Patent Document ID: 5521644
Application ID: 08268363
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of generating a digital output image comprised of successive lines of pixels from a plurality of immediately sequential first, second, third and fourth interlaced image fields having successively opposite field polarities, said plurality of interlaced image fields comprising first and third image fields of a first field polarity and second and fourth image fields of a second field polarity, interposed with said first and third image fields, said method comprising the steps of: (a) for a respective one of the successive lines of image pixels of said third image field, generating a respective line of output image pixels of said digital output image as corresponding to said respective one of the successive lines of image pixels of said third image field; (b) for a respective pixel location of each line of said digital output image for which there is no line of image pixels in said third image field, selectively generating a missing image pixel as either a pixel located at the same pixel location in said second image field, or generating said missing image pixel as a function of one or more pixels in said third image field, in dependence whether a prescribed combination of said first, second, third and fourth image fields reveals motion at said respective pixel location; (b1) for said respective pixel location of said each line of said digital output image, identifying a corresponding pixel location in each of said first and third image fields; (b2) for the corresponding pixel location in each of said first and third image fields, generating a sum signal representative of the average of differences between values of respective ones of pixels of the plurality Of pixels neighboring said corresponding pixel location in each of said first and third image fields; (b3) generating a first signal representative of the occurrence or non-occurrence of motion at said respective pixel location in the image represented by said first and third image fields in accordance with a prescribed relationship between said sum signal and a threshold value; (b4) for said respective pixel location of said each line of said digital output image, identifying a corresponding pixel location in each of said second and fourth image fields; (b5) for the corresponding pixel location in each of said second and fourth image fields, generating a sum signal representative of the average of differences between values of respective ones of pixels of the plurality of pixels neighboring said corresponding pixel location in each of said second and fourth image fields; (b6) generating a second Signal representative of the occurrence or non-occurrence of motion at said respective pixel location in the image represented by said second and fourth image fields in accordance with a prescribed relationship between said sum signal and said threshold value; (b7) selectively generating said missing image pixel as either a pixel located at the same pixel location in said second image field, or generating said missing image pixel as a function of one or more pixels in said third image field, in accordance with a combination of said first and second signals; (b7i) a method selectively generating said missing image pixel as a function of one or more pixels in said third image field in accordance with a prescribed logical combination of said first and second signals; and (b7ii) a method selectively generating said missing image pixel as a function of one or more pixels in said third image field in accordance with a logical ORing of said first and second signals.