JPH0215788A - Special effect device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the fade in and fade out of video signals at a low cost with a simple circuit by selecting either video signals or graphic patterns in which the mixing rate of white and black picture elements or transparent picture elements successively changes at a high speed and combining the video signals and graphic patterns in the same picture. CONSTITUTION:Video signals from a video signal input means 11 and graphic patterns from a pattern generating means 12 are inputted to an output selecting means 13. An output selection controlling means 14 controls the means 13 so that video signals can be selected to picture elements in which black elements are scattered in white elements in a graphic pattern and graphic patterns can be selected to the picture elements other than the above-mentioned black-and-white pattern. Therefore, video signals are displayed in the black-and-white pattern in a displaying means 15. When plural patterns are successively generated by means of the pattern generating means so that the areal ratio of the black picture elements can gradually decrease from the pattern in which the areal ratio of black elements in minute areas 100% to the pattern in which the areal ratio is 0%, a fade-in effect in which the video signals gradually become brighter is obtained. When plural graphic patterns are generated so that the areal ratio can gradually increase, a fade-out effect in which the video signals gradually become darker can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a special effects device for video signals.

2. Description of the Related Art As a special effect for video signals, superimposition, which combines video signals with graphics and characters, has been put into practical use in many special effects devices. There is also a fade-in, which is an effect in which a video image gradually becomes clearer, and a fade-out, which is an effect in which a video image that has been on display gradually fades and disappears. Often used at the beginning and end of a scene.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of a special effects device that realizes all of the conventional superimpose, fade-in, and fade-out functions. In FIG. 7, 71 is a video signal input means for inputting a video signal; 72 is a brightness conversion means for converting the brightness of the video signal obtained from the video signal input means 71; 73
74 is a graphic/character generating means for generating graphics and characters, and 74 is a means for quickly selecting which of the video signal obtained from the luminance conversion means 72 and the graphics/characters obtained from the graphic/character generating means 73 to be output on the same screen. 76 is an output selection control means for controlling the output selection means 74; and 76 is a display means for displaying the signal obtained from the output selection means 74.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the input signal and the output signal in the brightness converting means 72 of the special effects device having the structure shown in FIG. 8th
In the figure, changing the slope α of the brightness conversion function in the direction of increasing from 0 degrees to 46 degrees over time produces the 7 fade-in effect, and conversely, changing the slope α of the brightness conversion function in the direction of decreasing from 46 degrees to 0 degrees produces the fade-out effect. Obtainable.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional special effects device having the configuration shown in FIG. 7, a brightness conversion means 72 is required to realize the fade-in/fade-out effect. This brightness conversion means is realized by a multiplier if the video signal is a digital signal. However, this multiplier must be high-speed to withstand video signal processing, which has led to an increase in the complexity and cost of special effects equipment for realizing superimposed fade-in and fade-out.

In addition, with the conventional special effects device having the configuration shown in Fig. 7, it is possible to fade in from any color such as skin tone or gray, fade out to any color, and even fade in from an image drawn by a computer. It was not possible to achieve the special effect of fading into an image.

In view of these points, the present invention is a special system that can realize fade-in and fade-out of superimposed video signals with a simple circuit and low cost, and also realize fade-in and fade-out of video signals from arbitrary colors and computer images. The purpose is to provide an effect device.

Means for Solving the Problems The special effects device according to the present invention includes a video signal input means for inputting a video signal, and a graphic pattern (in which the mixing ratio of white pixels and black pixels or the mixing ratio of transparent pixels sequentially forms).
a pattern generating means capable of sequentially generating a salt-and-pepper graphic pattern (hereinafter referred to as a salt-and-pepper graphic pattern), and which of the video signal obtained from the video signal input means and the graphic pattern obtained from the pattern generating means is output to the display means. output selection means for synthesizing both on the same screen by selecting at high speed, output selection control means for controlling the output selection means, and display means for displaying the signal obtained from the output selection means. It is something.

Further, the pattern generating means may generate a salt-and-pepper pattern colored by a color lookup table whose contents can be updated.

