Video Frame Replication Noise Masking via Dithering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Frame replication in digital video systems accentuates noise perception, resulting in lower video quality when increasing the frame rate, as noise is perceived for a longer duration due to repeated frames.

Innovation Solution

A medical imaging apparatus that includes an image sensor assembly, frame replication device, and frame modification controller, which replicates and randomly modifies pixel data in the frames to mask noise, thereby improving video quality at higher frame rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If frame replication is used to increase frame rate, then the frame rate is improved, but noise perception is accentuated resulting in lower video quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidnoise perception

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dithering noise to the replicated frames, which converts the harmful noise perception into a beneficial effect. By adding controlled random noise through dithering, the patent masks the problematic noise from frame replication, thereby improving overall video quality while maintaining the higher frame rate achieved through replication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies parameters of the replicated frames by applying dithering at different levels and patterns. This parameter change approach transforms the static replicated frames into dynamically varied frames with added noise components, which effectively masks the noise from the original lower frame rate signal and improves perceived video quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If each frame is replicated multiple times to achieve higher frame rate, then the frame rate is improved, but the same noise pattern is displayed repeatedly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe rateVSAvoidframe consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic variation to the replicated frames by applying dithering noise. Instead of displaying identical static copies of the original frames, the system creates dynamically varied frames through random noise addition, which masks the repetition artifact and improves temporal consistency perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic dithering patterns applied to replicated frames. By systematically varying the dithering parameters across replicated frames, the system creates a periodic modification pattern that effectively masks the noise from the original signal while maintaining the higher frame rate output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11462246B2Apparatus and methods for improving video quality from a digital video signal including replicated image frames

Publication Date: 2022.10.04 KARL STORZ IMAGING INC

AI summary

A camera control unit for processing a first video signal from an image sensor, the first video signal including a plurality of frames includes a frame replication device that replicates pixels of a respective frame of the first video signal to produce at least one replicated frame, an image processing controller that detects a noise level in the first digital video signal and that selects a modification level for the random modification of the respective pixel data based on the detected noise level, and a frame modification controller that modifies at least some of the respective pixels in the at least one replicated frame resulting in at least one modified replicated frame based on the selected modification level.