IMAGE MIXING APPARATUS AND PIXEL MIXER
First Claim
1. An image mixing apparatus operable to mix on a display screen a plurality of images each of which has a different width of pixels relative to the display screen, said image mixing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of pixel output units operable to output pixel data items each of which includes color information and a depth value of the corresponding image at output rates which are set respectively for said pixel output units; and
a pixel mixer operable to receive the pixel data items as output from said plurality of pixel output units, and output the color information of the pixel data item whose the depth value indicates, among the depth values of the pixel data items, that the pixel corresponding thereto is located in a foreground position among the pixels corresponding to the pixel data items,wherein the depth value is a value indicative of the depth position of the pixel of the corresponding image,wherein the color information is information indicative of a color of the pixel forming the corresponding image, andwherein the output rates of at least two of said pixel output units are set to different values.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image mixing apparatus and a pixel mixer capable of mixing image data items having different pixel resolutions, and mixing image data items in an arbitrary display priority, irrespective of the order of mixing, even if the order of mixing is determined in advance is provided. Of two pixel data items having depth values “Zc” and “Zb”, one pixel data item having the depth value indicating that the pixel is located in a foreground position is selected by a pixel selection determination circuit 110. However, if a pixel data item has a hue indicating that the pixel is transparent, such a pixel data item is not selected but another pixel data item is selected instead. Multiplexers 112 to 116 output a pixel data item (hue “Hm”/color saturation “Sm”/brightness “Lm”) which is selected by the pixel selection determination circuit 110. Since pixel data items are input to the multiplexer 112 to 116 at different output rates, it is possible to mix images having different pixel resolutions.
73 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. An image mixing apparatus operable to mix on a display screen a plurality of images each of which has a different width of pixels relative to the display screen, said image mixing apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of pixel output units operable to output pixel data items each of which includes color information and a depth value of the corresponding image at output rates which are set respectively for said pixel output units; and a pixel mixer operable to receive the pixel data items as output from said plurality of pixel output units, and output the color information of the pixel data item whose the depth value indicates, among the depth values of the pixel data items, that the pixel corresponding thereto is located in a foreground position among the pixels corresponding to the pixel data items, wherein the depth value is a value indicative of the depth position of the pixel of the corresponding image, wherein the color information is information indicative of a color of the pixel forming the corresponding image, and wherein the output rates of at least two of said pixel output units are set to different values. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19)
-
-
2. An image mixing apparatus operable to mix on a display screen a plurality of images each of which has a different width of pixels relative to the display screen, said image mixing apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of pixel output units operable to output pixel data items each of which includes color information and a depth value of the corresponding image at output rates which are set respectively for said pixel output units; and a pixel mixer operable to receive the pixel data items as output from said plurality of pixel output units, and output the color information of the pixel data item whose the depth value indicates, among the depth values of the pixel data items, that the pixel corresponding thereto is located in a foreground position among the pixels corresponding to the pixel data items, wherein the depth value is a value indicative of the depth position of the pixel of the corresponding image, wherein the color information is information indicative of a color of the pixel forming the corresponding image, and wherein at least one of said pixel output units is provided with a storage unit which is used to set the output rate and can be rewritten by an external device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20)
-
-
21. A pixel mixer operable to mix a plurality of images each of which consists of a plurality of pixels, at least two of the plurality of images having different pixel resolutions, each of the pixels being represented by a pixel value and a depth value, said pixel mixer comprising:
-
a pixel selection determination unit operable to successively and concurrently receive the depth values of the pixels of the plurality of images, at the rate of receiving pixels corresponding to the pixel resolution of each image whereby the rates of receiving depth values of at least two images are different, compare the depth values of the pixels, that are currently and simultaneously received, for determining which of the currently received pixels is located in the most foreground position every time at least one depth value changes, and output a select signal indicative of the currently received pixel as determined to be located in the most foreground position; and a selector unit connected to said pixel selection determination unit, operable to successively and concurrently receive the pixel values of the pixels of the plurality of images together with the select signal in synchronization with the reception of the depth values by said pixel selection determination unit, select one of the pixel values, that are currently and simultaneously received, on the basis of the select signal, and output the pixel value as selected.
-
Specification