Operation In the special effects apparatus configured as described above, first, a video signal to be faded in or faded out is inputted to the video signal input means. Next, a salt and pepper graphic pattern is generated by the pattern generating means. A video signal obtained from the video signal input means and a graphic pattern obtained from the pattern generation means are input to an output selection means. The output selection control means controls the output selection means so that the video signal obtained from the video input means is selected for pixels arranged in a salt-and-pepper pattern in the graphic pattern, and the graphic pattern is selected for other pixels. . As a result of the above, the video signal is displayed in a salt and pepper manner on the display means. By the way, human vision perceives an image in which each pixel is automatically black as having intermediate brightness based on the area ratio of white pixels to black pixels in a minute area. Because of this property, if the pixels other than the pixels arranged in a salt-and-pepper pattern that are outputting a video signal are black, the video signal displayed in a salt-and-pepper pattern will be compared to a slightly darker version of the input video signal. It can be felt visually. Therefore, from a pattern where the area ratio of black pixels in a minute area is 100% to a pattern where the area ratio of black pixels is 0%,
If the pattern generating means sequentially generates a plurality of patterns so that the area ratio gradually decreases, a fade-in effect is created in which the video signal gradually becomes brighter, but if the area ratio increases, the fade-in effect is produced. This creates a fade-out effect in which the video signal gradually becomes darker.

When the pattern generation means generates a colored pattern through a color lookup table, the pattern generated by the pattern generation means is fixed to one type and output as a frame pattern based on the contents of the color lookup table. be able to.

By updating the contents of this color lookup table, a pattern in which the area ratio of black pixels in a small area gradually decreases is generated one after another, and a fade-in effect in which the video signal gradually becomes brighter can be created. If the area ratio is increased, a fade-out effect can be obtained in which the video signal gradually becomes darker.

If pixels other than the pixels arranged in a salt-and-pepper pattern to which video signals are output are made into arbitrary colors or graphic images, it is possible to easily realize fade-in/fade-out with an arbitrary surrounding image.

Example FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a video signal input means for inputting a video signal, 12 is a pattern generation means for generating graphic patterns and characters, and 13 is a video signal obtained from the video signal input means 11 and a pattern generation means 12. 14 is an output selection control means for controlling the output selection means 13; 16 is a signal obtained from the output selection means 13; This is a display means for displaying.

The output selection control means 14 outputs a color register 16 that specifies a certain color, outputs an H level signal when the color of the input graphic pattern matches the color in the color register, and outputs an L level signal when the color does not match. It consists of a coincidence detection means 17 which outputs to the means 13. The output selection means 13 is comprised of a multiplexer 18 that selects a video signal when the control signal from the coincidence detection means 17 is at H level, and selects a graphic pattern when it is at L level.

A case will be described in which fading in from black is achieved in the first embodiment. First, a video signal to be faded in is input to the video signal input means 11. A color other than black, for example white, is set in the color register 16. The pattern generation unit 12 generates a graphic pattern filled with minute patterns as shown in FIG. In the case of fade-in, the pattern generating means 11 first generates a minute pattern 21.
Generates a graphic pattern filled with . The graphic pattern filled with the minute patterns 21 is an entirely black pattern. When this graphic pattern is input to the matching detection means 17, every pixel is
Since the color does not match the white color in 6, an L level control signal is input to the multiplexer 18, and only the entire black of the graphic pattern is displayed on the display means 16. Next, the pattern generation means 11 generates a graphic pattern filled with minute patterns 22. When this graphic pattern is input to the matching detection means 17, 2 out of 16 pixels
Only two of the pixels match the white color in the color register 16,
Only at this time, an H level control signal is input to the multiplexer 18, and the display means 16 displays video signals for only 2 pixels out of 16 pixels and black for the others, and 12 pixels of the original video signal are displayed.
．． Human vision perceives a video signal that is 6% darker.

Similarly, when the pattern generation means 11 sequentially generates graphic patterns filled with minute patterns 23 to 29, the video signal is displayed on the display means 16 so as to gradually become brighter and clearer. A fade-in effect can be achieved.

