Image switching apparatus for producing special video effects
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsTetsuro Nakata, Naotaka Tachibana
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Image switching apparatus for selecting first or second video signals to be broadcasted, displayed or recorded, thereby producing special video effects. The output of a random noise generator is filtered by a filtering device having a variable filter characteristic that is controlled by an adjustable filter control signal. The filtered random noise signal is compared with a reference level that changes with respect to time, and the output of the comparator controls a switch to select one or the other of the video signals, depending upon whether the filtered random noise signal exceeds the changing reference level, thus producing special image switching effects.
Claims39
Apparatus for producing special video effects, comprising:
- random noise generating means for generating a random noise signal;
- filtering means for filtering the random noise signal, said filtering means having a variable filter characteristic controllable by an adjustable filter control signal;
- reference generating means for generating a reference level that changes with respect to time;
- comparator means coupled to said filtering means and said reference generating means for comparing the filtered random noise signal with said reference level;
- and switch means supplied with first and second video signals and responsive to said comparator means for selecting one or the other of said video signals as a function of whether the filtered random noise signal exceeds said reference level.
Image switching apparatus for selecting first or second video signals supplied to such apparatus, comprising:
- switch means having inputs connected to receive said first and second video signals and an output;
- and switch control means for producing a switch control signal to control said switch means to couple either said first video signal or said output video signal to said output, said switch control means including:
- random noise generating means for generating a random noise signal;
- shape control means coupled to said random noise generating means for processing the random noise signal to modify a shape in a video display of said random noise signal;
- reference generating means for generating a reference level that changes with time;
- and comparator means coupled to said shape control means and to said reference generating means for comparing the processed random noise signal to the reference level to supply a switch control signal to said switch means as a function of the comparison.
Image switching apparatus for selecting first or second video signals supplied to such apparatus, comprising:
- switch means having inputs connected to receive said first and second video signals and an output;
- and switch control means for producing a switch control signal to control said switch means to couple either said first video signal or said second video signal to said output, said switch control means including:
- random noise generating means for generating a random noise signal;
- time control means coupled to said random noise generating means for processing the random noise signal to modify changes therein over time;
- reference generating means for generating a reference level that changes with time;
- and comparator means coupled to said time control means and to said reference generating means for comparing the processed random noise signal to the reference level to supply a switch control signal to said switch means as a function of the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.