JPH089281A - Television signal processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display the superimposed dialog in an optimum ratio when an image of a letter box type where the superimposed dialog is shown at a blank part is inputted and the vertical deflection size is switched between a vide area and a superposed area for display. CONSTITUTION:A horizontal magnification circuit 102 includes a memory circuit 103 which. temporarily stores the input video signals and repetitively reads out the same pixel in accordance with the magnifying power, and a horizontal interpolation filter 104 which applies the filter processing to the output signals of the circuit 103 to obtain a smoothly magnified image. Then the circuit 102 outputs an image of the horizontal magnifying power. A magnifying power control circuit 105 controls the magnifying power of the circuit 102. A superimposed dialog position designating circuit 106 designates the start position of a superimposed area to the circuit 105 in order to switch the magnifying power between a video area and the superimposed area. A level insertion circuit 107 inserts a prescribed level into a horizontal blank part obtained by reducing the magnifying power of the superimposed area. Then a vertical deflection control circuit 108 switches the vertical deflection size between the video and superimposed areas.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television capable of switching a vertical deflection size between a video area and a subtitle area when a letterbox type video in which a subtitle is displayed in a blank portion is input. The present invention relates to a signal processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, movie software has been enhanced, and among them, letterbox type software having a horizontally long aspect ratio close to an actual movie size has been increasing. One of the major characteristics of wide-screen TVs is that the video part of the above letterbox type software is enlarged to fill the wide screen. FIG. 6 shows an example in which an image with an aspect ratio of 4: 3 is displayed on a wide screen with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. An image having an aspect ratio of 4: 3 as shown in FIG. 6A is usually compressed in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. If the input video signal is a letterbox type video as in this example, then FIG.
By enlarging the image portion and displaying it on the wide screen as shown in (c), a realistic image can be obtained. However, when the subtitles are displayed in the blank portion, there is a problem that the subtitles are missing from the display screen when the display is enlarged. As a means for solving the problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-185173 discloses a method of moving subtitles into a video image as shown in FIG. 6D, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-64027 discloses a method shown in FIG. As shown in, the method of compressing the subtitle portion by changing the vertical deflection size and displaying it on the same screen is shown.

[0003]

The method shown in FIG. 6 (d) requires a relatively large circuit, and there is a problem in that the original image is lost due to the moved subtitles. The method shown in FIG. 6E can be realized only by controlling the vertical deflection size, so the circuit scale is small and the corner control is easy.
There is a problem that the subtitles are extended horizontally.

[0004]

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, vertical deflection control means for inputting a letterbox type image and switching the vertical deflection size between a video area and a subtitle area, and inputting the video signal Arbitrary horizontal expansion rate including memory means for temporarily storing the signal and repeatedly reading out the same pixel according to the expansion rate and horizontal interpolation filter means for filtering the enlarged video signal output from the memory means to obtain a smooth enlarged video The horizontal enlargement means for outputting the image, the enlargement ratio control means for controlling the enlargement ratio of the horizontal enlargement means, and the start position of the subtitle area for the enlargement ratio control means for switching the enlargement ratio between the video area and the subtitle area. And a level insertion circuit for inserting a predetermined level in the left and right margins generated by reducing the horizontal enlargement ratio of the subtitle area. A structure having, when switching the vertical deflection size image area and the caption area can be achieved by switching the horizontal magnification in accordance with the vertical deflection size of the subtitle area.

[0005]

In the above means, the vertical deflection control means controls to switch the deflection size between the image area and the subtitle area when a letterbox type image is input.

The horizontal enlarging means receives the video signal, at least temporarily stores the video signal, and repeatedly reads out the same pixel according to the enlarging ratio, and performs a filtering process on the enlarged video signal output from the memory means. Outputs an image with an arbitrary horizontal enlargement ratio, including a horizontal interpolation filter that produces a smooth enlarged image.

The enlargement ratio control means controls the enlargement ratio of the horizontal enlargement circuit.

The subtitle area designating means designates the start position of the subtitle area to the horizontal enlarging means in order to switch the enlargement ratio between the video area and the subtitle area.

The level inserting means inserts a predetermined level in the left and right margins generated by reducing the enlargement ratio of the subtitle area.

The above-mentioned means is required, and when the vertical deflection size is switched between the video area and the subtitle area, by controlling the enlargement ratio in the horizontal direction in accordance with the deflection size of the subtitle area,
It is possible to display subtitles with an optimum ratio.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a video signal input terminal, 102 is a horizontal expansion circuit,
103 is a memory circuit, 104 is a horizontal interpolation filter, 10
5 is a magnification control circuit, 106 is a subtitle position specifying circuit, 10
7 is a level insertion circuit, 108 is a vertical deflection control circuit, 10
Reference numeral 9 is a picture tube. The aspect ratio of the display screen is 16: 9
The case of landscape orientation is shown.

The operation of the circuit of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, A is a video area, B is a subtitle area, C is a blank area in which subtitles are not displayed, and D is a left and right margin portion generated by reducing the enlargement ratio of the subtitle area.

From the video signal input terminal 101, as shown in FIG.
When a letterbox type video signal in which subtitles are displayed in the blank portion as shown in (a) is input, the memory circuit 103 of the horizontal expansion circuit 102 temporarily stores the input video signal and outputs the input video signal according to the expansion ratio. By repeatedly reading the same pixel, an image enlarged in the horizontal direction at an arbitrary enlargement ratio is output. The horizontal interpolation filter 104 filters the output signal of the memory circuit 103 and creates a new interpolation pixel to output a smooth enlarged image.

The enlargement ratio control circuit 105 controls the horizontal enlargement circuit 102 so as to switch the horizontal enlargement ratio between the video area A and the subtitle area B of the letterbox type video signal shown in FIG. By enlarging the image area A by, for example, 4/3 times, the wide area can be displayed without displaying the left and right frames as shown in FIG. The subtitle area (b) is displayed without enlarging, for example,
Alternatively, the image is enlarged or reduced at a magnification smaller than that of the image portion A according to the vertical deflection size and displayed.

The subtitle position designating circuit 106 designates to the enlargement ratio control circuit 105 the start position of the subtitle area which is the position at which the enlargement ratio is switched. As a method of specifying the subtitle area, for example, there is a method in which the user sets the start position of the subtitle area on the screen using a remote controller, or a method of setting the start position of the subtitle area in advance in a microcomputer or the like.

The level insertion circuit 107 is connected to D of FIG. 2 (b).
A predetermined level is inserted in the left and right margins generated by reducing the enlargement ratio of the subtitle area as shown in. As the level to be inserted, for example, the levels of blank portions of several types of letterbox type images may be measured and the average value of them may be inserted.

The vertical deflection control circuit 108 switches the vertical deflection size based on the control signal output from the enlargement ratio control circuit 105. For example, in the video area A, the vertical deflection size is increased to enlarge the video in the vertical direction, and the subtitle area B
Then, the vertical deflection size is controlled so that the subtitles are not enlarged or displayed at a vertical enlargement ratio smaller than the video. Further, even if the vertical deflection size is switched here, it is possible to obtain an image with less discomfort even if the deflection size is controlled to gradually decrease at the lower part of the display screen without switching at the start position of the subtitle area. As described above, the present embodiment is characterized in that subtitles are not enlarged even when a letterbox type video signal is enlarged and displayed, and subtitles can be displayed without a sense of discomfort.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows an example in which a circuit for detecting the subtitle position and the background level of the subtitle is added to the circuit of FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 perform the same operation.

The subtitle position detection circuit 301 obtains, for example, the average level of the luminance signal of one line with respect to the video signal input from the video signal input terminal 101.
The start position X of the subtitle area as shown in (a) is detected.
The enlargement ratio control circuit 105 switches the horizontal enlargement ratio based on the subtitle region start position detected by the subtitle position detection circuit 301.

The background level detection circuit 302 is shown in FIG.
The level of the blank portion where the subtitles are not displayed in the subtitle area is detected as in C of (a). Level insertion circuit 10
Reference numeral 7 inserts the background level of the subtitle detected by the background level detection circuit 302 into the left and right margins of the subtitle area as shown by D in FIG. 2B.

In the present embodiment, by detecting the start position of the subtitle area, the labor of the user's operation is reduced, and by detecting the background level to be inserted, the background level inserting section is used for all input sources. There is no difference in level between the blank part of the input image and the input image, and the image is not damaged.

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which the display screen has an aspect ratio of 4: 3, which is equal to the aspect ratio of the input image. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 perform the same operation.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a letterbox type image is enlarged and displayed on a 4: 3 screen. Even if the display screen is 4: 3, if the letterbox type image as shown in FIG. 5 (a) is enlarged and displayed, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the left and right sides are cut off but the center of the image is displayed in full screen. can do. However, in this case, even if the enlargement ratio of the subtitle area is reduced, no margin portion is generated on the left and right of the subtitle area, and thus the level insertion circuit 107 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is not necessary.

With the configuration as described above, even when a letter box type video signal is input and the video area and the subtitle area are switched by vertical deflection, the deflection size of the subtitle area is changed. By switching the horizontal enlargement ratio, it is possible to display subtitles with an optimum ratio.

[0025]

According to the present invention, a letterbox type video signal in which a subtitle is displayed in a blank portion is input,
Even when the vertical deflection size is switched between the video area and the subtitle area, the subtitle with an optimum ratio can be displayed by switching the horizontal enlargement ratio according to the vertical deflection size of the subtitle area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a letterbox type image is displayed on a 16: 9 screen by switching horizontal and vertical enlargement ratios in a video region and a subtitle region.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which a letterbox type image is enlarged horizontally and vertically and displayed on a 4: 3 screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which a letterbox type image is displayed on a 16: 9 screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 ... Video signal input terminal, 102 ... Horizontal enlargement circuit, 103 ... Memory circuit, 104 ... Horizontal interpolation filter, 105 ... Enlargement ratio control circuit, 106 ... Subtitle position designation circuit, 107 ... Level insertion circuit, 108 ... Vertical deflection control Circuit, 109 ... Picture tube, 301 ... Subtitle position detection circuit, 302 ... Background level detection circuit.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tokunori Karasawa, 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Stock Company, Hitachi Image Information Systems (72) Inventor Akihiro 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Hitachi Image Information Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshinori Murata 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Stock Company, Hitachi Media Media Research Laboratories (72) Takanori Eda 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi Media Media Research Laboratories

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A blank box (hereinafter, referred to as a blank portion in which a video portion and a caption are displayed by inputting a letterbox type video signal).
In a television signal processing device having a vertical deflection control circuit capable of switching the vertical deflection size in a video area and a subtitle area), the video signal is input, the video signal is temporarily stored, and the video signal is temporarily stored according to an enlargement ratio. A memory circuit for repeatedly reading out the same pixel; and a horizontal enlargement circuit for outputting an image of an arbitrary horizontal enlargement ratio, which includes a horizontal interpolation filter for filtering the enlarged image signal outputted from the memory circuit to obtain a smooth enlarged image, An enlargement ratio control circuit that controls the enlargement ratio of the horizontal enlargement circuit, a subtitle position specifying circuit that specifies the start position of the subtitle region to the enlargement ratio control circuit to switch the enlargement ratio between the video area and the subtitle area, and the subtitle area A level insertion circuit for inserting a predetermined level in the left and right margins of the display screen generated by reducing the enlargement ratio. Television signal processing device and displaying the subtitles optimal ratio by switching also the horizontal enlargement ratio when switching deflection size between the image area and the caption region by. 2. A subtitle position detection circuit for detecting the start position of a subtitle area according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement ratio control circuit switches the enlargement ratio based on the detection position of the subtitle position detection circuit. A television signal processing device characterized by controlling. 3. The background level detection circuit according to claim 1, further comprising a background level detection circuit for detecting a level of a blank portion serving as a background of the caption, wherein the level insertion circuit detects the background level detection circuit in the left and right margins of the caption area. A television signal processing device, characterized in that an adjusted background level is inserted.