Conversely, by sequentially changing the configuration of the generated graphic pattern from the minute pattern 29 to the minute pattern 21, a fade-out effect can be achieved.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 31 is a video signal input means for inputting a video signal, 32 is a pattern generation means for generating graphic patterns and characters, and 33 is a video signal input means 31.
Output selection means 34 selects at high speed which of the video signal obtained from the above output and the pattern obtained from the pattern generation means 32 to output and synthesizes both on the same screen; 34 is an output selection control means for controlling the output selection means 33; , 36 is a display means for displaying the signal obtained from the output selection means 33. The output selection means 33 and the output selection control means 34 are the same as the output selection means 13 and the output selection control means 14 of the first embodiment. The pattern generation means 32 includes a color number pattern generation means 36 and a color lookup table 37 that associates the color numbers and colors obtained from the color number pattern generation means 36.

Achieving fade-in from black in the second embodiment'
Let's discuss the case. Since the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the part that generates the salt-and-pepper graphic pattern, only the operation of the pattern generating means 32 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a minute color number pattern that fills in the color number pattern generated by the color number pattern generating means 36. The number of each square in FIG. 4 represents a color number. FIG. 6 shows the contents of the color lookup table that changes sequentially.

1 to 7 in the initial color lookup table 61
Since all the color numbers up to this point represent black, the graphic pattern output by the pattern generating means 32 is completely black. Next, when the contents of the color lookup table become 62, a graphic pattern is output in which only the pixel with color number 1 is white and the others are black, and a video signal with a brightness of 12.5% is displayed. Similarly, when the color look-up table is updated from 63 to 69, the video signal will be displayed on the display means 16 gradually becoming brighter and clearer, and a fade-in effect can be realized. can.

Conversely, by sequentially changing the color lookup table from 69 to 61, a fade-out effect can be achieved.

In both the first and second embodiments, the output selection control means is performed by color, but the output selection means is realized as shown in FIG. It is also possible to add . In FIG. 6, reference numeral 61 denotes transparent color determining means, which sets the control signal to H level if the pixels of the input graphic pattern are transparent, and otherwise sets it to L level.

By changing the black part of the graphic pattern in the first and second embodiments to another color or graphic image, it is possible to achieve fade-in/fade-out from any color or image.

The salt-and-pepper pixel arrangement of the graphic pattern in the first and second embodiments is described in the Journal of the Image Electronics Engineers of Japan, Vol. 10, 6.
(1981), pages 388 to 397, the various methods described as "3-2 dither method" may be used.

It goes without saying that in the first and second embodiments, the characters/graphics generated by the pattern generating means and the video signal can be superimposed.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize fade-in and fade-out of a superimposed video signal with a simple circuit and at low cost, and furthermore, it is possible to realize fade-in and fade-out of a video signal from any color or computer image. Since it is possible to provide a special effect device that can also realize fade-out and fade-out, its practical value is great.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a pattern diagram showing each graphic pattern in the first embodiment, Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the second embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. A color number pattern diagram in the embodiment; FIG. 6 is a content explanatory diagram of the color lookup table in the second embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another implementation example of the output selection control means, FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional special effects device, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing the function of the luminance conversion means of the conventional special effects device. 11...Video signal input means, 12...
・Pattern generation means, 13...Output selection means,
14... Output selection control means, 16...
Display means, 16... Color register, 17...
. . . Match detection means, 18 . . . Multiplexer,
31...Video signal input means, 32...
・Pattern generation means, 33...Output selection means,
34... Output selection control means, 36...
Display means, 36...Color number pattern generation means,
37...Color lookup table, 61.
. . . Transparent color determination means, 71 . . . Video signal input means, 72 . . . Luminance conversion means, 73 .
...Graphic/character generation means, 74...
- Output selection means, 75...Output selection control means,
76...Display means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other figure

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A video signal input means for inputting a video signal, a pattern generation means for sequentially generating graphic patterns with different mixing ratios of white pixels and black pixels, and a video signal obtained from the video signal input means and the pattern generation. output selection means for synthesizing both on the same screen by quickly selecting which of the graphic patterns obtained by the means is to be output to the display means; output selection control means for controlling the output selection means; 1. A special effects device comprising: display means for displaying a signal obtained from the output selection means. (2) The pattern generation means has a color number pattern generation means for fixedly assigning a color number pattern to each pixel, and a color lookup table whose contents can be automatically updated. special effects equipment. (3) Claim 1 characterized in that the pattern generation means of Claim 1 is replaced with pattern generation means that sequentially generates graphic patterns in which the mixing ratio of transparent pixels differs in sequence.
Special effects equipment as described.