Abstract: A color sequential electronic camera includes an RGB light source in which the R and G sources are activated in combination to provide a luminance light beam, and the R and B sources separately to provide separate chrominance light beams. Image light reflected by a subject is captured by an image sensor, which generates a color sequential signal comprising a sequence of luminance and chrominance image components. By activating the light sources such that chrominance light beams alternate between luminance light beams, the chrominance image components are captured at a lower temporal rate than the luminance image components. Furthermore, by binning the sensor photosites together for the chrominance image, the chrominance components are captured at a lower spatial resolution than the luminance image components.
Abstract: A high definition television monitor which raises the level of a convergence voltage by a predetermined voltage in one of two consecutive horizontal periods in which the same video signal is produced, writes the same video image twice on the same line during the consecutive 2H, thereby displaying a video image of the normal standard on a CRT display with a satisfactory picture quality.
Abstract: It is possible to replace a standard tuning unit in a television with spatial light modulator circuitry to improve the resolution seen by the viewer. The invention herein provides a system architecture, individual part of the system and techniques for minimizing the burst data rate while maintaining a reasonable system speed. The resultant system provides better resolution with a manageable data rate and bandwidth.
Abstract: A split-band device for transmitting and amplifying television signals between an input terminal and an output terminal which can each be coupled to a distribution cable having a characteristic impedance R.sub.0. The device comprises first and second parallel-arranged branches comprising, respectively, first and second amplifiers. The first branch has a high-pass first filter arranged between the input terminal and its first amplifier and the second branch has a low-pass second filter arranged between the input terminal and its second amplifier to select a second frequency range different from a first frequency range of the first amplifier.
Abstract: In a combination television and videocassette recorder device which is automatically controlled by TV program reservation codes, when the selector switch is set to the TV mode side, it is possible to automatically control the television by the reservation codes. On the other hand, when the selector switch is set to the VCR mode side, it is possible to automatically control the videocassette recorder by the reservation codes.
Abstract: A color image pickup apparatus using a single-plate type solid-state image sensor is arranged to obtain a signal of an excellent color separation characteristic. An object image is formed on the photoelectric conversion part of the image sensor with color filters of different colors disposed on each of the picture elements of the image sensor. A signal outputted from the solid-state image sensor is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter. The digital signal is taken in by a signal processing circuit to separate chrominance signals superposed on a luminance signal. At that time, signals for primary color components are formed by carrying out a matrix computing process by using coefficients obtained from the image pickup output of the solid-state image sensor.
Abstract: Video signals of interlaced form are first converted to progressive scan (non-interlaced) form and then picture elements are generated that lie between the "progressive" picture elements and are interpolated by a vertical one-half (1/2) line shuffling by application of a vertical averaging. The interpolated picture elements are buffer stored and are read out again at twice the frame repetition rate whereby each second line of the stored interpolated picture elements is emitted delayed in time by 10 milli-seconds. Fields in the format 100 Hz, 2:1 interlace thereby ensue. Advantageously, interpolated picture elements are used in all of the output fields thereby avoiding picture disturbences at the frame rate (25 Hz) of the original video signal. For increasing the subjective vertical sharpness, a vertical peaking may additionally be carried out.
Abstract: A camera has a display for displaying a subject with colors which are determined in accordance with a color correction coefficient. The coefficient is generated in accordance with a combination of photographic parameters, such as a shutter speed, an aperture, etc.
Abstract: An automatically adjustable black stretch control apparatus for a continually adjusting the black stretch of a luminance signal which comprises a black stretch control means for controlling the amount of stretch of the black part of the luminance signal. A luminance signal is input to a plurality of detecting means, each of which detects the percentage of the luminance signal that is within a specified range during a unit period (i.e. a frame). The output of each detecting means is input to one of a plurality of preprocessing means which generates a control index. The output of each preprocessing means is input to one of a plurality of inferring means for creating a synthesized function indicative of the quality of the signal from each of the detecting means.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 28, 1994
Date of Patent:
May 7, 1996
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: A still picture recording digital camera including a light quantity limiter for interrupting incident light to the camera; an image pickup unit including a pixel for converting the incident light to an electric pixel signal and outputting the pixel signal as a digital image signal; a signal processor for generating a digital image signal having a predetermined format; a recording unit for recording the digital image signal output from the image pickup unit or the signal processor; the light quantity limiter limiting the incident light quantity to a predetermined quantity and then interrupting the incident light; the image pickup unit outputting a dynamic picture digital image signal when the light quantity limiter is limiting the incident light quantity, and outputting a still picture image signal after the light quantity limiter has interrupted the incident light; and the signal processor performing different signal processing operations when the signal processor has received a digital image signal for a dyn
Abstract: An automatic gain control circuit for processing a reproduced color signal in a VCR which may include first and second feedback loops respectively positioned before and after a comb filter. In the first feedback loop, the color signal is amplified by a first variable gain amplifier and supplied to both a first burst detector and the comb filter via a frequency converter and a band-pass filter. The first burst detector detects the peak level of the burst signal included in the color signal and controls the gain of the first amplifier for stabilizing the level of the burst signal. The comb filter removes cross-talk components from the color signal and supplies an output signal to the second feedback loop. In the second feedback loop, the output signal is amplified by a second variable gain amplifier and supplied to a second burst detector.
