Simultaneously acquiring video images and analog signals
First Claim
1. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
- means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame,means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input,means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, andmeans for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system provides for simultaneous collection, storage and analysis of an analog signal and video signal. Multiplexes of up to 240 low bandwidth analog channels with a camera video signal is effective. The output is a standard composite video signal containing analog and video data. The combined signals can be stored on videotape, or can be digitized by a framegrabber. The circuitry separates horizontal synchronizing pulses from a camera output. The signal is then multiplexed with the video signal, such that a portion of each video horizontal line represents the analog data. The combined output is stored together, providing a means for synchronizing the two signals during analysis. The design allows easy coordination of animate and inanimate events with video images from a standard video camera. The system also provides for interleaving digitized physiological signals and video images of subjects onto digital media in a standard file format. The system can provide for multimedia communications such as teleconferencing, surveillance systems using video and analog signals and also single cell physical and visible behavior according to changing conditions.
227 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
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means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 38, 41, 44, 47)
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17. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
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means for receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitizing the video signal, means for digitizing the analog signal, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for subsequently effecting mixing of the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved file format. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 39, 42, 45, 48)
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21. A method for processing multiple signals comprising:
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receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and outputting the mixed analog and video signals. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 40, 43, 46, 49)
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28. A method for processing multiple signals comprising:
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receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being communications data, digitizing the video signal, digitizing the analog signal, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal, and receiving the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved format. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
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means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving multiple analog signals, respectively selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented by a predetermined first number of horizontal lines, and the analog signals being represented by a second predetermined number of signals, said second predetermined number being less than the first predetermined number, the lesser number being representative of a multiple sampling of each analog signal within each video frame, means for mixing the analog signals with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
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means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, and being selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being respectively selective representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of analog signal within a single video image frame, the buffering means including means for repeating a sampling of the analog signal more than once within a single video frame, and the double buffering enhancing temporal recovery of the analog signal and amplitude resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced temporal recovery being such that double buffering includes means for a multiple sampling of analog signal and reading out from a first buffer and means for reading analog signal into a second buffer such that the analog signal are offset in time by at least one video frame; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
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35. A system for processing multiple signals comprising:
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means for receiving an analog video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digital buffering the analog signal, the means for digital buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and the buffering enhancing recovery of the signal resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced recovery including means for permitting mixing of the analog signal with the video frame at a rate faster than the analog signal; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal whereby the analog signal is contained on at least some of the horizontal lines of the video frame as intensity encoded values of at least some of the video pixels, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification