Patent US6522994B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0483467A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color graphics conversion device particularly for converting video signals output by graphics stations into television signals
Assignee: GERYON COMMUNICATION Inc
•
Filing: 1991-08-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2011-08-12
Abstract
Abstract Color graphics conversion device particularly for converting video signals output by graphics stations into television signals, which comprises a container or cabinet provided with input connectors for video signals output by electronic computers, and output connectors towards television monitors or television recording means. The container accommodates a power supply of a mother board provided with a standard connection bus. Said connection bus comprises connection slots for standard-format cards, each card being provided with a respective standard finger connector for connection to said slots. The device comprises at least one analog sample card which comprises at least three sampling lines, one for each primary color of at least one signal in input on the input connector. The analog sample card emits at least three output signals which constitute the input to a memory card. Said memory card comprises a volatile memory element for storing the at least three signals in input to the memory card. The volatile memory elements are driven by means for addressing the signals. The memory card emits output signals toward an output control card which, starting from the at least three input signals in the primary colors, emitting them toward video conversion means. Processing means are furthermore provided, which are connected to the connection bus, and the processing means are connected to non-volatile memory elements within which means for the program-based control of the cards and configuration means for the input connectors and for the output connectors are stored.
Inventors
- 👤 Tom Dodson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:07
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G1/00; G09G1/28; G09G1/285; H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
Color graphics conversion device particularly for converting video signals output by graphics stations into television signals, which comprises a cabinet which has at least one input connector, a plurality of output connectors and at least one serial connector for connection to electronic computers for driving said device, a keypad for data entry on the part of an operator and a message display, said cabinet accommodating a power supply of a mother board provided with a standard connection bus, said connection bus comprising a plurality of connection slots for standard-format cards, each card being provided with a respective standard finger connector for connection to said slots, characterized in that it comprises at least one analog sample card which comprises at least three sampling lines, one for each primary color of at least one signal in input on said input connector, said analog sample card emitting at least three output signals which constitutes the input to a memory card, said memory card comprising a plurality of volatile memory elements for storing said signals in input to said memory card, said volatile memory elements being driven by means for addressing said signals, said memory card emitting at least twelve output signals toward an output control card which, starting from said at least twelve input signals, is suitable for processing at least three output signals in the primary colors, emitting them toward video conversion means, processing means being provided, said processing means being connected to said connection bus and to non-volatile memory elements within which means for the program-based control of said cards and configuration means for said at least one input connector and for said plurality of output connectors are stored.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said video conversion means comprise at least one video conversion card which comprises at least one input which comprises three terminals for said input signals, means for converting from a graphics standard to another graphics standard being provided for each input signal ahead of television and composite conversion means for converting the graphics signal into a signal in a television standard, in a composite standard or in a video recording standard.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
Device according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said analog sample card comprises, for each input channel, a selectable signal termination after which a buffer voltage divider is connected, said divider being connected to a high-pass filter, said high-pass filter being suitable for filtering the signal in transit in the channel to transfer it to an analog/digital converter suitable for converting said input signal from an analog form to a digital form, said digital signal being input to a peak sampler, said analog/digital converter and said peak sampler being driven by a sampling clock at a preset frequency which depends on the horizontal sync of the input signal, each peak sampler being connected to a respective sample latch suitable for transmitting said digital signal to said memory card.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
132 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said memory card comprises at least three terminals for each input channel, each of said terminals receiving said digital signal from said analog sample card, each input being divided into four sub-signals by respective dividers, said dividers being controlled by respective input clocks, each divider being connected to an address generator which is suitable for writing each sub-signal in a memory location under the control of respective memory addresses, said address generators constituting said memory addressing means and being furthermore suitable for reading from memory addresses each sub-signal under the control of said memory addresses and to transmit them toward respective sample latches which are suitable for transmitting said sub-signal toward respective output lines toward said output control card.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said output control card comprises, for each input, a pair of peak samplers and an interlace selector which are suitable for reconstructing a digital output signal starting from the portions of digital signal arriving from said sets of four inputs, and to output it toward said video conversion means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a control card which comprises a microprocessor, to which a system clock and an interrupt controller for the management of said microprocessor are connected, a volatile memory which contains data related to the configuration of the input graphics signal and to the output television station, said volatile memory having a protection backup battery, a non-volatile memory which contains program-based control means for the configuration of both the input graphics station and of the output television stations, said microprocessor being furthermore connected to a communications bus to which a keypad interface, connected to said keypad, and a video interface, connected to said display, are connected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said control card comprises a phase conversion oscillator which receives in input the sync of said graphics signal and processes a signal at a preset sampling frequency.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a memory address generator card which comprises an input sub-section and an output sub-section, said input sub-section being suitable for generating said input clock signal and said memory addresses, said output sub-section being suitable for generating said memory addresses and said output clocks for said memory card.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cards can be inserted in electronic computers provided with a bus which is equal to that of the finger connectors of said cards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
81 words
Device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a card for converting a graphics video signal into a television standard, said card comprising at least three inputs for each channel and a converter for converting the graphics video signal into said television standard, said converter having at least three outputs, each output having a low-pass filter suitable for adapting the output signal to the characteristics of means for recording and/or displaying said output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said graphics signal/television standard converter comprises a sync generation and lock circuit which is suitable for generating sync signals starting from a reference signal input to said circuit and by at least one oscillator at a preset frequency, said converter comprising a color test matrix which is suitable for generating signals in a video recording standard starting from color reference signals produced by said output control card, said sync generation and lock circuit and said color test matrix circuit being connected to a circuit for generating the luminance and chroma carriers, said latter circuit being suitable for generating a television signal in a preset standard starting from said sync signals and from said signals in a video recording standard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
Process for recognizing graphics stations, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: horizontal step, in which the period of a horizontal video line is determined from an input horizontal sync signal; line step, in which the number of horizontal lines in a frame or in a vertical field is determined, this last selection depending on whether the input signal is interlaced or not; calculation step, in which the number of pixels and the number of active lines of the unknown input station are calculated; modification step, in which the operator can modify the following parameters: number of active lines; number of horizontal pixels; vertical blanking values; front and back porch blanking periods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said graphics station recognition process is comprised within said program-based control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.