US3784736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for converting monochrome pictures to multi-color pictures electronically
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-10-26
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-10-26
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus for the conversion of black and white or monochrome pictures to retouched black and white pictures, multicolor video pictures and multicolor film pictures, using high speed and large capacity storage memory units.
Inventors
- 👤 J Novak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/56; H04N1/60; H04N1/62; H04N1/622; H04N9/00; H04N9/43
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of converting black and white or monochrome pictures to multi-color pictures comprising the steps of: scanning the picture to be converted with a video camera, storing the video output signals of said video camera in memory storage means, reading said stored video output signals from said memory storage means and coupling the same to said color monitor to display a black and white image on it, selectively generating color signals in pre-established increments of color brilliancy; addressing and storing said color signals in said memory storage means in locations that correspond to the area of said black and white image to be colored; reading said stored color signals from said memory storage means and coupling the same to said color monitor to combine said color signals with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor, said memory storage means comprising at least two memory storage sections, said video output signals being stored in one of said memory storage sections and said color signals being stored in the other one thereof, whereby one of said video output signals and said color signals can be changed without effecting the other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method of converting black and white or monochrome pictures to multi-color pictures comprising the steps of: scanning the picture to be converted with a video camera, storing the video output signals of said video camera in memory storage means, reading said stored video output signals from said memory storage means and coupling the same to said color monitor to display a black and white image on it, selectively generating color signals in pre-established increments of color brilliancy; addressing and storing said color signals in said memory storage means in locations that correspond to the area of said black and white image to be colored; reading said stored color signals from said memory storage means and coupling the same to said color monitor to combine said color signals with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor, said memory storage means comprising at least two memory storage sections, said video output signals being stored in one of said memory storage sections and said color signals being stored in the other one thereof, whereby one of said video output signals and said color signals can be changed without effecting the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
149 words
The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: scanning the picture to be converted with a video camera and coupling the output video signals to an analog-to-digital converter; storing the digital signals in a memory storage; reading out of said memory storage said digital signals and coupling them to a digital-to-analog converter; the analog signals being coupled to said color monitor to provide said black and white image on said color monitor; producing digital video color signals and storing them in locations in said memory storage corresponding to the areas of said black and white image to be colored; reading out of said memory storage said digital video color signals and coupling them to said digital-to-analog converter; the analog video color signals being coupled to said color monitor and combined with said black and white image displayed thereon to foRm a color picture on said color monitor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, further including the step of recording said color picture on said color monitor on color video tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said memory storage comprises at least two memory storage sections, said digital video output signals being stored in one of said memory storage sections and said digital color signals being stored in other said memory sections, whereby one of said signals can be changed without effecting the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the location of the color to be applied to said black and white image on said color monitor is established by data input means which generate x-y coordinates when placed on the screen of said color monitor, said x-y coordinates being translated to a binary address for addressing and storing said digital color signals in said memory storage.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of producing retouched pictures comprising the steps of: scanning the picture to be retouched with a video camera and coupling the output video signals to an analog-to-digital converter; storing the digital signals in a memory storage; reading out of said memory storage said digital signals and coupling them to a digital-to-analog converter; the analog signals being coupled to a video monitor to provide an image thereon; producing digital video signals corresponding to changes to be made in said picture and addressing said digital video signals in memory storage means replacing the original digital video signals in locations to the areas of said image to be retouched; using said retouched image stored in said memory storage means to control the amount of color signals to be displayed on a color monitor, reading out of said memory storage means said digital video signals and coupling them to said digital-to-analog converter; the analog video signals being coupled to said video monitor to provide a retouched image; and photographing said retouched image.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
170 words
A method of producing retouched pictures comprising the steps of: scanning the picture to be retouched with a video camera and coupling the output video signals to an analog-to-digital converter; storing the digital signals in a memory storage; reading out of said memory storage said digital signals and coupling them to a digital-to-analog converter; the analog signals being coupled to a video monitor to provide an image thereon; producing digital video signals corresponding to changes to be made in said picture and addressing said digital video signals in memory storage means replacing the original digital video signals in locations to the areas of said image to be retouched; using said retouched image stored in said memory storage means to control the amount of color signals to be displayed on a color monitor, reading out of said memory storage means said digital video signals and coupling them to said digital-to-analog converter; the analog video signals being coupled to said video monitor to provide a retouched image; and photographing said retouched image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for converting black and white pictures to color pictures comprising, in combination: a color monitor; means for scanning said picture to be converted and for producing video output signals representative thereof; memory storage means for storing said video output signals; means for reading said stored video output signals from said memory storage means and coupling them to said color monitor to produce a black and white image of said picture on said color monitor; means for generating color signals; a second memory storage means; means for addressing and storing said color signals in said second memory storage means in locations corresponding to the areas of said black and white image to be colored; and means for reading said stored color signals from said second memory storage means and for coupling said stored color signals to said color monitor to combine them with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for converting black and white pictures to color pictures comprising, in combination: a color monitor; means for scanning said picture to be converted and for producing video output signals representative thereof; memory storage means for storing said video output signals; means for reading said stored video output signals from said memory storage means and coupling them to said color monitor to produce a black and white image of said picture on said color monitor; means for generating color signals; a second memory storage means; means for addressing and storing said color signals in said second memory storage means in locations corresponding to the areas of said black and white image to be colored; and means for reading said stored color signals from said second memory storage means and for coupling said stored color signals to said color monitor to combine them with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for converting black and white pictures to color pictures comprising, in combination: a color monitor: means for scannnng said picture to be converted and for producing video output signals representative thereof; means for generating color signals; memory storage means; data input means for generating x-y coordinates when placed on the screen of said color monitor for locating the areas to which color is to be applied to said picture, means for translating said x-y coordinates to address and store said color signals in said memory storage means in locations corresponding to the areas of said black and white image to be colored; and means for reading said stored color signals from said memory storage means and for coupling said stored color signals to said color monitor to combine them with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
Apparatus for converting black and white pictures to color pictures comprising, in combination: a color monitor: means for scannnng said picture to be converted and for producing video output signals representative thereof; means for generating color signals; memory storage means; data input means for generating x-y coordinates when placed on the screen of said color monitor for locating the areas to which color is to be applied to said picture, means for translating said x-y coordinates to address and store said color signals in said memory storage means in locations corresponding to the areas of said black and white image to be colored; and means for reading said stored color signals from said memory storage means and for coupling said stored color signals to said color monitor to combine them with said black and white image displayed thereon to form a color picture on said color monitor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3706841A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |