Product category: Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: Anchor Bay Technologies | Subject: DVDO iScanT VP50 HD video processor
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 14 December 2006

Progressive reprocessing restores video signals

Anchor Bay has announced its patent-pending Progressive ReProcessing (PRePT) technology

Anchor Bay, a leading supplier of video-processing semiconductors (ASICs) and systems, has announced its patent-pending Progressive ReProcessing (PRePT) technology, the video-processing industry's first processing method that significantly improves progressive video signals and removes artefacts caused by inferior interlaced-to-progressive conversion.

The breakthrough technology provides consumer electronics manufacturers with unprecedented control over their image processing and the ability to deliver a consistent viewing experience for their customers.

Video signals that originate in an interlaced format are often degraded by artefacts incurred when the signal is converted from interlaced to progressive formats by general-purpose chips in DVD players, AV receivers, and set-top boxes.

Until now, there has been no way to improve these signals to optimise images on high-resolution displays.

Poor interlaced-to-progressive conversion is especially problematic with large-screen HDTV sets, as upscaling to higher resolutions often amplifies artefacts created in the conversion process, making them more noticeable.

As a solution to this problem, Anchor Bay introduces PReP, an advanced video-processing technology that returns the progressive video signal output from source equipment to its original interlaced format.

PReP then converts the interlaced signal to progressive format, this time applying the source; edge; and motion-adaptive algorithms in its Precision DeinterlacingT technology to eliminate jaggies, combing, and other degrading effects.

PReP technology allows 480p, 576p, 1080p/50, 1080p/60, and other formats to be processed by this method.

'Consumers who have invested significant resources in HDTV and home theatre systems are often dismayed by the video quality that is actually delivered,' said Rich Wawrzyniak, senior analyst at Semico.

'More often than not, the poor image quality is the result of a conversion process that occurs in almost all DVD players and HDTV set-top boxes whereby interlaced signals must be converted to progressive before they can be viewed on an HDTV display'.

'If this process isn't done well, the result is jagged edges and other ugly artefacts on the consumer's new HDTV.

Anchor Bay's PReP technology is a clever solution to this problem, and one that should appeal to all suppliers of products that are designed to receive and/or display HDTV video'.

Already available on Anchor Bay's DVDO iScanT VP50 HD video processor, PReP will also be a key feature of the newly announced ABT2010 ASIC for OEMs.

In addition to featuring PReP, the ABT2010 will allow consumer electronics manufacturers to implement VRS Precision DeinterlacingT, VRS Precision Video ScalingT, VRS RightRateT, VRS AutoCUE-CT, and VRS Precision AV LipSyncT in their products, offering their customers an unprecedented viewing experience.

'With PReP, displays, A/V receivers, DVD players/recorders, set-top boxes, and other video source devices can improve progressive signals that have been poorly converted from interlaced formats,' said Craig Soderquist, CEO at Anchor Bay.

'It's an exciting breakthrough for OEMs and their customers alike'.

'By utilising PReP and the host of VRS technologies provided by the ABT2010 ASIC in their products, consumer electronics manufacturers can provide the best possible images for their customers' displays'.

• Anchor Bay Technologies: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Electronicstalk email newsletter
• Electronicstalk Home Page

Search the Pro-Talk network of sites

Put your news on Electronicstalk  |   Advertise  |   Get the free Electronicstalk newsletter
Electronicstalk Home  |   About Electronicstalk  |   Copyright © 2000-2007 Pro-Talk Ltd, UK