Patent ID: 8687123

Claim:
A video signal processing apparatus for processing a video signal, the apparatus comprising: a processing unit for applying a picture noise changing algorithm, the processing unit including: a switch unit having a first input for receiving the video signal, the video signal having a sequence of frames, a second input, a first output and a second output, the switch unit selecting, based upon a signal received at the second input, whether frames received at the switch unit input are to be directed to the first or second output; a first noise reduction unit having a input and an output, the input being coupled to the first output of the switch unit; a second noise reduction unit having an input and an output, the input being coupled to the second output of the switch unit; and a frame combiner having a first input and a second input, the first input coupled to the output of the first noise reduction unit and the second input coupled to the output of the second noise reduction unit; a variation unit for varying a noise reduction setting for the picture noise changing algorithm between at least some consecutive pictures of the sequence of pictures in response to a predetermined variation rule, wherein said varying is independent of the received pictures, the variation unit having an output coupled to the second input of the switch unit for providing signals to the switch unit which determine whether frames received by the switch unit are to be output via the first output of the switch unit or the second output of the switch unit, and thus varying the noise reduction setting.