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US5541665A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image processing apparatus with change over of clock signals

Assignee: Maxell Ltd
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Filing: 1994-12-22
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Granted: 1996-07-30
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Expires: 2014-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract In order to enable sampling of high definition still video signals in addition to common video signals, a function is added for sampling video signals with every other plurality of picture elements as an interval to an image processing apparatus without using a sampling circuit which requires high speed operations. The invention is also intended to change over between two circuits that is, a circuit for using a picture element clock regenerated by a PLL circuit as a sampling clock for analog to digital converters and a circuit for using a clock obtained by dividing the picture element clock as a sampling clock for the analog to digital converters to sample video signals with every other plurality of picture elements as an interval. Thus, it is possible to carry out sampling of high definition video signals with high frequencies in addition to common video signals without necessity of raising the operating speed of the sampling circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroyuki Urata
  • 👤 Masahiro Eto
  • 👤 Atsushi Maruyama
  • 👤 Fumio Inoue
  • 👤 Masanori Ogino
  • 👤 Kiyoshi Yamamoto
  • 👤 Kazutaka Naka
  • 👤 Masaaki Iwanaga

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 14:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/12; H04N7/122; H04N7/125; H04N11/00; H04N11/24; H04N11/28; H04N7/01; H04N7/0105; H04N5/00; H04N5/04; H04N5/12; H04N5/126; H04N5/44; H04N5/46

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in a plurality of memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; and changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal supplied by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock to said analog to digital converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in a plurality of memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; and changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal supplied by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock to said analog to digital converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 124 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second clock means comprises means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit into three clock segments, means for generating three divided clock signals with different phases by shifting the phases of said divided clock signals by 120 degrees and means for outputting said divided clock signals as sampling clock signals for three types of analog to digital converters for R, G and B colors; and when said changeover means selects said second clock means, said three types of analog to digital converters R, G and B colors respectively sample the same color video signals in respective fields and sample three color video signals in a time of three fields.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 111 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for discretely writing sampled video signals for respective fields in said plurality of memories provided in a latter stage of said analog to digital converter; first output means for directly outputting data read out from said plurality of memories to said digital to analog converter when said changeover means selects said first clock means; and second output means for outputting data read out from said plurality of memories to said digital to analog converter after rearranging said data in the sequence of the input video signals in parallel to serial conversion when said changeover means selects said second clock means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 61 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for writing image data, which is analog to digital converted in said analog to digital converter, in the memories at every other one of a plurality of addresses; and means for fetching data of one image in a plurality of fields when said changeover means selects said second clock means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 41 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said changeover means selects the first clock means when said input video signals are animation video signals and selects the second clock means when said input video signals are still video signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus forms an image expansion unit of a multi screen system for displaying images on a plurality of screens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 233 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal supplied by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock to said analog to digital converter; and means for serial to parallel converting analog to digital converted image data which is provided in a latter stage of said analog to digital converter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 233 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal supplied by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock to said analog to digital converter; and means for serial to parallel converting analog to digital converted image data which is provided in a latter stage of said analog to digital converter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 112 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said serial to parallel converting means converts said analog to digital converted image data to n-phase parallel data and comprises: write control means for controlling writing of all n-phase data of said n-phase parallel data in a memory for parallel-processing said data in 2n phases; read control means for controlling reading of data, which is written in all n-phases in said memory, in 2n phases; switching means for replacing the orders of said read-out 2n-phase parallel data; and parallel to serial converter means for converting said 2n-phase parallel data, the orders of which are replaced, to serial data; where n is an integer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 106 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said serial to parallel converter means converts said analog to digital converted image data to n-phase parallel data and comprises: switching means for replacing the orders of said n-phase parallel data; write control means for controlling writing of all n-phase data of said n-phase parallel data in a memory for parallel-processing said data in 2n phases; read control means for controlling reading of data, which is written in all n-phases in said memory, in 2n phases; and parallel to serial converter means for converting said read-out 2n-phase parallel data to serial data; where n is an integer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 31 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the image processing apparatus forms an image expansion unit of a multi screen system for displaying images on a plurality of screens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 292 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; first changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal selected by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock signal to said analog to digital converter; means for serial to parallel converting analog to digital converted image data which is provided in a latter stage of said analog to digital converter; and second changeover means for sampling clock signals supplied to said digital to analog converter by changing over a picture element clock signal to be outputted by the PLL circuit or a clock signal produced by n-dividing said picture element clock signal according to a horizontal sync signal of the output video signal; where n is an integer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 292 words
An image processing apparatus, having means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter, means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing and means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter, comprising: a PLL circuit for regenerating a picture element clock signal according to horizontal sync signals obtained from said input video signals; first clock means for supplying said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit; second clock means for dividing said picture element clock signal outputted from said PLL circuit, shifting a phase of the divided clock signal in response to vertical sync signals obtained from said input video signals and supplying said shifted clock signal; first changeover means for changing over between said first clock means and said second clock means in accordance with a frequency of said input image signals so as to output said picture element clock signal selected by said first clock means or said shifted clock signal supplied by said second clock means as a sampling clock signal to said analog to digital converter; means for serial to parallel converting analog to digital converted image data which is provided in a latter stage of said analog to digital converter; and second changeover means for sampling clock signals supplied to said digital to analog converter by changing over a picture element clock signal to be outputted by the PLL circuit or a clock signal produced by n-dividing said picture element clock signal according to a horizontal sync signal of the output video signal; where n is an integer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second changeover means changes over a sampling clock signal to be outputted to said digital to analog converter in response to an operable frequency at said analog to digital converter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 77 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said second changeover means selects said picture element clock signal for output in a case where the frequency of said input signal is lower than an operable frequency for said analog to digital converter, and selects a clock signal produced by n-dividing said picture element clock in a case where the frequency of said input signal is higher than the operable frequency for said analog to digital converter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 102 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter; means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing; means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter; and changeover means for selecting a clock signal to be inputted to said analog to digital converter from at least two kinds of clock signals in response to a frequency of said input video signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 102 words
An image processing apparatus comprising: means for storing input video signals in memories after analog to digital conversion of the input video signals in an analog to digital converter; means for reading out the contents of said memories for image processing; means for displaying an image on a display unit after digital to analog conversion of said image-processed input video signals in a digital to analog converter; and changeover means for selecting a clock signal to be inputted to said analog to digital converter from at least two kinds of clock signals in response to a frequency of said input video signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 20 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, where said changeover means selects one of two kinds of clock signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 53 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changeover means changes over a clock signal to be outputted to said analog to digital converter in response to one of a high and low frequency of said input video signals with respect to an operable frequency of said analog to digital converter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 43 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changeover means selects a picture element clock signal of said input video signal or a clock signal produced by dividing and phase shifting said picture element clock signal of said input video signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 88 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changeover means selects said picture element clock signal of said input signal in a case where the frequency of said input video signals is lower than an operable frequency of said analog to digital converter, and selects a clock signal produced by dividing and phase shifting said picture element clock signal of said input signal in a case where the frequency of said input video signals is higher than the operable frequency of said analog to digital converter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 37 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said analog to digital converter enables sampling of a HDTV input video signal, and said digital to analog converter enables conversion of an ultra-high precision still video signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 40 words
An image processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said changeover means enables a changeover operation in response to a frequency of said input video signals being one of higher and lower with respect to operable frequencies of said memories.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-07-30 2000-01-29 2000-07-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-07-30 2004-01-29 2004-07-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-07-30 2008-01-29 2008-07-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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