Patents Examined by Michael H. Lee
  • Patent number: 6757912
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for dynamically defining individual channel behavior from a variety of tuner sources within an integrated PC/TV apparatus. The system includes a channel server database including a master channel list of all channels provided by various tuner sources within a PC/TV apparatus. Each channel within the database list includes various parameters and data associated therewith defining the behavior of the channel independently of other channels within a listing. A number of channels server functionalities enable a user to dynamically access and alter the channel parameters and data to tailor channel behavior to a user's personal preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mark P. Vaughan, William H. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6757029
    Abstract: A television receiving apparatus for receiving an analog television broadcast and a digital television broadcast is disclosed, that comprises a tuner means for receiving both an analog television broadcast signal and a digital television broadcast signal, selecting a signal having a desired carrier frequency from the received signals, and converting the selected signal having the desired carrier frequency into an intermediate frequency signal, an analog demodulating means for demodulating the analog television broadcast signal to a video signal, a digital demodulating means for demodulating the digital television broadcast signal to a base band signal, a first filter means disposed downstream of the tuner means, a second filter means disposed between the first filter means and the analog demodulating means, and a third filter means disposed between the first filter means and the digital demodulating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tadao Kurihara
  • Patent number: 6757027
    Abstract: An automatic video editing system identifies problems within frames in an input video, categorizes the frames by problem type, and edits the frames based on editing parameters for the category. A user can input values that override default values for the editing parameters and can choose to have certain frames remain unedited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Edwards, Clay Harvey Fisher, Kurt Jonach, Neal Jacob Manowitz
  • Patent number: 6757026
    Abstract: An apparatus for converting image format and methods thereof in a video signal processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Tae Joo
  • Patent number: 6757010
    Abstract: Systems and methods for correlating color correction instruction between two color correcting devices are disclosed. The method includes performing a nulling test on a representation a first device has of a known standard and retaining the results of the test. A second color correcting device performs a nulling test on the same known standard and the results of this test are retained. From the results of these two tests a color correction instruction of one of the devices may be converted to a color correction instruction on the other device so that substantially the same color correction effect is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Avid Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Fasciano
  • Patent number: 6757025
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for switching input terminals based on a transmitted signal format are disclosed. The method includes issuing a command to a receiver when a format of the signal has changed from digital to analog. The receiver switches to an analog input terminal according to the command. The apparatus includes a transmitter and a receiver connected with each other with a digital interface and an analog interface. The transmitter has a command generator that issues the command. The receiver includes a switch to select an input terminal, and a selector to control the switch according to the command provided from the transmitter. The receiver also includes a digital signal processor coupled to the digital interface to decode digital signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takano, Satoshi Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Makoto Sato, Yuji Kimura
  • Patent number: 6753924
    Abstract: In a conventional construction to obtain a reference signal for a tuner and a subcarrier for color difference signal demodulation by only one quartz oscillator, the reference signal is unstable due to a PLL operation for oscillation of the subcarrier, which causes tuning error or tuning shift. To realize stable tuning operation, in an oscillation signal processing apparatus having a construction to use one quartz oscillator to obtain a reference signal for a tuner and a subcarrier to demodulate a color difference signal, a PLL operation is performed with the quartz oscillator and a color burst signal when the tuning operation is not performed, while a phase comparison operation is stopped and oscillation is fixed to 3.58 MHz when the tuning operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Suzuki, Kazuhiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6753930
    Abstract: The color reproduction correction circuit which corrects the color distortion caused when color signals using the first combination of the three primary colors are reproduced in a color display of the second combination of the different primary color sources has been disclosed, wherein: a provided color correction circuit generates the mixed color signal by multiplying the color signal in question by the specified coefficients and adding the mixed color signal to other color signals; the mixed colors in the second combination are used as primary color light sources in the second combination; the specified coefficients are determined so that these mixed color light sources are made close to the coordinates of the primary color light sources of the first combination; and the luminescent chromaticity values of the three primary colors are corrected so that the chromaticity values of the device match those specified by the signal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Limited
    Inventors: Ken Kumakura, Kazuyoshi Yamada, Hideaki Ohki, Hiroshi Ohtaka, Toshio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6753923
    Abstract: A video projecting system includes two video projectors. Each video projector has a scaling processing circuit that generates a scaled video signal from an incoming video signal, the scaled video signal representing a partial image of a predetermined size, a luminance adjustment circuit that generates from the scaled video signal from the scaling processing circuit an adjusted video signal representing the partial image having a reduced luminance in a predetermined region of the partial image, and a display device that generates a partial image based on the adjusted video signal which is outputted from the luminance adjustment circuit. The partial image generated by the display device is projected via an optical system onto a screen, so that respective partial images partially overlap each other, thereby creating one stitched image. Thus, a compact and inexpensive video projecting system which can eliminate the need of manual readjustment of a plurality of video projectors is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takaaki Gyoten
  • Patent number: 6753927
    Abstract: An interface (10) for connecting a calculator (12) to a standard television (11), so that the calculator's display can be re-displayed on the television (1). The interface also receives input from a pointing device (10a) such as a mouse, which permits the areas of the television display to be pointed to, highlighted, or otherwise manipulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Mikhail Y. Shtyrenkov
  • Patent number: 6753928
    Abstract: A television apparatus and method provides visual/audio feedback to a user via the auxiliary image (i.e., PIP window) simultaneously during the menu selection process for configuring the television system. The apparatus enables a user to verify the connection between an auxiliary video/audio source device (e.g., DVD player, satellite receiver, VCR etc.) and a desired input source of the television receiver during the configuration process of the television system. The television apparatus includes a television receiver suitable for generating video output signals for displaying a multi-image on a display device. The multi-image displays comprise a main image corresponding to the currently tuned/selected input signal and an on-screen display (“OSD”) of a configuration menu. The multi-images comprise the main image, the configuration menu and an auxiliary image, such as picture-in-picture (PIP) and picture-outside-picture (POP) displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Gospel, Robert Skipworth Comer
  • Patent number: 6753926
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus comprises a PLL circuit, a phase adjuster, a picture-data-sampling circuit, a liquid crystal display driver, a video signal processor, and a liquid crystal display panel. The phase adjuster comprises a delay circuit, a comparator, a counter, and a controller. The PLL generates a dot clock which is delayed by the delay circuit by a delay time designated by the controller to be a sampling clock. The counter counts the number of sampling edges of the sampling clock from a negative edge of a horizontal synchronization signal to a positive edge of a binarized video signal supplied from the comparator. The controller observes the number of sampling edges while adjusting the delay to determine the worst sampling clock and sets the best sampling clock whose phase is at a straight angle to the phase of the worst sampling clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki Nishino
  • Patent number: 6753929
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a picture part of interest from an arbitrary background in real time videos are presented. The background may be a moving or still frame. The picture part of interest and background frames may be in or out of focus. One separation approach employs the difference between luminance and chrominance values of the input and background frames where changes in luminance from frame to frame are compensated for. In another approach, picture part of interest separation is based solely on spatial resolution differences between the background and the picture part of interest frames. The present invention also teaches a method and system for parameter matching of the picture part of interest and the basic picture into which the picture part of interest is embedded. The invention further teaches a method and system for embedding a separated picture part of interest into a basic picture containing text.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: VLS Com Ltd.
    Inventors: Semion M. Sheraizin, Vitaly S. Sheraizin
  • Patent number: 6750918
    Abstract: Described is a TV system that uses a single pixmap across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes. In general, the TV system uses at least two headers to select different portions of a single pixmap to be displayed based on different raster sizes. Specifically, each of the two headers points to a single pixmap. In the TV system, the size of the central portion is fixed while the size of the sidepanel portion can be adjusted depending on the displaying mode. In response to different displaying modes, the TV system selectively invokes one of the two headers to select a respective portion to be displayed in the pixmap. By doing so, a single pixmap can be used across multiple video rasters having different raster sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Charu Aneja, Aaron Hal Dinwiddie, Patrick Joseph Wiegand, Charles William Worrell
  • Patent number: 6747706
    Abstract: Aspects are described for addressing workflow processing to manage digital broadcast program development and production. A workflow processing aspect includes managing a plurality of production stages to produce a digital broadcast program, and managing storage of data among ingest, object, and program storage during the plurality of production stages to ensure efficiency of digital broadcast program development. The plurality of production stages include a sequence of an ingest stage, a triage stage, a program creation stage, and a program assembly stage. The data storage management includes managing encoding of data into MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 data files during the plurality of production stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Walt Geddes, Gene R. Griffin, Jr., Diana S. Wang, John M. Zetts
  • Patent number: 6744473
    Abstract: To maintain lip-sync when a video signal has been edited or switched at a video frame boundary, the associated audio signal is advanced or retarded to the closest audio frame boundary. Any error introduced by this constraint is accumulated and carried forward to direct subsequent advance or retard decision. In this way, the cumulative error can be kept within an acceptable tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: British Broadcasting Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas Dominic Wells
  • Patent number: 6744476
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus having a video memory function includes a video memory having a plurality of read ports and a capacity of storing images in two fields or more, wherein CCD storage sensitivity enhancement means is connected to a write port; a write control circuit for storing a single-field image in each memory area provided by dividing the storage space of the video memory into a plurality of sub-spaces; a plurality of read control sections for reading a single-field image stored in each memory area; and memory control means for reading an image from the video memory by a delay amount corresponding to the timing of a synchronization signal from the CCD storage sensitivity enhancement means. This configuration allows adjustment of the delay amount and prevents an image write address from passing by an image read address so that image data given CCD storage sensitivity enhancement is processed normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kobayashi, Makoto Sube
  • Patent number: 6744472
    Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, graphics input and audio input simultaneously. The system includes a video decoder having a chroma-locked sample rate converter. The chroma-locked sample rate converter converts the samples to those taken at a sample rate that is a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency and that is locked to chroma bursts of the analog video signal in a control loop. The video decoder also includes a line-locked sample rate converter that receives samples at a multiple of the chroma subcarrier frequency and converts the samples to samples with a sample frequency that is a multiple of the horizontal line rate of the video input. The line-locked sample rate converter measures the horizontal line rate to an accuracy of a fraction of a pixel and adjusts the sample rate and phase of the line-locked sample rate converter to produce accurate line-locked samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander G. MacInnis, Chengfuh Jeffrey Tang, Xiaodong Xie, James T. Patterson, Greg A. Kranawetter
  • Patent number: 6744464
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for real-time testing of television picture colors. It can conduct real-time testing and adjusting of colors at various pixels to make tree and grass greener. The apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a chromatic-coordinate testing circuit and a chromatic-coordinate bias circuit for each set color and configuring them between the television signal output and the video-driving amplifier. The pixel identified by the chromatic-coordinate testing circuit is the pixel to be adjusted. The chromatic-coordinate bias circuit controls and changes the bias current or bias voltage output to the video-driving amplifier in color television sets so that the connected three-color electron gun produces color bias effects on the monitor screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: TCL King Electronics (Shenzen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kaihua Huang
  • Patent number: 6741295
    Abstract: In a method of preventing doming phenomena, luminance histogram distribution values are obtained (10) from a luminance signal, the various luminance histogram distribution values are processed and normalized (12), the luminance histogram distribution values are processed (16) to correct for at least actual contrast and brightness settings to obtain corrected histogram data, a beam current is predicted (18) from the corrected histogram data, and a correction signal is derived (20) from the predicted beam current and making said correction signal effective in the processing and normalizing step (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Michel Wouter Nieuwenhuizen, Dirk Yvon Willem Van Leeuwen, Kathleen Lutgarde Luc Van Damme