US3604849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mix-effects system for television video signals
Assignee: Central Dynamics Ltd
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Filing: 1969-05-28
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A mix/effects system for television video signals is disclosed, the system including a plurality of video sources, a matrix of switching cross points, the input buses of which are respectively connected to said plurality of video sources and the output buses of which are connected to appropriate destination points. Switching circuitry having two input terminals is connected to no more than two of the output buses from said matrix of switching cross points. The switching circuitry also includes two output terminals, the switching circuitry comprising a plurality of switching elements. A mixing amplifier having two input terminals is connected to the two output terminals of the switching circuitry. Circuitry for generating control signals for controlling the energization of the switching elements enables the switching circuit together with the mixing amplifier to provide a wide variety of video signal effects at the output terminal of the mixing amplifier.
Inventors
- 👤 Ole Skrydstrup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:02
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/265; H04N5/268; H04N9/00; H04N9/64; H04N9/74; H04N9/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A mix/effects system for video signals selectively operable in any one of a plurality of modes including (1) a mix mode,(2a special effects mode including a split screen mode or a key mode, and (3) a combination special effects/mix mode, said system comprising: a plurality of video signal sources; a matrix of switching cross points having a plurality of input buses respectively connected to said plurality of video signal sources, said matrix having a plurality of output buses so that any one of said video signal sources can be switched to any one of said output buses; switching circuitry having two input terminals connected to no more than two of said output buses and having two output terminals, sAid switching circuitry including a plurality of switching elements; signal-mixing circuitry having two input terminals respectively connected to said two output terminals of said switching circuitry and having an output terminal, said signal-mixing circuitry having means to control the proportion of the two input signals applied thereto in the output signal; and control means for controlling the configuration of said switching circuitry during said any one mode by statically closing and opening certain ones of said switching elements and by continually switching the remaining ones of said switching elements whereby in response to said switching circuitry configuration and said means for controlling the signal proportions, the two video signals respectively occurring at the two output buses from said matrix can (1) be mixed, or (2) be employed to create a special effects signal or the special effects signal can be mixed with one of the said two video signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
A mix/effects system for video signals selectively operable in any one of a plurality of modes including (1) a mix mode,(2a special effects mode including a split screen mode or a key mode, and (3) a combination special effects/mix mode, said system comprising: a plurality of video signal sources; a matrix of switching cross points having a plurality of input buses respectively connected to said plurality of video signal sources, said matrix having a plurality of output buses so that any one of said video signal sources can be switched to any one of said output buses; switching circuitry having two input terminals connected to no more than two of said output buses and having two output terminals, sAid switching circuitry including a plurality of switching elements; signal-mixing circuitry having two input terminals respectively connected to said two output terminals of said switching circuitry and having an output terminal, said signal-mixing circuitry having means to control the proportion of the two input signals applied thereto in the output signal; and control means for controlling the configuration of said switching circuitry during said any one mode by statically closing and opening certain ones of said switching elements and by continually switching the remaining ones of said switching elements whereby in response to said switching circuitry configuration and said means for controlling the signal proportions, the two video signals respectively occurring at the two output buses from said matrix can (1) be mixed, or (2) be employed to create a special effects signal or the special effects signal can be mixed with one of the said two video signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A mix/effects system as in claim 1 where said switching circuitry includes at least first and second input terminals and at least first and second output terminals an including: A first switching element connecting said first input and first output terminals; a second switching element connecting said first input and second output terminals; a third switching element connecting said second input and second output terminals; a fourth switching element connecting said second input and first output terminals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as in claim 2 where said control means includes means for closing said first and third switch elements and for opening said second and fourth switch elements to thereby mix said two video signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
a mix/effects system as in claim 2 where said control means includes control-signal-generating means for generating at least one control signal; and actuating means responsive to said control signal for continuously switching said remaining ones of said switching elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A system as in claim 4 where said control signal is repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said first and second switch elements and opening said third and fourth switch elements during a first interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said third and fourth switches and opening said first and second switch elements during a second interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said two video signals are alternately applied to said signal-mixing circuitry to thereby generate said special effects signal and place said system in a split-screen mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Circuitry as in claim 5 where said control-signal-generating means includes means for varying the duty cycle of said first and second intervals of said repetitive signal to place said system in a wipe mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mix/effects system as in claim 4 where said control-signal-generating means regenerates at least two control signals, said system including switching means for connecting one of said control signals to said actuating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A system as in claim 4 where said control means includes means for opening said second switch and for closing said third switch and where said control signal is repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said first switch element and opening said fourth switch element during a first time interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said fourth switch element and opening said first switch element during a second time interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said special effects signal can be mixed with one of said two video signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
