Video scaler
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A video scaler is a device which can convert a video signal between arbitrary resolutions (low to high or high to low). It might accept digital and analog inputs and outputs. Most of the scalers not only interconverts resolutions but also perform deinterlacing, which is a completely separate, resolution-independent process. In the consumer market, a frequent application for these devices is converting low-resolution video into high-definition (for example, 480i to 1080i), by inserting the scaler in the video chain between a low-resolutioin video source (ex. VCR) and a higher resolution display (ex.TV). Depending on the quality of electronics, the viewer may perceive an improvement in video quality even though the amount of video information remains the same throughout this process. All TV stations which broadcast in high definition use commercial-grade scalers as part of their infrastructure to enable transmission of legacy standard definition video material on a high definition signal.
A rare use of the term "HD upconverter" applies to the upconverting DVD player. This type of DVD player converts DVD-Video format video on a DVD directly to a high definition video signal for use with an HDTV. An upconverting DVD player effectively has a simple video scaler built in that is limited to accepting input from the player's video transport and not from any external sources. Such a DVD player may be constrained by digital rights management HDCP which limit upconversion to being output only on copy-protected digital transports or with lower resolution output. Conceptually upconversion can be done with analog outputs as well.
References
External Links
- [Lumagen Upconverters] These are highly overpriced upconverters.
- [Iscan VP30] Another pricey upconvert device
- [DVI Upconverter] A Startech product that does DVI upconverting
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