Video-tape recording

• US 4,213,163 A
• Filed: 08/27/1962
• Issued: 07/15/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1955
• 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:
  US04/225,173
• Time in Patent Office: 6,532 Days
• Field of Search: 178/6.6 A, 179/100.2 T, 179/100.2 E, 360/13, 360/35
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 19/14 and presenting a text of more than one line
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 27/00 Control, indicating, or safety devices or systems for composing machines of various kinds or types computers in general G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/26 using storage tubes tubes therefor H01J31/58
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/005 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of tracks of operating tapes, by driving or guiding the tape access by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816; see prov. also G11B15/602
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/022 Electronic editing of analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/029 Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00374 : on the same page as at least a part of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 : Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7826 : involving helical scanning of the magnetic tape

Abstract

Single frame video signals are recorded on selected areas of a recording medium, with accompanying recorded code signals associated with each frame.

Claims

1. A method for recording a series of discontinuous images in spaced relationship along a continuous magnetic tape so as to produce a signal-bearing tape adapted to be played continuously and thereby provide a sequential display of said images and produce the illusion of animation, comprising:

providing a first image showing an arrangement at a first instant in time;

scanning said first image with a scanner to produce a recordable signal at a recording head;

relatively moving said tape and recording head along the axis of length of the tape during the scanning operation at a rate of movement proportional to the rate of tape movement during playback and recording the signal on the tape until the image is scanned and recorded on a first portion of the tape;

stopping said relative movement; and

then providing second and successive images representing the appearance of said arrangement at later, discrete and discontinuous second and successive instants in time, and re-establishing said relative movement and repeating the scanning and recording processes on second and successive portions of the tape spaced from said first portion for each of said second and successive images so as to produce a sequence of adjacent magnetically reproducible representations of said images on said tape, whereby upon playback of the tape, the images are visually reproducible at evenly spaced intervals of time to produce an animated sequence of visible images.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the tape is moved relative to the recording head, the recording head being restrained against movement in the direction of tape movement, to record the images, the tape being brought up to recording speed before recording each image, and stopped and reversed after each image is recorded by a distance such that the tape will be up to speed when the next image is recorded.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the recording head is moved relative to the tape during recording of an image, the tape being held stationary at that time, the tape being stepped between each recording by the distance needed to record an image.

4. A method for recording a series of discontinuous images in spaced relationship along a continuous magnetic tape so as to produce a signal-bearing tape comprising:

providing a first image showing a first arrangement;

scanning said first image with a scanner to produce a recordable signal at a recording head;

relatively moving said tape and recording head along the axis of length of the tape during the scanning operation at a rate of movement proportional to the rate of tape movement during playback and recording the signal on the tape until the image is scanned and recorded on a first portion of the tape;

stopping said relative movement; and

then providing second and successive images, discontinuous from the first and other images, and re-establishing said relative movement and repeating the scanning and recording processes on second and successive portions of the tape spaced from the first portion for each of said images so as to produce a sequence of adjacent magnetically reproducible representations of said images on said tape.

5. A method according to claim 4 in which the tape is moved relative to the recording head, the recording head being restrained against movement in the direction of tape movement, to record the images, the tape being brought up to recording speed before recording each image, and stopped and reversed after each image is recorded by a distance such that the tape will be up to speed when the next image is recorded.

6. A method according to claim 4 in which the recording head is moved relative to the tape during the recording of an image, the tape being held stationary at that time, the tape being stepped between each recording by the distance needed to record and image.

7. A method for providing a series of discontinuous image recordings along an eraseable recording member comprising the steps of placing a first image in the viewing field of a video camera having a picture signal output operatively coupled to a recording head positioned to record upon said recording member, selecting a first area of said recording member on which to record, relatively moving said recording member and said recording head at a recording speed when said recording head is positioned to record upon said first area, actuating said camera while said relative movement takes place and said recording head is positioned to record upon said first area, stopping said relative movement, and then providing second and successive images in said viewing field, selecting different areas of said recording member for each of said second and successive images and repeating the steps previously recited for said first image for each of said second and successive images.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the video camera includes a scanner for said viewing field and there is relative motion between said recording member and said recording head prior to triggering of said scanner.

9. A method of claim 8 in which a signal to trigger said scanner is transmitted thereto when said recording head initially is in recording position relative to the area selected for recording.

