US3761607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video monochrom to color conversion
Assignee: Vantiva SA
•
Filing: 1972-02-15
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
•
Expires: 1992-02-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for synthesizing a color video signal from a black and white video signal. The various amplitude levels of the black and white signal are separated by threshold detectors to produce separate gating signals during the interval of each amplitude level. Color signals of selected hue and saturation are provided for each amplitude level by modifying the phase and amplitude of the signal provided by a 3.58 mhz subcarrier generator. In the appropriate intervals the gating signals pass the color signals to an adder, where they are combined with the black and white signals to furnish a color composite video signal suitable for broadcasting or recording.
Inventors
- 👤 C Hanseman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for producing multicolor video signal from a monochrome video signal having a plurality of amplitude levels comprising a luminance channel receiving said monochrome signal, color signal generating means for producing a plurality of different color signals, color subchannel means connected to said color generating means and responsive to selected amplitude level increments of said monochrome signal at selected intervals for selectively supplying one of said color signals to said luminance channel in each said selected interval, and means connected in said luminance channel and responsive to said selectively supplied color signals for adding said selectively supplied color signal to said monochrome signal in the same respective interval in which said selected amplitude level increments occurred in said monochrome signal, thereby to produce a video signal with controlled color components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Apparatus for producing multicolor video signal from a monochrome video signal having a plurality of amplitude levels comprising a luminance channel receiving said monochrome signal, color signal generating means for producing a plurality of different color signals, color subchannel means connected to said color generating means and responsive to selected amplitude level increments of said monochrome signal at selected intervals for selectively supplying one of said color signals to said luminance channel in each said selected interval, and means connected in said luminance channel and responsive to said selectively supplied color signals for adding said selectively supplied color signal to said monochrome signal in the same respective interval in which said selected amplitude level increments occurred in said monochrome signal, thereby to produce a video signal with controlled color components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said color signal generating means comprises a color sub-carrier generator, a plurality of color channels, each comprising means for modifying the phase of said sub-carrier to determine hue in response to the level of a first control signal, means for modifying the amplitude of said sub-carrier to determine saturation level in response to the level of a second control signal, and programmer means connected to said phase and amplitude modifying means and generating said first and second control signals, said programmer means generating said control signals in response to digital input information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said programmer means further comprises means for generating said control signals in response to a normally adjustable input.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said programmer means further comprises means for changing said first and second control signals in response to an external synchronizing signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said color subchannel means includes a plurality of detectors connected to said luminance channel and responsive to said monochrome signal for producing a plurality of gating signals each corresponding to a selected amplitude level increment of said monochrome signal, and a plurality of gating means actuated by said gating signals, each said gating means being responsive to one of said color signals and supplying said color signal to said luminance channel in response to the actuation thereof by said gating signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the amplitude level increments detected by said detectors are contiguous over an amplitude range of said monochrome signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said luminance channel comprises time delay means for synchronizing said monochrome signal and said color signals at said adding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said color signal generating means comprises a color sub-carrier generator, and a plurality of color channels, each comprising means for modifying the phase and amplitude of said sub-carrier to provide a source of a color signal of selected hue and saturation level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means in advance of said detectors for removing noise from said monochrome signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means in advance of said detectors for selectively increasing the separation between adjacent amplitude level increments in said monochrome signal, thereby to facilitate distinction between such amplitude level increments by said detectors.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of producing a multicolor video signal from a monochrome video signal having various intensity levels comprising, separating the monochrome signal into level signals of different intensity level increments, using each level signal to gate a color signal in the same time interval as the level signal, respective level signals gating different color signals, and adding the respective color signals to the monochrome signal in the same respective intervals as the level signals during which thE respective color signals were gated, thereby to produce a video signal with color components in controlled relation to the respective intensity levels of the monochrome signal.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of producing a multicolor video signal from a monochrome video signal having various intensity levels comprising, separating the monochrome signal into level signals of different intensity level increments, using each level signal to gate a color signal in the same time interval as the level signal, respective level signals gating different color signals, and adding the respective color signals to the monochrome signal in the same respective intervals as the level signals during which thE respective color signals were gated, thereby to produce a video signal with color components in controlled relation to the respective intensity levels of the monochrome signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
Method according to claim 11 further comprising filtering said monochrome signal to remove noise prior to separating it into level signals of different intensity level increments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 11 further comprising altering said monochrome signal to exaggerate differences between adjacent intensity level increments prior to separating said signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein the separation of said monochrome signal into signals of different intensity level increments comprises applying said monochrome signal simultaneously to a plurality of detectors, and setting each detector for response to signals within a prescribed amplitude level increment, said amplitude level increments being contiguous over a range of amplitudes of said nonochrome signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
Method according to claim 11 wherein said different color signals are obtained by generating a color sub-carrier signal, by selectively phase shifting said sub-carrier signal to select hue, and by selectively amplitude modifying said sub-carrier signal to select saturation level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method according to claim 15 further comprising controlling said phase shifting and amplitude modification of the sub-carrier by means of control signals, and generating said control signals in response to digital information.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
Method according to claim 11 further comprising generating a synchronizing signal corresponding to color changes in said monochrome signal, and changing the hue and saturation of each different color signal in response to said synchronizing signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2593925A
Cited
US3054852A
Cited
US3078340A
Cited
US2874212A
Cited
US3258528A
Cited
US3551589A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |