WO1999049660A1

WO1999049660A1 - Method for outputting received image data

Info

Publication number: WO1999049660A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/001992
Authority: WO
Inventors: Winfried Jentsch
Original assignee: Coin Institut Für Computer-Integriertes Engineering Gmbh
Priority date: 1998-03-24
Filing date: 1999-03-24
Publication date: 1999-09-30
Also published as: AU3521399A; DE19812957A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for outputting image data which is comprised of individual pixels arranged in matrix form in lines and columns, especially of a TV or video moving image sequence. According to the method, image information is prepared and stored as successively loaded images. In addition, the stored image information exits in the form of successively outputted images, whereby the image information of the outputted images is read out from the image information of the loaded images.

Description

Method for outputting received image data

The invention relates to a method for outputting received image data according to patent claim 1 and according to patent claim 2.

In the case of known image display devices for displaying images, the image information of which is arranged in rows and columns in matrix form, a large number of different image formats has become common.

Accordingly, there are also very different forms of coding and transmission of the image information such. B. from a unit that generates and provides the images to the image display devices.

In television technology, for. B. the PAL, SECAM, NTSC and the HDTV method for image data coding and / or transmission have become standard.

On the other hand, in the field of computer technology, a variety of display standards for data terminals, e.g. B. in the form of graphic terminals known. In this area of computer graphics and animation, a considerable quality advantage has been achieved over conventional television technology in that a much higher resolution with an increased refresh rate is used in the full-screen process. So z. B. in the SVGA standard, especially in multimedia applications, 1280 x - 2 -

1024 or 1600 x 1200 picture elements or picture pixels with refresh rates of the full pictures of at least 60 Hz are common, whereas with normal television in the field mode one works with 50 or 60 Hz.

In order to improve the picture quality of TV or video picture sequences with regard to the picture quiet, the so-called 100 Hz technique has been proposed in TV technology. The basic principle of this procedure for achieving flicker-free television pictures is that normal TV fields are received alternately in a 50 Hz rhythm as usual. Instead of a single output on the screen, each field is now temporarily stored in an image memory and twice in succession, i.e. So with double frequency, shown on the screen, which results in a refresh rate of 100 Hz.

This does achieve some increase in image quietness and a reduction in image flicker, but it is an inherent property of field visualization that the flickering of horizontal lines and e.g. of alphanumeric characters is also not completely eliminated by this 100 Hz technique. Furthermore, the output frame rate of 100 Hz results directly from the input frame rate of 50 Hz by pure doubling; thus the output and the input frequency are strictly and directly coupled and fixed to each other.

In addition to improving the picture smoothness and reducing the flickering of conventional TV or video pictures, it is often also desirable to display computer-generated pictures or picture sequences on a TV monitor with high quality. - 3 -

Because of the higher frame rate in full-screen mode, which is usually used in computer technology, problems arise here when converting to a conventional TV or video signal, with losses in the resulting image quality currently having to be accepted.

The invention is based on the object of providing a method for outputting received image data, in which the output image change frequency of the output images is adapted in a particularly simple manner to the technical and / or physiological requirements and in particular of an input image change frequency can be chosen independently.

The object is achieved according to the invention in each case with a method for outputting received image data according to patent claim 1 or according to patent claim 2. Advantageous developments of the method according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In both solutions of the task according to the invention, image data or image information of a sequence of incoming raster images, which consist of a number N of individual image elements, which are arranged in matrix form in z rows and s columns, are provided and stored. This provision can also include receiving the image data or image information via radio, parallel or serial lines, by means of infrared radiation or via glass fiber.

It is further provided in the method according to the invention that the stored image information is output as a sequence of successively raster images of N image elements each in z rows and s columns, in particular on an image display device. - 4 -

The output of the stored image information can also include the embossing of the image information obtained as a sequence of successively expiring raster images into a storage medium. However, it is also thought directly of an optical representation on a display, such as a TV monitor, an LCD or plasma screen, a video projector or the like.

According to the invention, the stored image information is provided, stored and output in a specific first and second chronological sequence, the image information of the successively expiring raster images being generated from the sequence of stored incoming raster images, specifically by the image information of the incoming raster images when outputting one outgoing raster image is read out.

It is provided according to the invention that the reading of the image information of a subsequent incoming raster image is carried out if the image information of the corresponding image element of the next incoming raster image is already made available and stored during the reading of the image information of a particular raster image.

This means that the readout process for the formation of the outgoing raster images changes from the current raster image to be read out to the subsequent raster image if the next but one raster image is already arriving during the reading out of the current raster image, so that the readout process for generating the outgoing raster images with the preparation process for the incoming raster images cannot overlap. - 5 -

The first solution to the problem according to the invention is further that, when the last picture element is reached when reading out the picture information of an incoming raster picture, either the picture information of this current incoming raster picture is read out again and repeatedly or the picture information of the following incoming raster picture is read out, depending on after whether the image information for the subsequent incoming raster image is incomplete or completely provided and stored. In this case, the first picture element of the incoming raster image to be read is started.

In the second solution of the task according to the invention, when the last picture element is reached when reading out the picture information of a current incoming raster image, either the repeated reading out of the picture information of this current incoming raster picture or the reading out of the picture information of the subsequent incoming raster picture is carried out, depending on whether the time period given by the first time sequence until the complete provision and storage of the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image has been reached is smaller or larger than the time period given by the second time sequence of the complete readout of the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image.

When reading out, the respective first picture element of the incoming raster image to be read out is started.

In the first method according to the invention, the readout process is therefore always repeated with this current raster image when the end of the current incoming raster image is reached, unless the subsequent incoming raster image - 6 -

image is already fully available and saved.

In the second method according to the invention, on the other hand, when the end of the current incoming raster image is reached, the readout process checks whether the readout process can catch up with the preparation process for the subsequent image or not. If the reading can be started with the following image without a collision of the reading and the preparation for the subsequent incoming raster image, the next incoming raster image is actually used. If, on the other hand, the read-out process can catch up with the provision and storage process for the subsequent image, the process does not proceed to the subsequent incoming raster image, but the current incoming raster image, which is already fully available, is repeatedly read out and used in the generation of the read-out raster images.

A basic idea of these two methods according to the invention is that the chronological sequence of reading out the data provided and thus the generation of the sequence of raster images which run out in succession can be selected independently of the chronological sequence of the incoming raster images.

The provision and storage process cannot overtake the read-out process with respect to the current picture element of the incoming raster image, because the read-out process changes the picture accordingly, so that the provision and read-out operate at most two pictures apart from each other in time. As a result of this solution according to the invention, intermediate storage of the incoming image information is not necessary, for example. An outgoing raster image can be composed of image information from different incoming raster images if the provision and reception of the incoming raster images is faster than the readout process and the construction of the outgoing raster images.

So it is e.g. possible that with a high-quality, high-resolution computer graphics card or with a graphics processor, a computer animation with a high frame rate is generated, e.g. is above 60 Hz and could not be displayed by a conventional TV set. The method according to the invention can be used to generate an output of the image information which has a lower frame rate and which can be displayed on a conventional TV set. The way the composition of the expiring raster images to be displayed results in a smooth transition, in particular in the case of moving image sequences, which does not have an unnatural effect on the human eye-brain system. This eliminates data buffering and the general recalculation of images, and the methods according to the invention can thus also be implemented in real time.

On the other hand, it may also be that the image information for the incoming raster images is provided and stored less quickly than the output of the sequence of expiring raster images.

In this case, the image information for a given incoming raster image may be processed several times and read out several times. It may be the case that, in the sequence of expiring raster images, several raster images consist of identical image information from the same incoming raster image. - 8th -

In any case, however, a calculation of intermediate images is not required in the method according to the invention, and the method according to the invention can thus be carried out in real time, so that the display of conventional TV or video image sequences on a computer monitor or other display device with a high frame rate opens up.

Advantageously, when going from reading out the image information of a certain image element of a certain incoming raster image to reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image, the corresponding subsequent image element of the subsequent raster image is continued.

This ensures that the image information of the outgoing raster images can be seamlessly composed of the image information of the incoming raster images. There are no gaps and there is no overlap.

The method according to the invention prevents, in particular, current image information which is expiring from an expiring raster image being overwritten by image information from earlier incoming raster images.

This is prevented in particular by dynamic collision avoidance between the provision / storage process and the readout process. The respective positions on which the processes operate can be derived, for example, from counting registers for controlling the reading / writing of memory areas. On the other hand, electronic control signals - for example vertical synchronizing signals or the like - can also be tapped from graphic cards or corresponding devices and evaluated. - 9 -

In the methods just mentioned, a change to the next incoming raster image takes place in exactly two cases, namely if there is a collision between the provision and storage process on the one hand and the readout process on the other.

On the other hand, an image change to the next raster image also takes place if the readout process reaches the end of the raster image currently to be read and if there is also no fear of a collision with the provision and storage process in the other image when changing.

In a further exemplary embodiment, it is provided that during the reading of the image information of a picture element of an incoming raster image, a constant check is carried out to determine whether the time period given by the first time sequence until the complete information is stored and stored for the subsequent incoming raster image is smaller than that the time period given by the second chronological sequence of completely reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image, and then possibly proceeding to reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image, starting with the respective next image element.

This procedure includes the aspect that a switch is made to the next raster image at the earliest possible time. The earliest possible point in time is the point in time from which a collision between the reading process and the preparation and storage process in the memory area which contains the next incoming raster image can no longer take place. - 10 -

In terms of method, this means that after or during the reading of a current picture element or picture pixel, it must be queried whether it is possible to switch to the next raster picture. If this is the case, the system switches to the next raster image and there to the next picture element or pixel. Otherwise, the reading continues at the next picture element or pixel of the current incoming raster image.

By selecting the earliest possible time for switching to the next incoming raster image, a particularly smooth and smooth transition between the images is achieved, particularly in the case of moving image sequences, for reasons of sensory physiology.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the determined first time sequence for the sequence of incoming raster images and / or the specific second time sequence for the sequence of outgoing raster images is in each case defined by a sequence of image input times or image output times for the respective incoming or outgoing raster image .

For example, It should be remembered that an independent image input time or an independent image output time is predefined for each incoming and for each outgoing image or also for each image element of an incoming / outgoing residual image. With this procedure e.g. stochastic entry of the incoming raster images is possible and does not lead to any problems in the construction and output of the sequence of outgoing raster images.

On the other hand, it can be remembered - the sequence of the image output times is independent of the sequence of the - 11 -

Image entry times - set any sequence of image exit times; this would correspond e.g. a stochastically distributed query process, in which the construction and the output of an element of the sequence of expiring raster images are started by a query event.

As already mentioned, it is particularly advantageous that the specific second time sequence is chosen independently of the specific first time sequence.

It is preferred that the provision and / or the output of the incoming raster images or the outgoing raster images is carried out pixel-by-pixel, line-wise and / or column-wise.

In this way it can also be achieved that the respective raster images are integrated picture-wise or pixel-wise in a certain temporally organized data stream.

The methods according to the invention are particularly simple if essentially identical times are selected as the image output times of the outgoing raster images and / or as image input times of the incoming raster images. These identical times can correspond to an essentially constant output frame rate or to an essentially constant input frame rate.

This advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention can be seen here as a common case in which the image data, for example in the form of a PAL signal, enter a device at a fixed frequency, receive it there and - 12 -

are provided in order to then be forwarded to an output device likewise at a fixed output frame rate, which according to the invention can generally be selected independently of the input frame rate.