Abstract: A color projection video system utilizing only a single light valve. A white light source is separated into into red, green and blue bands. Scanning optics cause the RGB bands to be sequentially scanned across a light valve, such as a transmission LCD panel. Prior to each color passing over a given row of panels on the light valve, that row will be addressed, by the display electronics with the appropriate color content of that portion of the image which is being displayed. The image is projected by a projection lens onto a viewing surface, such as a screen. The device includes circuitry to synchronize the illumination of the light valve with the video signal and to minimize video breakup when changing video sources.
Abstract: A system for determining the data bits represented by the received symbols of one or more data constellations includes converting the received symbols into multi-bit values (preferably in two's complement form), selecting a number of the most significant bits of each of the multi-bit values and inverting the most significant bit thereof to derive the data bits represented by the respective symbol.
Abstract: There is provided a color video camera apparatus (10) which includes an image sensor (11) having a plurality of pixel elements for converting an optical image into an electric image signal, a color filter (12) arranged on the image sensor and having a predetermined mosaic pattern of different colors including complementary colors, an image signal processing circuit (15) for processing the electric image signal to produce at least first and second color difference signals (2R-G) and (2B-G), a variable coefficient generator (20) for generating first and second coefficients (a) and (b) each of which is variable in dependence on the first and second color difference signals, first and second multipliers (19 and 22) for multiplying the first and second color difference signals respectively by the second and first coefficients, and first and second adders (18 and 21 ) for adding outputs of the second and first multipliers to the first and second color difference signals to generate objective third and fourth color
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 29, 1994
Date of Patent:
April 16, 1996
Assignee:
U.S. Philips Corporation
Inventors:
Jurgen H. T. Geerlings, Kazumasa Igarashi, Hiroshi Kitagawa
Abstract: A solid state image pickup device having a high luminance signal resolution in both horizontal and vertical directions using only one CCD is realized. It is so arranged as to make light incident upon and passed through a fixed complementary color filter array subjected to a photoelectric conversion with an all-pixel concurrent readout photoelectric conversion means and fed to a luminance signal processing unit and a chrominance signal processing unit through an H memory unit to develop a luminance signal together with a first and a second chrominance signals at output terminals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 13, 1993
Date of Patent:
April 9, 1996
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: During the carrying out of a dim effect, a signal generated at a generator is mixed with a video signal and a matt signal at a mixer, a key signal and background signal are added at an adder, and the resultant signal is outputted. During the carrying out of a fade effect, in similar manner, the signal is mixed with the key signal and a fixed value signal at the mixer, the video signal and background signal are added at the adder, and the resultant signal is outputted. Extended dim effect and extended fade effect give depth to a picture with a color approximation where the depth of the image does not completely merge into the background.
Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprising a counterfeiting prevention arrangement and reliably preventing counterfeit reproduction of currency, negotiable certificates, and other registered documents is provided by preventing modification or removal of the counterfeiting prevention arrangement. Modification or removal of the counterfeiting prevention arrangement is prevented in this imaging apparatus by integrating circuit elements or components of the counterfeiting prevention arrangement with circuit elements or components of the image processors of the imaging system in a single chip, or sealing these components in a single mold, effectively preventing modification or removal of the counterfeiting prevention arrangement without disabling the imaging system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 29, 1993
Date of Patent:
March 26, 1996
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: The invention relates to a video signal memory equipment comprising a FIFO memory for storing video data of video signals, and a control unit for controlling writing and reading in the FIFO memory, wherein the control unit receives a horizontal synchronizing signal of video signal in video data writing action, writes a specified number of video data from the beginning of video data of brightness signals of the horizontal scanning period sequentially into the FIFO memory, and reads out the specified number of video data upon every input of horizontal synchronizing signal, in video data reading action, in the written sequence as video data of that horizontal scanning period, thereby storing and producing the video data of video signals, whereby video data of each horizontal scanning period of video signals are continuously written into the FIFO memory by every specified number of pieces from the beginning, and are read out by every specified number of pieces upon every input of horizontal synchronizing signal,
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 6, 1995
Date of Patent:
March 19, 1996
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: A system (30) for packing data into a video processor is provided. System (30) comprises demultiplexer (32), first and second first in-first out buffer memories (34) and (36), and multiplexer (38). Demultiplexer (32) divides a field of video data into first and second parts (42) and (44). First and second parts (42) and (44) are stored in first first in-first out buffer memories (34) and (36), respectively. Multiplexer (38) combines one line from first first in-first out buffer memory (34) with one line from second first in-first out buffer memory (36) to form a single line for processing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 4, 1993
Date of Patent:
March 5, 1996
Assignee:
Texas Instruments Incorporated
Inventors:
Robert J. Gove, Donald B. Doherty, Stephen W. Marshall, Carl W. Davis, Joseph G. Egan, Richard C. Meyer, Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Scott D. Heimbuch
Abstract: The invention relates to a picture memory system for a video printer. Out of continuously incoming video signals, picture signals corresponding to one frame or one field are stored into each of a plurality of semiconductor memories, and the picture just passed can be searched and printed. Therefore, in unilaterally transferred video signals like in television, the desired pictures can be directly printed without incurring the inconvenience of using a video recorder. That is, the multiple steps of recording and reproducing are skipped, and therefore, the degradation of the picture quality can be prevented.