DIRECT TELEVISION DRAWING AND IMAGE MANIPULATING SYSTEM

• US 3,846,826 A
• Filed: 01/15/1973
• Issued: 11/05/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Mueller
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Mueller
• Inventors: Mueller, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Murray, Richard
• Application Number:
  US05/323,874
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 178/7.6,7.7,5.2,5.4,DIG.6,7.5SE 179/1M,1SA 340/337,365P,324A,324AD,324.1,324R 358/81
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

This invention enables a person to paint or draw directly into color television. No special probe or stylus is required since a person can use brushes or pens, fingertips, rubber stamps, or any drawing or painting object whatsoever. At the same time, a person can play his free hand over a piano-like keyboard to synthesize images by manipulating or altering the images or forms as they are introduced. It is applicable to graphic productions of all sorts, computer input-output graphic processing systems, for visualizing mathematical transformations, or for use with scanning lasers or electron microscopes that etch or score.

Claims

1. In a real-time television drawing system comprising means to scan over a given area in synchronism with a television timing signal;

means to produce a plurality of image points within said given area;

means to produce electrical signals in response to said image points;

means for generating a plurality of voltages capable of changing said scan in toto according to various patterns;

means for superimposing said voltages selectively on said scanning means;

means including a display system synchronized to said television timing signals responsive to the electrical signals, for producing at points corresponding to said image points the pattern selected during the time of each produced image points.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said means for superimposing said voltages on said scanning means includes a manually operated piano type keyboard.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the keys of said keyboard vary the magnitude of the voltages proportionately to the pressure applied to the keys.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein said keyboard actuates a sound producing instrument.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said display system includes a color television display device, and means for supply color television signals to said display device in response to said electrical signals.

6. A system according to claim 1, including:

means for recording siad electrical signals;

means for adjustably modifying selected characteristics of recorded signals with respect to previously recorded signals; and

means for accumulating said signals within at least one television frame-time sequence.

7. An image producing system, comprising an optical device, such as a prism, having a totally reflective surface with an internal side and an exposed outer side;

means for contacting the exposed outer side of said totally reflective surface for breaking the total reflectivity thereof at every point of contact;

scanning and light detecting means for illuminating and scanning and light detecting means for illuminating and scanning the internal side of said reflective surface and producing electrical output signals in response to diminution of reflected light in accordance with a pattern on said reflective surface during each complete scan of said surface;

means for producing an energy beam and causing it to scan in synchronism with the scanning of the reflective surface; and

outpUt means responsive to said electrical signals for causing said energy beam to produce an image of each contacted point of said reflective surface.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said means for producing an energy beam includes a microscope wherein said scanning beam physically changes points within the microscopic area.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said last mentioned means includes apparatus for producing a color television image.

10. A system according to claim 7;

means to generate a plurality of television signals which represent specific images;

means responsive to said electical signals that synchronize said television signals;

means to introduce said television signals into said output means at points corresponding to said contact points.

11. In a real-time television drawing system comprising;

means to cause a narrow beam of light to scan over a given area in synchronism with television timing signals;

an optical device having a totally reflective surface;

means to focus said given area of scanned light on one side of said surface;

means for generating a plurality of voltages capable of changing said scan in toto according to various patterns;

means for superimposing said voltages selectively on said scanning means;

means to contact a plurality of points on one side of said surface;

means to produce electrical signals in response to said contact points;

means including a display system synchronized to said television timing signals responsive to the electrical signals for producing at points corresponding to said contacts the pattern selected during the time of each contact.