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US5040067A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for processing multiple video signals

Assignee: Pioneer Corp
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Filing: 1989-01-30
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2009-01-30
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus and corresponding method for reducing and displaying N input video scenes within a larger, selected main video scene. A main picture signal is selected from the N input picture signals. The N input signals are then selected sequentially by a counter to be auxiliary picture signals that are stored in respective areas of a digital memory. By switching the output signal between the main picture scene signal and the auxiliary picture scene signals from memory, the auxiliary picture scenes may be displayed at predetermined locations within the main picture scene. Additionally, one of the N input video signals may be from video tape recorder having an input provided by any of the remaining N-1 input video signals. Proper recording by the video tape recorder may then be monitored as one of the N auxiliary picture scenes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Seiichi Yamazaki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 16:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/032; G11B27/36; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/2624; H04N5/44; H04N5/445; H04N5/45

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A device for processing video signals representing picture scenes, comprising: a first signal selecting means for selecting one of N input video signals (N being an integer greater than 1) as a main picture scene signal; a first conversion means for converting said N input video signals into N picture scene data groups, respectively; a storage means for storing said N picture scene data groups; a second conversion means for converting said stored N picture scene data groups into N reduced picture scene data groups; and a combining means for generating an auxiliary picture signal from said N reduced picture scene data groups and for combining said main picture scene signal with said auxiliary picture signal to create a second main picture scene signal representing a main picture scene having each of N reduced picture scenes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 136 words
A device for processing video signals representing picture scenes, comprising: a first signal selecting means for selecting one of N input video signals (N being an integer greater than 1) as a main picture scene signal; a first conversion means for converting said N input video signals into N picture scene data groups, respectively; a storage means for storing said N picture scene data groups; a second conversion means for converting said stored N picture scene data groups into N reduced picture scene data groups; and a combining means for generating an auxiliary picture signal from said N reduced picture scene data groups and for combining said main picture scene signal with said auxiliary picture signal to create a second main picture scene signal representing a main picture scene having each of N reduced picture scenes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
A device for processing video signals according to claim 1, wherein said N reduced picture scenes represented by said N input video signals are arranged in a predetermined order in a predetermined area on said main picture scene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device for processing video signals according to claim 2, wherein said first signal selecting means includes a manually operated switch for selecting one of N input video signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device for processing video signals according to claim 3, wherein said manually operated switch includes at least N operating keys and wherein the order of arrangement of said operating keys coincides with said predetermined order.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 94 words
A device for processing video signals according to claim 2, wherein one of said N input video signals is a video recorder signal played back from a recording medium wherein said video recorder tunes a television signal on the air and outputs said television signal as one of said N video signals, and wherein said device further comprises a third signal selecting means for selecting one of said N input video signals other than said video recorder signal, and wherein the output of said third signal selecting means is recorded on said recording medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A device for processing video signals according to claim 5, wherein said third signal selecting means includes a second manually operated switch for selecting one of said N input video signals other than said video recorder signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 40 words
A device for processing video signals of claim 6, wherein said second manually operated switch includes at least N-1 operating keys and wherein the order of arrangement of said operating keys of said second switch coincides with said predetermined order.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for processing video signals representing picture scenes, comprising the steps of: selecting one of N input video signals (N being an integer greater than 1) as a main picture scene signal using a first signal selecting means; converting said N input video signals into N picture scene data groups, respectively using a first conversion means; storing said N picture scene data groups in a storage means; converting said stored N picture scene data groups into N reduced picture scene data groups using a second conversion means; generating an auxiliary picture signal from said N reduced picture scene data groups; and combining said main picture scene signal with said auxiliary picture signal to create a second main picture scene signal representing a main picture scene having each of N reduced picture scenes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 133 words
A method for processing video signals representing picture scenes, comprising the steps of: selecting one of N input video signals (N being an integer greater than 1) as a main picture scene signal using a first signal selecting means; converting said N input video signals into N picture scene data groups, respectively using a first conversion means; storing said N picture scene data groups in a storage means; converting said stored N picture scene data groups into N reduced picture scene data groups using a second conversion means; generating an auxiliary picture signal from said N reduced picture scene data groups; and combining said main picture scene signal with said auxiliary picture signal to create a second main picture scene signal representing a main picture scene having each of N reduced picture scenes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 8, wherein said step of combining includes a step of arranging said N reduced picture scenes represented by said N input video signals in a predetermined order in a predetermined area on said main picture scene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 9, wherein said step of selecting includes manually selecting one of N input video signals using a manually operated switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 10, wherein said manually operated switch includes at least N operating keys and wherein the order of arrangement of said operating keys coincides with said predetermined order.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 113 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 9, wherein one of said N input video signals is a video recorder signal from a video recorder, wherein said video recorder tunes a television signal on the air and outputs said television signal as one of said N video signals, and, wherein said step of selecting includes selecting a video signal to be recorded on a recording medium, and wherein aid method further comprises a step of selecting one of said N video signals other than said video recorder signal using a third signal selecting means, and a step of recording the output of said third signal selecting means on said recording medium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 12, wherein said step of selecting one of said N input video signals other than said video recorder signal includes manually selecting one of said signals using a second manually operated switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 41 words
A method for processing video signals according to claim 13, wherein said second manually operated switch includes at least N-1 operating keys and wherein the order of arrangement of said operating keys of said second switch coincides with said predetermined order.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-08-12 1995-02-11 1995-08-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-08-12 1999-02-11 1999-08-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-08-12 2003-02-11 2003-08-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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