APPARATUS FOR RECORDING AND REPRODUCING SINGLE FRAME VIDEO IMAGES ON A PLURAL TRACK RECORD

• US 3,614,309 A
• Filed: 12/26/1968
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biagio S. Presti
• Original Assignee: Biagio S. Presti
• Inventors: Presti, Biagio S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Konick, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Goudeau, J. Russell
• Application Number:
  US04/787,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.6A,6.6DD 179/1.2MD 340/174.1C
• US Class Current: 386/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums

Abstract

A large number of video images are stored upon the surface of a rotating magnetic drum. Image storage is carried out by applying an image bearing video signal to a stationary recording head positioned adjacent the drum surface. Individual images are stored in circumferential bands axially displaced from one another and distributed over the entire drum surface. The drum is equipped with two independently positionable reproducing heads. These two heads are mounted on opposite sides of the drum and are arranged to generate signals that are electrically synchronized so that one head may be moved to select a new image while the other head is utilized to display a previously selected image, thereby providing for rapid selection of different images in the manner of a conventional slide projector for still slides.

Claims

1. An image recording and reproducing system comprising:

a rotating magnetic recording surface;

means for applying a plurality of single-frame video images to said surface in annular bands displaced from one another along said surface;

a magnetic signal reproducing device mounted adjacent said surface and displaceable along a line intersecting said annular bands on said surface;

indexing means for accurately positioning said magnetic signal reproducing device to reproduce a desired one of said plurality of magnetic video images;

means for generating a code corresponding to the position of said reproducing device along said line;

means for comparing said generated code with a reference code; and

means for moving said reproducing device along said line on said surface until said codes agree.

2. An image reproducing device for rapidly and repetitively reproducing single-frame video images each including two interlaced fields, comprising a rotatable magnetic recording surface, means for rotating said surface so that it completes one revolution in the time it takes to transmit a complete single-frame video image, means for recording different single-frame video images in different annular bands on said surface with the vertical synchronizing pulses of said different images in alignment along said surface, a first reproducing head mounted for movement along a line corresponding to the position of the aligned vertical synchronizing pulses of one field of said single-frame images at a particular position of said surface and a second reproducing head mounted for movement along a line corresponding to the position of the aligned vertical synchronizing pulses of the other field of said single-frame images at said position of said surface, means for selectively and independently positioning said first and second reproducing heads in operative relation to any one of said annular bands, an output terminal to which it is desired selectively to transmit said different video images, and switching means for selectively connecting either of said first and second reproducing heads to said output terminal to repetitively reproduce a given one of said images while positioning the other of said head in alignment with a different band corresponding to a different one of said video images.

3. The arrangement set forth in claim 2, wherein said selective positioning means includes means for generating a first signal corresponding to a desired position of one of said reproducing heads, means for developing a second signal corresponding to the actual position of said one reproducing head, means for comparing said first anD second signals to develop an error signal, and means utilizing said error signal to move said one head to said desired position.

4. The arrangement set forth in claim 2, wherein said selective positioning means includes means for generating a code corresponding to a desired position of one of said reproducing heads, means for driving one head along said line and developing pulses corresponding to a predetermined increment of movement of said one head, a counter, means for supplying said developed pulses to said counter to change the setting thereof in accordance with movement of said one head, code comparing means for comparing said generated code an the setting of said counter, and means controlled by said comparing means for stopping said driving means when said one head is driven to said desired position.

5. The arrangement set forth in claim 4, which includes means connected to said one head and responsive to the maximum signal reproduced therefrom for controlling said driving means to position said one head in maximum signal developing relation to the recorded video image at the desired position of said generated code.

6. An image recording and reproducing system comprising:

a rotating magnetic storage drum;

means for applying a plurality of single-frame video images to the surface of said drum in circumferential bands axially displaced from one another along the surface of said drum;

a magnetic signal reproducing device mounted adjacent the surface of said drum and axially displaceable across the surface of said drum;

indexing means for accurately positioning said magnetic signal reproducing device to reproduce a desired one of said plurality of magnetic video images;

means for generating a code corresponding to the positioning of the reproducing device;

means for comparing said generated code with a reference code; and

means for moving said reproducing device axially along the surface of the cylinder until said codes agree.

7. The image recording and reproducing system of claim 6 in which said means for generating a code corresponding to drum positioning comprises a plurality of different magnetic index marks located on a surface of said drum, one of said index marks corresponding to each of said image storage locations, and means positionable with said magnetic signal reproducing device for detecting said index marks.