A system as in claim 4 where said control means includes means for closing said first switch element and opening said third and fourth switch elements and said control-signal-generating means including means for generating a blanking signal, said actuating in response to said blanking signal closing said second switch element during the blanking interval of said blanking signal and opening said second switch element during the picture interval of said blanking signal and where the input terminal of said signal-mixing amplifier connected to said third switching element is grounded through an impedance, said signal-mixing circuitry being set to pass only the signal applied to said last-mentioned input terminal whereby said system is placed in a color black mode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A system as in claim 4 including a source of color matte signals; a fifth switch element connecting said color matte signal source to said first output terminal; and a sixth switch element connecting said color matte source to said second output terminal, said control means including means for opening said first, second, and sixth switch elements and closing said third switch element, and said control signal being repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said fifth switch element and opening said fourth switch element during a first time interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said fourth switch element and opening said fifth switch element during a second time interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said system is placed in a colored key mode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mix/effects system as in claim 8 where said control-signal-generating means is responsive to one of said video signals to thereby effect a key into mixer mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
Mix/effects circuitry comprising: switching circuitry having at least first and second input terminals and at least first and second output terminals and including: a first switching element connecting said first input and first output terminals; a second witching element connecting said first input and second output terminals; a third switching element connecting said second input and second output terminals; a fourth switching element connecting said second input and first output terminals; a mixing amplifier having first and second input terminals respectively connected to said first and second output terminals with first and second signals respectively occurring thereat and having an output terminal having an output signal occuring thereat and means for controlling the proportion in said output signal of said first signal with respect to said second signal whereby mix, key, split-screen, key into mixer, split-screen into mixer and color black modes are in response to the particular configuration of said switching elements and said means for controlling the signal proportions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
Mix/effects circuitry comprising: switching circuitry having at least first and second input terminals and at least first and second output terminals and including: a first switching element connecting said first input and first output terminals; a second witching element connecting said first input and second output terminals; a third switching element connecting said second input and second output terminals; a fourth switching element connecting said second input and first output terminals; a mixing amplifier having first and second input terminals respectively connected to said first and second output terminals with first and second signals respectively occurring thereat and having an output terminal having an output signal occuring thereat and means for controlling the proportion in said output signal of said first signal with respect to said second signal whereby mix, key, split-screen, key into mixer, split-screen into mixer and color black modes are in response to the particular configuration of said switching elements and said means for controlling the signal proportions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Circuitry as in claim 12 where said control means includes means for closing said first and third switch elements and for opening said second and fourth switch elements to thereby mix said two video signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as in claim 12 where said control means includes control-signal-generating means for generating at least one control signal; and actuating means responsive to said control signal for continuously switching said remaining ones of said switching elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
Circuitry as in claim 14 where said control signal is repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said first and second switch elements and opening said third and fourth switch elements during a first interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said third and fourth switches and opening said first and second switch elements during a second interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said two video signals are alternately applied to said signal-mixing circuitry to thereby generate said special effects signal and place said system in a split-screen mode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Circuitry as in claim 15 where said control-signal-generating means includes means for varying the duty cycle of said first and second intervals of said repetitive signal to place said system in a wipe mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
Circuitry as in claim 14 where said control means includes means for opening said second switch and for clOsing said third switch and where said control signal is repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said first switch element and opening said fourth switch element during a first time interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said fourth switch element and opening said first switch element during a second time interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said special effects signal can be mixed with one of said two video signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
117 words
Circuitry as in claim 14 where said control means includes means for closing said first switch element and opening said third and fourth switch elements and said control-signal-generating means including means for generating a blanking signal, said actuating in response to said blanking signal closing said second switch element during the blanking interval of said blanking signal and opening said second switch element during the picture interval of said blanking signal and where the input terminal of said signal-mixing amplifier connected to said third switching element is grounded through an impedance, said signal-mixing circuitry being set to pass only the signal applied to said last-mentioned input terminal whereby said system is placed in a color black mode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
Circuitry as in claim 14 including a source of color matte signals; a fifth switch element connecting said color matte signal source to said first output terminal; and a sixth switch element connecting said color matte source to said second output terminal, said control means including means for opening said first, second, and sixth switch elements and closing said third switch element, and said control signal being repetitive, said actuating means in response to the repetitive control signal closing said fifth switch element and opening said fourth switch element during a first time interval of said repetitive control signal and closing said fourth switch element and opening said fifth switch element during a second time interval of said repetitive control signal whereby said system is placed in a colored key mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2510714A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |