Abstract:
In an apparatus for composing image data of a main picture and image data of a sub-picture by a chroma key process, an attribute of an image contained in the sub-picture is detected, a partial area of the sub-picture is set as a chroma key mask area in accordance with the attribute detection result, and composing the image data of the main picture and the image data of the sub-picture by executing the chroma key process for an area other than the chroma key mask area without executing the chroma key process for the chroma key mask area in the sub-picture.
Abstract:
A special effect image generating apparatus provided with an image conversion processing circuit for posterization or other image conversion, a luminance and chroma condition setting circuit for image extraction by luminance and colors, a mask pattern generator for selection of a mask, and mixer for preparing a video signal, a transformation unit for transformation processing such as movement, and a post video modification unit for addition of a locus etc. The extracted image automatically tracks movement of the image so there is no change in visual effects, images having the same luminance and color conditions can be deleted by mask adjustment, movement of the image can be handled by adjustment of the mask, and highly accurate boundaries can be set by the wave-filtering and shaping circuit. Therefore, a special effect image with distinctive luminance and color can be easily prepared.
Abstract:
An additive is dispersed in a matrix having a larger thermal expansion coefficient, which forms a film that prevents the permeation of the ink at the room temperature while allowing the permeation of the ink at high temperature. An ink roller is formed by covering a roller-like sponge body containing ink (an ink holder) with the film. Along the outer circumference of the ink roller, a thermal head that heats the surface of the ink roller according to a print pattern and a platen roller that sandwiches recording sheet between itself and the ink roller are disposed. Then, by rotating the ink roller and heating the thermal head, the ink permeates through the heated part of the film and is transferred to the recording sheet to form an ink image on the recording sheet.
Abstract:
A chromokeying system includes a store that contains a representation of a known coded chromokeying pattern. The system further includes a frame grabber that grabs a video image including at least a portion of the known coded chromokeying pattern and a foreground subject. A perspective transformation computation unit computes a perspective transformation by comparing the video image of the portion of the coded chromokeying pattern with the known chromokeying pattern. The system may further include a background generation unit that receives a background image and applies the perspective transformation to the background image to produce a transformed background. The portion of the coded chromokeying pattern in the video image can then be replaced by the transformed background to create a composite image.
Abstract:
An image synthesizer for detecting an area photographs a processing object area having a predetermined hue from video data obtained through a video camera, inserts another image in the area, and then produces a synthesized image. The image synthesizer forms on the processing object area a light source image having the same hue as the processing object area, detects position information of the video camera with respect to the processing object area with the light source image as a reference, and changes the other image in correspondence with position change of the video camera with the position information as a reference. In this way, the position of the video camera is detected with the light source image as a reference, and image which is inserted is changed according to a position change of the video camera. Therefore, when the video camera is moved, an image which is inserted is also changed according to the movement, and consequently, an image with no feeling of physical disorder is obtainable.
Abstract:
A graphics blending feature for a terminal such as a home communication terminal (HCT) allows an overlay image to be selectively blended with a background image through the use of a chroma key function and one or more alpha control bits. The chroma key function is used to determine whether the overlay will be completely transparent or not, and the one or more alpha control bits are used to look up a larger alpha value used to blend the overlay and background images. By using a small number of alpha control bits to retrieve a larger alpha value for blending, memory requirements per pixel are reduced. The chroma key function may be implemented by comparing each overlay pixel value to a chroma value and, responsive to a match, making the overlay pixel transparent (i.e., no blending occurs). A dithering function is included in various embodiments to smooth out the resulting image.
Abstract:
This invention relates to an analog video merging system, and more particularly to a system that can take the output of a plurality of video cameras and form a combined video signal which can be fed to a computer having only a single frame grabber card. This system is used to track targets using multiple video cameras. The present invention is comprised of an analog video merging apparatus for merging N video signals from N video cameras. The apparatus is comprised of N video processors, each of the N processors is connected to the N video cameras in a one-to-one correspondence, wherein each of the N video processors compares the video signal associated with one of the N video cameras with a dynamic predetermined threshold level and produces a binary output signal having a low level and a high level, the low level being output if the associated video signal is below the predetermined threshold, and high level being output if the associated video signal is above the predetermined threshold. N binary combiners are provided, with each being connected to the N video processors in a one-to-one correspondence. Each combiner produces a processed binary signal having a low level and a high level, the low level being output in the presence of a low level output from the associated video processor and a high level being output in the presence of a high level from the associated video processor, wherein the high level of the processed binary signal is a unique level to that particular binary combiner such that a unique high level is output from the N binary combiners that are associated with the N video cameras. The processed binary signal for camera N is scaled by a factor of 2.sup.N-1 with respect to the other camera signals. A summing unit is provided for summing N processed binary signals from the N binary combiners to produce a merged video signal. A method of providing a merged video signal is also provided.
Abstract:
A device and method that overlays, onto a new colored background a subject clipped from a source video image having a subject moving against a first colored background. A clipping key KD is calculated which makes it possible to separate the color space representing the image into three regions, a first region defining a volume representing the first colored background, a second region defining a volume representing the subject, and a third region representing a region of transition between the first colored background and the subject. A video image VD representing the subject moving against the new colored background formed according to the formula:VD=KD.times.subject video+(1-KD).times.background video,where "subject video" and background video respectively represent a video image containing the subject and the video image of the new colored background. The above described device and method are applicable for use in apparatuses such as, for example, video mixers or autonomous devices for clipping and overlaying video images.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method effecting a linear color transformation between foreground video and insert video, in a chroma key video image. A determination is made whether a particular pel, or pixel in the foreground video image is either a full foreground pel, a full blue screen pel, or a transition pel. Predetermined "look up" tables store color values in vectorscope domain which correspond to endpoint UV foreground and endpoint full background UV blue values, for each foreground to background transition pel. A key signal related to the percent distance of each such transition pel from these two endpoints in the UV plane is created. The composite output pel is formed from the current YUV transition pel value, by subtracting the selected full blue YUV from it, and adding insert video to it in proportion to the key signal. Three methods are disclosed to determine whether the UV value of a current pel, or alternatively the UV values of pels within a spatial neighborhood of the current pel, identify the current pel as a transition pel. If so, the methods select and store full foreground and full blue transition color value endpoints, so an appropriate key signal for the composite output pel can be generated.
Abstract:
Histograms are generated for one or more of the image components. Each histogram is clipped at each end to exclude outlying values and to identify initial minimum and maximum values. Conservatism terms are included in each of the initial minimum and maximum values to generated final minimum and maximum values that are used as thresholds to define the color range used in chroma-key processing. In one embodiment, the first frame of a video sequence is designated as a chroma-key frame that is analyzed to determine the chroma-key color range.