US5023718A
Expired / Lapsed
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Storing digital video signals
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-25
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Granted: 1991-06-11
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Expires: 2010-04-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for storing a plurality of fields of digital video signal where each field consists of a plurality of n-bit words and n may vary downwards from a maximum value, comprises circuits for arranging the n-bit words of each incoming field in n bit-planes, each bit-plane containing a respective bit from each n-bit word, a video signal store comprising a plurality of memories each capable of storing the bits of a bit-plane, a common data bus for supplying the bit-planes to the memories, and circuits for controlling writing of the bit-planes in the memories such that a first field is written in a first n of the memories, the next field is written in a second n of the memories, and so on until all memories have been written in.
Inventors
- 👤 Jonathan M. Soloff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F13/00; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/60; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/0207
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of storing a plurality of fields of digital video signal where each field consists of a plurality of data words and where the number of bits in a data word varies for different fields but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits, the method comprising the steps of: arranging the data words of each field into a number of bit-planes equal in number to the number of bits in each data word, each said bit-plane containing a same respective bit from each successive data word of each field; providing a video signal store comprising a plurality of memories each memory capable of storing one of said bit-planes; supplying said bit-planes over a common data bus to said memories; and controlling writing of said bit-planes to said memories such that bit-planes of a first field are written to a first number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in each data word of said first field, bit-planes of a next field are written to a second number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in each data word of said next field, and so on until all said memories have been written in, and where the number of bits in the data word varies for each successive field but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of storing a plurality of fields of digital video signal where each field consists of a plurality of data words and where the number of bits in a data word varies for different fields but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits, the method comprising the steps of: arranging the data words of each field into a number of bit-planes equal in number to the number of bits in each data word, each said bit-plane containing a same respective bit from each successive data word of each field; providing a video signal store comprising a plurality of memories each memory capable of storing one of said bit-planes; supplying said bit-planes over a common data bus to said memories; and controlling writing of said bit-planes to said memories such that bit-planes of a first field are written to a first number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in each data word of said first field, bit-planes of a next field are written to a second number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in each data word of said next field, and so on until all said memories have been written in, and where the number of bits in the data word varies for each successive field but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling of said writing of said data words includes the step of rearranging the positions of the bits of each data word within a word of said predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said supplying of said bit-planes over said common data bus includes the step of multiplexing a predetermined number of data words to form a common data bus word, said common data bus word supplied to said memories by said common data bus, said common data bus is said predetermined number of data words multiplied by said predetermined maximum number of bits in a data word bits wide, and each said memory is capable of storing a number of bit-planes equal in number to said predetermined number of data words.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for storing a plurality of fields of digital video signal where each field consists of a plurality of data words and where the number of bits in a data word varies for different fields and is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits, the apparatus comprising: means for arranging the data words of each field into a number of bit-planes equal in number to the number of bits in each data word, each said bit-plane containing a same respective bit from each successive data word of each field; a video signal store comprising a plurality of memories each memory capable of storing one of said bit-planes; a common data bus for supplying said bit-planes to said memories; and means for controlling writing of said bit-planes to said memories such that bit-planes of a first field are written to a first number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in the data word of said first field, bit-planes of a next field are written to a second number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in the data word of said next field, and so on until all said memories have been written in, and where the number of bits in the data word varies for each successive field but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
234 words
Apparatus for storing a plurality of fields of digital video signal where each field consists of a plurality of data words and where the number of bits in a data word varies for different fields and is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits, the apparatus comprising: means for arranging the data words of each field into a number of bit-planes equal in number to the number of bits in each data word, each said bit-plane containing a same respective bit from each successive data word of each field; a video signal store comprising a plurality of memories each memory capable of storing one of said bit-planes; a common data bus for supplying said bit-planes to said memories; and means for controlling writing of said bit-planes to said memories such that bit-planes of a first field are written to a first number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in the data word of said first field, bit-planes of a next field are written to a second number of said memories equal in number to the number of bits in the data word of said next field, and so on until all said memories have been written in, and where the number of bits in the data word varies for each successive field but is less than or equal to a predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for controlling writing includes a bit position rotation circuit for rearranging the positions of the bits of each data word within a word of said predetermined maximum number of bits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising means for controlling reading of said bit-planes from said memories, said means for controlling reading including a second bit position rotation circuit for further rearranging the positions of the bits read from said memories back into the original positions within the data word.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said bit position rotation circuits comprises a programmable array logic device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising a multiplexer for multiplexing a predetermined number of data words to form a common data bus word, said common data bus word being supplied to said memories by said common data bus, and wherein said common data bus is said predetermined number of data words multiplied by said predetermined maximum number of bits in a data word bits wide, and each said memory is capable of storing a number of bit-planes equal in number to said predetermined number of data words.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said common data bus is branched, each said branch being said predetermined number of data words multiplied by said predetermined maximum number of bits in a data word bits wide, each said branch is connected to a number of subsidiary data buses equal in number to the predetermined maximum number of bits in a data word, each said subsidiary data bus is a number of bits equal in number to said predetermined number of data words wide, and each said subsidiary data bus is connected to a respective memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said predetermined number of data words is equal to four.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said predetermined maximum number of bits is equal to eight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each said memory is a random access memory or a dynamic random access memory.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-10 | 1994-12-10 | 1995-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-12-10 | 1999-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-10 | 2002-12-10 | 2003-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |