DarbeeVision HDMI picture enhancement module

Netmans

DarbeeVision Readies HDMI Smart Cable to Take Gaming Experience to New Heights

http://www.darbeevision.com/

First Demonstrated at CES 2011, New Video Enhancement Product Set to Offer Ultra-Immersive Experience for Gamers -- Taking Them 'Inside' the Game



ANAHEIM, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 25, 2011) - Continuing its quest to offer viewing experiences that push the boundaries of fidelity, DarbeeVision, Inc., a pioneer in the field of digital image enhancement, is preparing to launch an HDMI cable accessory that will add intense depth and clarity to any video game -- enabling ultra-immersive gaming visuals.

DarbeeVision's unique approach delivers extremely lifelike images that pop off the screen -- all without the need for 3D glasses. As a video processor module in a small housing and embedded in the HDMI cable, DarbeeVision technology simply plugs into the gaming console and will enhance the output of any video game, as well as DVD, Blu-ray, and media players and any digital broadcast -- on both standard and high-definition TVs. "Gamers pride themselves on being up to speed on the latest and greatest -- they have a rabid appetite for new products, and gaming is truly more than a hobby -- it's a way of life," noted Paul Darbee, DarbeeVision's founder and CEO. "With that in mind, our new HDMI cable will put gamers inside the action, drawing them deeper into the game by adding depth of scene and extreme clarity and detail -- objects in the game will appear to possess a strong sense of depth separation and roundness."

Previews of DarbeeVision-enhanced video games were very well received at CES 2011, and reactions from gamers who experienced demos at the show were positive across the board. When viewed alongside a game that had not been enhanced via DarbeeVision technology, viewers noted that the video game that was connected to a DarbeeVision HDMI smart cable appeared obviously and demonstrably sharper, offering a greatly improved sense of depth and color saturation in comparison. Demos at CES prompted comments from gamers in attendance including, "I feel as if I am looking out a window -- the images aren't flat," "I can spot my opponents more quickly," and "This is great, it feels like I am there."

DarbeeVision's proprietary technology takes pictures beyond what even the most advanced camera and display systems can produce. Taking into account what the human visual system does when images are viewed is the key to achieving the best images possible. DarbeeVision technology processes an image in the same way a human brain does, then adds these results back into the original image, allowing pictures to take on new properties that are both unexpected and visually gratifying. Going beyond the limitations of optics and electronics and taking into account what the human visual system does when images are viewed, the DarbeeVision technology achieves an extraordinary sense of realism and depth.

DarbeeVision is now offering its Darbee-enabled HDMI smart cable technology to gaming accessory OEMs. Please visit www.darbeevision.com or call 714-931-5941 for more information.

About DarbeeVision
DarbeeVision was founded by entrepreneur Paul Darbee, a seasoned industry veteran who pioneered the first preprogrammed universal remote control. In 1985, Darbee was one of the founders of Universal Electronics (NASDAQ: UEIC) and was awarded the first of numerous patents in universal remote control technology. Today he holds more than 40 patents with several more pending. In 2006, DarbeeVision was awarded a patent for its visual computing process known as Darbee Visual Presence™.

DarbeeVision's proven technology is suitable for a wide range of applications. The technology suite includes: Darbee Software™, a software application running on the CPU for still image processing; Darbee GPU Software™, a software application running on a CUDA enabled NVIDIA GPU for real-time digital video processing; Darbee Box™, a CE accessory device based upon FPGA architecture for real-time digital video processing; the Darbee IP Block™, a hardware IP block for licensing to be used in embedded applications; and a reference design for a HDMI smart cable that enables Darbee processing between HDMI enable source and display devices.

The privately held company is headquartered in Anaheim, Calif. For further information call 714-931-5941 or visit www.DarbeeVision.com.

All DarbeeVision™, Darbee™ patents, trademarks, copyrights and licensing are a product of DarbeeVision Inc.

http://www.engadget.com/photos/darbeevision-hdmi-accessory/




DarbeeVision claims to just do that, by using a special technique that creates a “drop shadow” for each frame of the Blu-ray image, which creates a kind of effect that our brains interpret as more detail. The HDMI cable part comes from the ability to embed the image processor directly into the cable, and so by connecting your Blu-ray player to your TV using the $150 cable, you can enjoy DarbeeVision’s added sharpness (the current system, which uses a set top box that sits between your player and TV, costs $1,500). I’ve even posted some before and after images here, for those that want to see if it really works or not. Interesting concept, but I’m not sure cinephiles will appreciate fake, digitally added, details (but the Average Joe would probably love it).

http://www.digital-digest.com/bl ... up-16-january-2011/


This before and after image shows DarbeeVision's HD enhancement at work





http://www.marketwire.com/press- ... aq-ueic-1505900.htm










杜比实验室能够让最好的音频变得更好，但一直没有像杜比那样的优秀技术用于视频处理。现在DarbeeVision公司希望像杜比处理音频那样处理视频--也就是说，增强细节的同时抑制噪声。


就像第一台杜比音频设备一样，第一台装备了DarbeeVision的设备(计划今年圣诞节推出)将带一个开/关键，以便于用户自己判断DarbeeVision对图像质量的改进效果。


“这有点像早期的杜比，”DarbeeVision公司首席执行官Paul Darbee承认，“在你欣赏‘改进后’的图像时必须先给你看‘改进前’的图像。”


目前为止，还没有哪次演示选用“之前”的图像，因为之前之后的差异非常类似于在下着倾盆大雨时突然停止风档雨刮器，细节和景深都变成了远方模糊的形状。


图：左边的“之前”图像看起来就是一幅平面（2D）图像，并且聚焦模糊，而旁边的就是DarbeeVision增强后的图像，它不仅加强了3D深度信息，而且抑制了噪声。


DarbeeVision公司成功开发了视频增强算法，能从两个立体摄像机(一个摄像机代表一只眼睛)中获取深度信息，然后编码成单幅细节和深度信息增强了的图像，这种图像可以使用任何显示器或打印机进行显示或打印。


Darbee透露，他是在20世纪70年代早期发明这项技术的，但80年代被搁在了一边，因为当时他把注意力集中在开发通用遥控器上面。如今他仍在收通用遥控器的版税，而这种遥控器的销量目前为止已接近5亿台。不过新公司对DarbeeVision算法的市场开拓抱有更大的信心。


DarbeeVision增强设备将包括电视机、机顶盒、视频游戏机、移动设备、数码像框以及“内置DarbeeVision”以便更新目前高清电视的“智能”HDMI电缆等。OEM选项将包括知识产权模块，这种模块可以经许可用于ASIC、Darbee制造的FPGA和GPU固件中。




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Netmans

Darbee Visual Presence HDMI Cable Tech Turns 2D Images to 3D Experiences

Interestingly, snakebyte is to unveil its DarbeeVision technology for HDMI cables, which they say can turn 2D images into 3D experiences – without glasses or additional equipment.

The HDMI cable manufacturer explains that DarbeeVision utilizes the neurological and biological principles that underlie human vision to add a three-dimensional component to two-dimensional images





The features of the snakebyte 3D HDMI cable include:

Features patented Darbee Visual Presence Technology inspired by neuro-biological models of human vision
Embeds real depth cues in monoscopic, digital images and thus causes enhanced perception of object shape
Sublime solution for making 2D images look full of depth and realism by putting into an image more of what the human brain is expecting to take out
Resolution-independent, real-time processing with performance surpassing 1080p@60Hz
Revolutionary image processing without artifacts or enhancing image noise
Works for any digital image and all kinds of devices (DVD Players, digital TV, video games, computers etc.)
Darbee Visual Presence brings a never-before-seen level of realism to 2D images
The new 3D HDMI cable with Darbee Visual Presence technology will be offered around the world, exclusively by snakebyte. Its 3D capabilities will be presented for the first time at e3 2011.

Pictures of Darbee Visual Presence technology can be found here.







让平面的图像有立体感，美新创公司发明实用图像优化算法
在人手一支照相手机、数码相机或者DV的年代，每个人都可以都在随时随地捕捉和制作画面。在HDTV日渐盛行的年代，我们希望自己看到的每一幅画面都绚丽多姿。不过，并非每个人都是摄影大师，我们许多人弄出来的画面并不那么漂亮。过去，摄影大师都要借助于暗房技术来制作出精美的照片。如今，高水平的摄影爱好者都懂得使用Photoshop这类软件来美化照片。现在的问题是，如果要对HDTV电视画面进行美化，有多少Photoshop大师也不够用啊！

有一位大师，他不仅懂得怎样让一幅画面变得更美，而且发明了一种可以植入芯片的图像处理技术，速度足以满足当今HDTV电视的要求, 让我们在电视上看到的每一幅画面都很美。这位大师就是知名的革新创业者Paul Darbee。而他所发明的这项技术已经被应用于3部好莱坞电影，许多电视节目、大型广告和艺术看板，让这些画面比原本更加艳丽动人。随着芯片技术和处理器性能的提高，这种技术将被大量用于消费电子产品市场。

早在20多年前，Paul Darbee就以其巧妙处理大量复杂数学方程式的独特能力而成为科技创新企业家，他所发明的通用电视遥控器从上世纪80年代开始至今仍然是当今全球电视工业的事实标准。这些年来，他又发明了无数的新技术。朋友们都说，他随手就可以从包包里拿出一叠专利证书。用“聪明的”数学方法来美化画面，这是Paul Darbee的最新发明。

