US5973751A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Picture replacement system and picture replacement method
Assignee: Nippon Television Network Corp
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Filing: 1997-03-17
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Granted: 1999-10-26
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Expires: 2017-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A picture replacement system for replacing a specified area of an original picture, with a desired picture comprising at least one camera for shooting an original picture of the subject; at least one irradiation unit for radiating a specified area of the subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; a picture generation unit for generating a desired picture that matches a size of the specified area; a detection unit for detecting the invisible light ray reflecting from the specified area that has passed around an obstruction in front of the specified area of the subject without being obstructed; a key signal generation unit for generating a key signal indicating a replacement area of the original picture based on a detection result of the detection unit; and a replacement unit for replacing the specified area within the replacement area with a desired picture corresponding to the key signal indicating the replacement area.
Inventors
- 👤 Masayuki Ishida
- 👤 Toru Koguma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:09
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/262; H04N5/272; H04N5/2723
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A picture replacement system for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture comprising: at least one camera for shooting the present picture of said subject; irradiation means for radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; picture generation means for generating the desired picture that matches a size of said specified area; detection means for detecting the invisible light ray reflecting from said specified area that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area of said subject without being obstructed; key signal generation means for generating a key signal indicating a replacement area of said present picture based on a detection result of said detection means; and replacement means for replacing the present picture within said replacement area with an area of the desired picture corresponding to said replacement area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A picture replacement system for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture comprising: at least one camera for shooting the present picture of said subject; irradiation means for radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; picture generation means for generating the desired picture that matches a size of said specified area; detection means for detecting the invisible light ray reflecting from said specified area that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area of said subject without being obstructed; key signal generation means for generating a key signal indicating a replacement area of said present picture based on a detection result of said detection means; and replacement means for replacing the present picture within said replacement area with an area of the desired picture corresponding to said replacement area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein said camera has the fixed shooting range for shooting the present picture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein a wavelength of said predetermined invisible light ray is longer than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein a wavelength of said predetermined invisible light ray is shorter than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises means for detecting the invisible light ray at a picture element pixel density that is the same as a picture element pixel density used by said camera for shooting said subject.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein said key signal generation means comprises means for generating said key signal having a first value indicating a picture element pixel the invisible light ray has been detected and a second value indicating a picture element pixel where the invisible light ray has not been detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein said replacement means comprises a switch selectable at a predetermined picture element pixel density in response to the key signal; for selecting the desired picture when the key signal indicates a replacement picture element pixel and for selecting the present picture when the key signal indicates a non replacement picture element pixel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The picture replacement system of claim 1, wherein said detection means is set in said camera.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
183 words
A picture replacement system for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture comprising: at least one camera having a fixed predetermined shooting range for shooting the present picture of said subject; irradiation means for radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; picture generation means for generating the desired picture that matches a size of said specified area; detection means for detecting the invisible light ray reflecting from said specified area that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area of said subject without being obstructed; key signal generation means for generating a first key signal indicating an area wherein the invisible light ray is detected by said detection means and a second key signal indicating an area wherein the invisible light ray is not detected by said detection means; and replacement means for inputting said desired picture and said present picture and outputting said desired picture when said first key signal is input and outputting said present picture when said second key signal is output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
A picture replacement system for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture comprising: at least one camera having a fixed predetermined shooting range for shooting the present picture of said subject; irradiation means for radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; picture generation means for generating the desired picture that matches a size of said specified area; detection means for detecting the invisible light ray reflecting from said specified area that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area of said subject without being obstructed; key signal generation means for generating a first key signal indicating an area wherein the invisible light ray is detected by said detection means and a second key signal indicating an area wherein the invisible light ray is not detected by said detection means; and replacement means for inputting said desired picture and said present picture and outputting said desired picture when said first key signal is input and outputting said present picture when said second key signal is output.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The picture replacement system of claim 9, wherein a wavelength of said predetermined invisible light ray is longer than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The picture replacement system of claim 9, wherein a wavelength of said predetermined invisible light ray is shorter than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The picture replacement system of claim 9, wherein said detection means comprises means for detecting the invisible light ray at a picture element pixel density that is the same as a picture element pixel density used by said camera for shooting said subject; and said replacement means comprises a switch selectable at said picture element pixel density in response to said first key signal and said second key signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The picture replacement system of claim 9, wherein said detection means is set in said camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A picture replacement method for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture, comprising the steps of: radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; shooting the present picture of said subject; generating the desired picture so as to match a size of said specified area; detecting said radiated predetermined invisible light ray that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area without being obstructed; generating a key signal indicating a replacement area of the present picture based on a detection result of said detecting step; and replacing the present picture within a replacement area where said invisible light ray has been detected with the desired picture corresponding to said replacement area.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A picture replacement method for replacing a specified area of a present picture of a subject with a desired picture, comprising the steps of: radiating the specified area of said subject with a predetermined invisible light ray; shooting the present picture of said subject; generating the desired picture so as to match a size of said specified area; detecting said radiated predetermined invisible light ray that has passed around a shield set in front of said specified area without being obstructed; generating a key signal indicating a replacement area of the present picture based on a detection result of said detecting step; and replacing the present picture within a replacement area where said invisible light ray has been detected with the desired picture corresponding to said replacement area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein in said shooting step, said present picture is shot within a fixed shooting range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein a wavelength of said invisible light ray is longer than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein a wavelength of said invisible light ray is shorter than the wavelength of a visible light ray.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein in said detecting step, said invisible light ray is detected at a picture element pixel density that is the same as a picture element pixel density used by a camera for shooting said subject.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein in said key signal generation step, the key signal is generated having a first value indicating a picture element pixel where said invisible light ray has been detected and a second value indicating a picture element pixel where said invisible light ray has not been detected.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
The picture replacement method of claim 14, wherein in response to said key signal indicating that a present picture element pixel is to be replaced, said replacing step replaces said present picture element pixel with a picture element pixel of the desired picture matched thereto, and in response to said key signal indicating that a present picture element pixel is not to be replaced, said replacing step keeps said present picture element pixel unchanged.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4823183A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |