Abstract: A digital video effects apparatus is arranged to generate a digital video effect by interpolating the values of parameters governing the effect, according to a given function, between time points corresponding to selected frames of a video signal and at which the parameters are fixed at selected values. The apparatus is organised in such a manner that the values of parameters are stored in exclusive timelines enabling the time points at which the parameter values are fixed to be adjusted without reference to other parameters governing the same video effect.

Abstract: A method for rotating an input image matrix having pixel grouping data to form an output image matrix in a computer is provided. The pixel grouping data is accessed and readdressed to rotate the input image matrix. The pixel grouping data is desampled into desampled pixel grouping data. At least one line of the desampled pixel grouping data is sorted into a plurality of groups of desampled pixel grouping data. A first group of the desampled pixel grouping data is written to a first line of the output image matrix. A second group of the desampled pixel grouping data is written to a second line of the output image matrix. Preferably, the pixel grouping data represents subsampled color image data in L*a*b* space. The method takes advantage of the bandwidth of high-performance busses in direct memory access systems to rotate data in real-time.

Abstract: A pixel image at broadcast or graphics resolution is spatially transformed to represent the 2D projection of an image that has undergone movement in 3D space or is seen from a different viewer's position. For example, an image on a screen is delineated with four reference points designated by touching a pen on a tablet and then one is dragged with the pen along the screen to change the shape of the delineated image. At the same time, the entire delineated image is spatially transformed to make it continue to fill the entire changing shape and only that shape, until the dragged reference point is pinned to fix its position on the screen. Two or more designated point can be selected to move together as the pen drags them along the screen. The image being spatially transformed can be combined with a second image under the control of a stencil image to form a composite image.

Abstract: In an image transformation system, an image formed by the inputted video signal is stored in a memory to be read out by the read address of a predetermined read address generating circuit, so that a predetermined image transformation is performed to the image, by merging the mirror processing upon the orthogonal coordinates and the mirror processing upon the polar coordinates. As a result, a transformation image that looks as if it is seen through a kaleidoscope can be obtained.

Abstract: A digital video effects system for producing live-action video effects in real time includes an address generator having a pair of 2-D tables for providing x-coordinate and y-coordinate offset values. A third 2-D table contains warp activation factors (activators) which are scaled by a clip and gain processing technique to produce scaled activators. The scaled activators are used to scale the x- and y-offset values which are then combined with the original raster-order addresses to produce frame buffer readout addresses. An output video signal is produced by an inverse mapping of the input frame buffer to the output. The 2-D tables provide control of the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The degree of scaling by the clip and gain unit varies with time so that the resulting readout addresses also vary with time. A video effect, therefore, is produced simply by adjusting the scaling of the clip and gain unit. Moreover, a variety of effects can be achieved simply by changing the various 2-D tables.

Abstract: A digital video effects apparatus has a graphical user interface having a display upon which is produced a video image within a predetermined shape, the video Image being rotated in time and space to represent a 3-dimensional effect. Control points are set by a user together with rotation angles and x-y scaling parameters of the video image. The apparatus interpolates between the control points to provide a smooth transition from control point to control point. The video image is zoomed in and out as the video image changes orientation and/or size so that the video image substantially fills an image area of the graphical user interface display. In the invention the video image is tracked on the GUI display even when it is outside the normally visible screen area.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and the method for mapping a plurality of images which are on the two-dimensional plane on the corresponding faces of a solid in the three-dimensional virtual space. The mapping image on the side face being close to the object image displaying face is formed in accordance with the shape of object image displaying face of the solid on which the object image is mapped, and the image mapped on each face is displaced in accordance with the movement of the solid in the three-dimensional space. Therefore, the image that as if a desired image is stuck to the faces of the solid moving in a virtual space can be displayed on a screen surface by easily operating by an operator.

Abstract: A computer system is provided which employs a hardware rotation unit capable of rotating a raster-scan portrait image by 90 degrees in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction in order to create a landscape image on a raster-scan display device. Rotation of a portrait image is accomplished by a mapping of pixel information associated with the portrait image to corresponding frame buffer locations necessary to properly display the portrait image as a landscape image. A video controller incorporating the hardware rotation unit stores only pixel information associated with the landscape image in a frame buffer. Dedicated circuitry within the hardware rotation unit allows full support of portrait image data read and write operations involving the landscape image pixel information stored in the frame buffer.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for the fast rotation of binary images represented as a run length encoded data stream. The system employs a cache memory for efficiently representing parsed RLE data in a rotated orientation, where only the white-black transition points are recorded. Subsequently, the cache memory is further processed using a logic operation to fill in the runs between the recorded transition points during concurrent transfer of the image data to a band of page buffer memory. The process is repeated for a plurality of bands to complete the rotation/decoding process for an entire bitmap image.