目前，我们广泛应用的图像处理方法主要有对比度和色彩深度调整、图像锐化和干扰滤除等。这些方法都是针对图像本身进行的，一点都没有考虑到人脑的因素。Paul Darbee是一个非常喜欢质疑的人，他问自己——当人们面前摆着一副风景的平面照片时，自然就会产生立体的感觉，这是为什么呢？他相信，在这幅二维平面图片中，一定蕴藏着某种立体的信息，关键是怎样才能把这种立体信息呼唤出来，让平面照片也能呈现给人们栩栩如生的立体感呢。Paul Darbee要从人的视觉神经系统出发，根据人脑视觉神经的原理对图像进行处理，于是产生了这种“聪明的”数学方法，。

在电视机上调整画面的对比度、亮度、色温，只要几个按键就足够了。但是我们所拥有的却是计算性能极高的芯片，可以用更巧妙的数字图像处理技术来美化画面，关键是要找到最佳的数学算法。为了解决这个问题，Paul Darbee创立了一家新公司，自己担任CEO，公司名字就叫DarbeeVision。他说，“我们相信，仅仅忠实地展现显示世界是不够的。以高性能计算技术来进行图像处理，为我们开辟了提升图像品质的新途径。从个人听的耳机，到家庭音响，再到豪华电影院，杜比（Dolby）技术引发了声学工程领域的一场革命，同样的事情即将发生在图像的呈现工程领域。”

DarbeeVision公司的技术专家已经证实，利用新的技术所获得的图片，其美观程度足以超过现有任何完美的照相机和显示系统。不仅采用光学和电子技术，而且考虑到人类的视觉神经系统对于图像的反应，这是获得最完美图像的关键因素。对于一副原始图像，让计算机采用类似于人脑的图像处理方法进行处理，然后把处理结果植入原来的图像之中，由此获得的新画面，看上去真是美妙惊人。

如前所述，当今电子产品中处理图像的基本方法只是改善对比度、色温、锐化和降噪。然而，这些方法不仅无法提高画面的真实感，而且常常会让画面显得很不自然，甚至使得图像更加杂乱不清。

Paul Darbee所发明的新方法解决了一个非常麻烦的问题——为平面图片增加了深度信息，同时又不会有任何人工雕琢的痕迹。这种方法的核心技术上已经在申请专利，并且已经注册为商标——Perceptor™。这种方法可以实时进行，其性能足以超过数字高清电视HD 1080p/60所要求的水平，也就是每分钟要处理超过3600副1920 x 1080 像素的画面 。而且，这种处理工作在intra-frame期间即可完成，所以既不需要另外配置缓存，也不会产生时间延迟。

3D立体电视已经热门上市了。Darbee的方法对于3D立体图像适用吗？没问题！如果用这种方法分别处理左眼和右眼的图像，整个画面将会更加逼真美妙。Darbee把这种画面称为3.5D。

DarbeeVision公司的技术已经被成功地应用于电影、电视和广告招牌，下一步将会以IP、GPU(Graphics Processing Unit，图像处理单元)和FPGA等三种不同的方式推广，应用市场覆盖传统电视以及正在发展的数字高清电视、视频游戏机、移动装置、数码相框和机顶盒等新兴市场。所以，DarbeeVision已经摆好姿态，准备在把人类视觉体验推向新水平的过程中扮演重要推手的角色。

有人说，现在Darbee对图像所作的事情，就是当年Dolby对声音所作的事情。Darbee本人则说，“我们就是要让平面的图像看上去有立体感。我们根据你的头脑意识来提供最美的图像。我们为您提供电子美工师。”


Before


DarbeeVision公司的技术处理后




DarbeeVision公司简介
DarbeeVision公司由创业发明家Paul Darbee于2002年创立。Paul Darbee也是全球第一个可编程万用遥控器的发明者。1985年，Paul Darbee创立了Universal Electronics (NASDAQ: UEIC) 公司，并且率先在万用遥控器技术方面获得了一系列的技术专利。如今，他已经拥有超过40项专利，同时还有许多技术正在专利申请待批。2006年，DarbeeVision获得了视觉计算处理专利，名为Darbee Visual Presence™。

Paul Darbee独特的工程技术天赋和富有远见的理念使他得以研究出改善数字图像媒体视觉品质的极佳方法。DarbeeVision的技术首先应用于奥斯卡获奖影片謎霧莊園（Gosford Park）的DVD发行版。由于对DarbeeVision技术的影像效果十分满意，这部电影的导演Robert Altman在其下一步影片的拍摄制作中不仅直接采用更高分辨率的摄影机，并且采用DarbeeVision的技术来完整处理整部电影的视频影像。此后，这项技术被大量用于商业电视、公告广告看板、大幅面印刷和艺术展览等场合。

DarbeeVision公司这项经过充分验证的技术具有十分广泛的适用领域。其整套技术包括：
Darbee Software™,运行在通用CPU上的软件，用于静态图像处理
Darbee GPU Software™, 运行在用于实时数字视频处理的GPU之上的软件
Darbee Box™, 一套消费电子装置，基于FPGA架构，用于实时数字视频处理
Darbee IP Block™, 一个可以授权使用的硬件IP块，用于嵌入式应用。