Patents by Inventor Peter C. Michael

Peter C. Michael has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4494140
    Abstract: A video processing system for reducing data content requirements along a transmission path. A movement processor which includes a framestore is capable of detecting both interfield and interframe movement and uses this to manipulate the data so as to inhibit or attenuate the movement content so that the available bandwidth is not exceeded. This manipulation can also be used to provide residual movement persistence between frames and to reduce picture noise content. A processor at the remote end of the transmission path can reconstitute the data to make it available at normal video rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventor: Peter C. Michael
  • Patent number: 4339803
    Abstract: A distributed video frame store and real time processing system which includes a frame store subdivided into a number of sectors each with an associated arithmetic unit capable of parallel operation for processing data from all the sectors simultaneously. Each arithmetic unit which comprises a subtractor, multiplier and adder may be shared as a common input and output processor during write and store read cycles respectively for that sector. During a write cycle, the incoming data together is processed with previously stored data and then written into the store sector, the coefficient for the multiplier being selected in dependence on any difference measured in the subtractor. During a read cycle and stored information can be passed via the arithmetic unit to the output. During the read cycle, data from two locations within that store sector is processed, and in dependence on any movement previously detected, these locations can be from the same or alternate fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4334245
    Abstract: A T.V. special effects generator which includes a store for a video image and a coefficient processor connected to the store which synthesises picture points from the stored video image to provide a processed image which has a shape dependent on mask data controlling this picture point synthesis which results in an image distorted into the desired shape to give a fish-eye effect for example. The mask data may be generated in a computer or by using a T.V. camera and the processed mask information may be used as the key input in a studio mixer. Additional control of the size of the image can be effected to provide picture zoom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventor: Peter C. Michael
  • Patent number: 4275418
    Abstract: A video noise reduction system for incoming video information from a plurality of picture points. A first processor is capable of synthesizing each picture point from incoming picture point information from adjacent picture points to provide noise reduced picture information. A store is provided for storing picture information from at least one frame and a second processor is capable of synthesizing each picture point from incoming and stored information from a corresponding picture point from a current and earlier frames to effect noise reduction. A detector is provided to detect any movement between pictures to allow processing by the first processor when movement is occuring and from the second processor when no movement is occuring. A third processor may be provided to allow synthesizing from adjacent picture points from current and earlier pictures to effect noise reduction when the picture content is detected to be stationary and has only low frequency components therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Martin R. Trump, Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4272787
    Abstract: A T.V. picture freeze system capable of capturing a video frame comprising first and second fields. Movement is detected between fields for each picture point and data indicative of any movement is stored and is used on read out to determine whether the picture information is taken from a single field, when movement has occurred or from both fields when movement has not occurred for that portion of the picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Paul R. N. Kellar
  • Patent number: 4240109
    Abstract: A movement detection method and system capable of detecting picture point movement in portions of a picture in the presence of noise. Each picture point within the frame in turn is examined with a corresponding picture point from the previous frame to detect when movement has occurred for that particular picture point. To distinguish between noise and movement, a number of selected picture points adjacent the picture point are also examined to see if movement is occurring. By examining a number of picture joints noise tends to be attenuated while movement is not, so that true movement can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Micro Consultants, Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4240106
    Abstract: A video noise reduction system including a coefficient modifier for modifying at least a portion of the incoming video information. Video storage is provided to store the modified information and an adder is provided for adding at least a portion of incoming picture information with at least a portion from a corresponding stored picture point from an earlier field. The noise reduced picture information is provided at the store output. The degree of noise reduction may be varied in dependence on movement detected between fields and whether luminance or chrominance components are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Micro Consultants, Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4240101
    Abstract: Digital standards conversion from one T.V. line standard to another including a processor for synthesizing picture points from adjacent picture point information derived from video signals from at least one field and a digital persistence arrangement for effecting movement interpolation between incoming and stored information. The digital persistence may be cylically varied field by field as well as being variable in dependence on any picture movement detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Micro Consultants, Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4240113
    Abstract: A video system and method for manipulating picture information in the form of a number of picture points. The information is manipulated by sequentially synthesizing a picture point from information on a number of existing picture points adjacent the synthesized picture point from at least one field. The portions of the picture points used from current and previous fields may be varied in dependence on picture movement detected between fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Micro Consultants, Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump
  • Patent number: 4172264
    Abstract: A video control arrangement for a synchronizer includes a joystick for moving the T.V. picture in at least one plane to a first selected position. A memory arrangement receives and holds information on the location of the first preselected position which can be recalled later to effect automatic movement of the T.V. picture to this preselected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: Quantel Limited
    Inventors: Richard J. Taylor, Peter C. Michael
  • Patent number: 4163249
    Abstract: A T.V. picture processing system comprising an input arrangement for receiving T.V. picture information and converting it into a form suitable for an input processor. The input processor modifies the size of the picture from information received from the input arrangement. A store is provided for storing the input processed picture information. A co-efficient generator is connected to the store for providing modification of incoming data to the store in dependence on the co-efficient generated and on data previously stored in the store. An output processor is provided for modifying the size of the picture from information received from the store and an output arrangement receives the information from the output processor and converts this into a composite T.V. signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Micro Consultants Limited
    Inventors: Peter C. Michael, Richard J. Taylor, Martin R. Trump