Patent No. 5128765 System for implementing the synchronized superimposition of subliminal signals
Patent No. 5128765
System for implementing the synchronized superimposition of subliminal signals (Dingwall, et al., Jul 7, 1992)
ASSIGNEE: Visual Subliminal Technologies, Inc., New York, NY
Abstract
An apparatus and system for the controlled delivery of a subliminal video and/or audio message on to a source signal from a video tape player or similar. The source signal is divided into audio and video portions. A video processor reads sychronization information from the source signal. A controller transmits a stored subliminal image at designated times to a mixer amplifier fully synchronized with the source signal. Concurrently, an audio subliminal message is applied to the source audio at a volume level regulated at some fraction to the source audio. The combined signals are transmitted to a monitor for undistracted viewing.
Notes:
Description
This invention generally relates to a system for processing a subliminal message
signal. More particularly, this invention relates to a process and apparatus
for superimposing a subliminal signal onto a continuous composite source signal
at controlled intervals.
The human cognitive process is often broken down into discrete levels of perception.
These range from conscious recognition of outside events down through varying
degrees of semi- or unconscious levels of recognition. The factors that contribute
to the level of event recognition or perception are numerous and include the
duration of the event and the degree of autonomous processing normally associated
with the event. For example, many activities reach such a level of instinctive
behavior that conscious thought is no longer involved in the individual's reaction
to the event; in appearance the reaction process becomes automated. In fact,
the individual's reaction to the event is often relegated to subconscious control,
as the individual is not consciously aware of his reaction to the event. In
this context "event" is used to describe external stimuli to an individual,
as perceived by the individual's senses, e.g., sight, hearing, touch, etc.
Subliminal perception involves the recognition by the individual of an event
on an unconscious or semi-conscious level, i.e., the individual is conscious,
but the level of sensory perception of the event is so low as to only register
on the individual's subconscious memory. An example of a subliminal event would
be a short duration image of a soft drink presented during an engrossing visual
presentation, such as a movie. Since the image of the soft drink is provided
for a fraction of a second, the viewer does not consciously perceive the image
and continues to focus on the movie. But, the split-second soft drink image
is perceived "subconsciously" and initiates a thirst drive in the
individual. It is this potential commercial exploitation of subliminal perception
that has evoked significant regulation on its use.
The use of subliminal perception has extended into the medical field and is
applied for beneficial behavioral modification. For example, instead of an image
of a soft drink, the subliminal message may include anti-smoking, or anti-eating
symbols or statements. In the case of treating anorexia nervosa, the subliminal
symbols will contain enticing visions of food in an attempt to stimulate a subconscious
hunger drive. These symbols, received on the subconscious level, will contribute
to behavior modification in accordance with an overall treatment. Furthermore,
the subliminal message can be applied as an image, a low volume audio, or a
combination of both image and audio. Low volume audio, as with the short duration
image, is perceived on a lower order of memory and, therefore, not consciously
recognized by the recipient.
Television/video systems are ideally suited for subliminal message conduits.
In practice the problems involved in adapting the standard video/TV system for
medical application of subliminal perception are numerous. To preclude improper
use of the subliminal process, the insertion of the subliminal message must
be a decentralized operation, i.e., it cannot be part of a central broadcast
signal sent to many users. Moreover, the individual must have control of the
message for proper application. Inserting the subliminal message locally, as
a separate signal to the receiver, has remained troublesome, as the insertion
process itself often distorts the source signal. For example, in U.S. Pat. No.
4,616,261, a personal computer is used to turn off the source (i.e., broadcast)
signal, insert a subliminal image and then reconnect the source signal. This
interference with the source signal will invariably distort the resulting video
image in a manner cognizable by the viewer.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a subliminal
message in the form of a short duration image, as applied during the normal
use of a conventional video system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a simplified apparatus
adaptable to a home video system for superimposing a subliminal message locally
controlled by the user.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated system
for superimposing a subliminal image at controlled intervals and a subliminal
audio signal at controlled volume onto a source signal.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for superimposing
a short duration synchronized subliminal image onto a source video signal without
distorting the source signal.
The above and other objects are realized in an apparatus and system for superimposing
a subliminal message onto a source signal. The source signal is taken from a
suitable discrete device, i.e., television receiver, video cassette recorder,
laser disk, etc., in the form of separate audio and video signals. The video
signal is processed for horizontal and vertical synchronization information.
A controller recalls a video subliminal message from integrated memory and superimposes
this message as a video signal, fully synchronized, onto the existing video
source signal. In addition, the controller optionally feeds a low volume audio
message into the source audio signal, wherein the volume level is regulated
at some fractional value of the source audio.
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The
above-described arrangement is merely illustrative of the principles of the
present invention. Numerous modifications and adaptations thereof will be readily
apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
Comments