Abstract: A film image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a film image of each frame of a film, includes: an image pick up device which picks up a film image; a reproducer which is operable to reproduce specified areas of the picked up film image; an information reader which reads information recorded on the film concerning the orientation of the film image; a reproducing direction designator which designates a reproducing direction of images in the areas; and a controller which controls the reproducer based on the read information and the designated reproducing direction so as to reproduce the image areas in the designated reproducing direction while keeping an image in each image area in a specified reference orientation irrespective of the direction of the film image on the film. This apparatus can constantly move an image in a designated direction regardless of the orientation of the film image.

Abstract: An image-correction circuit and method for a picture tube is disclosed including system control means for determining the rotation degree of vertical and horizontal sync signals, and outputting vertical and horizontal charging/discharging control signals and vertical and horizontal phase signals; vertical phase control means for outputting a vertical phase control signal; horizontal phase control means for outputting a horizontal phase control signal; vertical phase sync means for shifting the image vertically thereby correcting the vertical position of the image; and horizontal phase sync means for receiving the horizontal phase control signal and shifting the image horizontally thereby correcting the horizontal position of the image.

Abstract: Cathode ray tube display apparatus includes a cathode ray tube having a screen (210) and a neck (350). In use an electron beam is directed from the neck (350) towards the screen (210) along an axis (S) of the cathode ray tube containing the centre of the screen (210). However, deflection means (320) mounted on the neck (350) deflects the beam from the axis (S) at a deflection centre (X) of the cathode ray tube to scan the beam across the screen (210) in a raster pattern. Raster rotation means (300, 310) permits rotation of the raster pattern about the centre of the screen (210). The raster rotation means (300, 310) includes first and second coils. The first coil (300) is located around the neck (350) at or near the deflection centre (X) to generate, in use, a first magnetic field in the path of the electron beam.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing interpolated image data from original image data represented in terms of pixels, each pixel defined in terms of value and position in an original image, includes an original image input receiving original image data from an original image source; a page memory operatively connected to the input for storing a page of original image received; a source of interpolation parameters indicating: a slow scan initial pixel value Xinit, a fast scan initial pixel value Yinit, a fast scan x offset value FSx, a fast scan y offset value FSy, a slow scan x offset value SSx, and a slow scan y offset value SSy; a bilinear sequencer calculating for each new pixel, from the received parameters a reference pixel within the image, and a pair of interpolation coefficients for interpolating new pixel values; a memory controller retrieving to an interpolation calculator from the page memory a set of original image pixels including the pixel at the reference position, and three other pixels whose po

Abstract: A video camera has a group of lenses forming an optical image from a photographed object, a lens mount for supporting the group of lenses, and an image pickup device installed on the optical axis, for converting the optical image into an electric signal. The video camera further includes an image pickup device rotator for rotating the image pickup device with respect to the lens mount along the optical axis so that the photographed object can be displayed on the image medium in a rotated state by a predetermined angle. Therefore, the operation for displaying the photographed object on the screen of an image medium in a rotated state, can be performed easily, precisely and versatilely without rotating the video camera itself.

Abstract: An endoscopic viewing system for maintaining a surgeon's normal sense of kinesthesia during endoscopic surgery regardless of the orientation of the endoscope vis-a-vis the surgeon.

Abstract: To rotate a multivalued source picture image consisting of picture data arranged in N rows.times.(m gradations*N) columns 90 degrees, calculating a maximum value of a transposition mode L according to an equation M=[log.sub.2 N], repeatedly selecting an A-th row by increasing a row number A in increments of 1 in the range k*2.sup.L .ltoreq.A.ltoreq.k*2.sup.L +2.sup.L-1 -1 in an inner loop and increasing a value k in increments of 1 in the range 0.ltoreq.k.ltoreq.N/2.sup.L -1 in a middle loop while increasing the transposition mode L in increments of 1 in the range of 1 to M in an outer loop, selecting a B-th row according to an equation B=A+2.sup.L-1 each time the A-th row is selected, transposing the picture data A(j) arranged at j-th columns of the A-th row to A'(j) and the picture data. A(j+m*2.sup.L-1) to B'(j) arranged at the B-th row in the range p*m*2.sup.L .ltoreq.j.ltoreq.p*m*2.sup.L +m*2.sup.L-1 -1 and 0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.N/2.sup.