Interweave picture comparison apparatus and method

摘要

Video signals from two different sources are interwoven with one another so that segments of one picture are intermixed evenly with segments of another picture. It is preferred that the segments be interwoven in a checkerboard pattern, with at least one pixel from each picture forming adjacent elements in the pattern. In one embodiment using a pattern in which only one pixel forms each element, a selected image in one frame of a video program can be readily aligned with the same image appearing in a different frame. Both images are visible simultaneously. The zoom and/or horizontal and vertical pan control on a telecine or other video signal source then can be used to match and align the images in size and position. In another embodiment, the checkerboard squares of the interweave pattern each can be made large enough to be seen by the naked eye. Then two images which are interwoven can be compared in their color characteristics, and one of the images can be color corrected to match the color of the other, thus greatly facilitating color matching. It is preferred that one of the video frames being compared be from an active video source such as telecine or tape player, and other be taken from digital memory. Preferably, both signals pass through the same processing circuitry so as to avoid differential degradation of the signals.