science

Video processing

Video processing is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Video processing rather than just read about it. In short: In electronics engineering, video processing is a particular case of signal processing, in particular image processing, which often employs video filters and where the input and output signals are video files or video streams. Video processing techniques are used in television sets, VCRs, DVDs, video codecs, video players, video scalers and other devices.

Key takeaways

Video processing belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Video processing to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Video processing from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In electronics engineering, video processing is a particular case of signal processing, in particular image processing, which often employs video filters and where the input and output signals are video files or video streams. Video processing techniques are used in television sets, VCRs, DVDs, video codecs, video players, video scalers and other devices. For example—commonly only design and video processing is different in TV sets of different manufactures.

Video processor Video processors are often combined with video scalers to create a video processor that improves the apparent definition of video signals. They perform the following tasks:

deinterlacing aspect ratio control digital zoom and pan brightness/contrast/color/hue/gamma adjustments frame rate conversion and inverse-telecine color point conversion (601 to 709 or 709 to 601) color space conversion (YPBPR/YCBCR to RGB or RGB to YPBPR/YCBCR) mosquito noise reduction block noise reduction detail enhancement edge enhancement motion compensation primary and secondary color calibration (including hue/saturation/luminance controls independently for each) These can either be in chip form, or as a stand-alone unit to be placed between a source device (like a DVD player or set-top-box) and a display with less-capable processing. The most widely recognized video processor companies in the market are:

Genesis Microchip (with the FLI chipset – was Genesis Microchip, STMicroelectronics completes acquisition of Genesis Microchip on January 25, 2008) Sigma Designs (with the VXP chipset – was Gennum, Sigma Designs purchased the Image Processing group from Gennum on February 8, 2008, Sigma Designs is now part of Silicon Labs) Integrated Device Technology (with the HQV chipset and Teranex system products – was Silicon Optix, IDT purchased SO on October 21, 2008, IDT is now part of Renesas) Silicon Image (with the VRS chipset and DVDO system products - was Anchor Bay Technologies, Silicon Image purchased ABT on February 10, 2011) All of these companies' chips are in devices ranging from DVD upconverting players (for Standard Definition) to HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc players and set-top boxes, to displays like plasmas, DLP (both front and rear projection), LCD (both flat-panels and projectors), and LCOS/"SXRD". Their chips are also becoming more available in stand alone devices (see "External links" below for links to a few of these). On modern computers, the video processing can happen on GPU and/or display controller.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Video processing

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Video processing claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Video processing before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Video processing ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Video processing

In research: Video processing appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Video processing in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Video processing is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Multidimensional signal processing, Television terminology, Video processing, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Video processing outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Video processing in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Video processing means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Video processing out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Video processing in simple terms?

Why does Video processing matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Video processing?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Video processing.