Patent ID: 7782401

Claim:
An image scaling system for converting an input image comprising input pixel data from an input video signal conveying a plurality of input video frames at an input resolution into an output image at an output resolution, the system comprising: a single set of line buffers, each line buffer for receiving and storing input pixel data from a scan line in an input video frame; a linear two-dimensional sharpness enhancement unit configured to receive input pixel data from the single set of line buffers and to generate in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction sharpened pixel data at the input resolution by enhancing high frequency components of the input pixel data; a linear two-dimensional image scaling unit configured to receive the sharpened pixel data from the linear two-dimensional sharpness enhancement unit and to convert in at least one of a horizontal and vertical direction the sharpened pixel data into scaled sharpened pixel data at the output resolution; and a transient improvement unit configured to receive the input pixel data from the single set of line buffers, sharpened pixel data at the input resolution from the linear two-dimensional sharpness enhancement unit and scaled sharpened pixel data at the output resolution from the linear two-dimensional image scaling unit, to improve transient responses at edges in the output image, and to generate output pixel data at the output resolution, wherein the linear two-dimensional sharpness enhancement unit, the linear two-dimensional image scaling unit and the transient improvement unit share the single set of line buffers, thereby reducing costs, complexity and power consumption of the system.