Television signal projection system and method of using same
First Claim
1. A high speed color display unit for interfacing one of a plurality of video signal producing devices with a high speed display, said devices generating different types of video signals including a television signal and a computer video signal, comprising:
- microprocessor means for selecting a desired one of said plurality of video signal producing devices to be interfaced with the high speed display;
signal conversion means responsive to the television signal for producing an analog signal indicative of a plurality of pixel images arranged in successive frames of full color video images;
analog to digital conversion multiplexing means responsive to said microprocessor means for converting selectively the signal from the desired one of the video signal producing devices into a plurality of pixel image digital signals indicative of the full color video images each one of said pixel image digital signals having N bits of digital information;
quantizing means responsive to said plurality of pixel image digital signals for quantizing said pixel image digital signals without introducing any substantial quantization errors, said digital signals being quantized into averaged pixel color shading level signals having M bits of digital information, where M is substantially smaller than N;
bit map memory means for storing the quantized pixel image digital signals temporarily;
means for generating pixel clock signals, said pixel clock signals having a predetermined high rate, where said high rate is a sufficient pixel clock rate for the high speed display device;
means responsive to the pixel clock signals for retrieving the quantized pixel image digital signals;
signal generator means responsive to said pixel clock signals for producing a series of color shading level averaging signals arranged in recurring groups of said color shading level averaging signals; and
means of comparing individual ones of the retrieved quantized pixel image digital signals and individual corresponding ones of said color shading level averaging signals to develop an output signal to cause the high speed display device to produce individual ones of said plurality of pixel images whenever the value of the quantized pixel image digital signal is at least equal to the value of said corresponding color shading level averaging signal, whereby the average intensity level for each pixel image over a large number of successive frames closely approximates a desired pixel image shading level without introducing any substantial contouring or flicker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple color display system employing a high speed display panel adapted for positioning on a conventional photographic projector for displaying large video images. The high speed display panel is coupled to an interface unit for converting conventional NTSC signals into analog signals for driving a controller employing a modulation or duty cycle circuit coupled between the high speed display panel and a memory which is drive by the interface unit. The controller also employs a scan modulator for formatting the NTSC signal so that it may be displayed on a 640 by 480 matrix array employed by the high speed display device. Such a system is modular and employs relatively inexpensive subassembly units such as a user selected television signal generating type device, such as a video cassette recorder, a conventional photographic projector and screen, a high speed color enhancing interface controller and a high speed display device, such as an active matrix display panel adapted for positioning on the stage of the projector.
46 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A high speed color display unit for interfacing one of a plurality of video signal producing devices with a high speed display, said devices generating different types of video signals including a television signal and a computer video signal, comprising:
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microprocessor means for selecting a desired one of said plurality of video signal producing devices to be interfaced with the high speed display; signal conversion means responsive to the television signal for producing an analog signal indicative of a plurality of pixel images arranged in successive frames of full color video images; analog to digital conversion multiplexing means responsive to said microprocessor means for converting selectively the signal from the desired one of the video signal producing devices into a plurality of pixel image digital signals indicative of the full color video images each one of said pixel image digital signals having N bits of digital information; quantizing means responsive to said plurality of pixel image digital signals for quantizing said pixel image digital signals without introducing any substantial quantization errors, said digital signals being quantized into averaged pixel color shading level signals having M bits of digital information, where M is substantially smaller than N; bit map memory means for storing the quantized pixel image digital signals temporarily; means for generating pixel clock signals, said pixel clock signals having a predetermined high rate, where said high rate is a sufficient pixel clock rate for the high speed display device; means responsive to the pixel clock signals for retrieving the quantized pixel image digital signals; signal generator means responsive to said pixel clock signals for producing a series of color shading level averaging signals arranged in recurring groups of said color shading level averaging signals; and means of comparing individual ones of the retrieved quantized pixel image digital signals and individual corresponding ones of said color shading level averaging signals to develop an output signal to cause the high speed display device to produce individual ones of said plurality of pixel images whenever the value of the quantized pixel image digital signal is at least equal to the value of said corresponding color shading level averaging signal, whereby the average intensity level for each pixel image over a large number of successive frames closely approximates a desired pixel image shading level without introducing any substantial contouring or flicker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A color display system for use with a computer device, and a plurality of television formatted signal producing devices, comprising:
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display means for displaying a color image; multiple video signal receiving means for receiving a plurality of television formatted video signals produced by the plurality of television formatted signal producing devices; controller means responsive to said multiple-video signal receiving means or the computer device for selecting a desired one of the plurality of television formatted signal producing devices or the computer device to be coupled to said display means; said controller means including multiplexor means for selectively coupling the selected device to said display means; said controller means including means responsive to the selected device for generating a plurality of video clock signals having a predetermined low rate and a plurality of pixel shading level signals, each pixel shading level signal having N bits of digital information; said controller means further including signal generator means responsive to individual ones of the video clock signals having a predetermined low rate for producing a series of pixel color averaging signals arranged in recurring groups, and means for comparing individual ones of said pixel color averaging signals with corresponding ones of said pixel shading level signals to generate contouring eliminating signals whenever individual ones of said pixel shading level signals are at least equal to corresponding ones of said pixel color averaging signals to substantially eliminate contouring in a displayed video image having a plurality of different shading levels of the same primary color; each one of said contouring eliminating signals having M bits of digital information, where M is substantially less than N; bit map memory means for storing said contouring eliminating signals temporarily; means for generating pixel clock signals, said pixel clock signals having a predetermined high rate, where said high rate is substantially greater than said low rate; means responsive to said pixel clock signal for generating a series of modulating signals arranged in recurring groups; and scaling means for comparing individual ones of said stored contouring eliminating signals with corresponding individual ones of said modulating signals for generating modulated contouring eliminating signals for substantially eliminating extraneous beat patterns and flicker in said color image. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification