US3598908A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digitally controlled lap dissolver
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1968-08-30
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Granted: 1971-08-10
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Expires: 1988-08-30
Abstract
Abstract A dissolver network for video signals adapted to receive two input video signals and provide a dissolved video output signal. Attenuating networks, responsive to digital signals, control the proportion of each video input signal dissolved at various steps in the dissolve. The attenuator networks are controlled by an updown binary counter to correspondingly increase the signal level of one input while reducing the signal level of the other as the counter counts up; and as the counter counts down, decrease the signal level of said one input signal while correspondingly increasing the level of said other signal. The counter may be clocked responsive to the vertical sync reference of the video signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Poulett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A video signal dissolver network comprising, in combination: first input terminal means for receiving a first video input signal; second input terminal means for receiving a second video input signal output terminal means; a first attenuator network intermediate said first input terminal means and said output terminal means, the first attenuator network having selectable preset discrete degrees of attenuation, the discrete degree of attenuation selected in response to electrical drive signals; a second attenuator network intermediate said second input terminal means and said output terminal means, the second attenuator network having selectable preset discrete degrees of attenuation, the discrete degree of attenuation selected in response to electrical drive signals; drive means extending to the first and second attenuator networks for providing said electrical drive signals; and means responsive to a clock signal to command the drive means to change the electrical drive signals provided thereby at intervals determined by the clock signal and thereby change the attenuation of each of the attenuator networks from one discrete degree of attenuation to another different discrete degree of attenuation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A video signal dissolver network comprising, in combination: first input terminal means for receiving a first video input signal; second input terminal means for receiving a second video input signal output terminal means; a first attenuator network intermediate said first input terminal means and said output terminal means, the first attenuator network having selectable preset discrete degrees of attenuation, the discrete degree of attenuation selected in response to electrical drive signals; a second attenuator network intermediate said second input terminal means and said output terminal means, the second attenuator network having selectable preset discrete degrees of attenuation, the discrete degree of attenuation selected in response to electrical drive signals; drive means extending to the first and second attenuator networks for providing said electrical drive signals; and means responsive to a clock signal to command the drive means to change the electrical drive signals provided thereby at intervals determined by the clock signal and thereby change the attenuation of each of the attenuator networks from one discrete degree of attenuation to another different discrete degree of attenuation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The network of claim 1 including means for coupling to the command means a signal obtained in response to the vertical sync rate of the video input signal the obtained signal serving as the clock signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The network of claim 2 in which the command means is a counter means having an input for receiving the clock signal and counting at a rate in accord with the clock signal, the drive means is responsive to the count of the counter to provide the electrical drive signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network of claim 3 including switches means for varying the clocking rate of said counter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The network of claim 1 in which the first and second attenuator networks each has a plurality of individual attenuation paths, each path of which has a particular attenuation, each attenuator network responsive to the drive signals to complete certain paths through the attenuator network and provide the selected degree of attenuation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The network of claim 5 in which the command means is a counter means having an input for receiving the clock signal and counting at a rate in accord with the clock signal, the drive means is responsive to the count of the counter to provide the electrical drive signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The network of claim 6 in which the counter means is a binary counter, and the binary count of the counter is in the form of a binary number of a certain number of bits, the number of individual paths of each attenuator network is equivalent to the number of bits forming the binary number received by the drive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network of claim 6 in which the counter means is an up-down Binary counter, the drive means is responsive to the binary count of the counter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network of claim 8 in which the degree of attenuation of the first attenuator network is substantially the complement of the degree of attenuation of the second attenuator network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
The network of claim 9 in which each path in each attenuator network includes a control switch having conductive and nonconductive states, the drive means provides first and second electrical drive signals to each control switch, the control switch is responsive to the first drive signals to be set in the conductive state and complete the path in the attenuator network and is responsive to the second drive signals to be set in the nonconductive state and inhibit the path in the attenuator network.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network of claim 9 in which the drive means provides to each attenuator network a number of ''''on-off'''' drive signals, the number of ''''on-off'''' signals equalling the number of individual paths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The network of claim 11 in which each path of the first attenuator network has an associated path of equal attenuation in the second attenuator network.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The network of claim 12 in which the attenuation of the individual paths are of values which in combination allow for a change in the net attenuation by equal incremental amounts responsive to the incremental up or down count of said counter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The network of claim 13 in which the control switches in the first and second attenuator networks are field effect transistors assuming conductive and nonconductive states responsive to the received first and second drive signals respectively.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network of claim 14 in which the electrical potential value of the drive signals are at a value less than the knee potential of the transistors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The network of claim 15 in which the drive means provides the first drive signal to selected ones of the field effect transistors of each associated pair to drive the selected ones to the conductive state while providing the second drive signal to the other to drive the remaining ones to the nonconductive state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The network of claim 16 further including means responsive to a pulse to command said counter to start counting.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The network of claim 17 further including means for setting said counter selectively in one of either the all ''''0'''' or the all ''''1'''' states prior to the counter starting its count.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
The network of claim 18 in which said counter automatically counts to the all ''''1'''' state once started from the all ''''0'''' state and to the all ''''0'''' state once started from the all ''''1'''' state, and the counter is responsive to the received clock signal to count at a rate of the clock signal rate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network of claim 19 further including inhibit means for stopping said counter when said counter is in the all ''''0'''' or all ''''1'''' state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The network of claim 20 further including control logic means for providing start pulses to said binary counter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network of claim 21 in which the control logic means provides on selective command one of either a reverse start pulse and forward start pulse to said binary counter means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The network of claim 21 in which the control logic means provides the start pulses in response to remotely generated pulses received at the control logic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |