Integrated Circuit implements digital image processing.
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Press Release Summary:
Embedded in video creation or display equipment, ASIC dynamically corrects contrast of digital video images in real-time and produces natural images without loss of detail. When embedded in display unit such as LCD or projector, ASIC allows picture to be properly balanced, optimizing reproduction of detail in dark and bright areas. Other applications include surveillance cameras, digital camcorders, and mobile imaging devices.
Original Press Release:
Dai Nippon Printing Announces Plan to Sell an IC Which Implements Apical Limited's Digital Image Processing Technology
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Tokyo, President: Yoshitoshi Kitajima, Capital :114,400 million yen, "DNP") sells ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) which implements the technology of Apical Limited (Head office: London, UK, President:.Michael Tusch, "Apical") which dynamically corrects the contrast of digital video images in real time.
The product is designed to be embedded in video creation or display equipment. It automatically corrects portions of the images which are either too dark or too bright, such that the video stream is recorded or displayed in an optimal way.
Apical's image enhancement software has been successfully adopted in digital cameras, mobile handsets and in PC software by leading manufacturers.
This product implements this technology in hardware. Software implementations require considerable CPU power to enhance video in real time on mobile devices. By developing an IC version, it is now possible to correct motion video in real-time in addition to handling still images.
[Background]
As CMOS and CCD technology continues to develop, the amount of information which can be recorded by such sensors increases.
Because typical displays do not have the same ability to render such information when digital video is recorded and viewed, the information in bright portions and dark portions of the screen is lost: saturation of bright areas and clipping of dark areas occurs. Most common image compression systems preserve well only the information which is visible on common displays.
Informational loss is readily noticeable in motion video compression systems such as MPEG2, MPEG4, especially when high compression is used.
For these reasons, today there is an increasing requirement to reduce the loss of picture information at the time of recording as far as possible.
Correspondingly, where pre-recorded still images and motion video are displayed, if the dynamic range of the source exceeds that of the display, regions which are too bright or too dark are lost, unless suitable correction is applied.
[Product Features]
This product addresses the above issues. When embedded in image capture/recording equipment, such as digital still cameras, digital camcorders and scanners, it corrects contrast and produces natural images without loss of detail.
Moreover, when embedded in a display unit such as a liquid crystal display or a projector, it allows the picture to be properly balanced for the display capabilities improving reproduction of detail in dark and bright areas, and improving overall picture quality.
[Application of this product]
Video capture/recording equipment - such as surveillance cameras, digital camcorders, and in-car cameras.
Display equipment - such as a liquid crystal displays and projectors.
Other mobile imaging devices.
[Sales schedule and Sales target]
DNP will sell this product in Japan on an exclusive basis. Sample shipping is scheduled for July 2005, and mass-production is scheduled to begin in October 2005.
For more information please contact:
Rey Saida
Assistant Manager
Press and Public Relations
Dai Nippon Printing Co.,Ltd
1-1, Ichigaya-Kagacho 1-Chome
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8001
Telephone: 813.5225.8220 Facsimile: 813.5225.8239
E-mail: info@mail.dnp.co.jp
