CABLELESS ACOUSTICALLY LINKED UNDERWATER TELEVISION SYSTEM

• US 3,688,029 A
• Filed: 09/23/1968
• Issued: 08/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otto E. Bartoe Jr, Ronald D. Wertz, Virgil R. Tucker
• Original Assignee: Otto E. Bartoe Jr, Ronald D. Wertz, Virgil R. Tucker
• Inventors: Bartoe, Otto E. Jr., Tucker, Virgil R., Wertz, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eckert, Jr., Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US04/761,469
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 325/28,103,316,56,26 340/5MP,5T 178/6.8,6B,DIG.3,16BWR 179/1UW,2P,2TV
• US Class Current: 348/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/005 using at least one opto-electrical conversion device

Abstract

A cableless television system for viewing an underwater scene and acoustically transmitting data indicative of the scene to the surface for substantially immediate presentation. The system generates data signals indicative of the camera scene at a predetermined slow scan rate and utilizes data encoding prior to conversion to acoustic energy for transmission. After transmission, the received acoustic energy is reconstituted for video presentation and/or recording. Three separate modes of operation are provided - an FM mode, a delta modulation mode, and a PCM mode. The system also includes acoustical transmission of commands for remote control of the underwater unit and circuitry for verifying unit performance and establishing location.

Claims

1. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene, said video camera including a vidicon tube having a camera sequencer for controlling beam chopping, vertical and horizontal sweep generators, and a frame time decoder for controlling the vertical and horizontal sweeps to produce a camera scene having a predetermined number of lines, said camera sequencer including a scan controller, an oscillator, a one-shot multivibrator receiving the output from said oscillator, and an OR gate connected to receive the output from said one-shot multivibrator and supplying an output to said blanking circuit, and wherein said frame time decoder includes horizontal and vertical selector switches for selecting one of a plurality of lines of a camera scene, signal processing means connected to receive the output from said vidicon tube and provide a gated video output, and vidicon tube control means for controlling sweep, said control means including a blanking circuit for chopping the input to said vidicon tube to disrupt the vidicon beam in a predetermined pattern;

slow scan camera readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate less than real time;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing modulated output signals;

first trAnsducer means connected with said modulating means for converting said modulated output signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same;

second transducer means for receiving said transmitted acoustic energy and substantially reconverting the same to said modulated output signals;

demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals from said second transducer means and substantially reproducing said video data therefrom; and

utilization means for receiving said video data and substantially reproducing said camera scene.

2. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

slow scan camera readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate less than real time;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing modulated output signals, said modulating means including a comparator receiving the output from said video camera, an analog-to-digital two-bit converter connected to receive the error output from said comparator and provide an output to said first transducer means, a twenty-four word one-shot multivibrator receiving an output from said analog-to-digital converter and providing line synchronization to said video camera, a digital-to-analog two-bit converter connected to receive an output from said analog-to-digital two-bit converter, and an integrator connected to receive the output from said digital-to-analog two-bit converter and providing a second input to said comparator;

first transducer means connected with said modulating means for converting said modulated output signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same;

second transducer means for receiving said transmitted acoustic energy and substantially reconverting the same to said modulated output signals;

demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals from said second transducer means and substantially reproducing said video data therefrom; and

utilization means for receiving said video data and substantially reproducing said camera scene.

3. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

slow scan camera readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate less than real time;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing modulated output signals;

first transducer means connected with said modulating means for converting said modulated output signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same;

second transducer means for receiving said transmitted acoustic energy and substantially reconverting the same to said modulated output signals;

demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals from said second transducer means and substantially reproducing said video data therefrom, said demodulating means including a data detector receiving a demodulated output from said second transducer means;

a bit synchronizer connected to receive said demodulated output from said second transducer means and provide an input to said data detector;

a bit storage unit receiving the output from said data detector and said bit synchronizer, a two-bit buffer having a most significant bit section receiving the output from said bit storage unit and a least significant bit section receiving the output from said data detector, a digital-to-analog two-bit converter receiving the output from said two-bit buffer, an integrator receiving the output from said digital-to-analog two-bit converter and providing an output to said utilization means, a line synchronization limit detector connected to receive the output from said integrator, an AND gate connected to receive the outputs from said line synchronization limit detector;

an inverted output from said data detector, and the output from said bit storage unit, and a flip-flop connected to receive the outputs from said AND gate and said bit synchronizer aNd providing an output to said most significant bit section of said two-bit buffer; and

utilization means for receiving said video data and substantially reproducing said camera scene.

4. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

slow scan camera readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate less than real time;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing modulated output signals, said modulating means including a four-bit analog-to-digital converter for receiving the output from said video camera, a bit rate generator the output of which is coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, a twelve-word one-shot multivibrator receiving the output from said analog-to-digital converter and an output from said video camera and providing an output pulse to said video camera for line synchronization, a one-word one-shot multivibrator receiving a start pulse from said twelve-word one-shot multivibrator, a four-zero generator, an FSK oscillator the output of which is connected with said second transducer means, a switch connecting said FSK oscillator with said four-zero generator when in one position and with said analog-to-digital converter when in the other position, the position of said switch being controlled by said one-word one-shot multivibrator;

first transducer means connected with said modulating means for converting said modulated output signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same;

second transducer means for receiving said transmitted acoustic energy and substantially reconverting the same to said modulated output signals;

demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals from said second transducer means and substantially reproducing said video data therefrom; and

utilization means for receiving said video data and substantially reproducing said camera scene.

5. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

slow scan camera readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate less than real time;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing modulated output signals;

first transducer means connected with said modulating means for converting said modulated output signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same;

second transducer means for receiving said transmitted acoustic energy and substantially reconverting the same to said modulated output signals;

demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals from said second transducer means and substantially reproducing said video data therefrom, said demodulating means including a data detector receiving a demodulated output from said second transducer means, a bit synchronizer receiving a demodulated output from said second transducer means and providing an output to said data detector, an eight-bit shift register receiving the output from said data detector and said bit synchronizer, an eight-bit decoder for receiving the output from said eight-bit shift register and providing an output if all bits are ones, a flip-flop receiving the output from said eight-bit decoder, an AND gate connected to receive an output from said flip-flop, a four-zero decoder connected to the least most significant bit section of said eight-bit shift register and providing an output to said AND gate, said AND gate providing an output to said flip-flop, a word sync generator receiving a reset output from said AND gate, a word buffer receiving outputs from the least most significant section of said eight-bit shift register and said word sync generator, a digital-to-analog converter receiving the outputs from said word buffer, a switch connecting said digital-to-analog converter with said utilization means in one position, and a switch control receiving an output from said flip-flop to thereby control thE position of said switch; and

utilization means for receiving said video data and substantially reproducing said camera scene.

6. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene and producing video data indicative thereof;

control signal generating means for generating control signals;

control means receiving said control signals for controlling operation of said video camera in response to said received control signals, said control means including a command receiver and command decoding means having a detector, discrete command filters, and a command decoder, said command decoder including a latch circuit receiving a binary coded signal, a clock regenerator receiving said binary coded signal, a three-bit address circuit receiving the output from said latch circuit, a controller receiving the outputs from said latch circuit and said clock regenerator, and a matrix receiving the outputs from said three-bit address circuit and said controller and providing decoded output signals therefrom;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said video camera and producing modulated output signals therefrom;

demodulating means for substantially reproducing said video data from received modulated output signals;

utilization means for receiving said reproduced video data and substantially reconstructing said camera scene therefrom; and

acoustic linking means connected with said modulating means, control signal generating means, control means and demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals and said control signals, converting said signals to acoustic energy for transmission, and reconverting said energy to substantially reproduce said signals after transmission.

7. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene and producing video data indicative thereof;

control signal generating means for generating control signals;

control means receiving said control signals for controlling operation of said video camera in response to said received control signals;

modulating means for receiving said video data from said video camera and producing modulated output signals therefrom;

demodulating means for substantially reproducing said video data from received modulated output signals;

utilization means for receiving said reproduced video data and substantially reconstructing said camera scene therefrom;

acoustic linking means connected with said modulating means, control signal generating means, control means and demodulating means for receiving said modulated output signals and said control signals, converting said signals to acoustic energy for transmission, and reconverting said energy to substantially reproduce said signals after transmission; and

first command verification means to produce a verification signal indicative of command receipt by said control means, and second command verification means connected with said acoustic linking means to receive said verification signal therefrom and producing an output signal for coupling to said utilization means.

8. An acoustically linked television system, comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

slow scan readout means for producing video data signals at a predetermined rate that is indicative of said camera scene;

video data modulating means for receiving said video data signals and producing video data modulated output signals therefrom;

command encoding means for producing encoded command signals;

command transmitter means connected with said command encoding means for transmitting said encoded signals;

command decoding means for receiving and decoding said encoded command signals;

control means for receiving said decoded command signals and responsive thereto for controlling operation of said video camera, said slow scan readout means, and said video data modulating means;

video data demodulating means for demodulating received video data modulated output signals;

display means for substantiaLly reconstructing a camera scene from said demodulated video data signals;

acoustic linking means for receiving said video data modulated signals and said command modulated signals and converting said signals to acoustic energy for transmission, said acoustic energy being reconverted after transmission to substantially reproduce said input signals coupled to said linking means; and

command verification means linked by said linking means whereby verification of receipt of said command signals is obtained.

9. An acoustically linked television system for viewing an underwater camera scene, said system comprising:

an underwater unit including a video camera for recording a camera scene, lighting means for lighting said camera scene, slow scan readout means for producing video data at a predetermined rate with said data being indicative of said camera scene, video data processing means for receiving said video data from said slow scan readout means and producing video data output signals, and control means for controlling operation of said underwater unit;

a surface unit including command means for producing command signals, video data processing means for receiving video data after transmission, and display means for substantially reproducing a camera scene from received video data processed by said surface unit video data processing means; and

acoustic linking means having a first section connected with said underwater unit and a second section connected with said surface unit whereby command signals are converted to acoustic energy at said first section and transmitted through the water to said second section where said signals are reconverted from acoustic energy to said command signals to control said control means in said underwater unit, and whereby said video data signals are converted to acoustic energy at said second section and transmitted through the water to said first section where said signals are reconverted from acoustic energy to video data signals which are processed to produce said camera scene at said display means.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said video data processing means in said underwater unit includes modulating means for producing a modulated output signal, and wherein said data processing means in said surface unit includes demodulating means for demodulating received signals modulated in said underwater unit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said modulating means includes a voltage controlled oscillator, a delta modulator, and a PCM modulator, and wherein said demodulating means includes an FM demodulator, a delta modulation decoder, and a pulse code modulation decoder.

12. An acoustically linked television system for viewing an underwater camera scene, said system comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

strobe lighting means for lighting said camera scene;

slow scan readout means for producing a predetermined rate video data output that is indicative of said camera scene;

FM data mode signal processing means including a voltage controlled oscillator;

delta mode signal processing means including a delta modulation encoder;

PCM mode signal processing means including a pulse code modulation encoder;

a frequency shift keying voltage controlled oscillator;

first switch means for selecting one of said signal processing modes and connecting said frequency shift keying voltage controlled oscillator with said delta modulation encoder and said pulse code modulation encoder when selected;

a data transmitter connected with the signal processing mode selected;

a first transmit-receive switch connected to said data transmitter;

a command receiver connected with said first transmit-receive switch;

a detector connected to said command receiver;

a command decoder means connected with said detector;

means for connecting said command decoder means with said video camera to control operation of the same;

a first hydrophone and projector connected with said first transmit-receive switch for converting video data signals froM said data transmitter into acoustic energy and transmitting said acoustic energy through the water, and for receiving acoustic energy indicative of camera signals transmitted through the water and converting the same into said command signals to be coupled through said transmit-receive switch to said command receiver;

a video data receiver;

an FM demodulator connected with said video data receiver;

an FM mode receiving channel including a buffer amplifier;

delta modulation and PCM modulation receiving channels including a data detector, bit synchronization means, a delta modulation decoder and pulse code modulation decoder;

second switching means for selecting one of said receiving channels;

a TV monitor connected with said second switching means;

a film recorder connected with said TV monitor;

a command signal encoder;

a command transmitter connected with said command signal encoder;

a second transmit-receive switch connected with said command transmitter and said video data receiver; and

a second hydrophone and projector connected with said second transmit-receive switch for converting command signals from said command transmitter into acoustic energy and transmitting said acoustic energy through the water and for receiving acoustic energy indicative of video data signals transmitted through the water and converting the same into said video data signals to be coupled through said second transmit-receive switch to said video data receiver.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said video data transmitter and receiver are caused to operate at approximately 14.5 kHz and said command transmitter and receiver caused to operate at approximately 9.25 kHz.

14. A cableless underwater unit for producing a camera scene and transmitting an intelligence signal indicative thereof, said unit comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

strobe lighting means for lighting said camera scene;

slow scan readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene at a predetermined rate;

an FM mode channel including a voltage controlled oscillator;

a delta mode channel including a delta modulation encoder;

a PCM mode channel including a PCM modulation encoder;

switching means for selecting one of said channels;

a data transmitter connected with said selected channel;

a command receiver for receiving external command signals;

a detector connected between said command receiver and video camera;

a PCM decoder and switch means connected between said detector and said video camera; and

transducer means connected with said command receiver and said data transmitter for receiving modulated output signals from said data transmitter and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same, and for receiving acoustic energy indicative of command signals and converting said acoustic energy into command signals for external control of said unit.

15. A surface unit for controlling and reproducing an acoustically transmitted camera scene, said surface unit comprising:

hydrophone and projector means for receiving acoustic energy bearing camera scene intelligence and converting said energy into video signals, and for receiving command signals and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting said energy;

a transmit-receive switch connected with said hydrophone and projector means;

a data receiver connected with said transmit-receive switch;

an FM demodulator connected with said data receiver to receive video signals therefrom;

an FM mode channel;

a data detector;

a delta mode channel having a delta encoder connected with said data detector;

a PCM mode channel having a PCM decoder connected with said data detector;

a TV monitor;

switching means for selecting one of said channels for connection between said frequency discriminator and said TV monitor;

a film recorder connected with said TV monitor;

a command generator; and

a command transmitter the output of which is coupled to said transmit-receive Switch.

16. An acoustically linked television system for viewing an underwater camera scene, said system comprising:

an underwater unit including a video camera for recording a camera scene, lighting means for lighting said camera scene, readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene, video data processing means for receiving said video data from said readout means and producing video data output signals, and control means for controlling operation of said underwater unit;

a surface unit including command means for producing command signals, video data processing means for receiving video data after transmission, and display means for substantially reproducing a camera scene from received video data processed by said surface unit video data processing means; and

acoustic linking means having a first section connected with said surface unit and a second section connected with said underwater unit whereby command signals are converted to acoustic energy at said first section and transmitted through the water to said second section where said signals are reconverted from acoustic energy to said command signals to control said control means in said underwater unit, and whereby said video data signals are converted to acoustic energy at said second section and transmitted through the water to said first section where said signals are reconverted from acoustic energy to video data signals which are processed to produce said camera scene at said display means.

17. A cableless underwater unit for producing a camera scene and transmitting an intelligence signal indicative thereof through a water medium, said unit comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

lighting means for lighting said camera scene;

readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene;

an FM mode channel including a voltage controlled oscillator;

a delta mode channel including a delta modulation encoder;

a PCM mode channel including a PCM modulation encoder;

switching means for selecting one of said channels;

a data transmitter connected with said selected channel; and

transducer means connected with said data transmitter for receiving modulated output signals from said data transmitter and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same through said water medium.

18. A cableless underwater unit for producing a camera scene and transmitting an intelligence signal indicative thereof through a water medium, said unit comprising:

a video camera for recording a camera scene;

lighting means for lighting said camera scene;

readout means for producing video data indicative of said camera scene;

processing means connected with said video means;

a data transmitter connected with said processing means;

control means for controlling operation of said underwater unit; and

transducer means including a first section connected with said data transmitter for receiving modulated output signals from said data transmitter and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting the same through said water medium and a second section adapted to receive command signals in the form of acoustic energy from said water medium and to convert the acoustic energy to command signals for controlling said control means in said underwater unit.

19. A surface unit for controlling and reproducing an acoustically transmitted camera scene, said surface unit comprising:

hydrophone and projector means for receiving an acoustic energy bearing camera scene intelligence and converting said energy into video signals, and for receiving command signals and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting said energy;

a transmit-receive switch connected with said hydrophone and projector means;

processing means connected with said transmit-receive switch to receive and process said video signals;

a TV monitor;

a film recorder connected with said TV monitor;

a command generator; and

a command transmitter the output of which is coupled to sAid transmit-receive switch.

20. A surface unit for controlling and reproducing an acoustically transmitted underwater camera scene, said surface unit comprising:

a command generator;

a command transmitter connected to said command generator;

acoustic linking means for receiving acoustic energy bearing camera scene intelligence from a water medium and converting said energy into video signals, and for receiving command signals from said command transmitter and converting said signals into acoustic energy and transmitting said energy to a water medium;

processing means connected with said linking means to receive and process said video signals; and

means connected with said processing means for displaying said underwater camera scene.