Thomson-csf Broadcast, Inc.

Thomson-csf Laboratories, Inc.

Stephen Kreinik

Renville H McMann, Jr

Martin M Novack

An adjustable source of radiation that is directable at a body to be imaged. Means are provided for converting radiation received from the body into an electronic video signal. A motion detector generates a motion-indicative signal as a function of differences between present and past video signal levels at elemental positions of the video frame. Control signal generating means are provided for generating a control signal as a function of said motion-indicative signal. The control signal is applied to the source of radiation to control the intensity thereof. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the motion detection means comprises a portion of a video noise reduction system through which the video signal is processed before the display thereof. In this preferred embodiment the control signal generating means is operative to accumulate the motion-indicative signal over a substantial period of time, preferably at least one video frame, and to generate the control signal as a function of the motion-indicative signal. In this embodiment, the control signal can be used for automatic adjustment of the noise reduction system as well as for automatic adjustment of the intensity of the source of radiation.

Video imaging with automatically controlled radiation source

The invention is applicable to an apparatus which receives a sequence of character-representative signals and which generates stroke signals that are suitable for controlling a scanned display to present the sequence of characters on the display. This type of system typically includes timing generator means for generating timing signals which are synchronized with the display scan and character storage means for storing the character-representative signals and periodically reading out character-representative signals which correspond to a character in the sequence. This type of apparatus also typically includes stroke generating means responsive to the timing signals and the character-representative signals for producing a stroke of a character to be displayed. In accordance with the invention there is provided a system for presenting predetermined adjacent characters in overlapping positions on the display. Means are provided for sensing the successive occurrence of at least one preselected pair of character-representative signals and for thereupon generating an occurrence indication. Further provided are means responsive to the occurrence indication for accelerating the readout of the stroke of the second-occurring of the preselected pair of characters. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, means are provided for storing the last-occurring portion of the stroke of the first-occurring of the preselected pair of characters. The stored stroke portion is read out in conjunction with the stroke of the second-occurring of the preselected pair of characters.

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Monsey, NY, United States of America

Stephen Kreinik