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: In an output control device which controls an amplification factor of an amplifier in response to an input signal and a fade control signal to carry out a fade operation of an output signal, such as a fade-in or a fade-out operation, a level control signal is produced to widely control output levels of the output signal. A plurality of timing signals are produced from either the fade control signal or the level control signal and are selected in response to the level control signal and are selected in response to the level control signal to determine a combination of the timing signals. The amplification factor is controlled by the combination of the timing signals to change the output levels over a wide range by varying the combination of the timing signals from one to another.

Abstract: Digital signal processing apparatus in which compressed frequency components of a digital signal are processed to selectively achieve fade-in, fade-out and scene change effects and where the digital signal is scrambled (and subsequently descrambled) in whole or in by part scrambling (or descrambling) selected compressed frequency components of the digital signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing a video signal representing distribution of optically-perceptible information over a video raster includes a video combiner for receiving an input video signal and a delayed video signal and combining the input video signal and the delayed video signal to provide an output video signal. A memory receives and temporarily stores the output video signal and provides the delayed video signal, and read/write circuits access the memory so that pixels of the output video signal are spatially translated relative to the video raster when the output video signal is written into and read from the memory.

Abstract: A method and system for combining digital data signals representing digitized images to implement a DSK operation in one mixing stage. The system requires only one mixing circuit, rather than two as in conventional DSK systems. In preferred embodiments, the DSK operation processes an input video signal having pixels a.sub.k, an input video signal having pixels b.sub.k, a stream of single-color pixels B, and a fade control signal .beta., to generate a stream of output pixels u.sub.k =(1-.beta.)v.sub.k +.beta.B, where v.sub.k =(1-.alpha.)a.sub.k +(.alpha.)b.sub.k, and .alpha. is a key signal which can have a different value for each pixel a.sub.k. The value of .alpha. can be constant for an entire frame of input pixels a.sub.k or can have a different value for each individual pixel a.sub.k. Typically, the value of .beta. is constant for each frame of input pixels a.sub.k. Preferred embodiments of the system employ a single mixing circuit, which receives five input data streams: first pixels a.sub.

Abstract: In a method of and an arrangement for inserting a background signal into parts of a foreground signal fixed by a predetermined key color, in which a control signal is derived from the foreground signal, this control signal assuming a first value when the foreground signal represents a color in the region of the key color and a second value when the foreground signal represents a different color, and in which the control signal has a transition range between the two values, a difference, influenced by the control signal, between the vector of the background signal and the vector of a signal representing the key color is vectorially added to the foreground signal.

Abstract: A video mixing apparatus mixes a graphics video image and a playback video image at a plurality of mixture ratios in one image plane. Fade data indicative of the mixing ratio of at least one line of the playback video signal and the graphics video signal is sequentially generated in accordance with a predetermined order. The fade data is held into holding means and is outputted from the holding means synchronously with a horizontal sync signal. The levels of the playback video signal and the graphics video signal are individually adjusted in accordance with the fade data outputted from the holding means and the adjusted signals are added. The playback video signal and the graphics video signal are mixed at the mixing ratio set every line of one image plane.

Abstract: A switcher mixer architecture creates special effects such as a dissolve or a wipe from one priority structure of the elements of an image scene to a completely different prioritized ordering of those same or even other elements that comprise the same or a different image scene. The special effect can be thought of as a "priority transition" in the sense that the priority of a set of input image signals can be transitioned from that of a "from" image to that of a "to" image. The switcher mixer architecture eliminates a soft border artifact from the special effect by allowing a border to be given its own priority as though the border were a separate image input as well as to couple together (1) a source, or "from," image having one or more elements; (2) a destination, or "to," image having one or more elements, which could be the same or different than the "from" image elements; and (3) a border image for separating the source image and the destination image in an image display.

Abstract: In a special effects apparatus that processes an input video signal in accordance with a key signal representing an image pattern, a processing circuit processes the input video signal in accordance with the key signal and outputs a processed video signal which is stored in a video memory and fed back from the video memory to the processing circuit for further processing of the processed video signal in accordance with the key signal and the input video signal. A motion detection circuit detects motion of the image pattern represented by the key signal and a control circuit prevents the processed video signal from being stored in the video memory when the motion detector does not detect motion in the image pattern so that a desired soft-edged special effect can be maintained when there is no motion of the image pattern represented by the key signal.

Abstract: A video signal processing device displaying both image and process information includes multiplexing circuitry for multiplexing a second video signal with a first video signal. Control circuitry is provided for controlling a multiplexing ratio of the first and second video signals in the multiplexing circuitry. A display is provided for simultaneously displaying at least a part of a video image which corresponds to the first video signal, and also for displaying a state of the multiplexing operation being performed by the multiplexing circuitry under the control of the control circuitry. Preferably, only a peripheral portion of the image is faded in the view finder. Alternatively, a bar graph on the side of the image in the view finder indicates the degree of fading the image is subjected to.

Abstract: A display system controls vertical zoom and panning. A video display has a first format display ratio. A circuit, for example one generating a raster, maps on the video display an adjustable picture display area represented in a video signal having a vertical synchronizing component. The picture represented in the video signal has a second format display ratio. A vertical height control circuit, for example one controlling the vertical height of the raster by controlling the vertical deflection current, selectively enlarges the picture display area relative to the video display. A panning control circuit adjusts in phase a vertical blanking interval relative to the vertical synchronizing component to control which portion of the enlarged picture area is displayed and which portion is not displayed. The format display ratios can be the same or different, for example 16.times.9 for the video display and 4.times.3 for the picture, in the latter case.

Abstract: A method of pattern generation for a screen using a wipe solid generator and a recursive memory includes generating from operator inputs a wipe solid. An extent of the generated wipe solid is measured to produce maximum and minimum values. These maximum and minimum values are extended to encompass a desired border size and softness. A lever-arm scaling function is selected based upon whether a change in operator input causes a reversal in pattern and/or causes the pattern to "breathe." The selected lever-arm scaling function uses prior values from the recursive memory to generate new values that are stored in the recursive memory. From the stored values clip levels are determined such that completion of lever-arm movement to a limit position coincides with completion of the pattern without distortion of the size of the pattern.