain clock times to perform compression, or certain samples are read out multiple times for expansion.

This compression is shown in FIG. 15 . The luma ramp video data written to the FIFO is represented by the LUMA_RAMP_IN line. The WR_EN_MN_Y signal is active high, meaning that data is written to the FIFO when this signal is high. Writing to the FIFO is disabled every 3 samples. The jagged segment LUMA_RAMP_OUT represents the luminance ramp data, which is read from the FIFO if the data is not interpolated first. Note that the ramp readout of the luma FIFO has an average slope that is 33% steeper than the corresponding input ramp. Also note that the effective read time required to read the ramp is reduced by 33% compared to the time required to write the data. This constitutes 4/3 compression. The function of the interpolator 337 is to recalculate the luma samples written to the FIFO so that the data read from the FIFO is smooth rather than jagged.

Expansion can be achieved in the exact opposite way of compression. When compressed, the write enable signal has clock gating information attached to it in the form of an inhibit pulse. To expand the data, clock gating information is added to the read enable signal. The data is suspended when read from FIFO 356, as shown in FIG. The straight line LUMA_RAMP_IN represents data before it is written into FIFO 356 , while the zigzag segment LUMA_RAMP_OUT represents data read out from FIFO 356 . In this case, the interpolator function is to recalculate the FIFO 356 sawtooth sampled data as smooth after expansion. While expanding, the record must be suspended while reading from FIFO 356 and writing to interpolator 337. This differs from compression where the data is continuously passed through the interpolator 337 for recording. For both compression and expansion cases, the clock gating operation can be easily implemented in a synchronous manner, ie, on the rising edge of the 1024f _H system clock.

For luminance interpolation, this topology has many advantages. Clock gating operations, ie, data decimation and data repetition, can be performed in a synchronous manner. If the switchable video datapath topology were not used to swap the interpolator and FIFO locations, the read or write clock would require a doubled clock to pause or repeat the data. The term double clock means that two data points have to be written into the FIFO within a single clock cycle or read out from the FIFO within a single clock cycle. The resulting circuit cannot run synchronously with the system clock because the write or read clock frequency must be twice the system clock frequency. However, switchable topologies require only one interpolator and one FIFO to perform compression and expansion. Without using the video switch design described in this article, compression and expansion can only be done by using two FIFOs to avoid the double clock situation. For expansion, a FIFO needs to be placed before the interpolator, and for compression, it needs to be placed after the interpolator.

Interpolation of the auxiliary signal is performed in auxiliary signal path 306 . PIP circuit 301 controls 6-bit Y, U, V 8:1:1 memory, video RAM 350 to store incoming video data. Video RAM 350 stores two fields of video data in a plurality of memory locations. Each memory cell stores 8-bit data. Each 8-bit memory cell has a 6-bit Y (brightness) sample (sampled at 640f _H ) and 2 other binary bits. These two other bits are used to store fast switching data (FSW_DAT) or some portion of a U or V sample (sampled at 80f _H ). The FSW_DAT data value indicates what type of field is being written to video RAM. Since two fields of data are stored in video RAM 350, and the entire video RAM 350 is read during display time, two fields are read during a display scan. PIP circuit 301 will determine which field to read from memory for display using fast transition data. The PIP circuit always reads the opposite type of field that was written to resolve motion corruption. If the type of field being read is the opposite of the type of field being displayed, the even field stored in video RAM is reversed by deleting the top row of the field when the field is read from memory. The result is that small images maintain correct interlacing and no motion corruption exists.

Clock/synchronization circuit 320 generates the read, write and enable signals needed to manipulate FIFOs 354, 356 and 358. The FIFOs for the main and auxiliary channels are enabled to write data into memory in order to store those portions of each video line required for later display. Data is written from either the main channel or the auxiliary channel (rather than from both) as needed to combine data from sources on the same video line or display lines. The FIFO 354 of the auxiliary channel is written synchronously with the auxiliary video signal, but read from memory synchronously with the main video signal. The main video signal components are synchronously written into the FIFOs 356 and 358 with the main video signal and read out of the memory synchronously with the main video signal. How often the read function toggles between main and auxiliary channels is a function of the particular effect selected.

Various special effects such as frame limited side-by-side images are generated by manipulating the read/write enable control signals of the line memory FIFOs. 7 and 8 show the process of this display format. In the case of side-by-side display images with limited frame size, the write enable control signal (WR_EN_AX) of the 2048×8 FIFO 354 of the auxiliary channel is displayed at (1/2)*(5/12 of the effective line period (post-acceleration) ) = 5/12 or approximately 41%, or 67% of the auxiliary channel effective line period (pre-acceleration), as shown in Figure 7. This corresponds to a frame limitation of approximately 33% (approximately 67% effective image) and a signal interpolation extension of 5/6. In the main video channel (shown in the upper part of Figure 8) the write enable control signal (WR_EN_MN_Y) of the 910*8 FIFOs 356 and 358 is displayed at 67% of the active line period [(1/2)*(4/3)= 0.67] worked within. This equates to about 33% frame limit and a 4/3 compression ratio achieved by the 910×8 FIFO on the main channel video.

