Circuit for producing a video combine from multiple video images

Claim 2

A circuit for producing a combine of multiple video images in respective channels, each channel having an input (28) for receiving input video image signals and an output (420-426) for providing reduced video image signals, comprising: means (36-42) supplying boundary key data commensurate with the video images in each channel; means (202) receiving the boundary key data for generating respective processed key signals indicative of preselected values of reduced video image signals at the output of each channel; and means (408-414) for providing the reduced video image signals in response to the respective processed key signals and the respective input video image signals and (500) for summing the reduced video image signals to produce the combine of the video images.

Claim 3

A circuit according to claim 1 wherein said means for providing and summing the reduced video image signals provide a 100% summation thereof to define the combine of multiple video images.

Claim 4

A circuit according to claim 2 including means for supplying background video, said means for generating (202) further generating a processed background key signal indicative of a preselected value of background video, and wherein said means (406,500) for providing and summing provide the preselected value of background video in all areas of the combine that do not equal the 100% summation.

Claim 5

A circuit according to claim 2 wherein the means for generating include: means (212) for modifying the respective boundary key data in response to a selected transparency factor indicative of a preselected transparency for the input video image signal of the corresponding channel.

Claim 6

A circuit according to claim 2 wherein: the boundary key signals and the video image signals are represented by digital samples; and the means for supplying, the means for providing and summing perform their functions on respective digital input video image signals and digital key signals on a sample-by-sample basis.

Claim 7

A circuit according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the means for generating include means (236) for modifying the value of the processed key signals in response to a selected dimness factor indicative of a preselected dimming of the input video image signal of the corresponding channel.

Claim 8

A circuit of claim 6 wherein the means for modifying include means for programming the selected dimness factor as determined by the application of respective values in the relationship:- Dim=R( AML +SL(PN.LSV)) wherein R is a plane reflectance value, AML is an ambient light level, SL is the parallel source light level, PN is a normal to the plane and LSV is a light source vector.

Claim 9

A circuit according to any of claims 2 to 7 including control means (218) coupled to the means for generating for assigning a preselected priority order to the multiple channels.

Claim 10

A circuit according to claim 8 wherein: the control means provides priority data indicative of the front-to-back relation of one input video image signal relative to another input video image signal in the combine on a field-to-field basis; and said means for generating continuously re-assigns the preselected priority order of the multiple channels in response to the priority data from the control means.

Claim 11

A circuit for producing a combine of multiple video images in respective channels, comprising means (20-26) for supplying boundary key data definitive of the boundary of the video image in each channel; means (95) for determining a priority order of the channels; means (202), receiving the boundary key data and responsive to the means for determining the priority order, for generating respective processed key signals indicative of preselected proportions of the respective video images to be combined in the combine; and means (406,500) for combining the respective video images in the preselected proportions in response to the respective processed key signals to produce the combine of the multiple video images.

Claim 12

A circuit for producing a combine of multiple video images in respective channels, comprising means (20-26) for supplying boundary key data definitive of the boundary of the video image in each channel; means (95) for determining a priority order of the channels; means (202), receiving the boundary key data and responsive to the means for determining the priority order, for generating respective processed key signals indicative of preselected proportions of the respective video images to be combined in the combine; and means (406,500) for combining the respective video images in the preselected proportions in response to the respective processed key signals to produce the combine of the multiple video images.

Claim 13

A circuit according to claim 10 wherein the means for combining include means (406) for reducing the values of the respective video images in the multiple channels to the preselected proportions in response to the respective processed key signals; and means (500) for summing the reduced values of the video images to provide combined proportions of the video images totalling 100%.

Claim 14

A circuit according to claim 11 including means for supplying a preselected background video signal to the said means for reducing, said means for generating (202) further generating a processed background key signal indicative of the preselected background video signal to be combined in the combine, and wherein said means for summing selectively adds the preselected background video signal to the reduced video signals in response to the processed background key signal, wherein the preselected background video signal has values to provide the 100% combination over the entire combine.

