Television receiver with picture in picture and non-linear processing

• US 5,202,765 A
• Filed: 05/06/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Lineberry, Roger L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/695,809
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 358/162, 358/164, 358/172, 358/173, 358/174, 358/176, 358/178, 358/30, 358/32, 358/33, 358/34, 358/181, 358/183, 358/22, 358/188, 358/160
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A video switch combines a first video signal with a compressed second video signal for application to a display unit to provide "picture-in-picture" images in which the first video is displayed in a main picture area of the display and the compressed second video signal is displayed as an inset picture within the main picture area. A non-linear processor, connected between an output of the video switch and an input of the display unit, enhances selected features of the combined video signal displayed by the display unit. Circuit means are provided for controlling the non-linear processor so that non-linear processing is applied to displayed images only in the main picture area and not in the inset picture area.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a signal source for providing first and second video signals to be displayed;

a picture-in-picture processor for compressing said second video signal vertically and horizontally;

a display processor having an input for receiving a video signal for display by a display device coupled to an output of said display processor;

a video multiplex switch for combining said first video signal with said compressed second video signal responsive to a timing signal provided by said picture-in-picture processor for forming a combined video signal for application to said input of said display processor such that displayed images are produced in a "picture-in-picture" format by said display device in which said first video signal is displayed in a main picture area of said display device and said compressed second video signal is displayed as an inset picture located within said main picture area of said display device;

a non-linear video processing unit for coupling said combined video signal provided by said multiplex switch to said input of said display processor for enhancing selected features of said combined video signal displayed by said display device; and

circuit means for enabling said non-linear video processing unit during portions of said combined video signal corresponding to said first video signal and for disabling said non-linear video processing unit during portions of said combined video signal corresponding to said compressed second video signal so that said non-linear processing is applied to displayed images only in said main picture area and not in said inset picture area of said displayed images.

2. A television receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-linear video processing unit is of a type having an inhibit input for disabling the non-linear processing provided by said non-linear processing unit and wherein said circuit means comprises:

a unilaterally conductive semiconductor device coupled between an output of said picture-in-picture processor providing said timing signal to said multiplex switch and said inhibit input of said non-linear video processing unit.

3. A television receiver as recited in claim 2 further comprising a low pass filter coupled in series with said unilaterally conductive semiconductor device between said output of said picture-in-picture processor and said inhibit input of said non-linear processing unit.

4. A television receiver as recited in claim 3 further comprising:

a buffer amplifier coupled in series with said low-pass filter and said unilaterally conductive semiconductor device between said output of said picture-in-picture processor and said inhibit input of said non-linear processing unit.

5. A television receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein

said receiver includes a baseband video output terminal;

said video multiplex switch includes a first output providing a chrominance component of said combined video signal and a second output providing a luminance component of said combined video output signal; and

further comprising;

signal combining means for combining said chrominance and luminance components of said combined video output signal form a composite video output signal having main and insert picture components neither of which are subjecting to non-linear processing by said non-linear video processing unit; and

means for coupling said composite video output signal provided by said signal combining means to said baseband video output terminal of said receiver.

6. A television receiver as recited in claim 1 wherein said non-linear video processing unit is of a type having an inhibit input for disabling the non-linear processing provided by said non-linear processing unit and wherein said circuit means comprises:

a circuit path coupled between an output of said picture-in-picture processor providing said timing signal to said multiplex switch and said inhibit input of said non-linear video processing unit.

7. A television receiver as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a low pass filter coupled in series in said circuit path between said output of said picture-in-picture processor and said inhibit input of said non-linear processing unit.

8. A television receiver as recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a buffer amplifier and a low pass filter coupled in series in said circuit path between said output of said picture-in-picture processor and said inhibit input of said non-linear processing unit.

9. A television system, comprising:

first means for providing first and second video signals to be displayed by a display device;

second means for compressing said second video signal;

third means responsive to a timing signal for combining said first video signal with said compressed version of said second video signal for forming a combined video signal such that displayed images are produced in a format in which said first video signal is displayed in a main picture area of said display device and said compressed version of said second video signal is displayed in an auxiliary area of said display device located with respect to said main picture area;

a video processing unit for processing said combined video signal in a predetermined manner; and

fourth means responsive to said timing signal for modifying the operation of said video processing unit during portions of said combined video signal corresponding to said compressed second video signal;

said fourth means enables said video processing unit to operate during portions of said combined video signal corresponding to said first video signal and disables said video processing unit during portions of said combined video signal corresponding to said compressed second video signal;

said receiver includes a baseband video output terminal;

said third means includes a first output providing a chrominance component of said combined video signal and a second output providing a luminance component of said combined video output signal and further comprising;

signal combining means for combining said chrominance and luminance components to form a combined composite video output signal having main and inset picture components, neither of which being subjected to processing by said video processing unit; and

means for coupling said composite video output signal provided by said signal combining means to said baseband video output terminal of said receiver.

10. A television receiver as recited in claim 9 wherein:

said video processing unit is of a type having an inhibit input for disabling the processing provided by said processing unit and wherein said fourth means comprises a circuit path for coupling said timing signal to said inhibit input of said video processing unit.

11. A television receiver as recited in claim 10 wherein:

said circuit path includes a unilaterally conductive semiconductor device.

12. A television receiver as recited in claim 10 wherein:

said circuit path comprises a series connection of a buffer amplifier, a low pass filter and a diode.

13. A picture-in-picture television system, comprising:

a first source providing a main picture video signal;

a second source providing a inset picture video signal;

a switch for inserting said inset picture video signal in said main picture video signal to provide a picture-in-picture video signal for display by a display device;

characterized by;

a non-linear video processor for coupling said picture-in-picture video signal to a display device, said non-linear processor having an ON/OFF control input terminal; and

circuit means, coupled to said ON/OFF input terminal of said non-linear processor, for turning said non-linear processor ON during display of said main picture video signal and for turning said non-linear processor OFF during display of said inset picture.

14. A picture-in-picture television system as recited in claim 13 further characterized by:

an output coupled to said switch at a point before said non-linear processor, for providing a picture-in-picture video output signal in which neither the main picture nor the inset picture video components thereof are subjected to said non-linear processing by said non-linear video processor.