Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Patent
1991-03-08
1993-06-08
Groody, James J.
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
358 17, 358 41, 358 33, H04N 968
Patent
active
052184331
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a real-time signal processing circuit which is particularly, but not exclusively, adapted for processing signals received from a scanning device so as to produce signals for driving a colour monitor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A scanning device, such as a scanning electron microscope or a television camera, on scanning an object produces a number of signals which relate to characteristics of the object, together with synchronising and blanking signals. The synchronising signals are issued at the beginning of each line scanned and the blanking signals issue at the end of each line scanned. Vertical synchronising and blanking signals issue at the beginning and end, respectively, of each field scanned. The scan which the scanning device performs is known as a raster scan. In particular, with respect to a scanning electron microscope, signals can be generated by detectors relating to the detection of secondary electrons generated from the scanned object and backscattered electrons both pursuant to the incidence of a scanning beam of the electron microscope on the surface of the object. As discussed in the specification of Australian Patent No. 549,193 it is desirable to provide means which processes, in real-time, the signals produced by the detectors of a scanning electron microscope so that the processed signals may be used in directly driving a colour monitor. Thus characteristics of the scanned object at a particular location thereon can be rapidly determined using the display produced on the colour monitor by the processed signals, which are representative of the characteristics. Also it is desirable to provide real-time processing means which enables the signals used to drive the colour monitor to each be derived from one or more of the signals generated by a scanning device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a real-time signal processing circuit comprising:
means for receiving input signals generated by a scanning device;
means for obtaining a synchronising signal and a first blanking signal from said receiving means;
means for selectively generating colour output signals from said input signals, each colour output signal being derived from one or a combination of said input signals; and
means for including a blanking output signal in said colour output signals in response to said first blanking signal and outputting said colour output signals and said synchronising signal.
Preferably the said circuit includes means for respectively adjusting the level of said colour output signals.
Preferably said adjusting means is adapted to alter the DC voltage level of said colour output signals. Preferably said adjusting means is also adapted to separately adjust a gain applied to said colour output signals.
Preferably said input signals include characterising signals which represent respective characteristics of a scanned subject and each colour output signal includes a selected percentage of said characterising signals and also preferably said inverted characterising signals.
Preferably said generating means includes means for inverting said characterising signals and varying the gain of the characterising signals and of the inverted characterising signals.
Preferably said generating means is adapted such that said selected percentage is variable with respect to each colour output signal.
Preferably said obtaining means includes sync separator means for generating said synchronising signal from said input signals and blanking generator means for generating said first blanking signal from said synchronising signal.
The obtaining means may include means for delaying the synchronising signal by a first predetermined period of time which is equivalent to the period of time which the characterising signals are delayed by the signal processing circuit before being outputted in a representative form as the colour output signals.
The obtaining means may also include means for delaying the first blanking sign
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McNamee Robert C.
Ward John V.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Groody James J.
Murrell Jeffrey S.
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