Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-13
2001-03-06
Powell, Mary R. (Department: 2779)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Light pen for fluid matrix display panel
C248S917000, C348S497000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198468
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an on-screen display (OSD), and more particularly, to an apparatus for performing various on-screen display functions for displaying a character on a screen in various forms and a method for performing each function.
An OSD apparatus generates and displays a character in similar manner to a typical liquid crystal display (LCD) controller. However, unlike an LCD controller, the OSD apparatus displays the character together with a moving picture signal.
The OSD apparatus separates and detects horizontal and vertical synchronous signals from a composite synchronous picture signal and uses the detected horizontal and vertical signals as picture synchronous signals. An Automatic Frequency Controller (AFC) is then used to display the character synchronized with the picture signal without scattering or distortion. The AFC is part of the Phase Locked Loop (PLL) and can be any one of various types. Typically, a Frequency Synthesized PLL is used for on screen displays. The PLL is used for compensating for the phase and frequency difference of the external composite video signal. However, in the prior art, the state of synchronous signals included in the external composite video signal is erratic when a pseudo composite video signal including, for example, a guard signal, is input to the frequency synthesized PLL. The PLL cannot compensate well for erratic synchronous signals present in the composite video signal. Also, in a conventional OSD apparatus characters are displayed on a background screen or with a video signal.
Thus, there is a need for an OSD apparatus which includes new and convenient functions, consumes less power, and is small and lightweight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which performs various on-screen display (OSD) functions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which performs a half-tone conversion function in which a character display region is highlighted by darkening a character relative to a background region.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which performs a box drawing function in which a displayed character or sentence is highlighted by shading the displayed character or sentence with a box having a protruded or a recessed cubic effect.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which performs a scroll function in which the on/off character functions of the OSD are controlled by a horizontal line sequence.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which performs a blinking function which blinks a displayed character.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for performing the half-tone conversion function.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for performing the box drawing function.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for performing the scroll function.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for performing the blinking function.
To achieve an object of the invention there is provided an apparatus for performing a plurality of on-screen display functions on a character. The apparatus includes a control means for receiving user data and a system clock signal and generating serial data and a main clock signal and synchronous signal generating means coupled to said control means for receiving the main clock signal and a composite video signal, generating an equalization pulse and internal horizontal and vertical synchronous signals responsive to the main clock signal, generating an internal composite synchronous signal by synthesizing the internal equalization pulse with the internal horizontal and vertical synchronous signals, and generating an external composite synchronous signal corresponding to the composite video signal. The apparatus also includes on-screen display means for receiving the serial data and either the internal or the external composite synchronous signal from the synchronous signal generating means, generating a character signal responsive to either the internal or the external composite synchronous signals, and providing the character signal to a monitor for displaying the character.
To achieve a further object of the invention there is provided an apparatus for performing a plurality of on-screen display functions, the apparatus receiving a composite video signal and user data, the apparatus including interface means for receiving serial data having a ROM address and at least one on-screen display function and converting the serial data into parallel data and a RAM coupled to said interface means for storing the parallel data. The apparatus also includes a ROM coupled to said RAM for storing character data of a character to be displayed and level adjusting means for generating level-adjusted character data by adjusting the DC level of the character data corresponding to the parallel data. Signal synthesizing means coupled to said level adjusting means for generating a synthesized character signal by synthesizing the level-adjusted character data with either the externally input composite video signal or an internally generated background color signal and providing the synthesized character signal to a monitor for displaying the character.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4388621 (1983-06-01), Komatsu et al.
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patent: 4789855 (1988-12-01), Ozeki
patent: 4864518 (1989-09-01), Kurita
patent: 5400052 (1995-03-01), Otake et al.
patent: 5608425 (1997-03-01), Movshovich
Havan Thu-Thao
Marger & Johnson & McCollom, P.C.
Powell Mary R.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd
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