Decoding information for interlaced to progressive scan conversion

1. A method of converting interlaced video to progressive video,

said method comprising:

receiving a video signal representative of at least one picture;

determining whether said picture is progressive;

modifying a vertical synchronization signal to identify a first field of said picture responsive to said progressive picture determination, wherein at least two fields are associated with interlaced video; and,

processing said video signal responsive to said modifying step wherein during said modifying step at least one of the following is performed:

selectively modulating a pulse width of said vertical synchronization signal wherein said modulation is capable of being used to identify said first field;

increasing a pulse width in a pulse width modulated signal representing the vertical synchronization signal wherein said modulated pulse width is capable of being used to identify said first field; and

decreasing a pulse width in a vertical synchronization signal wherein said decreased pulse width is capable of being used to identify said first field.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said processing step comprises: converting said progressive video signal to an interlaced video signal having said vertical synchronization signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said processing step comprises:

converting said interlaced video signal having said vertical synchronization signal to a progressive video signal in accordance with said modified vertical synchronization signal.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: providing said progressive video signal to a liquid crystal on silicon imager.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: providing said progressive video signal to a high definition television receiver having a liquid crystal on silicon imager.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said picture further comprises a second field identified by said vertical synchronization signal, wherein a width of said vertical synchronization signal is unmodified and corresponds to a second field.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said video signal is a digital video data stream.

8. The method of claim 7 , said determining step comprising: parsing header information in said received video data stream.

9. The method of claim 7 , said identifying step comprising: parsing header information in said received video data stream.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said video signal is a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) video data stream.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said video signal is a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 2 video data stream.

12. A method of converting interlaced video to progressive video, said method comprising:

receiving a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 2 video data stream representative of at least one picture;

determining whether said picture is progressive;

identifying a first field of said picture in accordance with a progressive determination of said picture;

selectively modulating a width of a vertical synchronization signal associated with said first field;

converting said MPEG 2 video data stream to an interlaced video signal having said selectively pulse width modulated vertical synchronization signal; and,

converting said interlaced video signal to a progressive signal in accordance with said selectively modulated vertical synchronization signal width.

13. A system for converting interlaced video to progressive video, said system comprising: a decoder for decoding a Moving Picture Experts Group (MEPG) 2 video data stream to produce an interlaced video signal,

said MPEG 2 video data stream specifying at least in part a first field of a picture, wherein said decoder further produces a vertical synchronization signal being selectively width modulated to identify said first field;

a deinterlacer, for converting said interlaced video signal to a progressive video signal in accordance with said selectively width modulated vertical synchronization signal; and,

a processor for coordinating said decoder and said deinterlacer.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising: a liquid crystal on silicon imager for displaying said progressive video signal.

15. The system of claim 13 , further comprising: a high definition television receiver having a liquid crystal on silicon imager for displaying said progressive video signal.

16. A method for signaling an occurrence when converting interlaced video to progressive video, said method comprising: receiving a video signal representative of at least one picture;

identifying a progressive picture occurrence in said video signal;

modifying a vertical sync pulse duration to mark a first field of said picture responsive to said progressive picture determination;

and, processing said video signal to form a progressive video signal in accordance with said modifying step.