Video to digital converter

Claim 1

A system for digitizing a video signal of a plurality of horizontal scanning lines and storing the digitized signal in a computer memory comprising: (a) means for converting an analog signal to digital form to establish digital values corresponding to relative luminance of the video signal; (b) first counter means for establishing X-coordinates of a predetermined number of picture elements corresponding to a horizontal line; (c) means for assigning said luminance values to said corresponding X-coordinates; (d) means for resetting said first counter when said predetermined number is reached indicating the end of a scanning line; (e) second counter means incremented by said resetting means for establishing Y-coordinates corresponding to horizontal lines of said video signal, whereby a main matrix of picture elements having X and Y coordinates and a luminosity value is defined; (f) means for resetting said second counter when a predetermined number of horizontal lines is reached; (g) means for generating coordinates of a sub-matrix which falls within said matrix; (h) comparator means for generating an active signal for each picture element falling within said predefined sub-matrix region; (i) horizontal compression means activated by said active signal for comparing the luminance of successive groups of predetermined numbers of horizontally adjacent picture elements within said sub-matrix region and generating successive single horizontally compressed picture elements to be substituted for said groups; (j) buffer means for serially receiving said horizontally compressed picture elements in real time and outputting said elements at a slower rate; (k) vertical compression means for comparing groups of horizontally compressed picture elements which are vertically adjacent and for generating successive image elements to be substituted therefor; (l) means for addressing and storing said image elements in a computer memory for later revival and restoration to a video image.

Claim 2

A system for digitizing a video signal of a plurality of horizontal scanning lines and storing the digitized signal in a computer memory comprising: (a) means for converting an analog signal to digital form to establish digital values corresponding to relative luminance of the video signal; (b) first counter means for establishing X-coordinates of a predetermined number of picture elements corresponding to a horizontal line; (c) means for assigning said luminance values to said corresponding X-coordinates; (d) means for resetting said first counter when said predetermined number is reached indicating the end of a scanning line; (e) second counter means incremented by said resetting means for establishing Y-coordinates corresponding to horizontal lines of said video signal, whereby a main matrix of picture elements having X and Y coordinates and a luminosity value is defined; (f) means for resetting said second counter when a predetermined number of horizontal lines is reached; (g) means for generating coordinates of a sub-matrix which falls within said matrix; (h) comparator means for generating an active signal for each picture element falling within said predefined sub-matrix region; (i) horizontal compression means activated by said active signal for comparing the luminance of successive groups of predetermined numbers of horizontally adjacent picture elements within said sub-matrix region and generating successive single horizontally compressed picture elements to be substituted for said groups; (j) buffer means for serially receiving said horizontally compressed picture elements in real time and outputting said elements at a slower rate; (k) vertical compression means for comparing groups of horizontally compressed picture elements which are vertically adjacent and for generating successive image elements to be substituted therefor; (l) means for addressing and storing said image elements in a computer memory for later revival and restoration to a video image.

Claim 8

A system for digitizing a video signal and storing the signal in a computer memory comprising: (a) an analog to digital converter for digitizing the amplitude corresponding to the varying luminance across a video line; (b) means for generating from the video signal a first signal indicating the beginning of each horizontal line, a second signal indicating the next horizontal line, a third signal indicating the end of each image field, and a clock signal; (c) horizontal coordinate counter reset by said first signal and incremented by said clock signal for counting up to a predetermined number; (d) vertical coordinate counter incremented by said second signal and reset by said third signal to count to a predetermined number whereby said horizontal and vertical counters generate coordinates of a main matrix; (e) means for assigning said coordinates to said digitized luminance values; (f) means for generating boundary coordinates within said main matrix for defining a sub-matrix of interest; (g) comparator means for successively comparing said boundary coordinates with the values in said counters to determine areas of intersection, and generate a fourth signal; and (h) means activated by said fourth signal for storing in computer memory said digital luminance values within said areas of intersection.

Claim 9

A system for digitizing a video signal and storing the signal in a computer memory comprising: (a) an analog to digital converter for digitizing the amplitude corresponding to the varying luminance across a video line; (b) means for generating from the video signal a first signal indicating the beginning of each horizontal line, a second signal indicating the next horizontal line, a third signal indicating the end of each image field, and a clock signal; (c) horizontal coordinate counter reset by said first signal and incremented by said clock signal for counting up to a predetermined number; (d) vertical coordinate counter incremented by said second signal and reset by said third signal to count to a predetermined number whereby said horizontal and vertical counters generate coordinates of a main matrix; (e) means for assigning said coordinates to said digitized luminance values; (f) means for generating boundary coordinates within said main matrix for defining a sub-matrix of interest; (g) comparator means for successively comparing said boundary coordinates with the values in said counters to determine areas of intersection, and generate a fourth signal; and (h) means activated by said fourth signal for storing in computer memory said digital luminance values within said areas of intersection.

Claim 10

A system for compressing and recording video signals in a digital memory in real time, comprising: (a) electronic memory for storing digital signals; (b) means for electronically defining a portion of a video image to be recorded; (c) means for producing a vertical active signal simultaneously with the beginning of a video line, said signal being generated whenever any part of said line falls within said defined portion of the video image; (d) means activated by said vertical active signal for producing a horizontal active signal, said horizontal signal being generated during the interval the video signal is within said defined portion of the video image; (e) digitizing means activated by said horizontal active signal for digitizing the video signal, producing a corresponding series of digital signals; (f) first compression means activated by said horizontal active signal and operatively connected to said digitizing means for producing a horizontal replacement signal for replacement of a contiguous plurality of said digital signals; (g) buffer means operatively connected to said first compression means for temporally buffering the transfer of said horizontal replacement signals from said first compression means; (h) first memory interface means connected to said buffer means and said memory for transfering said horizontal replacement signals from said buffer means to said memory; and (i) second compression means activated by said vertical active signal and connected to said memory and said buffer for producing a vertical replacement signal for replacement in memory of a plurality of horizontal replacement signals received from said first compression means and said memory, said horizontal replacement signals corresponding to vertically contiguous video image areas.

Claim 11

A system for compressing and recording video signals in a digital memory in real time, comprising: (a) electronic memory for storing digital signals; (b) means for electronically defining a portion of a video image to be recorded; (c) means for producing a vertical active signal simultaneously with the beginning of a video line, said signal being generated whenever any part of said line falls within said defined portion of the video image; (d) means activated by said vertical active signal for producing a horizontal active signal, said horizontal signal being generated during the interval the video signal is within said defined portion of the video image; (e) digitizing means activated by said horizontal active signal for digitizing the video signal, producing a corresponding series of digital signals; (f) first compression means activated by said horizontal active signal and operatively connected to said digitizing means for producing a horizontal replacement signal for replacement of a contiguous plurality of said digital signals; (g) buffer means operatively connected to said first compression means for temporally buffering the transfer of said horizontal replacement signals from said first compression means; (h) first memory interface means connected to said buffer means and said memory for transfering said horizontal replacement signals from said buffer means to said memory; and (i) second compression means activated by said vertical active signal and connected to said memory and said buffer for producing a vertical replacement signal for replacement in memory of a plurality of horizontal replacement signals received from said first compression means and said memory, said horizontal replacement signals corresponding to vertically contiguous video image areas.

Claim 12

A system for digitizing a video signal of successive images and subtracting from each a reference image and storing the result in a computer memory, comprising: (a) means for converting an analog video signal to a digital form establishing a matrix of picture elements forming an image, each element having a numerical level corresponding to luminosity; (b) means for reversing the mathematical signs corresponding to each numerical value so that a negative of said image is created; (c) means for storing said values of said negative image in addressed locations in memory; (d) image subtraction means for retrieving said negative values from memory, adding said negative values to values corresponding to the next successive image, and producing an image of composite values; and (e) means for storing said image of composite values in memory.

Claim 13

A system for digitizing a video signal of successive images and subtracting from each a reference image and storing the result in a computer memory, comprising: (a) means for converting an analog video signal to a digital form establishing a matrix of picture elements forming an image, each element having a numerical level corresponding to luminosity; (b) means for reversing the mathematical signs corresponding to each numerical value so that a negative of said image is created; (c) means for storing said values of said negative image in addressed locations in memory; (d) image subtraction means for retrieving said negative values from memory, adding said negative values to values corresponding to the next successive image, and producing an image of composite values; and (e) means for storing said image of composite values in memory.

