Multi-color video display systems using more than one signal source
First Claim
1. Apparatus for selectively combining signals representative of two electrically independent image sources to provide a combined signal suitable for controlling a display, comprising:
- means responsive to the signals for generating separate sequential bit coded representations thereof,means responsive to the data values contained in at least one of the sequential representations for generating sequential digital control signals for dynamically controlling the logical combination of individual bit coded representations in the sequences; and
digital mixing means responsive to the control signals and to the bit coded representations for combining the representations in accordance with the function defined by the control signals.
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Abstract
An improved video display system is provided in which two color images are combinable in a dynamic and self-determining fashion to provide improved contrast, comprehension and display versatility. Two separate video signals that are to be used in generating a single display are converted into sequences of digitally encoded picture elements (pixels). Control signals are generated that are dependent upon the data content of the elements in at least one of the sequences, and these signals are used to govern the mode of combination of the two video signals for individual pixel sets. For example a first video signal of digital character and having varying pixel intensity may be transformed into color values for a first pseudocolor display. A second video signal, derived from an analog source, is digitized and is also transformed into pseudocolor, concurrent with the dynamic generation in real time of the data dependent control signals. Such control signals may be incorporated in either or both of the digitized data sequences, and the second video signal may be digitized with or without adjustment of intensity ranges within variable limits. The two transformed digital signal sequences are then arithmetically or logically combined in accordance with the functions defined by the data dependent control signals. For example, the signals may be added, ANDed, ORed, averaged, subtracted, or one or the other can be blocked, and these functions can be varied, dependent upon the data, in incremental fashion within the display. Consequently, the contrast between the two color images can be selectively enhanced, the data contained in the images can be much more clearly depicted in graphical form, and special effects can be obtained in versatile and discretionary fashion.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for selectively combining signals representative of two electrically independent image sources to provide a combined signal suitable for controlling a display, comprising:
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means responsive to the signals for generating separate sequential bit coded representations thereof, means responsive to the data values contained in at least one of the sequential representations for generating sequential digital control signals for dynamically controlling the logical combination of individual bit coded representations in the sequences; and digital mixing means responsive to the control signals and to the bit coded representations for combining the representations in accordance with the function defined by the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for combining raster scan images from first and second video sources represented by image source signals comprising:
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addressable memory means containing coded patterns representing predetermined relationships between intensities of different colors and control values at each addressable position; means responsive to the signal variations in each source signal for addressing the memory means in correspondence to the value of the source signal, to provide output signals containing color data for both source signals and control data for at least one source signal; and combining means responsive to the color data signals for each of the sources and responsive to the control data for logically combining said color data signals in accordance with predetermined logical functions corresponding to the control data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for providing a combined graphical display from raster scanned display signals that are of digital and analog origin comprising:
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first means responsive to the display signals of digital origin for generating a first pixel sequence in conformity thereto; second means responsive to the display signals of analog origin for generating a second pixel sequence in correspondence thereto; first look-up table means including converted image values and control data at selected word addresses, said first look-up table means being responsive to one of the pixel sequences to generate as output a dependent sequence of control data and converted image data; second table look-up means having at least a plurality of converted image values at different word addresses therein, said second table look-up means being responsive to the second of the pixel sequences for generating a dependent sequence of converted image data; and means responsive to the two converted image data sequences and the control data for generating an output image sequence that represents both the image data sequence combined in accordance with predetermined functions established by the control data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification