Natural luminance transient enhancement

1. A method of enhancing an edge transient contained in a video signal, the edge transient including first and second edge side portions, the method comprising:

identifying the edge transient in the video signal;

asymmetrically enhancing the edge transient of the video signal so that only one of the first and second edge side portions is substantially enhanced.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identifying step includes detecting an edge center of the edge transient.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identifying step includes selecting one of the first and second edge side portions of the edge transient, relative to an edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the asymmetrically enhancing step includes adding an edge change signal to the video signal.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the identifying step includes:

detecting an edge center of the edge transient; and

selecting one of the first and second edge side portions of the edge transient, relative to the edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

6. An apparatus for enhancing an edge transient contained in a video signal, the edge transient including first and second edge side portions, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying the edge transient in the video signal;

means for asymmetrically enhancing the edge transient of the video signal so that only one of the first and second edge side portions is substantially enhanced.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the identifying means includes means for detecting an edge center of the edge transient.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the identifying means includes means for selecting one of the first and second side edge portions of the edge transient, relative to an edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the asymmetrically enhancing means includes means for adding an edge change signal to the video signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the identifying means includes:

means for detecting an edge center of the edge transient; and

means for selecting one of the first and second side edge portions of the edge transient, relative to the edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

11. A video signal having an enhanced edge transient produced by the steps comprising:

identifying the edge transient in the video signal;

asymmetrically enhancing the edge transient of the video signal so that only one of first and second edge side portions of the edge transient is substantially enhanced.

12. The video signal according to claim 11 , wherein the identifying step includes detecting an edge center of the edge transient.

13. The video signal according to claim 11 , wherein the identifying step includes selecting one of the first and second side edge portions of the edge transient, relative to an edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

14. The video signal according to claim 11 , wherein the asymmetrically enhancing step includes adding an edge change signal to the video signal.

15. The video signal according to claim 11 , wherein the identifying step includes detecting an edge center of the edge transient; and

selecting one of the first and second side edge portions of the edge transient, relative to the edge center thereof, to substantially enhance.

16. A video signal comprising:

an edge transient;

an edge center defined by the edge transient;

a first edge side portion defined by the edge transient; and

a second edge side portion defined by the edge transient;

wherein one of the first and second edge side portions is steepened and the other one of the first and second side edge portions is not steepened.