Tricolor video signal generator, such as a video game, usable _with a monochrome picture display device

• US 4,481,529 A
• Filed: 05/27/1982
• Issued: 11/06/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kerling, Jean-Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoll, MaryAnn
• Application Number:
  US06/382,736
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 273/DIG. 28, 358/27, 358/30, 358/37, 358/22, 358/147, 358/166, 340/701-704, 340/715, 340/793
• US Class Current: 348/659
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/028 Circuits for converting colour display signals into monochrome display signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/67 for matrixing camera processing pipelines for matrixing of colour signals H04N23/85

Abstract

A tri-color video signal generator, for use with either a color or black and white standard television receiver, includes a circuit for producing the color signals R, V, B and a matrix circuit for producing a luminance signal Y from the color signals. The generator further includes circuitry for modifying the respective proportions of the R, V, B color signals in the luminance signal Y whereby in a black and white receiving mode, the grey scale of the luminance signal Y is modified making it possible to accentuate the contrast between the picture elements whose original colors would have been converted into luminance levels which are very near one another.

Claims

1. A tri-color video signal generator having a signal output for connecting said generator to the antenna input of a color or a black and white standard television receiver, said generator comprising inter alia a circuit producing red (R), green (V) and blue (B) color signals, and a resistive matrix network having branches to which said color signals are applied, respectively, for deriving a luminance signal from said color signals, characterized in that each of the branches of said resistive matrix network which receive the signals R, V, B, comprises a variable resistor, a fixed resistor arranged in parallel with said variable resistor, switching means for selectively coupling said fixed or said variable resistor to said luminance output, and a manual control, coupled to at least said switching means, for modifying the respective ratios between the color signals R, V, B in the luminance signal, said manual control having a first and a second setting wherein, in said first setting, the R, V, B-ratio for generating the luminance signal corresponds to that required for said color television receiver, while, in said second setting, the RVB-ratio results in a luminance signal having a grey-scale suitable for said black and white television receiver.

2. A video signal generator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sliding contacts of at least two of the variable resistors are coupled mechanically.

3. A tri-color video signal generator having a signal output for connecting said generator to the antenna input of a color or a black and white standard television receiver, said generator comprising inter alia a circuit producing red (R), green (V) and blue (B) color signals, and a resistive matrix network having branches to which said color signals are applied, respectively, for deriving a luminance signal from said color signals, characterized in that said generator further comprises a first voltage divider arranged between two of the branches of said resistive matrix network, a second voltage divider arranged between a further one of said branches and one of said two branches, a junction point of each of said voltage dividers being connected to the luminance output of said resistive matrix network, and a manual control for said resistive matrix network for modifying the respective ratios between the color signal R, V, B in the luminance signal Y, said manual control having a first and a second setting wherein, in said first setting, the R, V, B-ratio for generating the luminance signal corresponds to that required for said color television receiver, while, in said second setting, the R, V, B-ratio results in a luminance signal having a grey-scale suitable for said black and white television receiver.

4. A video signal generator as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the voltage dividers are in the form of potentiometers whose sliding contacts are coupled mechanically.

5. A tri-color video signal generator having a signal output for connecting said generator to the antenna input of a color or a black and white standard television receiver, said generator comprising inter alia a circuit producing red (R), green (V) and blue (B) color signals, and a resistive matrix network having branches to which said color signals are applied, respectively, for deriving a luminance signal from said color signals, characterized in that said generator further comprises a voltage divider arranged between two of the branches of said resistive matrix network, a double throw switch for selectively connecting a junction point of said voltage divider and one of said two branches to the luminance output, and a manual control coupled at least to said switch for modifying the respective ratios between color signals R, V, B in the luminance signal, said manual control having a first and a second setting wherein, in said first setting, the R, V, B-ratio for generating the luminance signal corresponds to that required for said color television receiver while, in said second setting, the R, V, B-ratio results in a luminance signal having a grey-scale suitable for said black and white television receiver.