Overlay of plural images

• US 20010035870A1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation and King JIM Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakamura, Kazuyoshi, Takeuchi, Kesatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/630
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/745 Control circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

The overlay image processing device comprises: an image selector for selecting from among an m number of image signals one reference image signal and (n−1) number of superimposing image signals, where m is an integer greater than 2; a resolution converter for converting resolutions of the n number of selected image signals including the reference image signal and the (n−1) number of superimposing image signals into respective desired resolutions; and an image synthesizer for superimposing the (n−1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference signal.

Claims

1. An overlay image processing device for generating an overlay image signal composed of an n number of superimposed image signals, n being an integer greater than 1, the overlay image processing device comprising:

an image selector configured to select from among an m number of image signals one reference image signal and (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals, m being an integer greater than 2;

a resolution converter configured to convert resolutions of the n number of selected image signals including the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals into respective desired resolutions; and

an image synthesizer configured to superimpose the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference signal.

2. An overlay image processing device according to

claim 1

wherein at least one of the m number of image signals is a display signal output from a personal computer.

3. An overlay image processing device according to

claim 1

wherein the image selector selects the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals according to an arbitrary predetermined order of superposition for the n number of image signals; and

the image synthesizer superimposes the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference image signal according to the order of superposition.

4. An overlay image processing device according to

claim 1

further comprising a scan converter that, in the event that at least one of the n number of image signals selected by the image selector is an interlaced image signal, coverts the at least one interlaced image signal into a noninterlaced image signal.

5. An overlay image processing device according to

claim 1

wherein the image synthesizer has the n number of 2-input image synthesizers, each 2-input image synthesizer being configured to receives upper-side and lower-side image signals and superimpose the upper-side image signal on the lower-side image signal;

the n number of 2-input image synthesizers being connected in series in multistage fashion such that the 2-input image synthesizer of a first stage uses the reference image signal as the lower-side image signal and a first superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal, while the 2-input image synthesizer of i^th stage, where i is between 2 and n, inclusive, uses an output of the 2-input image synthesizer of (i−

1)^th stage as the lower-side image signal and i^th superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal.

6. An overlay image display device for displaying an overlay image composed of an n number of superimposed images, n being an integer greater than 1, the overlay image display device comprising:

an overlay image processing device for generating an overlay image signal composed of the n number of superimposed image signals; and

an image display device for displaying an image represented by the overlay image signal;

the overlay image processing device includes;

an image selector configured to select from among an m number of image signals one reference image signal and (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals, m being an integer greater than 2;

a resolution converter configured to convert resolutions of the n number of selected image signals including the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals into respective desired resolutions; and

an image synthesizer configured to superimpose the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference signal.

7. An overlay image display device according to

claim 6

wherein at least one of the m number of image signals is a display signal output from a personal computer.

8. An overlay image display device according to

claim 6

wherein the image selector selects the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals according to an arbitrary predetermined order of superposition for the n number of image signals; and

the image synthesizer superimposes the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference image signal according to the order of superposition.

9. An overlay image display device according to

claim 6

further comprising a scan converter that, in the event that at least one of the n number of image signals selected by the image selector is an interlaced image signal, coverts the at least one interlaced image signal into a noninterlaced image signal.

10. An overlay image display device according to

claim 6

wherein the image synthesizer has the n number of 2-input image synthesizers, each 2-input image synthesizer being configured to receives upper-side and lower-side image signals and superimpose the upper-side image signal on the lower-side image signal;

the n number of 2-input image synthesizers being connected in series in multistage fashion such that the 2-input image synthesizer of a first stage uses the reference image signal as the lower-side image signal and a first superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal, while the 2-input image synthesizer of i^th stage, where i is between 2 and n, inclusive, uses an output of the 2-input image synthesizer of (i−

1)^th stage as the lower-side image signal and i^th superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal.

11. A method of generating an overlay image signal composed of an n number of superimposed image signals, n being an integer greater than 1, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting from among an m number of image signals one reference image signal and (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals, m being an integer greater than 2;

(b) converting resolutions of the n number of selected image signals including the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals into respective desired resolutions; and

(c) superimposing the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference signal.

12. A method according to

claim 11

wherein at least one of the m number of image signals is a display signal output from a personal computer.

13. A method according to

claim 11

wherein the step (a) includes the step of selecting the reference image signal and the (n−

1) number of superimposing image signals according to an arbitrary predetermined order of superposition for the n number of image signals; and

the step (c) includes the step of superimposing the (n−

1) number of converted superimposing image signals on the converted reference image signal according to the order of superposition.

14. A method according to

claim 11

further comprising a step of, in the event that at least one of the n number of image signals selected by the image selector is an interlaced image signal, converting the at least one interlaced image signal into a non-interlaced image signal.

15. A method according to

claim 11

wherein the step (c) includes the n number of 2-input image synthesizing steps, each 2-input image synthesizing step including receiving upper-side and lower-side image signals and superimposing the upper-side image signal on the lower-side image signal;

the n number of 2-input image synthesizing steps being performed in series in multistage fashion such that the 2-input image synthesizing step of a first stage uses the reference image signal as the lower-side image signal and a first superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal, while the 2-input image synthesizing step of i^th stage, where i is between 2 and n, inclusive, uses an output of the 2-input image synthesizing step of (i−

1)^th stage as the lower-side image signal and i^th superimposing image signal as the upper-side image signal.