JP2003309741A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a task of 'white decay' wherein a bright white part in a low APL (Average Picture Level) image is degraded when the contrast is enhanced by applying signal conversion to the low APL image in a brighter manner and the resulting image is displayed. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing apparatus is provided with: a signal amplifier means 1 for amplifying an input video signal; a nonlinear processing means 2 for applying nonlinear processing to an output signal from the signal amplifier means 1 in a direction of the signal amplitude; a feature extract means 4 for extracting the feature of the image from the input video signal; and a control means 5 for controlling interlockingly the nonlinearities of the signal amplifier means 1 and the nonlinear processing means 2 so that the image processing apparatus can enhance a sense of the contrast of the low APL image without causing white delay. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low APL (Average Picture) in a video display device such as a television.
The present invention relates to an image processing device that improves the sense of contrast at the time of "Re Level: average luminance level".

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a person receives from a display image based on a relative difference (hereinafter referred to as "brightness difference") in brightness between a bright portion and a dark portion of an image displayed on a video display device such as a television. Determine the impression of the image. In the explanation below,
The image impression based on this "brightness difference" is expressed using the word "contrast".

If there is a sufficient contrast between the light and shade, a sufficient sense of contrast is felt, and although the display on a video display device such as a television is two-dimensional, a stereoscopic impression with a depth is received from the displayed image. On the contrary, if the contrast is insufficient,
I feel a lack of contrast and get a flat impression from the displayed image.

Generally, when an image is a material of a studio system such as news broadcasting, it is sufficiently lighted up and a lot of bright parts are included. Therefore, the APL is as high as about 40 to 60, which is sufficient. A sense of contrast can be obtained.

On the other hand, in the case of movie contents, etc., the APL is relatively lower than that of studio materials, although it varies depending on the contents and scene, and depending on the contents, the APL is a low scene of about 10 to 20. Is also included.

There is no problem in the case where the display device has a wide expression range of brightness from black to white (hereinafter referred to as a dynamic range), but when the display device has a narrow dynamic range, the low APL as described above is obtained. In a scene, it may not be possible to give a sufficient contrast feeling, and a flat image may be obtained.

As a conventional apparatus for improving such apparent contrast, there is known one described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 02-266773.

FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of a conventional image processing apparatus.

The adaptive luminance gradation correction circuit 202 becomes brighter as the input image becomes a dark image (for example, a low APL image) as compared with the case of a medium luminance image according to the image content of the input video signal. The signal is converted and supplied to the AC overdrive circuit 203. On the other hand, the adaptive luminance gradation correction circuit 202 performs signal conversion darker as it becomes a bright image as compared with the case of a medium luminance image, and supplies the signal to the AC overdrive circuit 203.

The AC overdrive circuit 203 has a dynamic range on a signal for displaying an optical black peak to a white peak with respect to a signal having a black peak to a white peak when the brightness of a medium luminance image is high. The gain of the entire signal processing system is slightly increased so as to be slightly larger, and the signal is supplied to the TFT active matrix liquid crystal panel module 204 which is a display unit.

At this time, the TFT active matrix liquid crystal panel module 204 displays in a slight overdrive state.

In this way, the apparent contrast can be improved by converting the low APL image into a brighter signal and displaying it in the overdrive state.

[0013]

As described above, the conventional image processing apparatus can improve the lack of contrast at the time of low APL, but the low APL scene contains a bright white portion. If it is, the white range is crushed by the upper limit of the dynamic range of the display device or the signal processing part up to the display device, and the white part is crushed.
There was a problem that this phenomenon occurs.

Further, for a signal with setup (for example, a signal having a signal level of black of 0% instead of 0%) used in North America, the signal level of black is also amplified. As a result, there is a problem that a phenomenon of "black floating" occurs, and a sufficient contrast difference cannot be obtained, and the effect of improving the contrast feeling cannot be obtained.

Further, for a composite signal in which a color signal is frequency-multiplexed with a luminance signal, a function for automatically adjusting the color signal amplitude is included in accordance with the amplitude of the burst signal included in the signal. It is common that
In such a case, since the burst signal is also amplified in the conventional configuration, there is a problem in that the automatic adjustment function works so as to reduce the color signal amplitude and the color becomes light.

[0016] In addition, when a signal is supplied with an amplitude larger than the standard signal by the equipment used or the broadcast wave, there is a problem that the white crushing becomes more remarkable due to the contrast improvement at the time of low APL. there were.

The present invention provides a low A without causing white crushing.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that improves the sense of contrast during PL.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of sufficiently improving the contrast feeling even at the time of low APL even for a signal with setup.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus that improves the sense of contrast when the APL is low, without fading the color of a composite format signal.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of improving the contrast feeling at the time of low APL without causing white crushing even when a signal having an excessive amplitude with respect to a standard signal is supplied. To aim.

[0021]

In order to solve this problem, an image processing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application provides a signal amplifying means for amplifying an input video signal and a signal for an output signal of the signal amplifying means. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing in the amplitude direction, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. It is provided with a control means for controlling in conjunction with each other.

An image processing apparatus according to the second invention of the present application is a setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and the signal. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on the output signal of the amplification means in the signal amplitude direction, feature extraction means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the signal amplification means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means. And a control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means in conjunction with each other.

An image processing apparatus according to the third invention of the present application is a setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and the signal. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on the output signal of the amplification means in the signal amplitude direction, feature extraction means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the signal amplification means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means. And a control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means in conjunction with each other, and a setup signal detecting means for detecting whether or not the input video signal is a signal having a setup signal component.

An image processing apparatus according to the fourth invention of the present application is a setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and the signal. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on the output signal of the amplification means in the signal amplitude direction, feature extraction means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the signal amplification means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means. And a control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means in conjunction with each other, and a setup signal detecting means for detecting from the output signal of the non-linear processing means whether or not the input video signal has a setup signal component. It is a thing.

An image processing apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a signal amplification means for amplifying an input video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplification means in a signal amplitude direction, and the non-linear processing means. Automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means for automatically adjusting the amplitude of the color signal to a predetermined value with respect to the output signal of the processing means, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the input video signal A burst signal period detecting means for detecting a period in which a burst signal is superposed, and a non-linear characteristic of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means and the output signal of the burst signal period detecting means. It is provided with a control means for controlling in conjunction with each other.

An image processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a signal amplifying means for amplifying an input video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and the non-linear processing means. Automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means for automatically adjusting the amplitude of the color signal to a predetermined value with respect to the output signal of the processing means, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the feature extracting means. And a control means for controlling the nonlinear characteristics of the non-linear processing means and the automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means in accordance with the output signal of 1.

An image processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a signal amplifying means for amplifying an input analog video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and A / D conversion means for converting the output signal of the non-linear processing means into a digital signal, feature extraction means for extracting image features from the input analog video signal, and input exceeding the standard signal level from the input analog video signal An excessive input signal detecting means for detecting whether or not it is a signal, and a non-linear characteristic of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means are interlocked and controlled according to an output signal of the feature extracting means and an output signal of the excessive input signal detecting means. And a control means for controlling the operation.

An image processing apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention comprises a signal amplifying means for amplifying an input analog video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and A / D conversion means for converting the output signal of the non-linear processing means into a digital signal;
Over-input signal detection means for detecting whether the input analog video signal is an input signal exceeding a standard signal level from the output signal of the D / D conversion means, and feature extraction for extracting image features from the input analog video signal. Means, and control means for interlockingly controlling the non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means in accordance with the output signal of the feature extracting means and the output signal of the over-input signal detecting means.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the first invention of the present application. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 is an amplifier for amplifying a video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7, 2 is a gamma circuit for performing non-linear processing in the signal amplitude direction, 3 is a video display device, and 4 is an APL of the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7. APL detection circuit for detecting 5
Is a control circuit for controlling the gain of the amplifier 1 and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2 according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

In the following description, as shown in FIG.
The control circuit 5 controls the gain of the amplifier 1 according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4, and
A configuration including a gamma characteristic control circuit 52 that controls the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2 according to the output signal of the gain control circuit 51 will be described. The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

First, the operation of the image processing apparatus of the first invention of the present application when the APL is high will be described with reference to FIG.

The APL detection circuit 4 detects the APL of the video signal arriving at the video input terminal 7 and supplies it to the gain control circuit 51.

The gain control circuit 51 includes the APL detection circuit 4
It is detected that the APL is high according to the APL value of the input video signal which is the output signal of, and the gain of the amplifier 1 is in the standard state according to the input / output characteristics shown by the dotted line in FIG.
For simplicity, here, the gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier 1 so that it operates as “gain = 1”.

The amplifier 1 outputs the input video signal "gain = 1" according to the gain control signal of the gain control circuit 51.
It is amplified by and supplied to the gamma circuit 2.

The gamma characteristic control circuit 52 detects that the amplifier 1 is operating in the standard state of "gain = 1" according to the gain control signal of the gain control circuit 51, and the gamma circuit 2 operates in the standard state. Then, the gamma characteristic control signal is supplied to the gamma circuit 2.

The gamma circuit 2 has a gamma characteristic control signal 52.
In accordance with the gamma characteristic control signal from, the non-linear processing (linear processing in this case) according to the input / output characteristic shown by the dotted line in FIG. And supplies it to the video display device 3.

At this time, the input video signal is equivalently processed by passing through the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 in accordance with the total input / output characteristic shown by the dotted line in FIG. Is high, the video signal is supplied to the video display device 3 in a signal state having the same brightness difference as the input video signal.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus of the first invention of the present application when the APL is low will be described with reference to FIG.

The gain control circuit 51 includes the APL detection circuit 4
It is detected that the APL is low according to the APL value of the input video signal which is the output signal of, and the gain of the amplifier 1 is a times the gain in the standard state as shown by the input / output characteristic shown by the solid line in FIG. A gain control signal that satisfies the above condition is supplied to the amplifier 1.

In accordance with the gain control signal of the gain control circuit 51, the amplifier 1 changes the input video signal to "gain = a".
It is amplified by and supplied to the gamma circuit 2.

The gamma characteristic control circuit 52 detects that the amplifier 1 is operating at "gain = a" according to the gain control signal of the gain control circuit 51, and the gamma circuit 2
Supplies a gamma characteristic control signal to the gamma circuit 2 so that the Gamma circuit operates on a low APL input.

The gamma circuit 2 has a gamma characteristic control signal 52.
In accordance with the gamma characteristic control signal from, for example, the output signal of the amplifier 1 is subjected to nonlinear processing according to the input / output characteristic shown by the solid line in FIG.
Supply to.

At this time, the input video signal is processed by the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 according to the total input / output characteristic shown by the solid line in FIG. When a low signal is input, the low-amplitude part of the input video signal can have an amplitude difference a times larger than the standard state, that is, the brightness difference can be enlarged, and as the input video signal amplitude approaches the maximum. By setting the input / output characteristics such that the output gradually converges to 100% according to the input / output characteristics of the gamma circuit 2, it is possible to suppress the collapse on the white side.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gain of the amplifier is controlled according to the APL of the input video signal, and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage is controlled in association with the gain of the amplifier. It is possible to improve the feeling of contrast at the time of low APL without causing crushing.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the second invention of the present application. In the following description of the embodiments, components having the same functions and operations as those of the image processing apparatus of (Embodiment 1) will be assigned the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 3 is a video display device, 4 is an APL detection circuit, and 5 is an AP.
A control circuit for controlling the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 according to the output signal of the L detection circuit 4, and a setup signal removing circuit 8 for removing the setup signal from the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 5 controls the gain control circuit 51 for controlling the gain of the amplifier 1 and the non-linear characteristics of the gamma circuit 2 as in the first embodiment. The case of being configured by the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 for controlling

First, FIG. 4 shows the difference between a signal without setup and a signal with setup.