In each FIFO, video data is buffered so that it can be read out in time at a specific time. The effective time domain in which data can be read from each FIFO depends on the selected display format. In the example of side-by-side frame limitation shown, the primary channel video is displayed on the left half of the display and the secondary channel video is displayed on the right half of the display. As shown, the arbitrary video portions of the main and auxiliary channel waveforms are different. The read enable control signal (RD_EN_MN) of the main channel 910×8 FIFO is active within 50% of the display active line period of the display, starting with the beginning of active video, followed by the video back porch. The auxiliary channel read enable control signal (RD_EN_AX) is active for the other 50% of the display active line period, beginning with the falling edge of the RD_EN_MN signal and ending with the beginning of the main channel video front porch. It should be noted that the write enable control signals are synchronized with their respective FIFO input data (main or auxiliary) and the read enable control signals are synchronized with the main channel video.

The display format shown in Figure 1(d) is particularly desirable because it allows two nearly full-field images to be displayed side by side. This display is particularly effective and suitable for displays with wide display format ratios such as 16x9. Most NTSC signals are represented in 4×3 format. This is of course equivalent to 12×9. Two NTSC images in a 4x3 display format can be displayed in the same 16x9 display format by either clipping the image by 33% or squeezing the image by 33% (while introducing aspect ratio distortion) than on the display. Depending on the user's preferences, the ratio of image frame limitation to aspect ratio distortion can be set between two extreme values of 0% and 33%. For example, two side-by-side images can be displayed with 16.7% squashed and 16.7% framed.

The horizontal display time for the 16x9 display format is the same as for the 4x3 display format, since both have a nominal line length of 62.5 microseconds. Therefore, in order to maintain the correct aspect ratio of the NTSC video signal without distortion, a speed-up factor equal to 4/3 must be used. This factor of 4/3 is calculated as the ratio of the two display formats:

4/3＝(16/9)/(4/3)

According to various aspects of the present invention, an adjustable interpolator is used to speed up the video signal. In the past, FIFOs with different clock frequencies at the input and output have been used to perform the same function. In contrast, if two NTSC 4×3 display format ratio signals are displayed on a single 4×3 display format ratio display, each image will inevitably be distorted or the frame is limited or both, and its amount reaches 50% . A similar acceleration to that required for widescreen is not necessary.

In any of the above-mentioned operation modes, such as side by side PIP or POP, the main picture can be zoomed in, that is, zoomed in horizontally, vertically, or both. In any of these modes mentioned here, the frame is zoomed horizontally up to the point where the frame must be cropped, it is advantageous for the user to be able to control the capture of the horizontal frame and thus be able to choose which part of the frame is in the when to see. As explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 8, control of horizontal frame capture is desirable for both extended mode (zoom main frame) and compressed mode (side by side frame). The upper left corner of FIG. 8 shows alternative interconnection methods for the main FIFO 356 and the main interposer 337 . The main signal path is shown in more detail in Figure 11. As these figures represent, the topology of the main signal path differs depending on whether the system is in expansion mode or compression mode. The horizontal frame capture presented here, circuit implementation is independent of these modes and is operable for each mode. For convenience only, the following discussion refers only to the main luma channel. The same uptake implementation is also valid for the primary chrominance (U.V) channel.

Of course, it should be understood that the ingestion of the main video signal becomes sensitive only when part of the main picture is to be truncated when compressed in side by side mode or expanded in zoom mode. Figure 17 demonstrates the effect of horizontal uptake. The capture of the middle of the frame shows most of the man and most of the dinosaur, while some parts on the right side of the frame and some parts on the left side of the frame have been cut off. The ingest on the right side of the frame shows most of a dinosaur and a human hind leg. Moving to the left shows most of the human and most of the dinosaur's body, but the dinosaur's tail is out of sight.

FIFO's have separate write and read enable signals in the main signal path. This makes it possible to control independently of each other what portion of the television signal is stored in memory and when the signal is displayed. In conclusion, if the signal is expanded and intercepted, this interception process can be done with a write enable signal. In this way, only the video signal to be displayed is stored in the FIFO. Moreover, horizontal frame capture can be achieved by only controlling the write enable window, which is the time interval during which writing to the FIFO can be performed within the active video period. This is illustrated in Figures 18 and 19(a)-19(c). FIG. 18 shows a zoomed television signal, such as the signal corresponding to the picture in FIG. 17. FIG. The television signal is not intended to mimic an actual waveform. Figure 19(a) shows the write enable window timed for the right side of the horizontal uptake. Figure 19(b) shows the write enable window timed for the middle of the horizontal uptake. Figure 19(C) shows the write enable window timed for horizontal ingestion on the left. If the write initiation occurs earlier, the result is similar to a camera capturing the left side, which makes the displayed image appear to scroll towards the right side of the display. Conversely, if the write initiation occurs later, the result is similar to a camera capturing the right, which makes the displayed image appear to scroll to the left of the display.

If the signal is compressed and truncated, the truncation process is accomplished with the write enable signal or with the output MUX control circuit 321 shown in FIG. Clipping in side by side mode can be achieved by switching to the auxiliary channel. However, main signal frame capture can still be achieved by controlling the write enable window as described above.

Depending on where the main image is displayed and the amount of horizontal overscan on the display, a limited amount of horizontal frame capture can be achieved by controlling the read enable window or a combination of read and write enable windows. However, if the read-initiation window is set correctly, it should be sufficient to control the write-initiation window.

Claims (13)

1. the horizontal panning system of a television set has the display unit (244) of a wide display format ratio, and for showing treated vision signal usefulness, described system is characterised in that:

Signal processing apparatus (304), for producing described treated vision signal by the data of handling in the incoming video signal (Y_MN) of at least one presentation video, described signal processing apparatus comprises the storage device (356) that has asynchronous write and read part, so that under at least a display mode, intercept described image selectively, first district of described image is intercepted, and second district of described image then embodies in described treated vision signal; And

Control signal generator means (339), be used for producing write control signal (WR_EN_MN_Y to described storage device (356), WR_EN_MN_UV), described write control signal has a selected phase place relevant with the synchronized component of described at least one incoming video signal, and has selectable time width, for the described image of intercepting, so that under described at least a display mode, form described second district.

2. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described signal processing apparatus (304) comprising:

A signal processing channel has an interpolater (337) and a line storage (356); And

Switching device shifter (323,331,336) is used for switching described interpolater and described line storage at described passage, so that compress and expand described data selectively.

3. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described line storage (356) is first in first out (FIFO) device.

4. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described control signal generator means comprises a microprocessor (310).

5. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that also comprising the device of the described microprocessor of remote control.

6. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that described display unit (244) tool has the dimensions, described at least a display mode comprises first display mode and second display mode, under first display mode, described image all passes through and amplifies and intercepting, described second district is the part through amplify of a described image corresponding to described certain size, and under described second display mode, described image makes it fill up the part of described display unit less than described certain size through intercepting.

7. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described display unit (244) has a direct viewing type cathode ray tube.

8. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described display unit (244) has a CRT projector.

9. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described display unit (244) comprises a LCD.

10. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described signal processing apparatus (304) fills up and intercepts described image greater than zone of described display unit and level and produce described treated vision signal by amplifying described image;

Panning control device (310,339,356), the different piece of selective described image to be to form described treated vision signal, and when choosing described variant part, it is described through enlarged image that described display unit (244) level is swept away picked-up.

11. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that also comprising:

Receiving system (20), be used to receive first and second incoming video signals of representing first and second images respectively (Y_MN, Y_AUX);

Described signal processing apparatus comprises horizontal capture device (354,356), is used for level and intercepts described first and second images; And composite set (312), be used to make up described first and second through truncated picture, so that it is presented on the described display unit side by side; And

Control device (310) is used for choosing respectively the different piece of described first and second images, and its combination with one another is got up, and when selecting described each different piece, horizontal half part of horizontal of each of described display unit is swept away described first and second images of picked-up.

12. the horizontal panning system of a television set comprises:

The display unit (244) of a wide display format ratio, tool has the dimensions, for showing treated vision signal;

It is characterized in that:

Signal processing apparatus (304), has storage arrangement (356), be used for by intercepting selectively at the represented image of at least one incoming video signal (Y_MN) data, produce described treated vision signal, thereby determine the sprite of described picture, so that implement multiple display mode, described multiple display mode comprises first display mode and second display mode, under first display mode, described image is through amplifying and intercepting, described sprite represents that described image is corresponding to the part of described certain size through amplifying, and under second display mode, described image is through intercepting, and described sprite fills up the part of described display unit less than described certain size; With

Microprocessor (310), the control signal of the write control signal that comprises described storage arrangement is provided for described signal processing apparatus, described control signal has the selectable phase place relevant with the synchronized component of described at least one incoming video signal, and has selectable time width, for determining in described treated vision signal, to embody which sprite when not being whole described images when all being embodied in the described treated vision signal.

13. the horizontal panning system of television set as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that described microprocessor (310) forms the part of sprite according to the described picture of user's Instruction Selection.

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