Image drawing apparatus for displaying input image on display means

• US 5,311,207 A
• Filed: 02/03/1993
• Issued: 05/10/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kusumoto, Hiroki, Yasuhara, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US08/013,238
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 358/22, 358/183, 358/104, 178/18, 352/52, 395/153, 395/154, 340/706, 340/708, 340/711, 340/712, 340/703, 340/724, 340/725, 340/792, 345/123, 345/125, 345/150, 345/153, 345/186
• US Class Current: 345/601
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/06 using colour palettes, e.g. look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an image drawing apparatus suitable for use in, for example, a video titler for superimposing desired characters, figures or the like on an image reproduced from a video signal. This image drawing apparatus is comprised of a memory for storing a plurality of predetermined color data, processor for outputting colors corresponding to the color data at display positions on a display screen, coordinate data input device for inputting coordinates on the display screen, and a control circuit for sequentially moving an array of the plurality of color data, wherein colors corresponding to the plurality of color data are respectively superimposed on a shape designated by coordinates inputted by the coordinate data input device, thereby making it possible to draw moving characters, figures or the like producing high visual effects in a simple structure without making complicated designation.

Claims

1. An image drawing apparatus for sue with a video titler, comprising:

memory means for storing a plurality of predetermined color data;

processing means for outputting colors corresponding to said color data upon command at predetermined display positions on a display screen of a display which is operatively connectable with said video titler, said processing means including means for mixing said color data with video signals to produce a composite video signal for display at said display screen;

coordinate data input means including a pressure sensitive tablet and a pen for drawing images on a pressure sensitive surface of the tablet, for inputting coordinate data which designate coordinates at which color is to be displayed on said display screen; and

control means responsive to a manually generated vortex mode signal for sequentially moving an array of said plurality of predetermined color data from said memory means, for inducing the plurality of color data to be recursively moved and superimposed upon a shape designated by the coordinate data inputted by said coordinates data input means, and for causing the shape to have a number of colored stripes which recursively change color in a streaming manner.

2. An image drawing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising key manipulating means.

3. An image drawing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coordinate data input means includes a color selecting area, a command selecting area and an image drawing area.

4. An image drawing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said coordinate data input means include a pressure-sensitive type position detecting apparatus.

5. An image drawing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means includes a video processor with a multi-frame capacity for receiving input coordinate data and color data from said memory means.

6. An image drawing apparatus comprising:

a pressure sensitive tablet having a coordinate input surface which is pressure sensitive to a stylus for drawing images and producing coordinate input data;

first memory means for storing a variety of color data;

control means cooperating with said first memory means for coordinating said coordinate input data with said color data;

video processing means having a video memory for reading said first memory means as commanded by said control means for writing color image data into corresponding addresses o the video memory;

video encoder means for converting the supplied image data from said video memory to a video signal for display at a display means which is connectable with said image drawing apparatus and

manually operable vortex circuit means or selectively inducing said video processing means to operate in a vortex mode and recursively move said color image dta written into the addresses of said video memory means in set units so that an image, as determined by said coordinate input data which is displayed on the display means, recursively changes color in a streaming manner.

7. A video titler comprising:

video processor means, operatively connected through a peripheral interface with manually operable data input means including a pressure sensitive tablet having a coordinate input surface which is pressure sensitive to a stylus for drawing images, for processing still images;

first, second, and third address selectors operatively connected with said video processor means by way of bus means for respectively receiving red, green and blue related signals from the video processor means

first, second, and third palette registers operatively connected with said first, second, and third address selectors by said bus means for holding a plurality of data relating to red, green and blue signal components, respectively, said first, second, and third palette registers being so constructed and arranged that the plurality of data can be recursively written thereinto;

manually operable vortex circuit means for selectively inducing the plurality of data in said first, second and third palette registers, to recursively move in one set in set units so that an image drawn on said pressure sensitive surface by said stylus, is striped with different color stripes which recursively changes color in a streaming manner when displayed;

encoder means operatively connected by said bus means with said first, second and third palette registers by way of first second and third bidirectional data selectors; and

mixing circuit means having a first input adapted for connection with a source of video signals and with a display, said mixing circuit means receiving a signal from said encoder means.

8. A video titler as set forth in claim 7, wherein said mixing circuit means comprises first and second mixing circuits,

said first mixing circuit having a first input adapted for connection to a source of composite video signals and a first output adapted for connection with a display, said mixing circuit receiving a composite video signal (V) from said encoder means,

said second mixing circuit having a second input adapted for connection with a source of separated video signal (Y/C) and a second output for connection with a display, said second mixing circuit receiving a separated video signal (Y/C) from said encoder means.

9. A video titler as set forth in claim 8, further comprising switch means for selectively rendering one of said first and second input terminals effective.

10. A video titler as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a timing circuit which is operatively connected with said first, second and third address selectors and the first, second and third data selectors and which is responsive to said video processor.

11. A video titler ass et forth in claim 10, further comprising:

a CPU operatively connected with said bus means and said timing circuit, said bus means further being operatively connected with said first, second, and third address selectors, the first, second, and third bidirectional data selectors and the peripheral interface; and

memory means operatively connected with bus means for storing programs and a variety of color data including color tables.