Claim 15

A circuit according to claim 11 wherein the means for generating include means for modifying (212) the respective boundary key data in accordance with a selected transparency factor indicative of a preselected transparency for the video image of the corresponding channel.

Claim 16

A circuit for providing a composite video image defining a video picture from multiple digital video image signals, comprising means for supplying boundary key data associated with respective digital video image signals; means (202) for generating from the boundary key data respective processed key data indicative of preselected percentages that the respective digital video image signals are to be reduced over the video picture; means (406) for cutting each digital video image signal an amount corresponding to the selected percentages over the video picture in response to the respective processed key data; and means (500) for summing the cut digital video image signals to provide a 100% composite video image over the video picture.

Claim 17

A circuit for providing a composite video image defining a video picture from multiple digital video image signals, comprising means for supplying boundary key data associated with respective digital video image signals; means (202) for generating from the boundary key data respective processed key data indicative of preselected percentages that the respective digital video image signals are to be reduced over the video picture; means (406) for cutting each digital video image signal an amount corresponding to the selected percentages over the video picture in response to the respective processed key data; and means (500) for summing the cut digital video image signals to provide a 100% composite video image over the video picture.

Claim 18

A circuit according to claim 14 wherein the means for generating include means (212) for modifying the respective boundary key data in accordance with a transparency factor corresponding to a selected degree of transparency for a respective digital; video image signal.

Claim 19

A circuit according to claim 14 wherein the means for generating include means (230) for modifying the processed key data associated with a respective digital video image in accordance with a dimming factor corresponding to a selected degree of dimming of the respective digital video image signal.

Claim 20

A circuit according to any of claims 14 to 16 including means (52) for providing at least one selected background video signal to the means for cutting; said means for generating (202) further generating processed background key data indicative of a preselected percentage of background video over the video picture; and wherein the proportions of the video image signals that do not total 100% are filled with background video in response to the processed background key data.

Claim 21

A circuit according to any of claims 14 to 17 including at least four digital video image signals and wherein the means for generating generate processed key data of preselected percentages for each of the digital video images; and the means for summing (524,534) provide two independent composite video images from any combination of two of the four digital video image signals.

Claim 22

A circuit according to any of claims 14 to 18 including: means (98) coupled to the means for generating for assigning a preselected priority order to the multiple digital video image signals; and wherein the means for assigning continually re-assigns automatically the priority order in response to a field-to-field determination of the desired front-to-back order of the multiple digital video image signals in the composite video image.

Claim 23

A circuit for producing a composite video image from multiple channels of video image information, comprising means (20-26) for supplying video binary numbers representing values of the respective video image information means (200) for supplying boundary key data indicative of the boundaries of the respective video image information, means (52) for providing background binary numbers representing preselected background video information in the composite video image; means (202) receiving the boundary key data for generating therefrom processed key data indicative of respective percentages that the video binary numbers corresponding to respective video image information are to be reduced; and means (406,500) for combining the video binary numbers and the background binary numbers in response to the respective processed key data to provide a 100% summation of the reduced video image information and the preselected background video information to define the composite video image.

Claim 24

A circuit for producing a composite video image from multiple channels of video image information, comprising means (20-26) for supplying video binary numbers representing values of the respective video image information means (200) for supplying boundary key data indicative of the boundaries of the respective video image information, means (52) for providing background binary numbers representing preselected background video information in the composite video image; means (202) receiving the boundary key data for generating therefrom processed key data indicative of respective percentages that the video binary numbers corresponding to respective video image information are to be reduced; and means (406,500) for combining the video binary numbers and the background binary numbers in response to the respective processed key data to provide a 100% summation of the reduced video image information and the preselected background video information to define the composite video image.

Claim 25

A circuit for producing a composite video image from multiple video images in respective channels, each channel having an input for receiving input video images and an output for providing reduced video images, comprising means (28-34)' for supplying binary numbers representing values of the video images at respective temporal and spatial locations of each of the multiple video images; means (20-26, 36-42) for providing binary numbers representing boundary key data at corresponding temporal and spatial locations of each of the multiple video images; means (202) receiving the boundary key data binary numbers for generating respective processed key data indicative of preselected values of binary numbers corresponding to the reduced video images at respective temporal and spatial locations at the output of each channel; and means (406,500) for combining the video image binary numbers and the respective processed key data binary numbers at common temporal and spatial locations to produce new binary numbers which represent values of the composite video image at the same said common temporal and spatial locations.

Claim 26

A circuit for producing a composite video image from multiple video images in respective channels, each channel having an input for receiving input video images and an output for providing reduced video images, comprising means (28-34)' for supplying binary numbers representing values of the video images at respective temporal and spatial locations of each of the multiple video images; means (20-26, 36-42) for providing binary numbers representing boundary key data at corresponding temporal and spatial locations of each of the multiple video images; means (202) receiving the boundary key data binary numbers for generating respective processed key data indicative of preselected values of binary numbers corresponding to the reduced video images at respective temporal and spatial locations at the output of each channel; and means (406,500) for combining the video image binary numbers and the respective processed key data binary numbers at common temporal and spatial locations to produce new binary numbers which represent values of the composite video image at the same said common temporal and spatial locations.

Claim 27

A circuit according to claim 21 wherein the means for combining include means (408-414) for multiplying the respective processed key data binary numbers against respective video image binary numbers to provide the new binary numbers at the corresponding common temporal and spatial locations; and means (524,534) for summing the products of the multiplication at corresponding common locations to provide a 100% composite video image at all locations.

Claim 28

A circuit according to claim 22 including means for providing background binary numbers representing background video; means receiving the background binary numbers for generating selected binary numbers representing background key data; wherein said means for combining provides a 100% combination of all video image binary numbers for each composite video image value at the respective temporal and spatial locations with or without the background binary numbers at the locations.

Claim 29

A circuit for producing a combine of digital video signals in respective channels, comprising means (36-42) for supplying digital boundary key signals for each channel of digital video signals; computer control means (98) for determining a priority order of the channels; means for supplying at least one digital background video signal; keyer means (202) receiving the digital boundary key signals and responsive to the priority order, for generating digital processed video key signals indicative of preselected percentages that the digital video signals of each channel are to be cut; said keyer means including means (252) for generating a digital processed background key signal indicative of a preselected percentage of background video signal to be combined with the digital video signals of each channel; cutter means (406) coupled to the keyer means for multiplying the digital processed video key signals against respective digital video signals to provide cut digital video signals; and adder means (500) coupled to the cutter means for summing selected channels of cut-digital video signals with any digital background video signal required to provide a 100% composite video image.

Claim 30

A circuit for producing a combine of digital video signals in respective channels, comprising means (36-42) for supplying digital boundary key signals for each channel of digital video signals; computer control means (98) for determining a priority order of the channels; means for supplying at least one digital background video signal; keyer means (202) receiving the digital boundary key signals and responsive to the priority order, for generating digital processed video key signals indicative of preselected percentages that the digital video signals of each channel are to be cut; said keyer means including means (252) for generating a digital processed background key signal indicative of a preselected percentage of background video signal to be combined with the digital video signals of each channel; cutter means (406) coupled to the keyer means for multiplying the digital processed video key signals against respective digital video signals to provide cut digital video signals; and adder means (500) coupled to the cutter means for summing selected channels of cut-digital video signals with any digital background video signal required to provide a 100% composite video image.

Claim 31

A circuit according to claim 24 wherein the keyer means include key processing means (218) having an input and output and disposed in each channel, wherein the output of the key processing means of a higher priority channel provides the input to the key processing means of a next lower priority channel.

