US4843468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Scanning techniques using hierarchical set of curves
Assignee: British Broadcasting Corp
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Filing: 1987-07-14
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Granted: 1989-06-27
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Expires: 2007-07-14
Abstract
Abstract Conventionally, transmission of television images is performed by Raster scanning. To avoid the problems associated with flyback, and the limiting of Raster scanning to image scanning standards it is proposed to transmit images by scanning along a locus defined by a fractal curve. A Peano curve is particularly suitable. Image resolution may be varied by varying the order of curve used to scan the image. Smoothing of a curve of a given order results in a graceful degradation to a curve of lower order so that the image created by a given order is still recognizable when displayed by a lower or higher order.
Inventors
- 👤 John O. Drewery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N3/00; H04N3/10; H04N3/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
A method of scanning an image to produce a signal for transmission and display, comprising scanning an image in a coordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
33 words
A method of scanning an image to produce a signal for transmission and display, comprising scanning an image in a coordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of scanning according to claim 1 comprising filtering the co-ordinate sequence by means of a filter having a raised-cosine pulse response.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of scanning according to claim 1 comprising filtering the co-ordinate sequence according to a filter characteristic which cuts at half the pixel frequency, to smooth the fractal curve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 3 comprising filtering the running average of four coordinate values to smooth said fractal curve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the co-ordinate sequence is defined by a Hilbert curve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the co-ordinate sequence is defined by a Sierpinski curve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A television camera, comprising means for forming a signal indicative of an image to be transmitted, the signal forming means comprising means for scanning the image in a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A television camera, comprising means for forming a signal indicative of an image to be transmitted, the signal forming means comprising means for scanning the image in a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A television camera according to claim 7 wherein the camera is one of a plurality of synchronised cameras each having said signal forming means, each camera being coupled to a selector means for selecting the output from one of said cameras and transmitting the output to a display, the selector being capable of selecting signals representing different orders of fractal curves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A television receiver, comprising means for receiving a signal indicative of an image to be displayed, the signal receiving means comprising means for scanning the display along a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves to form said image from said signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A television receiver, comprising means for receiving a signal indicative of an image to be displayed, the signal receiving means comprising means for scanning the display along a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a hierarchical set of fractal curves to form said image from said signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A television receiver according to claim 9, comprising signal converting means for converting the received fractal signal into a signal suitable for display on a raster display.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the scanning means comprises means for scanning along a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a Hilbert curve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the scanning means comprises means for scanning along a co-ordinate sequence defined by one order of a Sierpinski curve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A television camera comprising a conventional raster camera, the raster output of which is coupled with converting means for converting a signal produced by a raster scan to a fractal signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A television camera comprising a conventional raster camera, the raster output of which is coupled with converting means for converting a signal produced by a raster scan to a fractal signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A television camera according to claim 13 wherein the converting means comprises picture storage means, means for writing pixel data from the raster scan into said picture storage means in a given sequence; and means for reading said pixel data from said storage means in a different given sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-26 | 1992-12-26 | 1993-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-26 | 1996-12-26 | 1997-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-26 | 2000-12-26 | 2001-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |