videoprocessor

A videoprocessor refers to a hardware component or software subsystem that performs specialized processing of digital video data. It is typically implemented as a dedicated integrated circuit (ASIC) or as part of a system on a chip (SoC) or graphics processor, and is used to prepare video for display, recording, streaming, or transmission.

Key functions include decoding and encoding of common codecs (such as H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC, VP9, and AV1), color space conversion (for example between YCbCr and RGB), chroma subsampling adjustment, bit depth handling, and HDR tone mapping. The videoprocessor also handles image enhancement tasks such as noise reduction, deinterlacing, edge sharpening, contrast and color correction, gamma adjustment, and upscaling or downscaling of image resolution.

Other capabilities may include format and container handling, frame rate conversion, motion estimation and compensation, motion-compensated deinterlacing, 3D comb filtering, and, increasingly, AI-based upscaling or artifact suppression. It often provides dedicated video interfaces (HDMI, SDI, USB, MIPI-CSI) and memory interfaces to feed frames from a video source to a display or encoder.

Applications include televisions, set-top boxes, streaming devices, media players, video cameras, smartphones, surveillance systems, and conferencing equipment. In consumer devices, videoprocessors are often integrated into a multimedia SoC or a separate ISP/VC (video core).

Relation to other components: a videoprocessor complements general-purpose CPUs and GPUs by offering real-time, power-efficient processing pipelines optimized for video. As video standards evolve, modern videoprocessors frequently include hardware codecs and AI-assisted processing, with firmware updates enabling new formats and features.