The signal without setup is shown in FIG.
FIG. 4B shows a signal with 7.5% setup, which is common in the North American region, as an example of a signal with setup.

When amplifying a signal with setup as shown in FIG. 4B, the black level changes with the gain of the signal amplification unless the signal level corresponding to the black level is amplified. It is necessary to be careful that it does.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The setup signal removing circuit 8 removes the setup signal component from the video signal coming to the video input terminal 7 and supplies it to the amplifier 1.

When the APL is high, the gain control circuit 5
1 and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 are standardized in accordance with the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 and the input / output characteristics of the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 as shown by the dotted lines in FIGS. Control to operate as a state.

The amplifier 1 amplifies the output signal of the setup signal removal circuit 8 according to the output signal of the gain control circuit 51 by "gain = 1" and supplies it to the gamma circuit 2.

Thus, when the APL is high, as shown in FIG.
The amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 supply the video display device 3 with a signal having the same brightness difference as the input video signal in accordance with the total input / output characteristics shown by the dotted line in (c).

Next, when the APL is low, the gain control circuit 51 and the gamma characteristic control circuit follow the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 and indicate the solid line in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). Amplifier 1 to operate according to output characteristics
And controlling the gamma circuit 2.

The amplifier 1 amplifies the output signal of the setup signal removal circuit 8 by “gain = a” according to the gain control signal of the gain control circuit 51, and supplies it to the gamma circuit 2. The gamma circuit 2 operates in the same way as in the first embodiment.

When a signal having a low APL is input in this way, the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 have a low-amplitude portion of the input video signal in accordance with the total input / output characteristics shown by the solid line in FIG. A signal whose amplitude difference is larger than that in the standard state and which is suppressed from being crushed on the white side is supplied to the video display device 3.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the setup signal is removed in advance when the signal amplification is performed in the amplifier 1, regardless of the APL level, so that the signal amplification can always be performed with the black level as a reference, and the gain change. The black level does not change due to.

As described above, in this embodiment, the setup signal is removed in advance and the APL of the input video signal is removed.
The gain of the amplifier is controlled in accordance with the above, and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage is controlled in association with the gain of the amplifier to prevent the black floating and the white crushing from occurring, thereby reducing the low A
The contrast feeling during PL can be improved.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6 described above.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the third invention of the present application.

In FIG. 5, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 3 is a video display device, 4 is an APL detection circuit, 5 is a control circuit for the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, and 9 is a setup signal detected from an input video signal. The setup signal detection circuit 10 is a setup signal removal circuit that removes the setup signal according to the output signal of the setup signal detection circuit 9.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 5, the control circuit 5 controls the gain of the amplifier 1 by the gain control circuit 51, as in the image processing apparatus of the first embodiment.
And a gamma characteristic control circuit 52 for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2, and a setup signal detection circuit 9 for detecting a minimum value of a video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7, and a minimum value detection circuit 91. , Minimum value detection circuit 9
A case in which the output signal of 1 is integrated with the integrator 92 will be described.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The minimum value detection circuit 91 detects the minimum value of the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 and supplies it to the integrator 92.

The integrator 92 integrates the output signal of the minimum value detection circuit 91 over a plurality of frame periods, for example, and supplies the integrated value to the setup signal removal circuit 10.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the output signal of the integrator 92.

When there is no setup signal in the input video signal, the minimum value detected by the minimum value detection circuit 91 has a large level 0. Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
Output signal becomes relatively small.

On the other hand, when the input video signal has a setup signal, the minimum value detected by the minimum value detection circuit 91 is, for example, a signal of 7.5% when the setup level is 7.5%. Since the level increases, the output signal of the integrator 92 becomes relatively large as shown by the solid line in FIG.

According to the output signal of the integrator 92, the setup signal removing circuit 10 judges that the input video signal is a signal without setup when the output signal of the integrator 92 is smaller than a predetermined value, and the video signal input terminal The video signal arriving at 7 is supplied to the amplifier 1 as it is.

On the other hand, when the output signal of the integrator 92 is larger than the predetermined value, the setup signal removing circuit 10 determines that the input video signal is a signal with setup and supplies the signal from which the setup signal is removed to the amplifier 1.

The amplifier 1, the gamma circuit 2, the gain control circuit 51, and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in the same manner as (Embodiment 1) according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

Thus, when APL is high,
According to the total input / output characteristics shown by the dotted line in (c), the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 supply a signal having the same brightness difference as the input video signal to the video display device 3, and when a signal having a low APL is input. The amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 are shown in FIG.
According to the total input / output characteristics shown by the solid line in (c), the low-amplitude portion of the input video signal has a larger amplitude difference than the standard state, and a signal that suppresses crushing on the white side is sent to the video display device 3. Supply.

As described above, in this embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are controlled in conjunction with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and the presence or absence of the setup signal is detected from the input video signal. However, by controlling the setup signal removing circuit, it is possible to improve the contrast feeling at the time of low APL without causing the black floating and the white crushing regardless of the presence of the setup signal.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7 described above.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the fourth invention of the present application.

