System for implementing the synchronized superimposition of subliminal signals

• US 5,128,765 A
• Filed: 11/29/1988
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA), Visual Subliminal Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Visual Subliminal Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Dingwall, Robert T., Bellin, Howard T.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald
• Application Number:
  US07/277,293
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 358/181, 358/92, 358/142, 358/183, 358/143, 358/341, 358/182, 380/23, 381/73.1, 381/105, 381/125, 434/307, 434/319
• US Class Current: 348/729
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching

Abstract

An apparatus and system for the controlled delivery of a subliminal video and/or audio message on to a source signal from a video tape player or similar. The source signal is divided into audio and video portions. A video processor reads sychronization information from the source signal. A controller transmits a stored subliminal image at designated times to a mixer amplifier fully synchronized with the source signal. Concurrently, an audio subliminal message is applied to the source audio at a volume level regulated at some fraction to the source audio. The combined signals are transmitted to a monitor for undistracted viewing.

Claims

1. An apparatus for superimposing a subliminal video message on a continuous source video signal comprising:

a. means for receiving a source video signal having horizontal and vertical synchronization information;

b. means for detecting said horizontal and vertical synchronization information from said source video signal;

c. means for generating said subliminal video message; and

d. means responsive to said horizontal and vertical synchronization information comprising a video carrier oscillator means and a video shift register means and adapted to superimpose said generated subliminal video message onto said source video signal wherein said subliminal video message is synchronized with said source video signal.