Image mixing method, and mixed image data generation device

• US 20050110803A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sugimura, Akihiro
• Application Number:
  US10/952,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20050110803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/503 Blending, e.g. for anti-aliasing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0285 using tables for spatial correction of display data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• 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 5/397 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring the contents of two or more bit-mapped memories to the screen simultaneously, e.g. for mixing or overlay G09G5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing

Abstract

To mix first and second digital image data at a ratio defined by pixel-unit mixing-ratio information, mixing-ratio information is embedded, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data, as information of more than one bit in the pixel data. The mixing-ratio information is extracted from the first digital image data. The first and second digital image data are mixed at the ratio defined by the extracted mixing-ratio information. Thus, images can be mixed together with the α blending technique without having to use any special memory such as the α memory.

Claims

1. An image mixing method of mixing first digital image data and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information, the method comprising the steps of:

embedding, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data, the mixing-ratio information as information of more than one bit in the pixel data;

separating the mixing-ratio information from the first digital image data; and

mixing the first and second digital image data at a ratio defined by the separated mixing-ratio information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first digital image data are three primary-color data; and

in the step of embedding the mixing-ratio information, the mixing-ratio information is equally allocated to each of the three primary-color data.

3. A method of mixing first and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information read from a mixing-ratio table memory having a plurality of mixing-ratio information stored therein, the method comprising the steps of:

embedding, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data, mixing-ratio selection data for selectively reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory as information of more than one bit in the pixel data;

separating the mixing-ratio selection data from the first digital image data;

reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory on the basis of the separated mixing-ratio information and in units of a pixel; and

mixing the first and second digital image data at the ratio defined by the read mixing-ratio information.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the first digital image data are three primary-color data; and

in the step of embedding the mixing-ratio information, the mixing-ratio information is equally allocated to each of the three primary-color data.

5. A mixed image data generation device for mixing first digital image data and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information to generate a display image data, the device comprising:

a separating means for separating the mixing-ratio information embedded, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data, as information of more than one bit in the pixel data; and

a mixing means for mixing the first and second digital image data at a ratio defined by the mixing-ratio information separated by the separating means.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein:

the first digital image data are three primary-color data; and

in the step of embedding the mixing-ratio information, the mixing-ratio information is equally allocated to each of the three primary-color data.

7. A mixed image data generation device for mixing first and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information to generate display image data, the device comprising:

a mixing-ratio table memory having a plurality of the mixing-ratio information stored therein;

a separating means for separating mixing-ratio selection data for selectively reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory, embedded as information of more than one bit in the pixel data, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data;

a means for reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory on the basis of the mixing-ratio information separated by the separating means and in units of a pixel; and

a mixing means for mixing the first and second digital image data at the ratio defined by the read mixing-ratio information.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the first digital image data are three primary-color data; and

in the step of embedding the mixing-ratio information, the mixing-ratio information is equally allocated to each of the three primary-color data.

9. A mixed image data generation device for mixing first digital image data and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information to generate a display image data, the device comprising:

a separator for separating the mixing-ratio information embedded, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data, as information of more than one bit in the pixel data; and

a mixer for mixing the first and second digital image data at a ratio defined by the mixing-ratio information separated by the separator.

10. A mixed image data generation device for mixing first and second digital image data at a ratio defined in units of a pixel by mixing-ratio information to generate display image data, the device comprising:

a mixing-ratio table memory having a plurality of the mixing-ratio information stored therein;

a separator for separating mixing-ratio selection data for selectively reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory, embedded as information of more than one bit in the pixel data, in each of pixel data formed from a plurality of bits in the first digital image data;

a unit for reading the mixing-ratio information from the mixing-ratio table memory on the basis of the mixing-ratio information separated by the separator and in units of a pixel; and

a mixer for mixing the first and second digital image data at the ratio defined by the read mixing-ratio information.