EP0479621A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for selecting video information
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1991-10-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-10-04
Abstract
Abstract . A flexible video selector for use in various imaging system including computed tomography (CT) imaging systems. A system operator inserts a number of video parameters identifying frames, lines and pixels of video information to be collected. A plurality of registers and counting devices are employed to control the video data selection. An A/D converter may be driven at intervals corresponding to the selected video information. In this manner, only video information corresponding to the selected pixels of the selected lines of the selected frame of video information are digitized for further processing. When implemented in a CT imaging system, the invention provides for x-ray dose control corresponding to the selected video parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce M. Drawert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:21
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05G; H05G1/00; H05G1/08; H05G1/60; G; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/0007; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S378/00; Y10S378/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for collecting predetermined portions of a video signal including one or more frames of video information including one or more lines of pixels of video information, comprising: means for variably selecting a predetermined number of pixels from the or each line of video information; and means for collecting video information corresponding only to said predetermined number of pixels in the or each line of video information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for collecting predetermined portions of a video signal including one or more frames of video information including one or more lines of pixels of video information, comprising: means for variably selecting a predetermined number of pixels from the or each line of video information; and means for collecting video information corresponding only to said predetermined number of pixels in the or each line of video information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for variably selecting a predetermined number of pixels from said at least one line of video information comprises: register means for storing a value corresponding to said predetermined number of pixels; counting means for counting between said value and zero, one count for each pixel of video information; and means for controlling said collecting means to collect video information from said at least one line until said counting means reaches zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said frame comprises a plurality of lines, and further comprising; means for variably selecting predetermined lines of said frame from which said video information is collected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for variably selecting predetermined lines comprises: first register means for storing a first value corresponding to a first one of said predetermined lines; second register means for storing a second value corresponding to a last one of said predetermined lines; counting means for counting between said first and second values; and means for controlling said collecting means to collect video information only while said counting means counts between said first and second values.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the video signal includes a plurality of frames of video information, and further comprising means for variably selecting predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information; and means for collecting video information corresponding only to said predetermined frames.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for variably selecting predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information comprises: register means for storing a value corresponding to a numberofframes to be skipped before collecting a frame of video information; means for counting between zero and said value, one count for each of said plurality of frames of video information; and means for controlling said collecting means to collect video information from said video signal only when a count value in said counting means is equal to said value in said register means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 or claim 6 further comprising means for variably selecting a predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information; and means for collecting video information corresponding to said plurality of frames of video information until said predetermined total number of frames has been collected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for variably selecting a predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information comprises: register means for storing a value corresponding to said predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information; counting means for counting between said value and zero, one count for each frame of said plurality of frames of video information; and means for controlling said collecting means to collect video information from said video signal only until said counting means reaches zero.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said collecting means comprises an analog-to-digital converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computed tomography (CT) x-ray imaging system, including apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim for variably selecting a portion of a video signal corresponding to an image frame of an object under test; and means for irradiating said object under test with x-rays only at intervals of a scanning period corresponding to the variably selected portions of said video signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A CT x-ray imaging system according to claim 10, wherein said means for irradiating said object under test comprises: means for generating a control signal at said intervals of a scanning period corresponding to said variably selected portions of said video signals; and means for generating x-rays in response to said control signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of collecting predetermined portions of a video signal, said video signal including a plurality of frames of video information comprised of a plurality of lines of pixels of video information, comprising the steps of: variably selecting a predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information; variably selecting predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information; variably selecting predetermined lines of each of said plurality of frames of video information; and collecting video information corresponding to said predetermined lines in each of said predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information until said predetermined total number of frames of video information has been collected.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of collecting predetermined portions of a video signal, said video signal including a plurality of frames of video information comprised of a plurality of lines of pixels of video information, comprising the steps of: variably selecting a predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information; variably selecting predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information; variably selecting predetermined lines of each of said plurality of frames of video information; and collecting video information corresponding to said predetermined lines in each of said predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information until said predetermined total number of frames of video information has been collected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: variably selecting a predetermined number of pixels from each line of video information; and collecting video information corresponding to said predetermined number of pixels in each of said predetermined lines.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of controlling does of x-rays during a scanning period in a computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising the steps of: variably selecting a portion of a video signal corresponding to at least one image frame of an object under test; and irradiating said object under test with x-rays only at intervals of a scanning period corresponding to the variably selected portions of said video signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of controlling does of x-rays during a scanning period in a computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising the steps of: variably selecting a portion of a video signal corresponding to at least one image frame of an object under test; and irradiating said object under test with x-rays only at intervals of a scanning period corresponding to the variably selected portions of said video signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said video signal includes a predetermined number of lines of video information having a predetermined number of pixels of video information; and wherein said step of variably selecting a portion of a video signal comprises the step of variably selecting a predetermined number of pixels from each line of video information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 14 or claim 15 wherein said video signal includes a plurality of frames of video information, each including a predetermined number of lines of video information having a predetermined number of pixels of video information; and wherein said step of variably selecting a portion of a video signal comprises the step of variably selecting predetermined lines from each of said plurality of frames of video information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
70 words
A method according to any of claims 14 to 16 wherein said video signal includes a plurality of frames of video information, each including a predetermined number of lines of video information having a predetermined number of pixels of video information; and wherein said step of variably selecting a portion of a video signal comprises the step of variably selecting predetermined ones of said plurality of frames of video information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
63 words
A method according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein said video signal includes a predetermined number of lines of video information having a predetermined number of pixels of video information; and wherein said step of variably selecting a portion of a video signal comprises the step of variably selecting a predetermined total number of said plurality of frames of video information.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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