Apparatus and method of converting image data to video signals

• US 6,943,834 B1
• Filed: 02/03/1999
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirai, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Application Number:
  US09/243,714
• Time in Patent Office: 2,414 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.1, 348/231.5, 348/222.1, 348/222.01, 348/231.9, 348/294, 348/311, 348/231.6, 375/240.13, 375/240.26, 375/240.24
• US Class Current: 348/231.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00267 with a viewing or projecting apparatus, e.g. for reading image information from a film H04N1/00262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00291 with receiver circuitry television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00453 arranged in a two dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

A method and system are provided which involve a first memory used for storing first image data, an image processing unit adapted to change the first image data read from the first memory to second image data, and a second memory used for storing the second image data. The method or system selects the first image data stored in the first memory or the second image data stored in the second memory and converts the selected first or second image data to a video signal. The second image data is selected after the second image data is stored in the second memory, and selection between the first and second image data is changed during a vertical blanking period.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a first memory used for storing first image data;

an image processing unit adapted to change the first image data read from said first memory to second image data;

a second memory used for storing the second image data;

a switch adapted to select the first image data stored in said first memory or the second image data stored in said second memory; and

a video signal output unit adapted to convert the first or second image data selected by said switch to a video signal and output the video signal,

wherein said switch selects the second image data after the second image data is stored in said second memory, and said switch changes selection between the first and second image data during a vertical blanking period.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing unit performs reduction of the first image data to change the first image data to the second image data.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing unit performs rotation of the first image data to change the first image data to the second image data.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing unit performs rotation and reduction of the first image data to change the first image data to the second image data.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a masking data addition unit adapted to add mask data to the second image data.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image sensing unit adapted to sense a film and generate the first image data from a sensed image of the film.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image sensing unit adapted to sense an image and generate the first image data from the sensed image.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said video signal output unit is capable of outputting the video signal to a display device.

9. A control method of controlling an image processing apparatus which includes a first memory used for storing first image data, an image processing unit adapted to change the first image data read from the first memory to second image data, and a second memory used for storing the second image data, said control method comprising:

a selecting step of selecting the first image data stored in said first memory or the second image data stored in said second memory; and

a converting step of converting the first or second image data selected in said selecting step to a video signal,

wherein the second image data is selected in said selecting step after the second image data is stored in said second memory, and selection between the first and second image data performed in said selecting step is changed during a vertical blanking period.

10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein said image processing unit performs reduction of the first image data to change the first image data to the second image data.

11. The control method according to claim 9, wherein said image processing unit performs rotation of the first image data to chance the first image data to the second image data.

12. The control method according to claim 9, wherein said image processing unit performs rotation and reduction of the first image data to change the first image data to the second image data.

13. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising a masking step of adding mask data to the second image data.

14. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of sensing a film and generating the first image data from a sensed image of the film.

15. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of generating the first image data from a sensed image.

16. The control method according to claim 9, further comprising a step of outputting the video signal to a display device.