Method, system and computer program product are provided for adaptively encoding in hardware, software or a combination thereof a sequence of video frames in real-time. A first encoding subsystem is employed to analyze the sequence of video frames to derive information on at least one characteristic thereof, such as motion statistics, non-motion statistics, scene change statistics, or scene fade statistics. The gathered information may comprise either an intraframe characteristic or an interframe characteristic. A second encoding subsystem, coupled to the first encoding subsystem, encodes the sequence of video frames employing at least one controllable parameter. The second encoding subsystem dynamically adapts intraframe or interframe encoding of the sequence of video frames by adjusting the at least one controllable parameter used in the encoding process in response to the derived information from the first encoding subsystem.

Adaptive real-time encoding of video sequence employing image statistics

A process for enhancing a still video image can correct digital fluoroscopy images which are under- or overexposed and have their image brightness values concentrated to one end of the gray scale A pixel histogram is formed, but is clipped at a low value Then, a cumulative histogram is formed from the clipped histogram The cumulative histogram, which has a generally linear slope, is normalized and is used for mapping the brightness of luminance values of the original image The new values form an optimal video image with the gray scale values spread over the entire range The image shows details not only in the middle gray areas, but in the light and dark areas as well

Digital radiography with image brightness and contrast normalization

An image pickup signal processing apparatus for generating a digital luminance signal and digital color difference signals from output signals from a solid-state image pickup element, includes subtracters for generating primary color signals or color difference signals from the output signals from the solid-state image pickup element, and an A/D converter for converting the primary color or color difference signals output from the subtracters into digital signals.

Image pickup signal processing apparatus

A television video signal A/D converter apparatus has an A/D converter which samples a television video signal to A/D convert it in accordance with upper and lower reference potentials, and supplies the digital signals to a liquid crystal display device. The apparatus also has detectors which detect digital values of the digital signals from the A/D converter which exceed a predetermined value and are below another predetermined value, and which respectively correspond to the upper and lower reference potentials for A/D conversion by the A/D converter. The digital values exceeding and below the predetermined values are counted by a counter, and the upper and lower reference potentials are determined in accordance with the respective counts and are supplied to the A/D converter.

Television video signal A/D converter

A method of coloring a black and white video signal is provided. At least one area of a frame is defined with reference to luminance values in that frame, and luminance levels are assigned to that area. A color is then assigned to that area, and the area is colored with it. In a subsequent frame, luminance levels are used to determine which part of the preceeding frame has been carried over into the subsequent frame and which portions of the subsequent frame adjacent that part have the same luminance values. That part and those portions are then colored with the respective assigned color.

Method of, and apparatus for, coloring a black and white video signal

An improvement in an analog-to-digital converter wherein a series string of capacitors is utilized to generate reference voltages for the comparators of the converter. The digitized output of the converter is then used to control a predetermined timed discharge from a selected one of the series string of capacitors. The converter, as described, may be used in a video system as an adaptive contrast enhancement mechanism.

Eric L. Upton

Papers

Statistically adaptive analog to digital converter