Electronic memory state reallocation system for improving the resolution of color coding video systems

• US 5,051,929 A
• Filed: 10/19/1987
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interand Corporation
• Inventors: Jung, Wayne D., Tam, Raphael K., Tutt, Timothy T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herndon, Heather R.
• Application Number:
  US07/109,951
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 340/700-703, 340/731, 358/27, 358/43, 358/42, 358/11
• US Class Current: 345/593
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607

Abstract

The present invention provides means and methods for generating high resolution color computer generated graphic elements, such as lines, circles and curves, using a modified color-under coding system. A portion of the original luminance grey scale is reassigned or reallocated for substitution with data for high resolution graphic elements. High resolution graphic data are introduced by a user-operated input device via a control device such as a computer. The input luminance signal is digitally limited and stored in video random access memory (VRAM). A level detector detects the Y signal level to determine the presence of certain Y signal levels. Memory look-up tables provide appropriate user-determined substitute values for the Y, I and Q data values where certain, preselected Y signal levels are detected.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the memory for limiting the luminance data stored in the memory to values less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(b) memory writing means connected to the memory for selectively writing to the memory substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are greater than the predetermined threshold value; and

(c) lookup table means connected to the memory for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory for luminance data received from the memory that are less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than the predetermined threshold value.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the limiting means is a computer and computer program for reviewing the luminance data stored in the memory means, wherein the computer program limits the luminance data to values less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are greater than the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are stored in memory at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

5. A video graphic system for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein color video signals are coupled to a video input of the video graphic system, wherein the color video signals are suitable for digitization into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data can be displayed on a display device, the video graphic system comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the video input for limiting at least one of the color video signals coupled to the video input;

(b) digitization means connected to the limiting means for digitizing the color video signals output from the limiting means into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the luminance data obtained from digitization of the color video signals are limited to values less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(c) memory means connected to the digitization means for storing the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data;

(d) memory writing means connected to the memory means for selectively writing to the memory means substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are greater than the predetermined threshold value; and

(e) lookup table means connected to the memory means for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory means for luminance data received from the memory means that are less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and correspondign chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data received from the memory means that are greater than the predetermined threshold value.

6. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

7. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

8. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 5, 5 or 6 wherein the limiting means is a computer and computer program for reviewing the luminance data stored in the memory means, wherein the computer program limits the luminance data to values less than or equal to the predetemrined threshold value.

9. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are greater than the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

10. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the digitizing means digitizes the color video signals into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

11. A method for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, comprising the steps of:

(a) limiting the luminance data stored in the memory to values less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(b) selectively writing to the memory substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are greater than the predetermined threshold value; and

(c) generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data stored in the memory for luminance data that are less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data that are greater than the predetermined threshold value.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the step of digitizing color video signals into the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the color video signals are digitized into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

16. The method as claimed in claims 11, 12, 14 or 15 wherein the step of limiting the luminance data to values less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value is performed by a computer and computer program, wherein the computer program reviews the luminance data stored in the memory and limits the luminance data to values less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device are generated by one or more lookup tables.

18. An apparatus for inserting high resolution color graphic element sinto a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, and wherein the values of the luminance and corresponding chrominance data re binary values in a range of binary states, comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the memory for limiting the values of the luminance data stored in the memory to binary states that are within a predetermined subset of the total range of binary states;

(b) memory writing means connected to the memory for selectively writing to the memory substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data re not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states; and

(c) lookup table means connected to the memory for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory luminance data received from the memory that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color grpahic elements for luminance data received from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the limiting means is a computer and computer program for reviewing the luminance data stored in the memory means, wherein the computer program limits the luminance data to values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminace data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are stored in memory at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

22. A video graphic system for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein color video signals are coupled to a video input of the video graphic system, wherein the color video signals are suitable for digitization into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are binary values in a range of binary states, and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data can be displayed on a display device, the video graphic system comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the video input for limiting at least one of the color video signals coupled to the video input;

(b) digitization means connected to the limiting means for digitizing the color video signals output from the limiting means into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the luminance data obtained from digitization of the color video signals are limited to vinary states that are within a predetermined subset of the total range of binary states;

(c) memory means connected to the digitization means for storing the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data;

(d) memory writing means connected to the memory means for selectively writing to the memory means substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states; and

(e) lookup table means connected to the memory means for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory means for luminance data received from the memory means that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data received from the memory means that have values that are nto within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

23. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

24. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

25. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

26. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 22 wherein the digitizing means digitizes the color video signals into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

27. A method for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, and wherein the values of the luminance and corresponding chrominance data re binary values in a range of binary states, comprising the steps of:

(a) limiting the luminance data stored in the memory to values that are within a predetermined subset of the total range of binary states;

(b) selectively writing to the memory substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are not within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states; and

(c) generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data stored in the memory for luminance data that have values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states and wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data that have values that are not within the total range of binary states.

28. The method as claimed in claim 27 further comprising the step of digitizing color video signals into the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

30. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

31. The method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the color video signals are digitized into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

32. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the step of limiting the luminance data to values that are within a predetermined subset of the total range of binary states is performed by a computer and computer proram wherein the computer program reviews the luminance data stored in the memory and limits the luminance data to values that are within the predetermined subset of the total range of binary states.

33. The method as claimed in claim 27 wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device are generated by one or more lookup tables.

34. An apparatus for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the memory for limiting the luminance data stored in the memory to values greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(b) memory writing means connected to the memory means for selectively writing to the memory means substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are less than the predetermined threshold value; and

(c) lookup table means connected to the memory for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory means for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data received from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the limiting means is a computer and computer program for reviewing the luminance data stored in the memory means, wherein the computer program limits the luminance data to values greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

36. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that have values that are not within the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic element;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

37. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are stored in memory at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

38. A video graphic system for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein color video signals are coupled to a video input of the video graphic system, wherein the color video signals are suitable for digitization into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data can be displayed on a display device, the video graphic system comprising:

(a) limiting means connected to the video input for limiting at least one of the color video signals coupled to the video input;

(b) digitization means connected to the limiting means for digitizing the color video signals output from the limiting means into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the luminance data obtained from digitization of the color video signals are limited to values greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(c) memory means connected to the digitization means for storing the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data;

(d) memory writing means connected to the memory means for selectively writing to the memory means substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data are less than the predetermined threshold value; and

(e) lookup table means connected to the memory means for sequentially receiving from the memory the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data and for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory means for luminance data received from the memory means that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data received from the memory means that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

39. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

40. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

41. The video graphic system as claimed in claim 38 wherein the lookup table means comprises:

(a) a first lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data received from the memory; and

(b) a second lookup table means connected to the memory for generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data in response to receiving luminance data from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value, wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements;

wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the first lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the lookup table means are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data generated by the second lookup table means for luminance data received from the memory that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

42. The video graphic system as claimed in calim 38 wherein the digitizing means digitizes the color video signals into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

43. A method for inserting high resolution color graphic elements into a digitized color video image for display on a display device, wherein the color video image is stored in a memory as luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, comprising the steps of:

(a) limiting the luminance data stored in the memory to values greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value;

(b) selectively writing to the memory substitute luminance data for certain of the stored luminance data, wherein the values of the substitute luminance data re less than the predetermined threshold value; and

(c) generating luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device, wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data stored in the memory for luminance data that are greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value and wherein the generated luminance data and corresponding chrominance data are equal to luminance data and corresponding chrominance data representing high resolution color graphic elements for luminance data that are less than the predetermined threshold value.

44. The method as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of digitizing color video signals into the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data.

45. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the color video signals are YIQ color video signals.

46. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the color video signals are RGB color video signals.

47. The method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the color video signals are digitized into luminance data and corresponding chrominance data, wherein the chrominance data are at a lower resolution than are the luminance data.

48. The method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the step of limiting the luminance data to values greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value is performed by a computer and computer program wherein the computer program reviews the luminance data stored in the memory and limits the luminance data to values greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

49. The method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the luminance data and corresponding chrominance data for display on the display device are generated by one or more lookup tables.