Television – Image signal processing circuitry specific to television – Selective image modification
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-03
2001-01-30
Faile, Andrew I. (Department: 2711)
Television
Image signal processing circuitry specific to television
Selective image modification
C348S576000, C345S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181384
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image converting apparatus suitable for a special effect image editing apparatus for performing various processes for an image of an input video signal, in particular, to an image converting apparatus for converting an input video image into an image with various metallic lusters.
2. Related Prior Art
A special effect image editing apparatus performs various processes for an image of an input video signal. Typical special effect processes performed by a conventional special effect editing image apparatus include enlarging an image, reducing an image, moving an image, rotating an image, emphasizing the contour of an image, shading off an image, color-inverting an image, and color- converting an image. Such a special effect image editing apparatus is used to generate an impressive image.
In addition, a special effect process for changing the texture of a substance is desired. In other words, assuming that there is a doll made of ceramic, even if the colors of the image of the doll are changed, the contour thereof is emphasized, or the image is shaded off, the texture of the ceramic is not substantially changed. When reflected light of a metal can be represented for such an image, the image of the doll made of ceramics can be converted into an image of a doll made of gold or silver. Thus, when a special effect process for changing the texture of a substance can be performed, an image that has a completely different impression from the original image can be reproduced. Consequently, a very interesting image can be generated.
A special effect process for converting an input image into an image with various metallic lusters requires calculations for the image conversion. It is necessary to analyze reflected light of the metal and perform calculations corresponding to the analyzed results. To do that, a model of reflected light for metallic lusters is created. With the model, the calculation process for generating metallic lusters is considered. However, a model of reflected light is represented in three dimensions. On the other hand, a conventional video signal is represented in two dimensions rather than three dimensions. Thus, it is difficult to perform a process for converting a video signal into an image with a metallic luster using the model of the conventional reflected light.
In addition, since there are various patterns as input images, even if the process for generating a metallic luster is performed for an input image, a proper effect may not take place. In addition, in the case that the variations in the brightness of the input image is small, the image may be equally colored. Thus, in this case, a metallic luster may not take place. In contrast, when the variations in the brightness of the input image is large, the resultant image glares and thereby appears as an unsmooth image. Consequently, when the input signal is a video signal, it should be processed corresponding to the pattern.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image converting apparatus for converting an image of an input video signal into an image with a metallic luster and representing a metallic luster with parameters designated corresponding to the input image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other disadvantages of the prior art systems are overcome by the present invention of an image converting apparatus for converting an image of an input video signal into an image with a metallic luster, comprising a brightness signal extracting means for extracting a brightness signal component from the input video signal, a parameter designating means for designating parameters for converting the image, and a calculating means for performing calculations for generating a metallic luster for the image of the input video signal with the brightness signal extracted by the brightness signal extracting means and the parameters designated by the parameter designating means.
In the preferred embodiment the calculating means is composed of a look-up table. An amplitude designating means, disposed ahead of the calculating means in the signal processing, designates an amplitude characteristic of the input brightness signal supplied to the calculating means. A combining means, disposed after the calculating means in the signal processing, combines a video signal that has been image-converted by the calculating means and the input video signal corresponding to a key signal.
The present invention is furthermore an image converting method for converting an image of an input video signal into an image with a metallic luster, comprising the steps of extracting a brightness signal component from the input video signal, designating parameters for converting the image, and performing calculations for generating a metallic luster for the image of the input video signal with the brightness signal that has been extracted and the parameters that have been designated.
Generally, reflected light of an opaque substance is composed of diffusion reflected light and mirror-surface reflected light. With a model of reflected light of diffusion reflected light and mirror-surface reflected light, a model of reflected light of an opaque substance can be represented. Although the model of the reflected light is three-dimensional data, assuming that the brightness of the input video signal linearly varies, the model of the reflected light can be represented with brightness data. With a circuit that performs such calculations, a circuit that converts an input image into an image with a metallic luster can be accomplished.
When the circuit that performs such calculations is a look-up table, the circuit structure can be simplified. In addition, the process can be performed at high speed. Moreover, with parameters designated, an image of a substance with an optimum metallic luster can be reproduced on real-time basis.
When a pre-modifying circuit is disposed at an upstream stage from the circuit that performs the calculations, the dynamic range of a look-up table can be properly designated. In addition, with a key processor, a process for generating an image with a metallic luster can be performed when the brightness level exceeds a predetermined value.
The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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(Foley, van Dam, et al; Computer Graphics: Principles & Practice, 2nd Ed.; Chapter 16, Illumination & Shading), 1990.
Hayatsu Yuichi
Ito Kazumasa
Kurashige Masafumi
Nakahashi Teruyuki
Watanabe Osamu
Brown Reuben M.
Crosby, Heafey Roach & May
Faile Andrew I.
Shaw, Jr. Philip M.
Sony Corporation
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