Abstract: The color balance, hue, saturation, luminance, and other parameters of digital video signals are corrected entirely in the digital domain. Correction signals are combined with the digital video signals and new digital video signals are created to replace the original signals. Thus, color correction is performed without victorial addition or similar techniques. A digital "six-vector" color correction circuit, as well as an infinitely variable color selection correction circuit are provided. Also provided is a window for isolating the color corrections, with the capability of limiting the isolation provided by the window to a single selected hue so that one color can be corrected under the restrictions of the window, while others are corrected free of those restrictions. A separate window can be provided simultaneously for each of six colors and the infinitely variable correction circuit. Different corrections of the same color can be made inside and outside of the window.

Abstract: Video signals from two different sources are interwoven with one another so that segments of one picture are intermixed evenly with segments of another picture. It is preferred that the segments be interwoven in a checkerboard pattern, with at least one pixel from each picture forming adjacent elements in the pattern. In one embodiment using a pattern in which only one pixel forms each element, a selected image in one frame of a video program can be readily aligned with the same image appearing in a different frame. Both images are visible simultaneously. The zoom and/or horizontal and vertical pan control on a telecine or other video signal source then can be used to match and align the images in size and position. In another embodiment, the checkerboard squares of the interweave pattern each can be made large enough to be seen by the naked eye.

Abstract: In a video color correction and matching technique, a first picture composed of color video signals is displayed on a monitor screen and video signals from a limited area on the screen which contain a color, desired to be corrected or matched, are sampled and stored in a signal storage area. A second color video picture, subsequently displayed on the monitor screen, contains a limited area having the same color to be corrected or matched as in the limited area of the first picture. Signals from the limited area of the second picture are sampled and compared to the stored signals of the limited area of the first picture and adjusted to agree with the color video signals from the limited area in the first picture.

Abstract: Improved color correction apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. Such an apparatus may include a control signal circuit and a color level correction circuit. The control signal circuit is responsive to luminance signals. Additionally, the control signal circuit establishes a plurality of luminance ranges, which overlap one another, and produces a plurality of control signals. The different control signals are associated with the different luminance ranges. Each of the control signals is a different function of the luminance signal. The color level correction circuit is responsive to the control signals produced by the control signal circuit. The color level correction circuit is preferably responsive to color difference signals, too. The color level correction circuit selectively develops color level correction signals based upon the control signals provided by the control signal circuit. The apparatus further includes a circuit for applying the color level correction signal to the color signals.

Abstract: A color correction system and method are disclosed. A color corrector may include circuits for selecting a predetermined range of colors around an infinitely selectable principal color and circuits for selectively generating color corrections for the video picture signals which correspond to the predetermined range of colors. The color corrections are then applied to the video picture signals to produce color corrected video picture signals. The color corrections may be stored and recalled on a scene-by-scene basis. Two or more such circuits may be employed so that two or more different principal colors can be selected. Preferably, the predetermined range of colors is adjustable. A color corrector may also include circuits for storing and recalling area discrimination signals on a scene-by-scene basis. Moreover, a color corrector may include circuits for identifying the color corrections for a particular scene with a video picture from that particular scene.

Abstract: Plural picture images are displayed side-by-side on a single display where they can be compared. It is preferred that the signals for the pictures be converted, by suitable processing means, into a form suitable for storage, and stored. The stored signals then are retrieved and displayed with a picture whose signals are processed by the same processing means so as to avoid differential degradation of the signals being compared. Preferably, the storage device is a digital memory and the processing means includes analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion means. Color correction of one of the images can be affected, if needed, by the use of other features of the color corrector disclosed herein.

Abstract: A color correction system with an improved scene-change detection module is disclosed. The scene-change detection module processes video picture signals representative of images stored by an image recording medium to detect the start of a new scene. The module advantageously includes circuits which sense a change in each of at least two different parameters of the video picture signals. The changes are analyzed in relation to a preselected condition. The module also includes circuits which generate a change detect signal when the change in at least one of the two parameters satisfies the preselected condition. Preferably, an area discrimination circuit is employed to limit the portion of the video picture in which the signals are sampled for scene-change detection purposes. One of the parameters that may be analyzed is a signal indicative of the color content of the video picture.

Abstract: The color detector circuit can be adjusted with essentially infinite variability to cause it to detect virtually any color in the visible spectrum, and to define a narrow passband or range of colors which the device will transmit. The device can be used to provide accurate color key signals with a variable passband in chroma key equipment. The device can be used to provide multiple chroma key signals for a single picture frame. A color correction system using the chroma key device also is shown.

Abstract: An improved color correction system and method are disclosed. A color corrector may include circuits for selecting a predetermined range of colors around an infinitely selectable principal color and circuits for selectively generating color corrections for the video picture signals which correspond to the predetermined range of colors. The color corrections are then applied to the video picture signals to produce color corrected video picture signals. The color correction may be stored and recalled on a scene-by-scene basis. Two or more such circuits may be employed so that two or more different principal colors can be selected. Preferably, the predetermined range of colors is adjustable. A color corrector may also include circuits for storing and recalling area discrimination signals on a scene-by-scene basis. Moreover, a color corrector may include circuits for identifying the color corrections for a particular scene with a video picture from that particular scene.

Abstract: An editing system and method for editing, which may include two or more video signal sources, a storage and retrieval device, color correction circuits, and equipment for combining video signals. Two or more sets of color correction values may be stored in the storage and retrieval device. The sets of color correction values are retrieved from the storage and retrieval device and applied to the color correction circuits which then respond to the sets of color correction values in order to color correct the video signals produced by the video signal sources. The equipment for combining video signals combines the color corrected video signals to produce edited video signals, which may be recorded with a video recorder. In this fashion, a color corrected edited master is made. Such an editing system advantageously includes a control mechanism that automatically controls the various components of the system in response to a predetermined set of instructions.

Abstract: In a scene-by-scene color corrector, automatic color correction circuitry produces color correction signals which are stored and utilized in preparing color-corrected video tape. Preferably, the automatic correction circuit tests only a pre-selected portion of the video picture displayed on a monitor. This portion or "window" is visible on the monitor screen, and its position and size can be changed as desired. The use of the "window" permits the exclusion of portions of the picture on which the automatic circuitry is less than fully effective, or which do not have components desirable for use in automatic color correction. If a separately variable luminance signal is produced, the automatic color correction circuitry preferably uses the luminance signal as a reference, thus allowing one to maintain color balance despite changes in the luminance signal.

Abstract: In a scene-by-scene color corrector, automatic color correction circuitry produces color correction signals which are stored and utilized in preparing color-corrected video tape. Preferably, the automatic correction circuit tests only a pre-selected portion of the video picture displayed on a monitor. This portion or "window" is visible on the monitor screen, and its position and size can be changed as desired. The use of the "window" permits the exclusion of portions of the picture on which the automatic circuitry is less than fully effective, or which do not have components desirable for use in automatic color correction. If a separately variable luminance signal is produced, the automatic color correction circuitry preferably uses the luminance signal as a reference, thus allowing one to maintain color balance despite changes in the luminance signal.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement upon the system and method shown in the "Rainbow" U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,523. A special luminance compensation signal is formed by combining the color derivative signals (yellow, green, red, blue, cyan and magenta) with one another. The compensation signal so formed is combined with the luminance signal from a standard luminance matrix. The overall luminance signal is used in the usual way to form video picture signals. The individual color derivative components of the luminance signal can be varied independently of one another. This provides an improved degree of control and correction of video color signals, and corrects for some film errors which previously have not been adequately corrected. Preferably, the gain, pedestal and gamma factors of the overall luminance signal also can be controlled independently.

Abstract: The system and method are used to convert images on motion picture film or slides to video signals. Color corrections in the video signals are made by adjusting not only the color balance, but also the color hue and saturation, as well as the separate component parts of the luminance signal. During the first phase of operation, the "load" mode, a "standard" set of color correction values is selected so as to provide a video picture which is pleasing to the eye. Then the whole film is color-corrected by providing incremental adjustment signals to be added to or subtracted from the "standard" values for each different scene on the film. The incremental adjustment values are stored in the memory of a digital computer. A frame counter provides a count of the frame at which a color correction is made. Furthermore, each color correction of a frame is given an "event" number. The event and frame numbers are stored together with the adjustment values for each scene or frame.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for modifying video signals so that the displayed image along a first directional axis has its dimensions changed relative to another directional axis perpendicular to the first axis. An illustrative system application of this arrangement is in the commercial television broadcasting of anamorphically recorded motion picture film program material. The arrangement utilizes electronic gating of a pair of analog line delays for each of the primary transmission colors to store the selected portion of each video line which corresponds to the portion of the motion picture scene used for the television scene. The stored portions of the lines are stretched to full line length by reading them out of the line delays at a slower rate thereby providing a television signal indicative of a image in true proportion.

Abstract: The system and method are used to convert images on motion picture film or slides to video signals. Color corrections in the video signals are made by adjusting not only the color balance, but also the color hue and saturation, as well as the separate component parts of the luminance signal. During the first phase of operation, the "load" mode, a "standard" set of color correction values is selected so as to provide a video picture which is pleasing to the eye. Then the whole film is color-corrected by providing incremental adjustment signals to be added to or subtracted from the "standard" values for each different scene on the film. The incremental adjustment values are stored in the memory of a digital computer. A frame counter provides a count of the frame at which a color correction is made. Furthermore, each color correction of a frame is given an "event" number. The event and frame numbers are stored together with the adjustment values for each scene or frame.