Showing papers by "Zoran Corporation published in 2006"

Camera exposure optimization techniques that take camera and scene motion into account

Abstract: Quantities of motion between images of an electronic camera are calculated and used to adjust the exposure time and one or more other exposure parameters used to capture an image in order to improve the quality of the image. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters. Further, when there is little or no motion detected, the exposure parameters may be selected to improve the depth of field and reduce the noise in the captured image.

Method and apparatus for color image correction

Abstract: A method and apparatus of image processing is disclosed. The method and apparatus accomplish image processing by separating a luma component and a chroma component of an image signal. Averaging of at least some of the image pixels of the luma component is done over a plurality of image pixels to provide a plurality of surround function values. Retinex-like processing of the luma component is done using the surround function values to provide a Retinex-like processed luma component. The Retinex-like processed luma component is added to the chroma component of the image signal to provide a processed image signal.

Remote storage of pictures and other data through a mobile telephone network

Abstract: A mobile (cellular) telephone capability is built into a non-mobile appliance, such as a video recorder, television set-top box or personal computer, in order to receive calls from another telephone that is remote of the appliance The appliance has a unique telephone number that is dialed by the other telephone to establish a direct connection between the two over a mobile telephone network Data are then sent to the appliance through the network, such as data of pictures taken by a mobile picture telephone and any accompany sound A user of a picture telephone may conveniently send pictures to his or her home or office while traveling on vacation or business, and even remotely cause such pictures to be sent from the appliance to friends and family

Fast training equalization of a vsb signal

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast training equalization of a VSB signal are described. The technique introduced here includes adapting an equalizer in a VSB receiver during signal acquisition, including adaptively calculating a set of tap values for the equalizer, by applying an iterative algorithm (e.g. LMS) to a given set of training data in the VSB signal. This provides very fast adaption of the equalizer without sacrificing accuracy. The given set of training data to which the algorithm is iteratively applied can be, for example, a training sequence from a single segment of the VSB signal, or an average of training sequences from two of more segments of the VSB signal. In addition, during signal tracking phase, the algorithm can be applied iteratively to a set of Viterbi decoder soft decisions in a similar manner.

Radio-frequency amplifier system

Abstract: A device for measuring voltage levels includes a root mean square (RMS) detector The RMS detector includes a linear multiplier, a log converter, a low-pass filter and a temperature compensator The linear multiplier multiplies a voltage of an input signal by the voltage of the input signal The low-pass filter couples to an output of the linear multiplier The log converter generates a logarithmic signal having a voltage that is logarithmically related to a voltage of an output of the low-pass filter The temperature compensator adjusts the logarithmic signal based on a temperature of the RMS detector The RMS detector is capable of determine an RMS voltage level of the input signal

Optimized timing recovery device and method using linear predictor

Abstract: In accordance with a method and apparatus of the present invention, a timing recovery device is disclosed to include a timing correction module responsive to a sampled input signal and adapted to generate a time-corrected signal and to further include a linear predictor coupled to the timing correction module for filtering the time-corrected signal to generate a whitened output signal and to further include a timing update module responsive to the whitened output signal for updating at least one parameter in the timing correction module.

Method and apparatus for high resolution measurement of signal timing

Abstract: A phase measurement system for measuring a phase difference between an input signal and a reference signal, comprises: a phase comparator having a first input receiving a first sample of the input signal and a second sample of the input signal and having a second input receiving a clock derived from the reference signal, the phase comparator having an output representing a time between a crossing of a first threshold by the clock and a predetermined time along an interval from the first sample to the second sample where the input signal crosses a second threshold on the interval; an interpolator coupled to the first input and having an output indicative of an interpolated time of the second-threshold-crossing on the interval in the input signal; and a phase calculator coupled to the phase comparator output and the interpolator output and which computes the phase difference by combining the phase comparator output and the interpolator output.

Digital still camera architecture with reduced delay between subsequent image acquisitions

Abstract: A digital camera acquires a first image in a sequence of images by loading it into a unified memory space of the digital camera in a first order and processing it in a second order. Before the first image is completely processed, the digital camera starts acquiring a second image and overwriting at least a processed portion of the first image in the unified memory space with image data of the second image.

System and method for providing distributed gain

Abstract: A system for filtering a signal includes a plurality of filter modules coupled in series. Each filter module includes a filter and a variable gain element. Each filter is capable of receiving an input signal, attenuating a portion of the input signal that is outside a passband . associated with the filter, and outputting at least a portion of the input signal that is within the passband associated with the filter. Each variable gain element is capable of receiving a control signal and inducing a gain in an output of the filter based on the control signal.

Receiver with decision-directed equalizer

Abstract: A circuit is configured to receive and process a signal that includes in-phase and out-of-phase components that correspond to in-phase and out-of-phase components of a time sequence of symbols. A phase sensor in the circuit is configured to determine a phase value in accordance with an equalized version of the in-phase component of the signal and the in-phase component of the time sequence of symbols. The phase sensor is further configured to generate an approximation to the out-of-phase component of the signal in accordance with a Hilbert function of order k greater than 1. Terms in the approximation that correspond to future samples of the in-phase component of the signal are replaced with terms that correspond to past samples of an error that corresponds to a difference between samples of the in-phase component of the signal and an output from a detector.

Processing an information carrying signal for automatic gain conrtol

Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) controls the signal amplitude at the input to an analog to digital converter (ADC) input by applying a gain that produces a desired overall amplitude resolution of the patterns actually presented by the signal delivered by the ADC converter. Short RLL patterns will have sufficient resolution for reliable extraction as a result of having sufficient overall amplitude, which thereby strengthens the ability of the read channel to correctly extract data. Moreover, the system determines correct AGC settings responsive to measurements of user data parameters. The system 0 also detects and corrects for DC offsets in the signal whose gain is controlled.