Portable system for live television signal editing

• US 20020126226A1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Edmond Dudkowski
• Inventors: Dudkowski, Edmond Louis
• Granted Patent: US 7,006,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects

Abstract

A system and method for editing live television signals. This system includes: a plurality of input connectors for receiving separate input video signals, and an output connector; a mixer for generating at the output connector a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of the input video signals; a single display monitor for simultaneously displaying each of the input video signals and the output video signal; and an imager coupled between the mixer and the display monitor for causing at least three images to be displayed on the display monitor in a split-screen format, the at least three images corresponding to the input video signals and the output video signal. The system in enclosed in a portable suitcase housing.

Claims

1. A system for editing television signals comprising:

a plurality of input connectors for receiving separate input video signals, and an output connector;

a mixer for generating at said output connector a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals;

a single display monitor for simultaneously displaying each of said input video signals and said output video signal; and

an imager coupled between said mixer and said display monitor for causing at least three images to be displayed on said display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional input connector for receiving one or more input audio signals and an additional output connector, said mixer further for generating a real-time output audio signal at said additional output connector derived from at least one said input audio signal.

3. The system of claim 1, said imager comprising a first, second and third quad split PC board coupled together to generate a desired display arrangement on said display monitor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said display monitor is a single liquid crystal display (LCD) and said display monitor includes a computer VGA output.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said display monitor is factory set to a color reference standard.

6. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

an input panel coupled to said mixer comprising said plurality of input connectors for receiving said input video signals and said one or more input audio signals;

a monitor patch panel coupled between said input panel, said mixer and said imager;

an LCD driver coupled between said imager and said display monitor;

an audio monitoring system coupled to said mixer and said input panel for causing each said input audio signal and said output audio signal to be heard;

a private line (P-L) communication and tally system coupled to said mixer; and

an output panel coupled to said mixer and said P-L communication and tally system comprising each said output connector.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a portable housing for containing said system for editing television signals.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a flexible arm light attached to said housing for illuminating said system for editing television signals in low light levels.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a hood detachably attached to said housing for decreasing ambient light on said display monitor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said housing is flat black to minimize visual reflections.

11. The system of claim 7, said input panel connectors comprising at least one analog video signal connector, at least one digital video signal connector, at least one analog audio signal connector, and at least one digital audio signal connector.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said input panel, said output panel and said monitor patch panel are disposed on said housing to enable logical and quick understanding by an operator of said system for editing television signals.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said input panel is located on a left side of said housing, said output panel is located on a right said of said housing, and said monitor patch panel is located at a backside of said housing.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said input and output panels are each disposed at an angle to enable easier viewing of said input panel connectors and said output panel connectors.

15. The system of claim 7, said audio monitoring system comprising an LED display set, at least one monitor volume control, at least one loud speaker and at least one headphone connector.

16. The system of claim 7, said output panel connectors comprising at least one analog video signal connector, at least one digital video signal connector, at least one analog audio signal connector, and at least one digital audio signal connector.

17. The system of claim 16, said output panel connectors for causing said output video signal and said output audio signal to be coupled to a video recorder, a computer, a microwave device, a satellite device, and a DVD device.

18. The system of claim 1, said mixer comprising at least two time base correctors and a plurality of video transitions and special effects, said mixer further for generating a preview signal derived from at least one of said input video signals.

19. A system for editing television signals comprising:

a plurality of input connectors for receiving separate input video signals and at least one input audio signal and at least two output connectors;

a mixer for generating at one said output connector a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals and for generating at a separate output connector a real-time output audio signal derived from at least one said input audio signal;

a single display monitor for simultaneously displaying each of said input video signals and said output video signal; and

an imager coupled between said mixer and said display monitor for causing at least three images to be displayed on said display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal.

20. A system for editing television signals comprising:

a plurality of input connectors for receiving separate input video signals and at least one input audio signal and at least two output connectors;

a mixer for generating at one said output connector a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals and for generating at a separate output connector a real-time output audio signal derived from at least one said input audio signal;

a single display monitor for simultaneously displaying each of said input video signals and said output video signal;

an imager coupled between said mixer and said display monitor for causing at least three images to be displayed on said display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal; and

an audio monitoring system coupled to said mixer for causing each said input audio signal and said output audio signal to be heard.

21. A system for editing television signals comprising:

a plurality of input connectors for receiving separate input video signals and at least one input audio signal and at least two output connectors;

a mixer for generating at one said output connector a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals, for generating at a separate output connector a real-time output audio signal derived from at least one said input audio signal, and for generating a preview signal derived from at least one of said input video signals;

a single display monitor for simultaneously displaying each of said input video signals and said output video signal;

an imager coupled between said mixer and said display monitor, said imager comprising a first, second and third quad split PC board coupled together for causing at least three images to be displayed on said display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal;

an input panel coupled to said mixer comprising each of said input connectors;

a monitor patch panel coupled between said input panel, said mixer and said imager;

an LCD driver coupled between said imager and said display monitor;

an audio monitoring system coupled to said mixer and said input panel for causing each said input audio signal and said output audio signal to be heard;

a private line (P-L) communication and tally system coupled to said mixer;

an output panel coupled to said mixer and said P-L communication and tally system comprising each said output connector; and

a portable housing for containing said system for editing television signals.

22. A portable suitcase housing for containing a system for editing television signals, said system having a plurality of input connectors and an output connector, a mixer, a single display monitor, and an imager, said suitcase housing comprising an interior and exterior, a left side, a right side, a lid and a bottom, wherein said input connectors are disposed on said left side, said output connectors are disposed on said right side, said mixer is disposed in said exterior and on said bottom of said suitcase housing, and said display monitor is disposed in said lid of said suitcase housing.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving at least one input audio signal, generating a real-time output audio signal derived from at least one said input audio signals, and causing each said input audio signal and said output audio signal to be heard.

23. A method for editing television signals comprising:

receiving a plurality of input video signals;

generating a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals;

causing at least three images to be displayed on a single display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal.

25. A method for editing television signals comprising:

receiving a plurality of input video signals and at least one audio input signal;

generating a real-time output video signal derived from at least one of said input video signals and a real-time output audio signal derived from at least one said input audio signals;

causing at least three images to be displayed on a single display monitor in a split-screen format, said at least three images corresponding to said input video signals and said output video signal; and

causing each said input audio signal and said output audio signal to be heard.