The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1996
Edwin S Thompson, Campbell Hall, NY (US);
Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, Boca Raton, FL (US);
Abstract
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objects are realized in an apparatus and method for superimposing text information on a video background signal. The apparatus includes means to input the video background signal, a text generator for generating a text signal containing the text information to be superimposed on the video background signal and automatic contrast circuit means for selectively controlling the brightness of the text signal to maintain at least a predetermined minimum contrast between the brightness of the text signal and the brightness of the video background signal as the brightness of the video background signal varies. The automatic contrast means maintains at least a predetermined minimum contrast by adding a predetermined amount of brightness to a first text signal generated by the text generator above the brightness of the video background signal to provide a second text signal for superimposing on the video background signal. The automatic contrast means may also include a comparison means to compare the brightness contrast between the first text signal and the video background signal and if the brightness of the first text signal is sufficiently greater than the brightness of the video background signal to provide a contrast greater than or equal to the predetermined minimum contrast, the brightness of the first text signal is not increased and is superimposed as the second text signal on the video background signal.