Abstract: A superimposing circuit includes an N-bit transmission gate for transmitting N-bit RGB data in a pixel unit in response to a blanking signal; a signal synthesizer for generating R, G and B signals, by separating each component of R, G and B from the N-1 least significant bits of the N-bit RGB data output from the transmission gate; an RGB matrix for receiving the R, G and B signals and generating a luminance signal, first and second color difference signals; a luminance signal amplifier for amplifying the luminance signal; a pair of modulators for modulating the first and second color difference signals, respectively; a first mixer for synthesizing the modulated color difference signal and generating a carrier color signal; a second mixer for synthesizing the carrier color signal, the amplified luminance signal and a complex synchronizing signal and generating a complex image signal; an attenuator for attenuating an external image signal; an image signal selector for selectively outputting the attenuated exte

Abstract: A separate data stream allows encoding of an overlay image, which is to be superimposed on images of a video sequence. The pixels of the overlay image can be transparent or have a text color, a shadow color, or an intermediate color either between the text color and the shadow color, or between the shadow color and the color of the corresponding pixel in the underlying video image. The intermediate colors provide for antialiasing. In addition, a color selection circuit allows selection of the next color from a pool of 9 colors, using a 3-bit field.

Abstract: A video signal controller is used with a dual sync monitor of a digital computer. The video signal controller has a tuner to generate conventional television signals. The signals from the tuner and from the computer are supplied to a multiplexer which switches between them and supplies the output signal to a dual sync monitor. The controller has three modes of operation. In a first mode, conventional television signals are displayed on the dual sync monitor. In a second mode, conventional computer signals are displayed on the dual sync monitor. Finally, in a third mode, multi video signals may be displayed to achieve, for example, picture-in-picture for display on the monitor. Finally, a method of processing the television signals for picture-in-picture display which greatly reduces the overhead required by the CPU is also disclosed.

Abstract: A television receiver, includes a graphics generator for generating for display a stylized image of the environment in which the user's physical television receiver is situated. The image includes graphical representations of functions which are available for selection and control by a user, and at least one of which functions affect the display of the video image. In one embodiment of the invention, a video inset-image from a PIP unit is completely surrounded by a graphics image. The PIP image is aligned with the screen of a graphically displayed television receiver to portray an image of a television displaying an received television program. Alternatively, an animated graphics presentation is displayed in the screen area of the graphically-displayed television receiver to simulate live video.

Abstract: A character image encoding/decoding apparatus is provided with an encoder for encoding character data to a sub-picture with a bit-mapped shape of monochromic character data, separately from an encoding of a main picture, a detector for detecting bit changing positions in a two-dimensional manner from the bit-mapped shape of monochromic character data; an extractor for extracting a contour of the character data; and a developer for developing the character data, the contour and a background of the character data in three domains, respectively.

Abstract: A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays, on demand by the viewer and on the viewer's display screen, descriptive data and a video clip related to a program identified on the program guide. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal of any selected one of the channels to a signal combiner. A computer receives any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal of any selected channel in response to one of the control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also receives and stores an input picture image signal containing local program guide data and descriptive data and video clips related to selected ones of the programs identified in the program guide data.

Abstract: An SLM-based digital display system (10) having a graphics display subsystem (13 and 18) for closed captioning, on-screen displays, and other graphics images that are overlaid on the video image. The graphics display subsystem (13 and 18) has a graphics processor (21) that prepares the graphics data, which is inserted into the video data path after video data processing and prior to a look-up table unit (27). A select logic unit (24) provides a control signal to a multiplexer (26) that selects between video data and graphics data for input to the look-up table unit (27). The look-up table unit (27) performs its mapping according to the type of data received, such as by linearizing video data or palletizing graphics data.

Abstract: A video mixing apparatus for use in a video equipment capable of providing a mixed image luminance signal comprises a synchronization ("sync") separator for providing a horizontal sync, vertical sync and composite sync signals from an input image luminance signal; a character/pattern controller, in response to the horizontal and vertical sync signals, for generating a character luminance and a pattern luminance signals; a character mixer for mixing the composite sync signal with the character luminance signal to produce a mixed character signal; a pattern mixer for mixing the composite sync signal with the pattern luminance signal to produce a mixed pattern signal; and switching apparatus for mixing the mixed character signal and the mixed pattern signal with the image luminance signal to thereby provide the mixed image luminance signal.

Abstract: A digital video signal processing system receives encoded packets of data representing video image information in compressed form. A video decoder and an associated video RAM are used to decode and decompress the video packets to form groups of video image representative digital words. The video image groups are organized in a compressed component format (e.g., Y, U, V in the ratio 4:2:2) related to the video image compression format in which pairs of color related components correspond to more than one pixel. The video decoder also includes an on-screen display (OSD) unit which converts a graphics bit map stored in a section of the video RAM to groups of graphic image representative digital words. The graphic image groups are organized in an uncompressed component format (Y, U, V in the ratio 4:4:4).

Abstract: A video processor, having an input and an output, for compensating for accumulated phase and amplitude errors encountered during transmission of a video signal over a communications channel. The video processor includes a high-pass filter and amplifier, coupled to the input; a post-correction-phase-and-gain restorer; a wide-band-video-delay line coupled to the input; a pre-correction-gain restorer; and a combining network, coupled to the output. The high-pass filter has a bandwidth characteristic which is approximately inverse to a low-pass characteristic encountered by the video signal during its transmission over the communications channel. The high-pass filter takes the video signal and outputs a filtered-video signal. The amplifier associated with the high-pass filter inverts the filtered-video signal. The post-correction-phase-and-gain restorer adjusts the inverted-filtered-video signal to generate a restored-video signal.

Abstract: A video signal mixing apparatus for mixing a playback composite video signal produced by playing a recording medium and a graphics composite video signal generated on the basis of video data read from a memory device, wherein a vertical synchronizing signal of the playback composite video signal is forcedly generated in response to a vertical synchronizing signal of the graphics composite video signal to make the number of horizontal scanning lines of the playback composite video signal coincident with the number of horizontal scanning lines of the graphics composite video signal.

Abstract: A portable video animator device for creating a real-time animated video signal by combining a real-time video signal with animation data includes a video input device for inputting a real-time video signal, an image input device for inputting animation image data, a host processor for selecting animation image data representing an animated image from the input animation image data and a real-time processor for rendering the selected animation image data with the real-time video signal to produce a real-time video signal.

Abstract: A superimpose control device which enables a superimpose function even in a VTR mode, by using a phase convening circuit for synchronizing the phase of a sub-carrier signal with the color burst signal of an applied video signal.

Abstract: An image display apparatus for determining a vertical display position according to the count given by a vertical address counter causes a circuit for counting horizontal synchronizing signals to be started according to a vertical synchronizing signal on receiving vertical and horizontal synchronizing signals, and resets the vertical address counter at the timing at which its count of at least more than one horizontal synchronizing signal is reached.