In FIG. 7, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 3 is a video display device, 4 is an APL detection circuit, 5 is a control circuit for the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, 10 is a setup signal removal circuit, and 11 is a gamma circuit. It is a setup signal detection circuit that detects the presence or absence of a setup signal from the output signal of the circuit 2.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 7, as in the configuration of the image processing apparatus of the first embodiment,
The control circuit 5 includes a gain control circuit 51 that controls the gain of the amplifier 1 and a gamma characteristic control circuit 52 that controls the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2, and the setup signal detection circuit 11 detects the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 from the output signal. Minimum value detection circuit 111 for detecting the minimum value, and minimum value detection circuit 11
A case will be described in which the integrator 112 that integrates the output signal of 1 and the setup signal determination circuit 113 are configured.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The minimum value detection circuit 111 detects the minimum value from the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 and supplies it to the integrator 112.

The integrator 112 integrates the output signal of the minimum value detection circuit 111 over a plurality of frame periods,
The integrated value is supplied to the setup signal determination circuit 113.

First, consider the case where a video signal without a setup signal is input.

At this time, the minimum value detected by the minimum value detection circuit 111 is 0% signal level, for example, when the black level is 0% signal level. Therefore, the integrated value which is the output signal of the integrator 112 is increased. Becomes the level A shown by the dotted line in FIG.

Since the output signal of the integrator 112 is the level A, the setup signal judging circuit 113 judges that the input video signal is not the signal with setup and supplies the judgment output signal without setup to the setup signal removing circuit 10.

The setup signal removal circuit 10 supplies the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 to the amplifier 1 as it is according to the determination output signal of the setup signal determination circuit 113.

Next, when the video signal with the setup signal is input, the minimum value detected by the minimum value detection circuit 111 is, for example, 7.5% when the setup level is 7.5%. Since the signal level increases, the integrator 112
The output signal of is at level B, which is relatively larger than level A, as shown by the solid line in FIG.

Since the output signal of the integrator 112 is level B, the setup signal determination circuit 113 determines that the input video signal is a signal with setup, and supplies a determination output signal with setup to the setup signal removal circuit 10.

The setup signal removing circuit 10 removes the setup signal from the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 according to the determination output signal of the setup signal determining circuit 113 and supplies it to the amplifier 1.

At this time, the video signal from which the setup signal has been removed is supplied to the minimum value detection circuit 111 via the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, and the minimum value detection circuit 111 is
Since the 0% signal level increases, the integrated value that is the output signal of the integrator 112 returns to the level A shown by the dotted line in FIG.

In the setup signal judging circuit 113, the output signal of the integrator 112 is the level A, but the level before the change to the level A is the level B, so the input video signal is the signal with setup and the setup removal signal. Circuit 1
At 0, it is determined that the signal from which the setup signal is removed is supplied to the minimum value determination circuit 111, and the determination output signal with setup is continuously supplied to the setup signal removal circuit 10.

The setup signal removing circuit 10 continues the operation of removing the setup signal from the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 and supplying it to the amplifier 1 according to the determination output signal of the setup signal determining circuit 113.

Next, the operation when the input video signal is switched to the video signal without the setup signal again will be described.

At this time, a signal obtained by removing the setup signal from the video signal without setup is input to the minimum value detection circuit 111. As a result, the minimum value detected by the minimum value detection circuit 111 has a large -7.5% signal level when the setup level is 7.5%, and the output signal of the integrator 112 is as shown in FIG. As indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the level C is relatively smaller than the level A.

Since the output signal of the integrator 112 is the level C, the setup signal judgment circuit 113 judges that the input video signal has become a signal without setup, and the judgment output signal without setup is sent to the setup signal removal circuit 10. Supply.

The setup signal removal circuit 10 supplies the video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 to the amplifier 1 as it is according to the determination output signal of the setup signal determination circuit 113.

The amplifier 1, the gamma circuit 2, the gain control circuit 51, and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

In this way, when the APL is high, as shown in FIG.
According to the total input / output characteristics shown by the dotted line in (c), the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 supply a signal having the same brightness difference as the input video signal to the video display device 3, and when a signal having a low APL is input. The amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 are shown in FIG.
According to the total input / output characteristics as shown by the solid line in (c), the low-amplitude part of the input video signal has a larger amplitude difference than the standard state, and a signal that suppresses crushing on the white side is sent to the video display device 3. Supply.

As described above, in the example of this embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are controlled in conjunction with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and the setup signal is output from the gamma circuit. By detecting the presence / absence of the signal and controlling the setup signal removing circuit in the preceding stage of the amplifier, it is possible to improve the contrast feeling at the time of low APL without generating the black floating and the white crushing regardless of the presence of the setup signal.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the fifth invention of the present application. In FIG. 9, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 3 is a video display device, 4 is an APL detection circuit, and 5
Is a control circuit for the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, 12 is an automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit, and 13 is a burst signal period detection circuit.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 9, the control circuit 5 controls the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2, the gamma characteristic control circuit 52, the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4, and the burst signal period detection circuit. Gain control circuit 53 for controlling the gain of the amplifier 1 in accordance with the output signal of 13
A case in which the automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit 12 is composed of a burst signal amplitude detecting circuit 121 for detecting the amplitude of a color burst signal and an amplifier 122 will be described.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a composite signal in which a color signal is frequency-multiplexed with a luminance signal. In FIG. 10, A is an effective video period, B is a horizontal blanking period, and C is a color burst signal. The color burst signal is a reference signal for correctly reproducing the color signal from the composite signal.

The automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit 12 automatically returns the amplitude level of the color burst signal to a predetermined value and displays it even if the amplitude deviates from the predetermined value due to waveform distortion or the like generated in the transmission line. It works to prevent images from becoming extremely light or dark. The operation will be described below.

Color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 121
Detects the signal amplitude of the color burst signal included in the horizontal blanking period from the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 and supplies the amplitude level signal to the amplifier 122.

The amplifier 122 amplifies the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 according to the amplitude level signal of the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 121 with a gain such that the amplitude level of the color burst signal becomes a predetermined value, and the image display device. Three
Supply to.

For example, when the amplitude level of the color burst signal is detected as 0.8 times the predetermined value, the amplifier 122 sets the gain to “1 / 0.8 = 1.25 times”. , And operates so that the amplitude of the color burst signal in the output signal of the amplifier 122 becomes a predetermined value.

On the contrary, when the amplitude level of the color burst signal is detected as 1.25 times the predetermined value, the gain is set to "1 / 1.25 = 0.8 times", and the amplifier 122 The output signal of the color burst signal operates so as to have a predetermined value.

The burst signal period detection circuit 13 detects the superposition position of the color burst signal superposed in the horizontal blanking period from the input video signal, and outputs the gate pulse signal D to the gain control circuit 53 as shown in FIG. Supply.

The gain control circuit 53 stops the gain control of the amplifier 1 according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 during the burst signal period indicated by E in FIG. 10 according to the output signal of the burst signal period detection circuit. , The amplifier 1 is controlled so as to operate at a gain of 1 in the standard state.

On the other hand, in the signal periods other than the burst signal period, the gain of the amplifier 1 becomes 1 according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 when the APL of the input signal is high, as in the previous embodiments. As the input signal AP
When L is low, the gain of the amplifier 1 is controlled so that the gain of the amplifier 1 = a.

The gamma circuit 2 and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in the same manner as (Embodiment 1) according to the output signal of the gain control circuit 53.

In this way, the color burst signal is prevented from being amplified by the signal corresponding to the APL of the input signal to prevent the automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit 12 from malfunctioning.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are controlled in conjunction with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and
By operating in the standard state during the superimposing period of the color burst signal, it is possible to improve the contrast feeling at the time of low APL without changing the color level accompanying the APL adaptive control.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the sixth invention of the present application.

In FIG. 11, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 3 is a video display device, 4 is an APL detection circuit, 14 is an automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit, 5 is an amplifier 1, a gamma circuit 2 and an automatic color adjusting circuit 14. Control circuit.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 11, the control circuit 5 includes a gain control circuit 51 for controlling the gain of the amplifier 1 and a gamma characteristic control circuit 52 for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2. An automatic color amplitude adjustment control circuit 55 (hereinafter, abbreviated as ACC control circuit 55) that controls the automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit 14 is configured, and the automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit 14 includes a burst signal amplitude detection circuit 141 and
A case of being configured with the amplifier 142 will be described.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

Color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 141
Detects the signal amplitude of the color burst signal included in the horizontal blanking period from the output signal of the gamma circuit 2,
An amplitude level signal is supplied to the CC control circuit 55.

The ACC control circuit 55 determines the gain of the amplifier 142 from the output signal of the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 141 and the output signal of the gain control circuit 5 as follows.

First, the case where the gain of the amplifier 1 is 1 from the output signal of the gain control circuit 5 and the APL of the input video signal is high will be described.

At this time, the ACC control circuit 55 detects from the output signal of the gain control circuit 5 that the gain of the amplifier 1 is operating and the color burst signal detected by the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 141 is detected. Is detected as 0.8 times the predetermined value, the gain of the amplifier 142 becomes “1 / 0.8 = 1.25
The gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier 142 so as to be “doubled”.

On the other hand, the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 1
When the amplitude level of the color burst signal detected at 41 is detected as 1.25 times the predetermined value, the gain of the amplifier 142 is adjusted so as to be “1 / 1.25 = 0.8 times”. The control signal is supplied to the amplifier 142.

In this way, the operation is performed so that the amplitude of the color burst signal in the output signal of the amplifier 142 has a predetermined value.

Next, the case where the gain of the amplifier 1 is operating as a from the output signal of the gain control circuit 5 and the APL of the input video signal is low will be described.

At this time, the input video signal including the color burst signal is amplified a times in the amplifier 1 and supplied to the automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit 14.

As a result, the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 141 detects the amplitude level amplified a times.

At this time, the ACC control circuit 55 detects from the output signal of the gain control circuit 5 that the gain of the amplifier 1 operates as a, and the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 1
When the amplitude level of the color burst signal detected at 41 is detected as "0.8 times" the predetermined value, the gain of the amplifier 142 is "1 / 0.8 / a = 1.25 / a".
The gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier 142 so as to be “doubled”.

On the other hand, the color burst signal amplitude detection circuit 1
When the amplitude level of the color burst signal detected at 41 is detected as "1.25 times" the predetermined value, the gain of the amplifier 142 is "1 / 1.25 / a = 0.8 / a".
The gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier 142 so as to be “doubled”.

In this way, the gain of the amplifier 142 is controlled in such a manner that the amplified component is canceled according to the gain control content of the amplifier 1.

The amplifier 1, the gamma circuit 2, the gain control circuit 51, and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in accordance with the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 in the same manner as the other embodiments described above.

In this way, by canceling the signal amplification amount for the color burst signal corresponding to the APL of the input signal during the gain adjustment in the automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit, the automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit 12 is prevented from malfunctioning. .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are controlled in association with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and the automatic color amplitude adjusting circuit is also controlled in association with each other. By doing, AP
Color level does not change with L adaptive control and low A
The contrast feeling during PL can be improved.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the seventh invention of the present application. In FIG. 12, 1 is an amplifier, 2
Is a gamma circuit, 4 is an APL detection circuit, 5 is a control circuit for the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, 16 is an over-input signal detection circuit, 1
Reference numeral 7 is an A / D converter, and 18 is a video display device.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 12, the over-input detection circuit 16 is composed of the maximum value detection circuit 161 and the comparator 162, and the control circuit 5 controls the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit 2. Gamma characteristic control circuit 52
And a gain control circuit 54 that controls the gain of the amplifier 1 in accordance with the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 and the output signal of the over-input signal detection circuit 16.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as above will be described below.

