Abstract: A character generating system is disclosed having a source of batches of video keying signals representing different characters combined with further keying signals representing a background for the respective character. The video keying signals are confined to one value range and said further keying signals are confined to a different value range. The system effects spatial transformation of the combined signals and responds to the values of the spatially transformed combined signals to derive shape signals corresponding to the further keying signals and to derive shade signals corresponding to the video keying signals. In response to the shape and shade signals different video signals are provided respectively representing the character and the background both spatially transformed as the combined signals were spatially transformed.

Abstract: A flat picture is spatially transformed by moving selected reference points one-by-one and "pinning" them at new positions. The system comprises a source of picture video signals, (1, 2) representing picture points at respective addresses in a first picture projected on a viewing screen, addressing means (159) for providing address signals representing the addresses of at least four reference points defining corners of a polygon notionally projected on said screen, and operator-controlled means (14) for producing selective adjustment of said address signals to cause said reference points to define the corners of said polygon as projected on said screen after a movement of said polygon in 3D space. A transforming circuit 7 responds to said address signals after the selective adjustment by transforming the addresses of said picture video signals so as to cause the picture video signals to represent the picture as projected on said screen after undergoing the same movement in 3D space as said polygon.

Abstract: A processing circuit which is arranged to operate in three modes. The first mode is to act as a brush processor in video graphics creation combining incoming video signals with stored video signals to produce a graphic signal. The second mode allows an image to be composed from two or more input pictures using stencil signals. The third mode is useful in still picture applications where one frame is to be viewed and the next previewed. Stencil signals allow the operator to cut or fade from one frame to the other.

Abstract: A system for creating high resolution video images for later use in printing or the like. The operator draws with a stylus on a touch tablet (28) and video signals are processed to produce a high resolution image corresponding to what is drawn, the signals being stored in a high resolution store (25). While the processing of the signals progresses certain signals are copied to a lower resolution viewing store (26) and these signals read to a display (27) where the image can be viewed by the operator. In one example the store (25) is notionally divided into areas and when the signals representing a stroke drawn by the operator are present in an area the whole area is copied to the viewing store. Typically about four areas need to be copied in a frame period so the stroke drawn by the operator can be seen as he is drawing it. The image on display (27) may be a low resolution version of the whole image or a high resolution version of part of the image.

Abstract: A video signal processing system changes the shape of a video frame so that it appears to take the form of a three dimensional object. The system also applies shading to the object in response to an imaginary light source. The address data is processed to produce light intensity factors and the value of each pixel in each video frame is adjusted in response to a light intensity factor.

Abstract: A video processing system for generating an output sequence of video frames which, over time, a decreasing proportion of successive frames is derived from a first video input (21) and an increasing proportion of said frames is drived from a second input (22); an effect known as a wipe. A framestore (31) stores a frame of wipe-shape pixel signals wherein the value of each pixel represents the time at which the spacially corresponding output pixel is derived from the second video input signal. The wipe shape pixel signal are compared with a reference value, in response to which input signals are combined, and the reference value is adjusted between frames to create the wipe effect.

Abstract: A graphic system for producing printed images. The signals representing the image are produced as CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) printing color component signals and transformed to RGB (red, green, blue) signals for display on a monitor. The transformation circuit is a matrix of arithmetic circuits including look-up tables. The system can also be conditioned so that RGB signals are first produced and these transformed to CMY.

Abstract: A processing system and method which produces and manipulates images of a three dimensional object. Patches of video signals (called cameos) representing different parallel planes of an object are stored in a frame store from which each cameo can be accessed individually and manipulated as desired. When the effect of a change in orientation or position of the object is required in the output image each cameo is accessed and manipulated in the same manner and combined using key and priority signals. The manipulation is achieved by writing incoming video signals into addresses in a store determined by the manipulation required and provided as address maps. The medical embodiment replaces the cameos with frames of signals representing tomographic sections of a patient and uses a LUT to provide a window for certain ranges of signals.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with systems that create video images. Previously these systems have been limited to ones which create images of television type resolution, however, the systems of this invention may produce an image of higher resolution. The operator draws on a touch tablet and chooses a color and implement type and a line is produced which appears on a screen in approximately real time. At the same time a corresponding line is being produced and written in at high resolution to a large frame store. The high resolution line will be produced at a slower rate than the line to be viewed and so a buffer store is provided for incoming signals. The high resolution image may be read to a print scanner or stored on a disc store.

Abstract: A system for converting video signals from a scanner from, for example, an air surveillance system comprising an interface (2) which applies incoming video signals directly to a bulk store (5) and to a scan converter (4). The interface can also apply signals from the bulk store to the scan converter. The signals received from the bulk store can be processed differently from those received directly by the scan converter. This system allows maximum possible resolution of the image to be maintained for zoom in and for roaming.

Abstract: A video signal processing system in which a number of video image signals are combined to provide an output which is such that where several objects of the input images overlay so they appear to be at different distances. Each input video signal is provided with a priority signal and a series of contests are held within the processor so that the final image consists of the two video signals with the highest priority. A key signal is provided for the video signal with the highest priority.

Abstract: A video graphic simulation system which is capable of producing an image of a panorama as viewed from different positions. To save storage space lines of video signals may be repeated at the edges of the view so that for example the view from a rolling vessel may be seen. Where simple repeating of lines may produce visible discontinuities alternate strips of video signals may be `mirrored`.

Abstract: A video processing system in which the shape or size of an image can be altered by providing a map of address signals representing the addressess in the store to which input video signals must be written to produce the desired change. These addresses can be manipulated so that there are a number of changes to the image. Where there is an expansion in the image the address signals are filtered to prevent picture break up. The incoming video signals are written into the filtered addresses and then new picture points are interpolated to produce the desired expansion.

Abstract: A video processing system is disclosed having a store (1) into which video signals, in the form of a sequence of pixels, are written into and read out of in response to common fixed clocking pulses, although the input video signal is synchronized independently of the output video signal. The phase of the pixels at the input to the store, and also the phase of the line and field synchronizing pulses, is adjusted to correct sub pixel phase error between input and output so that the common pixel clocking pulses can be used thereby substantially reducing cross talk between the input and output signals.

Abstract: A processing system includes a processor 10 and frame store 11. Both the frame store and processor are under the control of address mechanism 12. An incoming pixel is processed with previously stored information and the proportion of processed information restored is controlled to prevent errors in picture information density as store location may be accessed a number of times in a frame period. The addressing mechanism 12 can generate the desired information from address information which is only provided on some of the store locations and which is only updated over more than one frame period. The mechanism includes spatial and temporal interpolators to effect this operation.

Abstract: A video processing system which allows sequences of video pictures to be transferred to disc stores in real time. These sequences can be read out of the disc store and processed before being returned to the disc store to be read out in real time. This effect is achieved by employing disc stores with five parallel heads so that five bits of information can be written in or read from respective tracks on the disc in parallel.

Abstract: A system for combining two or more video signal inputs using a chrome key like system. The keying is not done to one color, such as saturated blue, but to any color within a range. One of the video signal inputs (1) is frozen and appears as a still picture on a display (6). Graphic means (16) are used to define an area of the picture and the maximum and minimum values of the color components of the signals in that area are detected. Whenever a signal with components falling within the detected range is present in a switch (14) it operates to select a channel for output. This works to build up a composite picture.

Abstract: A video signal processing system which produces the same output image as the input image but with a size and/or shape change applied to it. The incoming video signals are written into the frame store in sequence but read out in an order determined by the output image required. When compressions in the image occurs the luminance signals are filtered prior to writing in the store.

Abstract: Video signals from radiography equipment (14) are converted to digital form and transferred via a buffer store, (2) to a parallel transfer disc store (3) in real time. These signals can then be read, out again in real time, to a video processor (6) and frame store (8) to provide image enhancement. The enhanced image can then be converted to analog form and displayed on display means (13). The parallel transfer mode of operation of the disc store (3) enables the video signals to be stored in real time. A computer (7) provides control signals to the system.

Abstract: A video image creation system provides intensity or color data from one or more stores. The image is created under manual control which effectively defines the coordinates of the artists implement at any given time.A processor receives the incoming image data and previously derived data from a frame store and modifies this data in dependence on a parameter available from another store. The created image can be viewed on a monitor.The parameter controls the contribution made from any adjacent, previously created, parts of the image and can be such as to simulate different pencil or brush shapes or types of paint for example. Additional facilities such as pressure sensitivity and blurring can be provided.