Patent ID: 7782323

Claim:
A system ( 100 ) that processes digital video data, comprising: a processor ( 110 ) that produces a digital video data stream ( 112 ); a character generator ( 200 ) that selects from one of a plurality of standard data lines ( 604 , 606 , 608 , 610 ) a selected pixel data value, the selected pixel data value being at least in part based on a representation of a character stored in a memory ( 210 ) associated with the character generator ( 200 ) inserting the selected pixel data value into the digital video bit stream ( 112 ); and wherein the character generator ( 200 ) comprises a microcontroller ( 204 ) operating as a state machine that: transitions from an all-low data state ( 908 ) corresponding to an all-low standard data line ( 606 ) to an in-phase data state ( 902 ) corresponding to an in-phase standard data line ( 604 ) if a current in-phase data bit value corresponding to a current value of the in-phase standard data line ( 604 ) is low and a next pixel data value corresponding to a next bit of the representation of the character stored in the memory ( 210 ) is high; transitions from an all-high data state ( 906 ) corresponding to an all-high standard data line ( 610 ) to the in-phase data state ( 902 ) if the current in-phase data bit value is high and the next pixel data value is low; and wherein the selected pixel data value is selected from the in-phase standard data line ( 604 ) when the state machine is in the in-phase data state ( 902 ).