Patents Examined by Andrew I. Faile
  • Patent number: 6057889
    Abstract: A video processing system that automatically adjusts video processor parameters depending upon the format of a received video signal in, e.g., a television receiver capable of receiving a multiplicity of video formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn A. Reitmeier, Steven A. Steckler
  • Patent number: 6057831
    Abstract: A TV graphical user interface includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A direct access channel bar is arranged on a screen so as to cause the channel boxes to display the number and logo of a selected TV channel when the user directs the pointing device at the point on the direct access bar that represents the selected channel. The direct access channel bar is provided with an absolute cursor position indicator that indicates to the user the numbers of TV channels represented by various points on the direct access channel bar, when the user moves the pointing device over these points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Harms, Donald Gillespie, Eric Wood, Kiet Khauv
  • Patent number: 6052158
    Abstract: A digital television receiver includes a filter for minimizing NTSC interference with a received signal having a constant symbol rate. An equalizer has two one symbol delays for each tap. A filtered and a non-filtered version of the received signal are applied to a multiplexer at the input of the equalizer, which is operated at twice the symbol rate. The outputs of the multipliers in the equalizer are combined and applied to a demultiplexer. The filtered and non-filtered equalized signals are compared and a selection as to which of the filtered or non-filtered received signals is to be processed is made based upon the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Larry E. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 6049361
    Abstract: An automatic gain control (AGC) circuit of a high definition television (HDTV) signal receiver and a method to compensate for a change in amplitude of a high definition signal. The AGC circuit of the high definition signal receiver includes a non-coherent AGC signal generator for generating a first AGC signal according to the magnitude of the IF signal, a coherent AGC signal generator for generating a second AGC signal according to the magnitude of the segment synchronizing signal, and a selector for selecting the second AGC signal when the segment synchronizing signal is detected and the first AGC signal when the segment synchronizing signal is not detected and providing the selected signal to a tuner/IF demodulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-bum Kim
  • Patent number: 6046777
    Abstract: Apparatus for combining an auxiliary image and a main image includes a source of a main image signal and a source of samples representing an auxiliary image signal. A subsampler selectively subsamples the auxiliary image samples in either a quincunx subsampling pattern or a rectangular subsampling pattern. A signal combiner combines the main image signal and a signal representing the subsampled auxiliary image samples to generate a combined image signal. A control circuit generates a freeze control signal for the subsampler which conditions it to take samples in the rectangular subsampling pattern during a freeze frame operation, and in the quincunx sampling pattern otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Wayne Patton, Mark Francis Rumreich, Donald Henry Willis
  • Patent number: 6040868
    Abstract: A video display converting circuit for converting scanning patterns from interlaced scanning to sequential scanning of a display device includes an input terminal for receiving an input interlaced scanning video signal having alternating odd and even fields of scanning lines; a first line memory for storing picture elements of the input interlaced scanning video signal in a first line of an odd field; a second line memory for storing picture elements of the input interlaced scanning video signal in a last line of an even field; a plurality of sequential line memories for storing picture elements of the input interlaced scanning video signal in sequence for each scanning line; a demultiplexer for sequentially inputting the picture elements of the input interlaced scanning video signal into each of the first line memory, the second line memory and each of the plurality of sequential line memories in accordance with a write clock signal; a first multiplexer for producing a first output signal by multiplexing bet
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Gon Jun
  • Patent number: 6040850
    Abstract: A method for interfacing between a transmitter and receiver of a digital broadcasting system using a satellite, includes the steps of: searching a program association table of the receiver for a corresponding program, and detecting a receiver control message packet number; detecting a receiver control message through the detected packet number; detecting public switched telephone network and public switched data network numbers through the receiver control message; searching for a network information table of the receiver and then detecting an event information table packet number at a time zone corresponding to an event information table construction descriptor, in order to search for a corresponding event information table; inserting a VCR reserved recording descriptor into the event information table to impose an identification number on a corresponding program, thereby performing a reserved recording; inserting a price information descriptor table into the event information table to transmit program price
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignees: Electronics and Telecommunications, Research Institute Korea Telecom
    Inventors: Sung-Kyong Un, Hyun-Sook Cho, Hwan-Chul Kim, Soo-In Lee
  • Patent number: 6037969
    Abstract: A received television program is blocked out when a rating of the program is not within a scope of a preset rating. A rating signal is extracted from a video signal of the television program, and the rating signal is decoded to detect the rating of the program. The rating of the program is compared with the preset rating and an automatic frequency control (AFC) circuit is forced into an inoperative state to block out an output of the received television program when the comparison shows that the rating of the detected program is not within the scope of the preset rating. Accordingly, the blocking-out function against improper programs can be achieved by detecting the rating of the received program and by making the AFC circuit inoperative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Hoon Lim, Jae-Chul Park
  • Patent number: 6034739
    Abstract: A new method and apparatus for creating, positioning and manipulating a garbage matte which obscures everything outside of a three-dimensional physical set or blue stage. Effectively, the garbage matte is a "negative" of a blue stage. What is important is that the garbage matte is created either as a virtual enclosure around all virtual objects in the virtual environment, or simply as a background color of the graphics engine generating the garbage matte. In this way, the garbage matte provides extensions of blue screens which comprise the blue stage, extending all the way around and behind the television cameras. Consequently, a compositor will not include in a composited output image those physical set elements which are masked by the virtual garbage matte. The compositor will replace areas hidden by the garbage matte with image data supplied by the computer image generator which stores the virtual environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Rohlfing, James H. Houskeeper
  • Patent number: 6034723
    Abstract: An image movement vector detection apparatus detects an image movement vector from an image signal produced by a video camera. The apparatus includes a vibration vector detector which detects a vibration vector from the image signal resulting from vibration of the video camera. An image movement vector detector detects an image movement vector representing movement of an object within the image signal based both on the image signal and the vibration vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 6034738
    Abstract: The absence of MPEG processing in a consumer digital recorder player may preclude on-screen message display of recorder status. Various methods are disclosed which facilitate the on-screen display of recorder player status messages. A first embodiment returns a reproduced decoded, analog video signal (102) to the digital recorder player (200) for insertion of status messages. In a further embodiment recorder message data (221) is coupled to the digital signal decoder (100,117,520) for inclusion with the decoded analog video signal (102). In a another embodiment a recorder message command (TAG/CMD) is coupled to the decoder (100,510) to access recorder specific graphical messages. In yet a further embodiment, recorder message data (221) is tagged and coupled to the decoder (100,510) to select recorder specific graphical messages if available or to display recorder message data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Alan Sparks
  • Patent number: 6032181
    Abstract: In an interactive audio-video digital distribution system a pointer is transmitted at least once every T milliseconds to indicate the position of a time marker. An interruption (V) occurs every T milliseconds. A given number N of integer frames being transmitted in T milliseconds, there remains only space for transmitting a portion containing R symbols of the N+.sup.th frame before the next interruption. Following transmission of a signaling packet (x) with a pointer indicating a number (x) of symbol periods, during the next interruption N packets will have been completely transmitted since the last pointer, plus R symbols. The end of the transmission of this packet is waited for, that is, U.dbd.C-R symbol periods before a new signaling packet (x-U) is transmitted. The value of the pointer contained in this packet will thus have to take this offset into account as it is decremented by U symbols, that is, x-U, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Jean C. Bedgedjian, Guillene Teboul
  • Patent number: 6032180
    Abstract: An image data transmission system for displaying image data comprises a video pump unit for forwarding image data to a client unit, which comprises data loss detection unit for detecting a loss of image data transmitted from said video pump unit and resend request generating means for generating a resend request to request of the video pump unit a resend of the lost image data. The video pump unit comprises a buffer for storing forwarded image data and resends the lost image data to the client unit in response to the resend request after reading image data from the buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 6031580
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for automatically displaying broadcasting program information in a television receiver which has a microcomputer for controlling the entire system operation, first and second tuners for tuning in to television broadcasting signals corresponding to selected channels under the control of the microprocessor, respectively, first and second tuner decoders for decoding the television broadcasting signals tuned by the first and second tuners, respectively, and a signal processor for processing output signals from the first and second tuner decoders to display them on main and sub cathode ray tubes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soon Sun Sim
  • Patent number: 6031583
    Abstract: A high frequency video isolation circuit comprising: a modulating signal source for producing a modulating signal having a frequency of several hundred megahertz; an input multiplier for multiplying the modulating signal with an input video signal having frequency components in a frequency range from about several hertz to about one hundred or more megahertz, to produce a modulated video signal having frequency components in a frequency range from about one hundred megahertz to about several hundred megahertz; a first isolation transformer having an input and an output, for transforming the modulated video signal from the input to the output; and an output multiplier for multiplying the transformed modulated video signal with the modulating signal to produce an isolated output video signal having the frequency components of the input video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sreeram Dhurjaty, Martin E. Trzcinski
  • Patent number: 6028628
    Abstract: A signal correction circuit for correcting deviating pixel values includes a part (113, 117) for comparing a first pixel value (R.sub.orig) of a given pixel with a second value (R.sub.filt) obtained from pixel values of pixels surrounding the given pixel so as to supply a decision signal (decR) if a predetermined criterion is satisfied; and a multiplexer (115) coupled to the above-noted part (113, 117) for supplying the second value (R.sub.filt) if the predetermined criterion is satisfied for not more than one color (R,G,B), and for supplying the first pixel value (R.sub.orig) in the opposite case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Nicolaas J. L. Van Der Valk
  • Patent number: 6023267
    Abstract: A process for selecting events, especially television programs and device and graphical interface implementing this process, including a transmission of service information. According to this process, at least two one-dimensional parallel lists of items are displayed, the first list of items (3) containing events, the second one-dimensional list of items (2) containing at least one function for filtering events and/or at least one function capable of acting on said events. The process furthermore includes the step of picking out selected items, a single item being selected from each list, another item being selectable from a list simply by placing a single cursor over said other item, a selected item remaining selected when said cursor is moved off the list containing this selected item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson multimedia SA
    Inventors: Laurent Chapuis, Nathalie Gonzales
  • Patent number: 6020932
    Abstract: Since the corner detection means (7, 9) to detect each position of the blue board area from video signal, the conversion address generation means (11) to generate the conversion address based on the position information detected and the position information showing each corner position of the image area of video signal to be inserted and the image conversion means (16) to form conversion source video signal based on the conversion address are provided and the source video signal is to be inserted to the video signal, the operator's operation adjustment as the conventional device becomes unnecessary when inserting the source video signal into the prescribed frame of the video signal, and the operation of the operator can be further decreased. Thus, a video signal processing device capable of further decreasing the operator's operation can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Kurashige, Nobuyuki Minami
  • Patent number: 6020911
    Abstract: A filter for treating a plurality of channels in a television signal cable distribution system comprises a plurality of paralel bandpass filters having a frequency which is individually controlled by frequency control voltages. A master filter provided with a filtering cell of a type identical to that used in a bandpass filter corresponds to each bandpass filter. For adjusting the central frequency of a master filter, a frequency is applied thereto by a frequency synthesizer and the cell is aligned with this frequency by acting on its frequency control voltage. This voltage is simultaneously applied to a bandpass filter for controlling the frequency, which is thus aligned with the frequency of the synthesizer simultaneously with that of the corresponding master filter. Each couple consisting of a bandpass filter and a corresponding master filter is realized by means of integration on the same semiconductor substrate (IC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre Chanteau, Yannick Deville, Paul Friedel
  • Patent number: 6016507
    Abstract: An audio-video broadcast apparatus has non-volatile data storage that contains a file which includes at least one of audio and video data. In addition, the audio-video broadcast apparatus has an audio-video server coupled to the non-volatile data storage. The audio-video server broadcasts contents of the file and causes the non-volatile storage to delete a portion of the file from the non-volatile storage prior to the audio-video server broadcasting all of the contents of the file. In this manner, the amount of required non-volatile storage may be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David John Carroll, Wade David Shaw