The input video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 is passed through the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2 to the A / D converter 1
7 is supplied.

The A / D converter 17 converts the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 into, for example, an 8-bit digital signal and supplies the digital video signal to the video display device 18.

FIG. 13A shows the case where the input signal is in the standard state, and FIG. 13B shows the case where the input signal is A /
Input / output signals of the D converter 17 are shown.

To simplify the explanation, as shown in FIG. 13A, the signal level 0% (black) of the input video signal is set to A.
The lower limit of the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17 and the signal level 100% (white) of the input video signal are set to the A / D converter 1
A / D to be the upper limit of the input dynamic range of 7
The case of supplying to the converter 17 will be described.

At this time, the output signal of the A / D converter 17 is
As shown in FIG. 13C, a digital signal having a signal level of 0% is "0 level" of digital data and a signal level of 100% is "255 level" of digital data.

Next, the signal in the over-input state is input as shown in FIG.
The operation of the A / D converter 17 in the case of 3 (b) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 13B, the signal level 0% (black) of the input video signal is supplied so as to be the lower limit of the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17, but the input video signal Since a signal level of 100% (white) is an excessive input signal, it is supplied to the A / D converter 17 in a form exceeding the upper limit of the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17.

At this time, the output signal of the A / D converter 17 is
As shown on the right side (d) of FIG. 13, the signal level 0% is the digital data 0 level, but the input signal level is 1
All the portions exceeding 00% become digital signals with the digital data clipped to "255 levels", and white side signal changes exceeding the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17 cannot be reproduced. The so-called "white crush" phenomenon occurs.

The operations of the over-input detection circuit 16 and the gain control circuit 54 will be described below.

The maximum value detection circuit 161 detects the maximum value of the input video signal arriving at the video signal input terminal 7 and detects the maximum value.
Supply to 62.

The comparator 162 compares the output signal of the maximum value detection circuit 161 with a predetermined maximum value in the standard state and supplies a difference signal to the gain control circuit 54.

When the input video signal is in the standard state, the comparator 1
The output signal of 62 is set to, for example, "1" or "a value less than or equal to 1".

In the gain control circuit 54, the difference signal is "1" according to the difference signal which is the output signal of the comparator 162.
Alternatively, since the value is “1 or less”, it is determined that the input video signal is not in the over-input signal state, and the same operation as in (Embodiment 1) is performed according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

That is, when the APL is high, the amplifier 1 is controlled so that the gain is "1", and when the APL is low, the amplifier 1 is controlled so that the gain is "a".

Next, when an over-input video signal is input, the output signal of the comparator 162 is set to have a value of 1 or more. When a signal having a signal level of 125% with respect to the standard state is input, for example, the comparator 162 supplies the value “1.25” to the gain control circuit 54.

Since the output signal of the comparator 162 has a value of 1 or more, the gain control circuit 54 determines that the input video signal is an excessive input signal, and the APL is high according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4. In this case, the gain is "1/1.
The amplifier 1 is controlled so that “25 = 0.8 times”, and the AP
When L is low, the gain is “a / 1.25 = 0.8 ×
The amplifier 1 is controlled so as to be "a times".

The amplifier 1, the gamma circuit 2, and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

Even when an over-input signal is supplied to the video signal input terminal 7 in this way, the gamma circuit 2 sends an A / D signal.
The video signal supplied to the converter 17 can be prevented from exceeding the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are interlocked with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and the gain is controlled according to the over-input signal level. By doing
Even if an over-input signal is generated, white crushing does not occur and low A
The contrast feeling during PL can be improved.

(Embodiment 8) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the eighth invention of the present application.

In FIG. 14, 1 is an amplifier, 2 is a gamma circuit, 4 is an APL detection circuit, 5 is a control circuit for the amplifier 1 and the gamma circuit 2, 17 is an A / D converter, 18 is an image display device, and 19 is It is an over-input signal detection circuit.

In the following description, as shown in FIG. 14, the over-input detection circuit 19 includes a maximum value detection circuit 191,
Comparator 192, counter 193, and gain correction circuit 1
The control circuit 5 includes a gamma characteristic control circuit 52 and a gain control circuit 54 that controls the gain of the amplifier 1 in accordance with the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4 and the output signal of the over-input signal detection circuit 19. The case will be described.

The operation of the image processing apparatus configured as described above will be described below.

The maximum value detection circuit 191 detects the maximum value of the output signal of the gamma circuit 2 and supplies it to the comparator 192.

The comparator 192 compares the output signal of the maximum value detection circuit 191 with a predetermined maximum value in the standard state, and supplies the difference signal to the counter 193 and the gain correction circuit 194.

The counter 193 continuously outputs, for example, five pixels from the output signal of the comparator 192, and the difference signal is 0.
The number of continuous 5 pixel areas exceeding 5 is counted, and the coefficient result is supplied to the gain correction circuit 194.

The gain correction circuit 194 has a counter 193.
When the coefficient result of the counter 193 is larger than a predetermined value according to the coefficient result which is the output signal of the above and the difference signal which is the output signal of the comparator 192, it is determined that the input video signal is the over input signal, A gain correction signal for reducing the gain of the amplifier 1 is supplied to the gain control circuit 54 according to the difference signal of the comparator 192.

For example, the predetermined value is set to the 239 level of the 8-bit digital signal, and the difference signal of the comparator 192 is set to 1
In case of 6 levels, the gain of the amplifier 1 is “239 / (239 + 16) = 239/255 times” than the current setting.
The gain correction signal such that
Supply to.

Consider a case where the differential signal of the comparator 192 is still larger than 0 after the gain correction of the amplifier 1 by the gain correction circuit 194.

For example, the maximum value detection circuit 191 uses the maximum value 2
Consider the case where 47 is detected and eight levels are supplied as a differential signal from the comparator 193 to the counter 193 and the gain correction circuit 194.

The counter 193 counts the number of 5 pixel continuous areas in which the difference signal exceeds 0 from the output signal to the comparator 192, and supplies the coefficient result to the gain correction circuit 194.

The gain correction circuit 194 has a counter 193.
When the coefficient result of the counter 193 is larger than a predetermined value according to the coefficient result which is the output signal of the above and the difference signal which is the output signal of the comparator 192, it is determined that the input video signal is the over input signal, When it becomes smaller than the predetermined value, it is determined that the over-input state is almost eliminated.

However, since the differential signal of the comparator 192 is not 0 or less than 0, the gain of the amplifier 1 is further reduced according to 8 levels of the differential signal, and the value of "239
/ 255 × 239 / (239 + 8) = 239/255 ×
A gain correction signal that is “239/247 times” is supplied to the gain control circuit 54.

If the difference signal which is the output signal to the comparator 192 becomes 0 or 0 as a result of the gain correction of the amplifier 1 by the gain correction circuit 194 again, the gain correction circuit 1
94 is the current gain correction signal, the gain of the amplifier 1 is "2.
The gain correction signal of “39/255 × 239/247 times” is continuously supplied to the gain control circuit 54 as it is.

Next, the operation of the over-input detection circuit 19 when the input signal is switched from the over-input signal to the signal in the standard state will be described.

Amplifier 1 by the above gain correction circuit 194
When the signal is switched to the standard state while the gain correction is applied, the maximum value detection circuit 191 outputs the maximum value "2".
16 (= 239 × 239/255 × 247/255) ”
Is detected and the “−23 level” is supplied from the comparator 193 as a differential signal to the counter 193 and the gain correction circuit 194.

The counter 193 counts the number of 5-pixel continuous areas in which the difference signal exceeds 0 from the output signal to the comparator 192, and supplies the coefficient result to the gain correction circuit 194. At this time, the coefficient result is close to zero.

The gain correction circuit 194 has a counter 193.
Since the coefficient result of the counter 193 is smaller than a predetermined value according to the coefficient result which is the output signal of the above and the difference signal which is the output signal of the comparator 192, the input video signal is switched from the over input signal to the standard signal. Determined that
A gain correction signal of, for example, 1 that does not correct the gain of the amplifier 1 is supplied to the gain control circuit 54.

Thus, the gain correction circuit 194 stops the gain correction of the amplifier 1 with respect to the excessive input signal.

The amplifier 1, the gamma circuit 2, and the gamma characteristic control circuit 52 operate in the same manner as in the first embodiment according to the output signal of the APL detection circuit 4.

Even when an over-input signal is supplied to the video signal input terminal 7 in this manner, the gamma circuit 2 sends an A / D signal.
The video signal supplied to the converter 17 can be prevented from exceeding the input dynamic range of the A / D converter 17.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit in the subsequent stage are interlocked with each other according to the APL of the input video signal, and the excessive input signal level detected from the output of the gamma circuit is controlled. By correcting and controlling the gain of the amplifier in accordance with the above, it is possible to improve the feeling of contrast at the time of low APL without causing whitening even with respect to an excessive input signal.

In the description of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, only the case where the adaptive control according to the APL is controlled in two stages, that is, when the APL is high and when the APL is low, has been described. Not limited to this, the gain of the amplifier and the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit may be interlocked and controlled in a plurality of stages according to the size of the APL.

Further, although APL, which is the average signal level, is used as a reference as the feature of the image, similar effects can be obtained when adaptive control is performed based on the luminance distribution information.

Further, the non-linear characteristic of the gamma circuit provided in the latter stage of the amplifier is not limited to the characteristic shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 (b), the luminance difference is enlarged at a low amplitude, and the amplitude approaches the maximum. Therefore, the input / output characteristic may be such that the output gradually converges to 100%.

In addition, in (Embodiment 8), when determining whether or not the input video signal is an over-input signal, the determination is made in consideration of the horizontal continuity of the difference signal from the predetermined maximum value. However, the determination may be made in consideration of the continuity in the vertical direction and the two-dimensional continuity.

[0189]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to improve the contrast feeling at the time of low APL without causing the white crushing.

Further, also for the signal with setup, a sufficient effect of improving the contrast feeling can be obtained at a low APL.

Further, even for a signal of the composite format, the contrast feeling at the time of low APL is improved without fading the color.

In addition, even when a signal having an amplitude larger than that of the standard signal is supplied, a remarkable effect that the sense of contrast at the time of low APL can be improved without the occurrence of white crushing can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between input / output signals in a signal amplification means and a non-linear processing means according to an embodiment of the first invention of the present application.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the second invention of the present application.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a difference between a signal with a setup and a signal without a setup signal.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of a third invention of the present application.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an output signal of an integrating means according to an embodiment of the third invention of the present application.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of a fourth invention of the present application.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an output signal example of an integrating means according to an embodiment of the fourth invention of the present application.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the fifth invention of the present application.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a phase relationship between a color burst signal and a gate signal which is an output signal of the burst signal detection circuit according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the sixth invention of the present application.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the seventh invention of the present application.

FIG. 13 is an A / A diagram according to an embodiment of the seventh invention of the present application;
The figure explaining operation | movement of D conversion means.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the eighth invention of the present application.

FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 AMP 2 gamma circuit 3, 18 Video display device 4 APL detection circuit 5 control circuit 7 Video signal input terminal 8, 10 Setup signal removal circuit 9, 11 Setup signal detection circuit 12, 14 Automatic color amplitude adjustment circuit 16, 19 Over-input detection circuit 17 A / D converter

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomohisa Tagami             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B057 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB08 CB12                       CB16 CC01 CE11 CH08                 5C021 PA17 PA53 PA76 RA07 RA08                       RB02 SA05 XA34 XA35                 5C066 AA11 BA01 CA05 CA17 EA07                       EA11 EC05 GA05 GA16 GB01                       JA03 KA12 KD02 KD07 KM11                       KP02 LA02                 5C077 LL04 PP15 PQ12 RR01 TT09

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A signal amplifying means for amplifying an input video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and a feature of an image is extracted from the input video signal. An image processing apparatus comprising: a feature extracting means; and a control means for controlling the non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means in accordance with an output signal of the feature extracting means. 2. A setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and a signal for the output signal of the signal amplifying means. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing in the amplitude direction, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls in conjunction with each other. 3. A setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and a signal for the output signal of the signal amplifying means. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing in the amplitude direction, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. Control means for interlocking control and setup signal detecting means for detecting whether or not the input video signal has a setup signal component are provided, and the setup removing means operates according to the output signal of the setup signal detecting means. An image processing device characterized by: 4. A setup signal removing means for removing a predetermined setup signal component from an input video signal, a signal amplifying means for amplifying an output signal of the setup signal removing means, and a signal for the output signal of the signal amplifying means. Non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing in the amplitude direction, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and non-linear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. And a setup signal detecting means for detecting whether or not the input video signal is a signal having a setup signal component from the output signal of the non-linear processing means, and the setup removing means comprises the setup signal. An image processing apparatus which operates according to an output signal of a detection means. 5. The feature extracting means includes at least APL detecting means for detecting an average signal level from the input signal, and the control means sets a gain of the signal amplifying means to a predetermined value according to an output signal of the feature extracting means. The gain control means for controlling to a value, and the non-linear characteristic control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means according to an output signal of the gain control means are provided. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4. 6. The setup signal detecting means comprises at least a minimum value detecting means for detecting a minimum value of the input signal, and an integrating means for integrating an output signal of the minimum value detecting means over a predetermined period, and the integrating means. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setup removing means operates in accordance with the output signal of. 7. A signal amplifying means for amplifying an input video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and an automatic output signal for the non-linear processing means. The automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of the color signal to a predetermined value, the feature extracting means for extracting the feature of the image from the input video signal, and the period during which the burst signal is superimposed from the input video signal. A burst signal period detecting means for detecting the above, and a control means for controlling the nonlinear characteristics of the signal amplifying means and the non-linear processing means in conjunction with each other in accordance with the output signal of the feature extracting means and the output signal of the burst signal period detecting means. An image processing apparatus comprising: 8. The feature extracting means comprises at least APL detecting means for detecting an average signal level from the input video signal, and the control means outputs the output signal of the feature extracting means and the output signal of the burst signal period detecting means. According to the above, gain control means for controlling the gain of the signal amplification means to a predetermined value, and non-linear characteristic control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the gain control means are provided. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7. 9. A signal amplifying means for amplifying an input video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and an automatic signal for an output signal of the non-linear processing means. Automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of the color signal to a predetermined value, feature extracting means for extracting image features from the input video signal, and the signal amplifying means according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means and a control means for interlockingly controlling the automatic color signal amplitude adjusting means. 10. The feature extracting means includes at least APL detecting means for detecting an average signal level from the input video signal, and the automatic color signal amplitude control means detects an amplitude of a burst signal from an output signal of the non-linear processing means. Burst signal detecting means and second signal amplifying means for amplifying the output signal of the non-linear processing means, and the control means controls the gain of the signal amplifying means to a predetermined value according to the output signal of the feature extracting means. First gain control means for
The non-linear characteristic control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the gain control means, the output signal of the burst signal amplitude detection means and the gain of the second signal amplification means according to the gain control means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising second gain control means for controlling. 11. A signal amplifying means for amplifying an input analog video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplifying means in a signal amplitude direction, and a digital signal for outputting an output signal of the non-linear processing means. Convert to A
/ D conversion means, feature extraction means for extracting image characteristics from the input analog video signal, and over-input signal detection means for detecting whether or not the input analog video signal is an input signal exceeding a standard signal level. Image processing comprising: a control means for interlockingly controlling the non-linear characteristics of the non-linear processing means and the signal amplifying means in accordance with the output signal of the feature extracting means and the output signal of the over-input signal detecting means. apparatus. 12. An AP in which the feature extracting means detects an average signal level from at least the input analog video signal.
L detection means, the over-input signal detection means at least maximum value detection means for detecting the maximum value of the input signal,
The control means controls the gain of the signal amplification means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means and the output signal of the over-input signal detection means, and the nonlinear processing according to the output signal of the gain control means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a non-linear characteristic control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the means. 13. A signal amplification means for amplifying an input analog video signal, a non-linear processing means for performing non-linear processing on an output signal of the signal amplification means in a signal amplitude direction, and an output signal of the non-linear processing means as a digital signal. Convert to A
From the input analog video signal, an A / D conversion means, an over-input signal detection means for detecting whether the input analog video signal is an input signal exceeding a standard signal level from the output signal of the A / D conversion means, Feature extraction means for extracting features of an image, and control means for interlockingly controlling the non-linear characteristics of the signal amplification means and the non-linear processing means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means and the output signal of the over-input signal detection means. An image processing apparatus comprising: 14. An AP in which the feature extracting means detects an average signal level from at least the input analog video signal.
L over detection means, the over-input signal detection means is a maximum value detection means for detecting the maximum value of the input signal, and a gain correction means for correcting the gain of the amplification means at least according to the output signal of the maximum value detection means. The control means controls the gain of the signal amplification means according to the output signal of the feature extraction means and the output signal of the over-input signal detection means, and the gain control means controls the gain of the signal amplification means. 14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a non-linear characteristic control means for controlling the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear processing means.