Television – Monitoring – testing – or measuring – Test signal generator
Patent
1996-01-11
1999-02-23
Hsia, Sherrie
Television
Monitoring, testing, or measuring
Test signal generator
348586, 348177, H04N 1700
Patent
active
058749918
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the creation and generation of video test signals.
It is essential in the design, testing, maintenance and calibration of high quality video equipment to have access to precise test signals. The nature of the test signals that are required will vary widely from application to application and, whilst a large number of standard test patterns are available, there is a continual need for fresh test patterns to be created for specific applications.
Historically, the more complex test patterns were created optically and scanned whenever a test signal was required. More recently, digital test pattern generators have become available, and the more useful of these are programmable. Test signals are then created and stored as digital data files. The test pattern generator stores one or more such files and converts any one of them into a video signal corresponding to a stationary video test pattern or signal. A particularly useful form of test pattern generator is disclosed in WO-A-93/20659.
Software systems have been devised to simplify the creation of test signal data files. Existing systems may permit the user to specify the signal level at various sample sites along the video line or may allow him to construct a video line from a number of basic signal components such as sine waves, cosine.sup.2 pulses, colour bars and the like. Such systems may also allow the user to work at a terminal which displays a representation of the waveform enabling interactive amendment of the line signal. Once one or a number of line signals have been satisfactorily created, the corresponding data file is transferred to a test pattern generator and the test signal displayed on a video monitor. If the resulting test pattern is unsatisfactory, the data files can be re-loaded for editing in the software-driven creation system.
It will be recognised that the creation of a complex test pattern can be a time-consuming exercise even with the benefit of existing software tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus for the creation of video test signals, which enables complex line-based test signals to be produced simply and quickly.
Accordingly, the present invention consists, in one aspect, in apparatus for the creation of video test signals, comprising means for generating line signals, store means for storing said line signals; waveform display means for displaying said line signals in waveform representation; and picture display means for selectively displaying one or more of said line signals in picture representation.
Since the present invention enables each line signal or group of line signals to be viewed directly in picture representation, it can be seen immediately whether the waveforms that have been created will result in the desired test pattern. It is not necessary each time to load the test signals into a test pattern generator and view the pattern on a video monitor.
Advantageously, editing means are provided for interactive editing of each line signal from one and preferably both of the waveform and picture displays.
In a preferred form of the invention, the line signals are created in a broadcast standard-independent representation, and convertor means are provided to convert said representation. Test signals can be provided in component or composite form; in PAL formats, NTSC, SECAM or indeed other formats; and optionally in analogue or digital form.
In a further aspect, the present invention consists in apparatus for the creation of video test patterns for outputting to a video test pattern generator or the like, comprising a pattern element store holding test pattern elements in a form which is television standard-independent; means for selecting a set of stored test pattern elements which together provide a selected test pattern; display means for displaying to an operator the selected test pattern; editing means for interactive editing of the displayed test pattern; pattern store means for storing one or
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Abstract; AN 89-060219 & SU,A, 1 417 211 (EMELYANOV) Database WPI, Section EI, Week 8908, Apr. 5, 1989; Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB; Class W02; Aug. 15, 1988.
Fall Jonathan
Steinberg Victor
Tsang Chi Long
Hsia Sherrie
Kinberg Robert
Snell & Wilcox Limited
Spencer George
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