Image synthesizer

• US 4,992,781 A
• Filed: 07/14/1988
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takakura, Masaki, Iwasaki, Keisuke, Yamane, Yasukuni, Kako, Noritoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao Min
• Application Number:
  US07/219,287
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 340/747, 340/750, 340/799, 340/728, 340/723, 340/721, 358/183, 358/182, 358/22
• US Class Current: 345/640
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

An image synthesizer of an image editing apparatus not only stores image data of two or more source images and includes a display device for displaying an image according to received image data, but also is provided with an address generator which, controlled by a data processor, transmits address signals sequentially to have a synthesized image of these source images displayed such that the individual source images appear superposed and transparent to each other. Each pixel of the display device displays only one of the source images and area densities of pixels displaying each of the source images very over the two-dimensional screen of the display device. When one of the source images is superposed on top of another, a pattern is stored in a pattern memory such that pixels displaying one of the images are scattered into the area of the other image according to the pattern such that the boundary between source images can be made controllably less conspicuous.

Claims

1. An image synthesizer comprising

memory means storing image data of a plurality of source image,

display means with pixels for displaying an image according to received image data,

a pattern memory for storing, when two or more source images are synthesized for a composite image display with boundary areas therebetween, a pattern according to which those of said pixels displaying one of said synthesized source images are scattered at a varying rate inside another of said synthesized source images within said boundary areas, said boundary areas containing a boundary line and said pattern being such that the density of said scattered pixels varying gradually from said boundary line in said boundary areas, and

data processing means for effecting said composite image display on said display means according to said pattern such that parts of said one of said synthesized source images are scattered within said another synthesized source image within said boundary areas, thereby causing said boundary areas to become controllably less conspicuous.