Method and apparatus for scaling up and down a video image

Abstract

An input video image having an arbitrary resolution is converted to another video image having a predetermined resolution of a display device to display the video image with the converted resolution. The frequencies of the synchronizing signals of the input video signal are measured, and then a resolution of an input video signal is determined from the measured frequencies of the synchronizing signals. The video image represented by the input video signal is expanded or contracted, so as to make the resolution of the input video signal coincident with a resolution of the display device. A resulting video image with the converted resolution is displayed on the display device.

Description

Ky=My/Ny  (1b)

A read address (XADD,YADD) used for reading out video data from the frame memory 34 is converted to a new read address (XADD,YADD) by the following equations:
XADD=INT(Kx×XADD)  (2a)
YADD=INT(Ky×YADD)  (2b)
wherein the operator INT( ) represents an operation of taking an integral portion of the value in parentheses.

FIG. 12B1 shows an example of the displayed image when the coefficients Kx and Ky are greater than 1.0 (for example, Kx=Ky=2.0). When the original horizontal address XADD is increased one by one, such as 0,1,2, . . . , the converted horizontal address XADD is varied as 0,2,4, . . . according to Equation (2a) given above. The vertical address YADD is converted in the same manner. Video data are read out from the frame memory 34 according to the converted read addresses XADD and YADD, so that a contracted video image is displayed as shown in FIG. 12B1. The horizontal magnification and the vertical magnification in this contracting process are respectively equal to 1/Kx and 1/Ky.

When the coefficients Kx and Ky are equal to 1.0, a video image in the frame memory 34 is displayed without any expansion or contraction as shown in FIG. 12B2.

FIG. 12B3 shows an example of the displayed image when the coefficients Kx and Ky are smaller than 1.0 (for example, Kx=Ky=0.7). When the original horizontal address XADD is increased one by one as 0,1,2,3, . . . , the converted horizontal address XADD is varied as 0,0,1,2, . . . The vertical address YADD is converted in the same manner. Video data are read out from the frame memory 34 according to the converted read addresses XADD and YADD, so that an expanded video image is displayed as shown in FIG. 12B3.

It is possible to set arbitrary values to Kx and Ky independently.

(4) When a high-speed read/write memory, such as a synchronous DRAM, is used for the frame memory 34, high-speed reading and writing of video signals can be carried out.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image in a second format for a second display device, said apparatus comprising:

frequency determination means for analyzing the video signal to determine a frequency of synchronizing signals when the video signal is output in the first format;

image size determination means for determining an image size of the video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal output in the first format; and

scaling means for scaling the video image expressed by the video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the video signal is output in the second format of said second display device.

2. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said image size determination means comprises:

image size storage means for storing relationships which identify the image size of the video signal in the first format based on the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal; and

means for determining the image size of the video signal in the first format by referencing said image size storage means according to the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal.

3. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 2, said apparatus further comprising:

means for displaying a sign indicating that an image size is unknown when the frequencies of the synchronizing signals of the video image are not stored in said image size storage means; and

image size setting means for setting a value of the unknown image size of the video signal and registering a relation between the image size and the frequencies of the synchronizing signals of the video signal in said image size storage means.

4. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said scaling means comprises:

a first buffer memory for temporarily storing the input video signal;

a frame memory in which a video signal read out of said first buffer memory is written;

a second buffer memory for temporarily storing a video signal read out of said frame memory; and

memory control means for giving a write address to said frame memory while successively reading out video signals from said first buffer memory to write the video signal read out of said first buffer memory into said frame memory, and for giving a read address to said frame memory to read out the video signal from said frame memory and transfer the video signal to said second buffer memory, and wherein

said memory control means comprises:

means for expanding or contracting a video image read out of said frame memory by adjusting the read address given to said frame memory.

5. A method for receiving a video image output as a video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image in a second format for a second display device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) analyzing the video signal to determine a frequency of synchronizing signals when the video signal is output in the first format;

(b) determining an image size of the video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal output in the first format; and

(c) scaling the video image expressed by the video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the video signal is output in the second format of said second display device.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step (b) comprises the steps of:

storing, in a memory, relationships which identify the image size of the video signal in the first format based on the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal; and

determining the image size of the video signal in the first format by referencing said memory according to the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

displaying a sign indicating that an image size is unknown when the frequencies of the synchronizing signals of the video image are not stored in said memory; and

setting a value of the unknown image size of the video signal and registering a relation between the image size and the frequencies of the synchronizing signals of the video signal in said memory.

8. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said step (b) comprises the steps of:

writing the input video signal into said frame memory; and

giving a read address to said frame memory to read out the video signal from said frame memory while adjusting the read address to expand or contract a video image read out of said frame memory.

9. A video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image in a second format for a second display device, said apparatus comprising:

a video signal input for receiving a video signal, in the first format, including synchronizing signals;

a synchronizing signal frequency analyzer receiving the video signal from the video signal input and determining a frequency of the synchronizing signals when the video signal is output in the first format;

an image size determination unit for determining an image size of the video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals being applied to the video signal input; and

a scaling unit for scaling the video image expressed by the video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the video signal is output in the second format of said second display device.

10. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the image size determination unit comprises:

a memory unit for storing relationships which identify the image size of the video signal in the first format based on the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the video signal; and

a lookup unit for looking up frequencies in the memory unit to determine the image size of the video signal output in the first format.

11. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

an indicator for indicating that an image size is unknown when the frequency of the synchronizing signals are not stored in the memory unit; and

a memory unit updating unit for setting in the memory unit (1) a value of the unknown image size of the video signal and (2) a relation between the unknown image size and the frequency of the synchronizing signals.

12. A video image scaling apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said scaling unit comprises:

a first buffer memory for temporarily storing the video signal;

a frame memory in which a video signal read out of said first buffer memory is written;

a second buffer memory for temporarily storing a video signal read out of said frame memory; and

a memory controller for applying a write address to said frame memory while successively reading out video signals from said first buffer memory to write the video signal read out of said first buffer memory into said frame memory, and for applying a read address to said frame memory to read out the video signal from said frame memory and transfer the video signal to said second buffer memory, and wherein

said memory controller includes a read address updating unit which expands or contracts a video image read out of said frame memory by adjusting a read address given to said frame memory.

13. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a first video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image as a second video signal in a second format for a second display device; and

a light modulation panel for modulating light from the light source in response to the second video signal in the second format supplied from the video image scaling apparatus,

the video image scaling apparatus comprising:

frequency determination means for analyzing the first video signal to determine a frequency of synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format;

image size determination means for determining an image size of the first video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format; and

scaling means for scaling the video image expressed by the first video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the second video signal is output in the second format of the second display device.

14. A projector comprising:

a light source;

a video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a first video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image as a second video signal in a second format for a second display device; and

a light modulation panel for modulating light from the light source in response to the second video signal in the second format supplied from the video image scaling apparatus,

the video image scaling apparatus comprising:

a video signal input for receiving the first video signal, in the first format, including synchronizing signals;

a synchronizing signal frequency analyzer receiving the first video signal from the video signal input and determining a frequency of the synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format;

an image size determination unit for determining an image size of the first video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals being applied to the video signal input; and

a scaling unit for scaling the video image expressed by the first video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the second video signal is output in the second format of the second display device.

15. A display device comprising:

a light source;

a video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a first video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image as a second video signal in a second format for a second display device; and

a light modulation panel for modulating light from the light source in response to the second video signal in the second format supplied from the video image scaling apparatus,

the video image scaling apparatus comprising:

frequency determination means for analyzing the first video signal to determine a frequency of synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format;

image size determination means for determining an image size of the first video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format; and

scaling means for scaling the video image expressed by the first video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the second video signal is output in the second format of the second display device.

16. A display device comprising:

a light source;

a video image scaling apparatus for receiving a video image output as a first video signal in a first format for a first display device and outputting the video image as a second video signal in a second format for a second display device; and

a light modulation panel for modulating light from the light source in response to the second video signal in the second format supplied from the video image scaling apparatus,

the video image scaling apparatus comprising:

a video signal input for receiving the first video signal, in the first format, including synchronizing signals;

a synchronizing signal frequency analyzer receiving the first video signal from the video signal input and determining a frequency of the synchronizing signals of the first video signal in the first format;

an image size determination unit for determining an image size of the first video signal by analyzing the frequency of the synchronizing signals being applied to the video signal input; and

a scaling unit for scaling the video image expressed by the first video signal in the first format by utilizing the synchronizing signals and the determined image size so that the second video signal is output in the second format of the second display device.