Patent ID: 7301971

Claim:
A method for continuous synchronization of a plurality of independently clocked asynchronous data sources comprising: a) acquiring data units from a plurality of data sources wherein m is a total number of data sources; b) designating one of said data sources as a master data source; c) designating all other data sources except said master data source as slave data sources; d) set n=1 wherein n is one of said slave data source; d1) set p=1 wherein p is a secondary valid line for said slave data sources; e) compare a secondary valid line p for n slave data source to a reference valid line r for said master data source; e1) if secondary valid line p for n slave data source is synchronized to within a predetermined threshold of said reference valid line r go to step f); e2) if secondary valid line p for n slave data source lags said reference valid line r subtract at least one idle pixel from an interline gap in said secondary valid line and go to step e4); e3) if secondary valid line p for n slave data source leads said reference valid line r add at least one idle pixel to an interline gap in said secondary valid line and go to step e4); e4) set p=p+1 and go to step e); f) compare n to m; f1) if n is less than m, set n=n+1, go to step e); f2) if n is equals m−1, go to step g); and g) assert a lock signal.