Claim 14

A system for compressing raw image data derived from successive video images comprising: (a) conversion means for converting an analog signal representative of the said raw image data into corresponding raw digital luminosity values comprised of a plurality of gray-scale bits; (b) matrix means for assigning matrix addresses to each of said digital values; (c) sub-matrix means for dividing said main matrix in accordance with a predetermined image-independent format into a selected plurality of sub-matrices, each of which encompasses predetermined ones of said addresses; and (d) reduction means for compressing the raw digital luminosity values found in each of said sub-matrices into a plurality of compressed luminosity values comprised of a plurality of gray-scale bits wherein said sub-matrices are represented by a single compressed luminosity value.

Claim 15

A system for compressing raw image data derived from successive video images comprising: (a) conversion means for converting an analog signal representative of the said raw image data into corresponding raw digital luminosity values comprised of a plurality of gray-scale bits; (b) matrix means for assigning matrix addresses to each of said digital values; (c) sub-matrix means for dividing said main matrix in accordance with a predetermined image-independent format into a selected plurality of sub-matrices, each of which encompasses predetermined ones of said addresses; and (d) reduction means for compressing the raw digital luminosity values found in each of said sub-matrices into a plurality of compressed luminosity values comprised of a plurality of gray-scale bits wherein said sub-matrices are represented by a single compressed luminosity value.

Claim 21

A system for compressing and recording successive images formed from synchronous video signals in a digital memory in real time, comprising: (a) electronic memory for storing digital signals; (b) means for electronically defining a portion of a video image to be recorded; (c) means for producing a vertical active signal simultaneously with the beginning of a video line, said signal being generated whenever any part of said line falls within said defined portion of the video image; (d) means activated by said vertical active signal for producing a horizontal active signal, said horizontal signal being generated during the interval the video signal is within said defined portion of the video image; (e) digitizing means activated by said horizontal active signal for digitizing the video signal, producing a corresponding series of digital signals; (f) first compression means activated by said horizontal active signal and operatively connected to said digitizing means for producing a horizontal replacement signal for replacement of a contiguous plurality of said digital signals; (g) buffer means operatively connected to said first compression means for temporally buffering the transfer of said horizontal replacement signals from said first compression means; (h) first memory interface means connected to said buffer means and said memory for transferring said horizontal replacement signals from said buffer means to said memory; and (i) second compression means activated by said vertical active signal and connected to said memory and said buffer for producing a vertical replacement signal for replacement in memory of a plurality of horizontal replacement signals received from said first compression means and said memory, said horizontal replacement signals corresponding to vertically contiguous video image areas.

Claim 22

A system for compressing and recording successive images formed from synchronous video signals in a digital memory in real time, comprising: (a) electronic memory for storing digital signals; (b) means for electronically defining a portion of a video image to be recorded; (c) means for producing a vertical active signal simultaneously with the beginning of a video line, said signal being generated whenever any part of said line falls within said defined portion of the video image; (d) means activated by said vertical active signal for producing a horizontal active signal, said horizontal signal being generated during the interval the video signal is within said defined portion of the video image; (e) digitizing means activated by said horizontal active signal for digitizing the video signal, producing a corresponding series of digital signals; (f) first compression means activated by said horizontal active signal and operatively connected to said digitizing means for producing a horizontal replacement signal for replacement of a contiguous plurality of said digital signals; (g) buffer means operatively connected to said first compression means for temporally buffering the transfer of said horizontal replacement signals from said first compression means; (h) first memory interface means connected to said buffer means and said memory for transferring said horizontal replacement signals from said buffer means to said memory; and (i) second compression means activated by said vertical active signal and connected to said memory and said buffer for producing a vertical replacement signal for replacement in memory of a plurality of horizontal replacement signals received from said first compression means and said memory, said horizontal replacement signals corresponding to vertically contiguous video image areas.