In an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, the output frame rate is chosen to be greater than the input frame rate. This corresponds e.g. the case that a TV signal is to be visualized on a computer monitor.

On the other hand, it is advantageous that an output frame rate is chosen which is lower than the input frame rate.

This corresponds e.g. the situation that a computer animation is generated via a graphics card with a high frame rate and is to be displayed on a conventional TV set with a relatively low frame rate.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the image information of the incoming raster images is read into and / or stored in at least two memory areas.

Here, e.g. the use of at least two fast image change memories or image repeat memories.

For example, dual ported dynamic RAMs (dp DRAM) are suitable for independent and / or simultaneous read and write access. In the case of a dp DRAM, in addition to a DRAM module, there is also a buffer ZS, for example for the pixels of a DRAM line, which realizes the second port. - 13 -

While Zi is being read or written over the DRAM line, writing or reading can be done independently in ZS. The two components of a dp DRAM work in fifo cycle (fifo: first-in / first-out).

Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the image information of the odd-numbered incoming raster images is assigned and assigned to a first memory area and that the image information of the even-numbered incoming raster images is assigned and assigned to a second memory area.

This ensures that a memory area with already available image information is always available undisturbed, while the other memory area is being written to or overwritten with newly arriving image information from a raster image.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the sequence of raster images running out in succession is output and / or displayed on a display area with Nd elements in matrix form with zd rows and sd columns.

On the one hand, this display area can be understood to mean a normal display device, a screen, a monitor or the like. On the other hand, storage in a fixed or volatile storage is also considered here.

When using the method according to the invention for processing a stream of incoming TV or video fields as a sequence of successively arriving raster images, a display area is used which, compared to the incoming raster images, has twice the number of lines and an identical number of columns. - 14 -

It is advantageous that the image information of an expiring raster image, which originates from an odd-numbered or even-numbered incoming raster image, is output on corresponding elements of successive odd-numbered or even-numbered line areas of the display area.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a schematic drawing based on preferred exemplary embodiments. In this is / are

1 is a block diagram in which the general flow of the method according to the invention is shown schematically,

2a-2f are schematic representations showing a first section of an embodiment of the method according to the invention,

3a-3f are schematic representations showing another section of an embodiment of the method according to the invention,

4a-4b are schematic representations which show the structure of an expiring raster image in the full or in the field method,

5 is a schematic illustration showing a general device, in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention, and

6a-6f are schematic representations which show a section of another exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention. - 15 -

1 shows in the form of a block diagram the processing of a sequence SE of incoming raster images Ej, Ej + 1, ... to a sequence SA of outgoing raster images Ai, Ai + 1, ... by means of a processing process VP.

The sequence SE of incoming raster images E, Ej + 1, ... supplies the processing process VP with the corresponding image data for the individual raster images Ej, Ej + 1, .... In the processing process VP, the image data for the individual raster images Ej are provided in processing step B, wherein this providing B can also include the reception E and, if appropriate, the step of digitizing and / or decoding AD. The image data for the raster images Ej are then stored individually and in succession in the next processing step S, a plurality, in particular two image change memories B1 and B2 being generally used. Finally, the image data of the incoming raster images Ej are read out in the readout and output step A into outgoing raster images Ai, Ai + 1, ... and the resulting outgoing raster images Ai leave the processing process VP as a sequence SA of outgoing raster images Ai, Ai + 1,. ...

2a to 2f schematically describe a first section of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, the states of given memory areas B1 and B2 for the incoming raster images Ej to be received and stored and a display area D being shown schematically. All areas B1, B2 and D each have 6 rows and 6 columns, and the incoming raster images Ej have the same format. - 16 -

In the state in FIG. 2a, the memory area B1 is completely described with the image information relating to a current incoming raster image Ej. All of the image information relating to the previous image Ej-1 is located in the memory area B2, and the display area D contains only the image information of this previous image Ej-1.

In the state of FIG. 2a, the reading process L operates at the position of the first picture element or pixel of the memory area B1 and the write process S operates at the first picture element or pixel of the memory area B2.

The output process A, which transmits the data read by the reading process L into the display area D, is positioned on the first picture element or pixel of the display area D and is always aligned analogously to the position of the reading process L on this display area D.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 2a to 2f, it is assumed that the incoming raster images Ej are provided with a fixed input image change frequency fe. In contrast, the output frame rate is chosen to be twice as high (fa = 2fe).

In the state of FIG. 2b, the reading process L in the memory area B1 has progressed up to half and operates here on the last pixel of the third line.

Because of the ratio of the image change frequencies, the process of providing and storing S the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1 in the memory area B2 has progressed only half as fast and has reached the fourth pixel of the second line. This means that the information contained in the memory area B2 for the previous incoming raster image Ej-1 up to this position is overwritten with the image information for the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1. - 17 -

In parallel with the progress of the reading process L, the output process A has progressed to the display area D towards the last pixel of the third line.

In the state of FIG. 2c, the memory area B1 and thus the raster image Ej have been completely read out by the reading process L and transferred to the display area D in a corresponding manner.

The provision and storage process S has entered the following incoming raster image Ej + 1 in half, that is to say up to the last pixel of the third line of the storage area B2.

The method according to the invention then checks whether reading L of the memory area B2 is possible on the basis of the given frequency ratio or whether it leads to a collision between the reading process L and the memory process S. Since the output frame rate fa was chosen twice as large as the input frame rate fe, the reading process L would overtake the preparation and storage process S in the memory area B2.

Accordingly, as is shown in FIG. 2d, the reading L is continued in the sense of a repeated reading of the incoming raster image Ej in the memory area B1 at its first picture element, ie in the first pixel of the first line. Accordingly, the transmission A of the data read by L begins in the display area D in its first picture element, so that the output image data for the incoming raster image Ej in the display area D are overwritten by the identical image data of the incoming raster image Ej and are also displayed a second time. - 18 -

In the state of FIG. 2e, the reading L of the raster image Ej in the memory area B1 has reached the last picture element and thus the output A to the display area D has also been completed the second time.

Due to the given relationship between the input frame rate fe and the output frame rate fa, the provision and storage S of the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1 in the memory area B2 at the last picture element or pixel of the memory area B2 in the last line has now also been reached and completed.

Accordingly, in the next step, which is shown in FIG. 2f, the read-out process L can change over to the memory area B2 and thus to read out the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1, because a collision with the preparation and storage process S in the memory area B2 no longer takes place can.

Correspondingly, the provision and storage process S changes to the first picture element of the storage area B1 and begins to overwrite the data record now completely contained in B1 for the incoming raster image Ej with the image data for the next raster image Ej + 2 coming in.

3a to 3f describes the states of the memory areas B1 and B2 and the display area D in chronological order with respect to another section for an embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the input frame rate fe is three times as large as the output -Frequency change fa.

At the time of FIG. 3a, the reading process L reads the first picture element of the storage area B1, specifically the first picture element of the incoming raster image E, and outputs the picture information to the display area D in the area of the first picture element. - 19 -

The preparation and storage process S is positioned on the first picture element of the storage area B2 and begins there to overwrite the picture information contained in the storage area B2 for the previous incoming raster image Ej-1 with the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1.

In the state shown in FIG. 3b, the entry and storage S of the image information for the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1 in the memory area B2 has arrived at the last picture element or pixel in the last line of the memory area B2 and has been completed.

On the basis of the predetermined ratio of the input frame rate fe and the output frame rate fa, the read-out and output process L is located in the memory area B1 when reading out the incoming raster image Ej in the last picture element of the second line. Accordingly, the information from these first two lines of the memory area B1 has also been transferred to the display area D.

At the time of FIG. 3c, the provision and storage process S changes over to the storage area Bl and overwrites the image information contained therein for the incoming raster image Ej with the image information for the next incoming raster image Ej + 2, S starting at the first picture element or pixel of the storage area Bl .

On the basis of the predetermined ratio of the image change frequencies fe and fa, the preparation and storage process S catches up with the output and read-out process L at a specific point in time in the storage area B1. This point is recorded in FIG. 3d. - 20 -

The readout process L reads the penultimate pixel of the third line of the memory area B1 with the information contained therein about the incoming raster image Ej. At this point in time, the provision and storage process S is currently writing image information relating to the next raster image Ej + 2 arriving in the preceding image element of the same line.

It is checked and determined that a collision between the read-out process L and the provisioning and storage process S would take place in one of the next steps. In Fig. 3e it is shown that the reading process L now does not change to the next pixel of the memory area B1, but rather to the corresponding next pixel of the memory area B2, reads out the image information there for the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1 and outputs it to the display area D and consequently, a collision with the provisioning process S is avoided because it continues to operate on B1.

In the state of FIG. 3f, the entry S of the image information for the raster image Ej + 2 arriving after the next one into the memory area B1 is completed with the writing of the last pixel in the memory area B1. In the meantime, the readout L in the memory area B2 with the image data for the subsequent incoming raster image Ej + 1 for the first pixel of the penultimate line of the memory area B2 has also progressed. Accordingly, the display area D now contains image information from the incoming raster image Ej in its upper area and image information from the incoming raster image Ej + 1 in the lower area.

4a and 4b, the difference between a full-screen and a field visualization in the construction of the sequence of expiring raster images Ai is described in a schematic manner. - 21 -

The same display area D is given, which contains image data from three successive incoming raster images, which are designated Ej, Ej + 1 and Ej + 2.

When constructing an expiring raster image Ai for the display and display in the full-screen method, this image information is transmitted directly to a display, as is shown in FIG. 4a.

In contrast, with the field method, the image information of incoming images is displayed alternately on the odd and even lines.

In the case of a sequence of TV or video images, the incoming odd fields contain only image information which is displayed on the odd lines on the TV screen. Accordingly, the image information of the even fields is displayed on the even lines of the screen.

Due to the construction of the sequence of expiring raster images Ai, with an appropriate choice of the input frame rate fe and the output frame rate fa in the display area D, both image information of the even-numbered and the odd-numbered fields can be contained, which is then transferred as a mixture to an expiring raster image Ai .

4b, the same display area D with the same image information it contains is transmitted from the incoming raster images Ej, Ej + 1 and Ej + 2 to an outgoing raster image Ai in the field method. The image information for Ej and Ej + 2 originate from odd fields - 22 -

and are accordingly transferred to the odd-numbered lines, namely lines 1, 3, 11 and 13, as shown in FIG. 4b on the right-hand side.

The image information for the incoming raster image Ej + 1 comes from an even-numbered field and is transferred to the even-numbered lines 4, 6, 8 and 10 in the outgoing raster image Ai.

5 shows a block diagram for the basic structure of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The sequence of incoming raster images Ej + 1 is received or provided via an image receiving / providing device BE. This can be a TV input stage, a receiving device for video images or the like. It is also contemplated that digitally existing image data can be recorded in the image receiving / providing device BE.

The received and provided image data, if they are not digital, are digitized by a corresponding converter AD. The digitized image data are then forwarded to at least two image storage areas B1 and B2 and stored there. A control unit C alternates between the two image storage areas B1 and B2, so that e.g. the odd-numbered raster images go to B1 and the even-numbered raster images go to B2.

The controller C also controls the output and read-out A of the image data contained in the image storage areas Bl and B2 to the display area D. The selection of the image - 23 -

Memory areas B1 and B2 when storing S the incoming image data or reading out A of the stored image data are carried out via input and output selection switches WE or WA.

After the data for an expiring raster image Ai is completely provided in the display area D, the output, reading out or display of the data provided for the expiring raster image Ai can take place.

This is done either by directly outputting the digital data from the display area D or by converting it back into a TV or video signal via a digital / analog conversion device DA.

The control C ensures that the data read into the display area D, in particular the picture elements of the display area D, are never overwritten with image data from older incoming raster images Ej.

Furthermore, the control device C can also be designed to operate a plurality of input channels for entering different sequences of incoming raster images and a plurality of visualization outputs with a plurality of image change memories or display areas. It is also provided that the respective input frame rate and the output frame rate are set and selected independently of one another for the multiple input channels and visualization outputs.

Furthermore, the control device C can also be used to implement a method according to the invention, in which the channel-related frequency conversion is carried out on certain image areas of the image memory in order, if necessary - 24 -

also to implement multiple picture-in-picture processes (pip process) or a picture-out-of-picture process (pop process).

6a to 6f show a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the method according to the invention for outputting received image data of a sequence of incoming raster images. For simplification, only the two image storage areas B1 and B2 are shown schematically here. The output memory unit or the display memory D on which the readout process A operates is, however, designed as in FIGS. 2a to 2f or 3a to 3f.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6a to 6f, the output frame rate fa is approximately three times the input frame rate fe. At the time of FIG. 6a, the reading process L operates in the memory area B1 in row 1 and column 1. A raster image Ej is contained in the memory area B1. The storage area B2 is written by the provision and storage process S with an image Ej + 1, so that the raster image Ej-1 previously contained in the image storage area B2 is overwritten. The frequency ratios of 3: 1 result approximately from the representations of FIGS. 6a to 6c.

6c, the readout process L is in the memory area B1 in row 4 and column 2. This point in time is determined here as the earliest possible time for a change for the readout process L from the memory area B1 to the memory area B2, in which a collision of L with the The provision and storage process S can no longer take place in the storage area B2. - 25 -

As shown in Figures 6d and 6e below, processes L and S approach each other with respect to the storage location in which they operate. At the point in time of which FIG. 6e is based, the provisioning and storage process S reaches the last picture element in the storage area B2. As a result, the storage process S changes before colliding with the read-out process L, i.e. before it can be overtaken by L, to the other memory area Bl, in which it now enters the raster image Ej + 2 and thus overwrites the raster image Ej that was previously there.

Claims

- 26 - Patent claims

1. Method for outputting received image data

Sequence of incoming raster images, which consist of individual image elements which are arranged in matrix form in rows and columns, in particular a TV or video moving image sequence, on an image display device, with the steps: providing and storing image information about the sequence of successively incoming raster images from each N image elements (Ej(l), ..., Ej(N)) in z rows and s columns in a specific first time sequence and

Outputting the stored image information as a sequence of consecutive raster images (AI, ..., Ai, ...) each consisting of N image elements (Ai (l), ..., Ai (N)) in z rows and s columns in a specific one second temporal sequence, the image information of which is generated from the sequence of stored incoming raster images (El, ..., Ej, ...),

- whereby to output an outgoing raster image (Ai), image information from the incoming raster images (El, ..., Ej, ...) is read out,

- whereby it is checked whether during the reading of the image information of a picture element (Ej (k)). - 27 -

incoming raster image (Ej), the image information of the corresponding image element (Ej+2(k)) of the next but one incoming raster image (Ej+2) is provided and stored, and then, if necessary, the image information of a subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1) is read out and - whereby when the last image element (Ej(N)) is reached, when reading out the image information of an incoming raster image (Ej), it is checked whether the image information for the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1) is still incompletely provided and stored, and then If necessary, either the repeated reading of the image information of this incoming raster image (Ej) or otherwise the reading of the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1), starting with the respective first image element (Ej(l), Ej+l). (l)).

Method for outputting received image data of a sequence of incoming raster images, which consist of individual image elements which are arranged in matrix form in rows and columns, in particular a TV or video moving image sequence, on an image display device, with the steps: providing and storing image information to the Sequence of successively arriving raster images each consisting of N image elements (Ej (1), ..., Ej(N)) in z rows and s columns in a specific first time sequence and

Outputting the stored image information as a sequence of consecutive raster images (AI, ..., Ai, ...) each consisting of N image elements (Ai (l), ..., Ai (N)) in z rows and s columns in a specific one second chronological sequence, - 28 -

whose image information is generated from the sequence of stored incoming raster images (El, ..., Ej, ...),

- whereby it is checked whether, during the reading of the image information of a picture element (Ej(k)) of an incoming raster image (Ej), the image information of the corresponding picture element (Ej+2(k)) of the next but one incoming raster image

(Ej+2) is provided and stored, and then, if necessary, the image information of a subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1) is read out, and

- whereby when the last image element (Ej(N)) is reached, when reading out the image information of an incoming raster image (Ej), it is checked whether the time period given by the first time sequence until the complete provision and storage of the image information of the subsequent incoming one is reached Raster image (Ej+1) is greater than the period of time given by the second time sequence for completely reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1), and then, if necessary, either for repeatedly reading out the image information of this incoming raster image (Ej) or else to read out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1), starting with the respective first image element (Ej(l), Ej+l(l)). - 29 -

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when moving from reading out the image information of an image element (Ej(k)) of an incoming raster image (Ej) to reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1) with the corresponding subsequent one Image element (Ej+l(k+l)) of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+1) is started.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the specific first time sequence for the sequence of incoming raster images (El, ..., E, ...) is replaced by a sequence of image input times (ETl, ..., E j , ...) is defined for the respective incoming raster image (El, ..., E , ...).

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the specific second time sequence for the sequence of outgoing raster images (AI, ... , Ai, ... ) is replaced by a sequence of image output times (ATI, ..., ATi, ... ) is defined for the respective outgoing raster image (AI, ... , Ai, ... ).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the specific second temporal sequence is selected independently of the specific first temporal sequence.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provision and/or output is carried out pixel by pixel and/or line by line. - 30 -

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image output times (ATI, ..., ATi, ...) of the outgoing raster images (AI, ..., Ai, ...) are essentially identical times (AT ) can be selected, which correspond to a given, essentially constant output frame rate (fa).

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image input times (ET1, ..., ETj, ...) of the incoming raster images (El, ..., Ej, ...) are essentially identical times (ET ) can be selected, which correspond to a given, essentially constant input frame frequency (fe).

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an output frame rate (fa) is selected which is greater than the input frame rate (fe).

11. The method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that an output frame rate (fa) is selected which is smaller than the input frame rate (fe).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the image information of the incoming raster images (Ej) is read and stored in at least two memory areas (Bl, B2). - 31 -

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the image information of the odd-numbered incoming raster images (E21+1) is assigned to a first storage area (Bl) and the image information of the even-numbered incoming raster images (E21) is assigned to a second storage area (B2).

14. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sequence of successively expiring raster images (Ae) is output and / or displayed on a display area (D) with Nd elements (Dk) in matrix form with zd rows and sd columns.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that when there is a sequence of incoming raster images (Ej) in the form of TV or video fields, a display area (D) with double the number of lines (zd) and identical ones compared to the incoming raster images (Ej). Column number (sd) is used.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the image information of an outgoing raster image (Ai), which comes from an odd-numbered or even-numbered incoming raster image (Ej), is applied to corresponding elements (D (k)) of successive odd-numbered or even-numbered line areas of the display area ( D) is issued. - 32 -

17. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that while the image information of an image element (Ej (k)) of an incoming raster image (Ej) is being read out, it is checked whether the time period given by the first time sequence until complete provision is achieved and storing the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+l) is smaller than the period of time given by the second time sequence for completely reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming raster image (Ej+l), and that then, if necessary, for reading out the image information of the subsequent incoming one Raster image (Ej+l) is passed over, starting with the respective next image element (Ej+l(k+l)).