IP Library Granted Patent US 8,675,137
Granted Patent B2
US 8,675,137 · App. 12/759,656 · Granted Mar 18, 2014

Apparatus and method for adaptive filtering

Inventors: Ahmed Ragab Elsherif (Giza, EG); Mohamed Abd El-Salam Ali (Ramadan, EG); Nabil Yousef Wasily (Foothill Ranch, CA)
Assignee: Newport Media, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,675,137
App. No.
12/759,656
Granted
Mar 18, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus and a method for adaptive filtering includes an antenna that receives analog video broadcast signal data; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the antenna and converting the received analog video broadcast signal data to digital video signal data; a frame buffer memory storing the digital video signal data; an instruction memory storing adaptive filtering instructions; and an adaptive filter coupled to the memory and the analog-to-digital converter, wherein the adaptive filter: reads the adaptive filter instructions from the memory; executes the adaptive filter instructions; averages an input pixel with a corresponding pixel stored in the frame buffer memory; calculates a forgetting factor for each pixel in the plurality of pixel values stored in the frame buffer memory; and filters noise from each pixel of the plurality of pixel values stored in the frame buffer memory based on the forgetting factor.

Claims (37)

1. A system for adaptively filtering noise from an analog video broadcast signal, said system comprising:

an antenna that receives analog video broadcast signal data;

an analog-to-digital converter operatively connected to said antenna and converting the received analog video broadcast signal data to digital video signal data;

a frame buffer memory storing only a plurality of horizontal lines of said digital video signal data, wherein said plurality of horizontal lines comprise a plurality of pixel values of an input frame;

an instruction memory storing adaptive filtering instructions; and

an adaptive filter coupled to said memory and said analog-to-digital converter, wherein said adaptive filter:

reads said adaptive filter instructions from said memory;

executes said adaptive filter instructions;

calculates a forgetting factor for each pixel in said plurality of pixel values stored in said frame buffer memory based on estimation of channel power and noise power;

averages an input pixel with a corresponding pixel of said horizontal lines stored in said frame buffer memory based on the forgetting factor;

filters noise from each pixel of said plurality of pixel values stored in said frame buffer memory based on said forgetting factor; and

calculates a motion detection measure for each said input pixel in said input frame, wherein said motion detection measure equals an absolute value of a difference between said input pixel and a corresponding input pixel in a previous input frame positioned immediately before said input frame stored in said frame buffer memory, and wherein the averaging of said input pixel is proportionally adjusted by a scaled version of motion amount for each said input pixel when said motion detection measure is greater than zero.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an analog signal equalizing system coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, wherein said analog signal equalizing system equalizes said received analog video broadcast signal data.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said analog equalizing system comprises at least one of an automatic gain controller and an equalizer.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said analog equalizing system comprises an automatic gain controller and said adaptive filter compensates said forgetting factor for said noise measured by said equalizer.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein said analog equalizing system comprises an equalizer and said adaptive filter compensates said forgetting factor for said channel power measured by said equalizer.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said analog video broadcast signal data comprises at least one of an odd analog video signal data and an even analog video signal data.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein said analog-to-digital converter converts said odd analog video signal to odd digital video signal data and said analog-to-digital converter converts said even analog video signal data to digital video signal data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein said frame buffer memory comprises a display frame.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a display device, wherein said adaptive filter averages said input pixel to a corresponding pixel in said frame buffer and send the average to said display device and to the corresponding pixel location in said frame buffer memory.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a horizontal input line is repositioned when said horizontal input line corresponds to an odd frame, wherein said repositioning averages an upper and a lower input line using a corresponding horizontal line stored in said frame buffer memory.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said adaptive filter adjusts said forgetting factor using said estimation of channel power and said estimation of noise power.

12. A method of adaptively filtering noise in analog video broadcast signal data, said method comprising:

receiving said analog signal data;

converting said analog video broadcast signal data to first digital signal data comprising a plurality of first pixel values;

providing second digital signal data stored in a frame buffer memory, wherein said second digital signal data comprises a plurality of second pixel values;

calculating a forgetting factor for every pixel in said first digital signal data;

averaging said first digital signal data and said second digital signal data using said forgetting factor to determine a first weight to adjust said first digital signal data and a second weight to adjust said second digital signal data; and

detecting motion between said first digital signal data and said second digital signal data and automatically adjusting said forgetting factor when motion is detected, wherein the detecting of motion comprises calculating a motion detection measure for each input pixel in an input frame, wherein said motion detection measure equals an absolute value of a difference between said input pixel and a corresponding input pixel in a previous input frame positioned immediately before said input frame stored in said frame buffer memory, and wherein the averaging of said input pixel is proportionally adjusted by a scaled version of motion amount for each said input pixel when said motion detection measure is greater than zero.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said first weight is calculated as α and said second weight is calculated as 1−α, where α comprises said forgetting factor, and wherein a displayed frame is computed based on multiplication of α and first signal data and further based on multiplication of 1−α and said second digital signal data.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said analog video broadcast signal data comprises at least one of an odd analog video signal data and an even analog video signal data.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising converting said odd analog video signal to said first digital signal data, wherein said second digital signal data comprises a digitized copy of said even analog video signal data.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein said first digital signal data comprises a plurality of horizontal lines; and each of said plurality of horizontal lines comprises a plurality of pixel values, and said method further comprises averaging a first horizontal line of said plurality of horizontal lines and a second horizontal line of said horizontal lines to obtain an intermediate line.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting a scene change between said first digital signal data and said second digital signal data and automatically setting said forgetting factor to one when said scene change is detected.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting said forgetting factor using a estimation of channel power and an estimation of noise power.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising equalizing said received analog video broadcast signal.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein said analog video broadcast signal data is configured for a mobile receiver comprising any of a National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) standard, a Phase Alternate Line (PAL), and a Sequential Color with Memory (SECAM) standard.

Assignments (31)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 060894/0437 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059363/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059863/0400 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059358/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059262/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059333/0222 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2021
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057935/0474 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055671/0612 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053468/0705 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 053466/0011 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2020
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC.; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053311/0305 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047103/0206 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2018
From: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED; SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; ATMEL CORPORATION; MICROSEMI CORPORATION; MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 046426/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2017
From: ATMEL CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 041715/0747 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038364/0615 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Apr 6, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 038364/0659 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 24, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034705/0090 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0517 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0435 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0379 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033908/0242 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0775 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0748 →
TERMINATION OF SECURITY Recorded Oct 7, 2014
From: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION
To: ATMEL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033907/0702 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0195 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2014
From: ATMEL WIRELESS MCU TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033689/0214 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 1, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: HORIZON TECHNOLOGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 029956/0891 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 15, 2013
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION; NEWPORT MEDIA, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 029818/0138 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 029554/0118 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 31, 2012
From: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
To: PINNACLE VENTURES, L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 028299/0903 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2010
From: ELSHERIF, AHMED RAGAB; ALI, MOHAMED ABD EL-SALAM; WASILY, NABIL YOUSEF
To: NEWPORT MEDIA, INC.
Reel/Frame 024227/0457 →
Continuity (1)
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