Method of generating monitorable video information from recordings on record members

• US 3,900,706 A
• Filed: 01/24/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1958
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US05/436,075
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.8,7.2,6.7A,DIG.28
• US Class Current: 348/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0019 for images on filmstrips
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0035 User-machine interface; Control console input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1004 using two-dimensional electrical scanning, e.g. cathode-ray tubes using two-dimensional arrays H04N1/195
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0404 Scanning transparent media, e.g. photographic film

Abstract

A method is provided for recording and reproducing video information, either as still images or motion picture images on a viewing screen. The method includes photo-optically scanning a record member having frame video recordings provided on a track thereof and separate, discrete indicia including at least one mark associated with each video frame recording which is optically scannable to generate a pulse which may be applied as the frame vertical synchronization pulse for the video signal generated in scanning the video frame recording. The separately generated pulses are applied to cause the beam of a cathode ray tube to fly back to a starting location each time they are generated so that the associated frame video picture signals generated thereafter may be properly applied to generate respective video images on the screen of the cathode ray tube.

Claims

1. A method of reproducing video information recorded in tandem array along a record track of a record member having a sequence of information containing frame recordings and a sequence of synchronizing indicia associated with said frame recordings respectively, comprising:

relatively moving said record member and a video pick-up means in a manner to carry said frame recordings successively through the scanning zone of said video pick-up means, interrogating said frame recordings as they pass through said scanning zone and generating respective full-frame video picture signals on an output of said video pick-up, interrogating the synchronizing indicia associated with each frame recording as the frame recording appRoaches the scanning zone and developing frame vertical sync signals thereof at a frequency related to the rate of movement of the synchronizing indicia through the scanning zone, passing said full-frame video picture signals and said vertical sync signals to a television receiver having a viewing screen, and applying said frame vertical sync signals to control the generation of images defined by the respective frame recordings on said viewing screen by employing said frame vertical sync signals to condition the image writing means of said television receiver to write respective images on its screen.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame recordings of said record member are full-frame motion picture video recordings and said synchronizing indicia are provided as optically scannable recordings at fixed relative locations on said record member and the interrogating steps are effected by reflecting radiant energy off the recordings of said record member and photoelectrically detecting the variations in said radiant energy resulting from the modulations caused therein by said optically scannable recordings.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said record member contains optically scannable frame recordings and discrete separate optically scannable synchronizing indicia including at least one mark associated with each of said frame recordings, said method including employing a radiation beam to interrogate said optically scannable frame recordings and said associated frame marks to respectively generate picture signals and vertical sync signals for controlling the recording of the picture information on the viewing screen of said receiver as defined by said frame recordings.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said radiation beam is generated by a flying spot scanning device which is operable to focus said beam on the record track of said record member so as to scan said discrete separate synchronizing indicia during the relative movement of said record member and said video pick-up and to provide light which is modulated in scanning said indicia, said method including photoelectrically detecting the light modulated in scanning said indicia and generating respective pulse signals and utilizing said pulse signals as said frame vertical sync signals to control the generation of images defined by said respective full-frame video picture signals generated in scanning said sequence of information containing frame recordings provided along said track of said record member.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said record member is a transparent record member and said frame recordings provided along the record track thereof are full-frame motion picture television recorders, said method including passing light through said recordings so as to effect the modulation of said light thereby and receiving the modulated light after it is passed through said record member at said scanning zone, thereafter passing the modulated light to a photoelectric detector and generating corresponding full-frame video picture signals thereof on the output of said photoelectric detector.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said frame recordings are motion picture recordings and said marks are located to be reproduced when interrogated to generate respective vertical sync signals associated with each of the full-frame picture signals generated in interrogating said frame recordings so as to produce a chain of sync and full-frame video picture signals capable of modulating the image writing means of a video receiver to generate a motion picture phenomenon on the viewing screen thereof.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said recordings provided on said record member are optically scannable by passing light through the record member, said method comprising generating a narrow beam of light and directing same through said record member so as to be modulated by said frame recordings and said synchronizing indiciA recordings, said method also including photoelectrically detecting the light from said beam after it has been so modulated and generating electrical signals representative of the modulated light and the recorded information scanned by said beam.

8. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the interrogation of said optically scannable frame recordings and said synchronizing indicia of said record member by said radiation beam is effected by modulating the light of said beam as it intersects said optically scannable synchronizing indicia of said record member and detecting said modulations in said light with a photoelectric cell, generating pulse signals on the output of said photoelectric cell each time it detects variations in the light of said radiation beam caused when it intersects the recordings of said synchronizing indicia in said record member and employing said pulse signals as frame vertical sync signals for controlling the recording of the frames of picture information on the viewing screen of said television receiver.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said record track of said record member is defined by variations in the surface topography of said record member defining said frame recordings and said synchronizing indicia recordings which variations are operable to variably diffract light directed thereagainst, said method including directing light against said record track of said record member, reflecting said light therefrom after it has been modulated by the recordings of said record member defined by said variations in the surface topography thereof and detecting variations in said light reflected from said variable topography frame recordings and said synchronizing indicia recordings, generating respective video signals and pulse signals thereof and applying said signals respectively to modulate and control said image writing means of said television receiver to generate respective images on the screen thereof.

10. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said frame recordings are motion picture video recordings and the interrogating of said synchronizing indicia is effected by directing a narrow beam of radiation against said record member while the record member is in motion and modulating said radiation beam with the recordings provided along said record track, receiving said radiation modulated by said recordings of said record member and directing same to a photoelectric detection means and generating video motion picture signals and pulse signals on the output of said photoelectric detection means.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein the interrogating of said synchronizing indicia is effected by directing a narrow beam of radiation against the surface of said record member and detecting variations in the light reflected from said record member when said beam intersects said indicia, generating pulse signals each time said beam intersects a synchronizing indicia and applying said pulse signals to effect synchronization between said writing means of said television receiver and the signals generated in interrogating said full-frame recordings of said record member.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said television receiver includes a cathode ray tube having a write-beam operable to generate images on a viewing screen thereof and further includes means for horizontally and vertically deflection controlling said write-beam, said method including applying said synchronizing signals generated upon photoelectrically detecting said synchronizing indicia to cause the write-beam of said cathode ray tube to be positioned at a start-scanning location prior to generating an image on the viewing screen thereof, further including applying said synchronizing signals to trigger the operation of a horizontal and vertical deflection control signal generator to cause said write-beam to predeterminately scan the image generating screen of the cathode ray tube in synchronization with the full-frame videO motion picture signals generated when the recordings thereof are interrogated.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame recordings are interrogated by a reading radiation beam said method including causing said beam to be predeterminately deflection controlled so as to scan said information containing recordings and variably modulating the beam radiation with the information defined by said frame recordings, operating said pick-up to photoelectrically detect the modulations in the radiant energy of said beam as it scans said record member and generating video picture signals on the output of said video pick-up.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said synchronizing signal indicia are photoelectrically detected to generate said frame vertical sync signals.