Electronic apparatus generating video signals and process for generating video signals
View Patent ↗An electronic apparatus stores in a graphics memory a first and a second graphics object. An OSD processor generates a first digital stream which represents the first graphics object. The second graphics object is converted into picture data, for example by a main controller, and these data are written to a picture memory, from which a second digital stream is generated. A mixer combines the first and the second digital stream into a video signal to be displayed.
1. An electronic apparatus comprising:
a graphics memory storing a first and a second graphics object;
a video memory supplied by a decoder;
a pictures memory;
a main controller for;
detecting overlaps between the first and the second graphics objects;
generating an overlap cue; and
in presence of overlap, converting the second graphics object into picture data, and writing the picture data to the pictures memory;
an OSD processor, unable to manage the graphics objects that overlap, generating a first digital stream representing, in presence of overlap the first graphics object, and in absence of overlap the first graphics object and the second graphics object; and
mixing means for mixing said first digital stream, received from said OSD processor, said second digital stream, received from said still picture data, and a video stream received from the video memory, into a video signal.
2. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a means for controlling the mixing means, means for conversion and means for writing as a function of the overlap cue.
3. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the video signal is transmitted to an output connector.
4. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the means for converting the second graphics object into picture data are a piece of software executed by a main controller.
5. An electronic apparatus according to claim 1 , in which the picture memory is a stationary picture memory.
6. A process for generating a video signal, comprising the following steps:
reception of a command to display a first and a second graphics object;
detection of a possible overlap between the first and the second graphics object;
if absence of overlap, generation by an OSD processor of a digital stream representing the first graphics object and the second graphics object, and generation of a video signal based on a mixing of the digital stream with a video stream received from a memory, said OSD processor being unable to manage two graphics objects that overlap;
if presence of an overlap:
generation by said OSD processor of a first digital stream representing a first graphics object;
conversion of the second graphics object into a still picture;
writing of the still picture to a memory;
generation of a second digital stream from said still picture in the memory;
mixing of the first digital stream, received from said OSD processor, of the second digital stream, generated from said still picture received from said graphics memory and of a video stream; and
generation of a video signal from said mixture.