Patent · US Active

Process and apparatus for blending images

US8687014B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
2References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 2009
Grant dateApr 1, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 10, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG09G2340/12
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A process and circuit for blending a foreground image (B) with a background image (A), said foreground and background images being arranged in pixels and having color representations (R, G, B). The foreground foreground image (A) has a transparency parameter (T(x,y)) in accordance with a so-called alpha plane representative of the transparency profile to apply to the foreground image. The process involves the steps of: -applying a dithering method on said alpha plane in order to convert said transparency parameter (T) into a one-bit transparency parameter (T′); -use said one-bit transparency parameter (T′) for controlling a multiplexing unit having two inputs respectively receiving the foreground image (A) and the background image (B). In one embodiment, the one-bit transparency parameter T′ into the two extreme values of a range of continuous values, for instance coded on 8 bits. The process then applies a four-pixel interpolation method to the foreground image (A) for the purpose of creating a five level transparency parameter in the blending process, and then uses the five level transparency parameter for controlling a multiplexing circuit for the purpose of achieving blending o…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.