Patent ID: 7245326

Claim:
A method for generating an interpolated picture element (pixel) at a target pixel position between two successive lines of an interlace scan image, comprising the steps of: determining a first gradient intensity value in a first direction in a predetermined region about the target pixel position and a first magnitude value for the determined first gradient intensity value; determining a second gradient intensity value in a second direction in the predetermined region about the target pixel position, the second direction being different from the first direction, and a second magnitude value for the determined second gradient intensity value; determining if at least one of the first magnitude value and the second magnitude value exceeds a predetermined threshold to define the target pixel location as an edge pixel location; if the target pixel location is an edge pixel location, determining a ratio of the first and second gradient intensity values including the step of identifying one of the first and second magnitude value as being larger than the other magnitude value; processing the ratio of the first and second gradient intensity values to determine an approximate angle of the edge by reflecting the edge angle about a predetermined reference angle if the first magnitude value is greater than the second magnitude value, and comparing the first and second gradient intensity values and changing the angle of the edge in sense from positive to negative if first and second gradient intensity values are opposite in sense; and if the target pixel location is an edge pixel location, interpolating a value for the target pixel location from the values of pixels in the interlace scan image adjacent to the target pixel and lying along the determined approximate angle.