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:
Nov. 25, 2003
Filed:
Aug. 28, 2000
Peter A. Kaczowka, Townsend, MA (US);
Ucentric Holdings, Inc., Maynard, MA (US);
Abstract
A system is disclosed for generating a video signal defining an image for display by a video display device, the video display device displaying at least one image on a video display screen providing a plurality of pixels generally arranged in a plurality of rows. The system comprises a frame buffer, an averaging device, a video signal generator, and a control module. The frame buffer has a plurality of storage locations each configured to store a pixel value, respective storage locations being associated with pixels displayed by the video display device. The averaging device, which in one embodiment is a flicker filter, is configured to receive pixel values from a plurality of storage locations and generate therefrom an average pixel value according to a predetermined function. The video signal generator is configured to receive the average pixel value and generate the video signal therefrom for use by the video display device. The control module is configured to (i) enable pixel values to be stored in the frame buffer, the pixel values comprising, (a) outside of a translucent region to be displayed on the video display screen, image information for the image, and (b) within the translucent region, in storage locations associated with alternating rows of pixels, image information for the image, and in storage locations associated with rows between the alternating rows of pixels, a predetermined pixel value; and (ii) enable pixel values to be retrieved from the frame buffer for use by the averaging device, the control module being configured to enable, for each average pixel value to be generated, pixel values from proximate rows to be retrieved so that, when an average pixel value is generated for a pixel within the translucent region, the average pixel value is the predetermined function of a pixel value comprising image information for the image and the predetermined pixel value, thereby to provide the translucent region.