High definition video signals are pre-filtered and down-sampled by a video
converter system to standard definition picture sizes. Standard definition
motion estimators employed for field rate up-conversion are then utilized
to estimate motion vectors for the standard definition pictures. The
resulting motion vectors are scaled and post-processed for motion
smoothness for use in motion compensated up-conversion of the field rate
for the high definition pictures. The associated memory size and bandwidth
requirements and overall cost render consumer electronics implementations
for motion compensated field rate up-conversion of film material to high
definition video commercially viable while preserving picture quality.
