Sony HT-9900M Operating Instructions - Page 99

Interlace format (page 87) Interlace format shows every other line of an image as a single "field" and is the standard method for displaying images on television. The even number field shows the even numbered lines of an image, and the odd numbered field shows the odd numbered lines of an image. Progressive conversion method (page 74) • Video based software conversion Video shows an image by alternately displaying every other line of an image (field) at 30 frames (60 fields) per second (Interlace format). Interlace pictures Converted progressive pictures • Film based software conversion Film shows an image by displaying an entire image at 24 frames per second. When you watch a film on television, the television displays every other line of the frame as a field, thus reducing information level and the clarity of the film image. The Interlace format displays 30 frames (60 fields) per second by displaying every other line of the image, causing scanning lines to appear across the image. Since only half of the image is shown at once, the amount of information contained in an image is limited. The Progressive format displays 60 entire frames per seconds. The player accomplishes this by converting each field into a frame by using either a field-based conversion method or a frame-based conversion method. The appropriate method is automatically selected by the player according to the movement of the images on the screen. If the movement on the screen is slow, the frame-based conversion method borrows adjacent frame information to fill in the missing information. If the movement on the screen is rapid, the field-based conversion method creates the missing information by predicting the movement of the images on the screen from field to field. The end result is an image that is higher in quality when compared to the Interlace format. Interlace pictures This player solves this problem by increasing the speed at which the frames are displayed, consecutively showing 3 identical frames followed by 2 identical frames in the time that it normally takes to show 2 consecutive frames. The end result is that the 24 frames per second are increased to 60 frames per second, which is the speed at which Progressive video signals are shown. Converted progressive pictures This not only allows film to be shown in a frame based format, it also increases the clarity and sharpness which is unique to Progressive format images. Additional Information c continued 99