Claim 32

A circuit according to claim 25 wherein the key processing means include priority processor means (222) receiving the respective digital boundary key signal and a key-taken signal corresponding to the received signal which has the minimum value.

Claim 33

A circuit according to claim 25 further including signal delay means (216,242) disposed at the input and output of the key processing means in each channel for selectively timing the incoming digital boundary key signal and the existing digital processed key signals, respectively, in response to the priority order from the computer control means.

Claim 34

A circuit according to claim 27 further including a transparency multiplier (212) disposed to receive a digital boundary key signal in a respective channel, for selectively modifying the latter signal in response to a preselected transparency factor from the computer control means

Claim 35

A circuit according to claim 27 further including a dimming multiplier (236) disposed at the output of the key processing means in each channel for selectively modifying the respective digital processed key signal in response to a preselected dimming factor from the computer control means.

Claim 36

A circuit according to claim 25 further including bus means (250,256) coupled to the key processing means of all the channels as well as to the means for generating digital processed background key signals; and selector means (228) coupled to the bus means to provide selectively assignment of the priority order to successive channels in response to the computer control means (98).

Claim 37

A circuit according to claim 30 further including a minimum circuit (222) integral with the priority processor means, for providing the key-taken signal; a first adder (246) coupled from the outputs of the minimum circuit and selector means (228) to the first bus; and a second adder coupled from the outputs of the dimming multiplier (236) and selector means (228) to the second bus.

Claim 38

A circuit for producing a display of a composite video image formed from multiple video images in respective channels, each channel having an input (28-34) for receiving input video image signals and an output (420-426) for providing reduced video image signals, comprising means (36-42) for supplying boundary key data representative of the boundaries of the video image for each channel; means (20-26) for supplying binary numbers representing sampled values of the input video image signal in a channel for respective selected points of the display; means (200) for providing binary numbers representing values of background video information for points of the display; keyer means (202) for generating processed video key data at the respective points of the display indicative of preselected values of reduced video image signals at the output of each channel; and means (524) for combining the reduced video image signals and the background video information at each respective point in accordance with the respective processed key data at each point to produce the composite video image.

Claim 39

A circuit for producing a display of a composite video image formed from multiple video images in respective channels, each channel having an input (28-34) for receiving input video image signals and an output (420-426) for providing reduced video image signals, comprising means (36-42) for supplying boundary key data representative of the boundaries of the video image for each channel; means (20-26) for supplying binary numbers representing sampled values of the input video image signal in a channel for respective selected points of the display; means (200) for providing binary numbers representing values of background video information for points of the display; keyer means (202) for generating processed video key data at the respective points of the display indicative of preselected values of reduced video image signals at the output of each channel; and means (524) for combining the reduced video image signals and the background video information at each respective point in accordance with the respective processed key data at each point to produce the composite video image.

Claim 40

A circuit according to claim 32, including means (98) coupled to the keyer means for determining the priority order of the channels, and wherein the processed video key data from the keyer means reflects the determined priority order of the channels.

Claim 41

A circuit according to claim 33 wherein each channel includes cutter means for reducing the binary numbers at the respective points of the display in response to the respective processed key data, and the means for combining include adder means (500) coupled to the cutter means for selectively summing the reduced binary numbers at the respective points which are representative of the reduced video image signals in the channels, to produce the display of the composite video image.

Claim 44

A method according to claim 35 wherein the step of combining includes multiplying the digital key control values of each video image by the respective video digital sample values thereof to provide reduced video digital sample values which are reduced by said preselected percentages; and adding the corresponding reduced video digital sample values of each video image together to provide the video image combine.

Claim 45

A method according to claim 36 wherein the step of supplying includes supplying the digital data indicative of the boundaries of the respective multiple video images; and generating digital processed key signals commensurate with the respective boundary digital data in response to the preselected percentages that the video digital sample values of the video images are to be reduced.