10. The method of claim 9 in which a signal to trigger said scanner is stored in said recording member for each area thereof.

11. The method of claim 10 in which a trigger signal for a particular area is recorded at the time recording is affected at a preceding area.

12. A method for recording video information in a record member and transducing selective portions of said information to respective monitorable still images, said method comprising the steps of generating a first video signal, recording said first video signal on a first portion of said record member, generating and predeterminately recording a first code on said record member for locating and identifying the recording of said first video signal, repeating the preceding steps to generate and record a plurality of additional video signals and respective codes each of which codes identifies and defines the location of a respective of said additional video signals, and when it is desired to monitor the information contained in a selected of said recorded video signals, selectively reproducing the code signal which identifies and locates that video signal containing the selected information and employing such code signal to effect the selective application of its associated video signal to a display means operable for generating images and employing such video signal to generate an image defining the information therein on said display means.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein a plurality of different codes are recorded each of which define information contained in one of said recorded video signals wherein each of the plurality of codes differs from each other and is related to a different characteristic of the associated video signal defined thereby.

14. A method for recording a plurality of discrete document signals with respect to an erasable record member as a series of discontinuous video signals comprising the steps of placing a first document in the scanning field of a video scanner having an output operatively connected to a recording transducer which transducer is operably positioned to record signals in said record member, selecting a first area of said record member on which to first effect a recording, controlling relative movement between said transducer and said record member, activating said transducer while such relative movement is effected and, when the leading edge of said first video signal recording area and said transducer are aligned with each other, automatically controlling said video scanner to scan said first document and to generate a first video signal on its output, gating said first video signal to said transducer as relative movement is continued between said transducer and said record member so as to cause said trasducer to record said video signal on a select portion of said record member, and repeating the aforesaid steps a plurality of times with respect to a plurality of additional documents to effect a plurality of video document recordings at other locations of said record member.

15. A method of searching a record member having plural discrete video information signals recorded in tandem array on selected lengths of said record member comprising the steps of generating and recording a plurality of codes along respective portions of parallel tracks of said record member wherein at least one of said codes is provided at a predetermined location and may be reproduced from said record member to identify a respective recorded information signal, providing a comparator means having at least two sets of parallel inputs, reproducing such codes as electrical signals by scanning said record member with a transducing means as relative movement is effected between said record member and said transducing means, passing each reproduced code to a first set of said parallel inputs and applying said codes to energize said first set of parallel inputs, and energizing the other set of said parallel inputs while retaining said comparator energized until the code present at said first set of inputs is the same as the code applied to said other set of parallel inputs, generating a control signal when both the codes presented to said comparator are the same, employing said control signal to control and effect the reproduction of a selected information signal from said record member and its generation on an output circuit, and applying such selectively reproduced information signal to a visual monitor and generating an image defined by the selectively reproduced information signal applied to said monitor.

16. A method of recording parallel codes along tandem lateral areas of a code recording portion of a record member having codes recorded on said code recording portion and a plurality of information recordings recorded adjacent said code recording portion comprising the steps of relatively moving said record member and a plurality of transducers including a plurality of code recording transducers, generating feedback signals by scanning codes recorded on said code recording portion, comparing said feedback signals with an address code, generating a control signal when the feedback signals match the address code and using said control signal to activate and control generating means to generate and record a selected code on a selected portion of said record member.

17. Apparatus for selectively recording codes on a record member locating and identifying a plurality of information containing frame locations wherein said record member already contains previously recorded thereon a plurality of separately reproducible codes for identifying frames previously recorded comprising code recording means, code generating means operatively connected to said code recording means, first means for scanning a code bearing area of said record member to produce codes therefrom, comparator means operatively connected to receive signals from said first means, control signal generating means associated with said comparator means for generating a control signal when a predetermined code is reproduced by said first means and control means responsive to the control signal generated by said comparator means and operatively to activate said code generating means when such control signal is generated to effect generation of a code by said generating means and means for passing said code to said code recording means to cause said code to be recorded in a predetermined portion of said record member for identifying a selected frame of information recorded therein.

18. An apparatus for selectively recording codes at selected locations of a record member comprising in combination:

a record member having a plurality of information containing locations, first means for scanning information contained in said inforation containing locations, means for recording codes in said record member, means for relatively moving said first means and said record member, signal generating means operative when a selected location of said record member is moved relative to said first means to generate a pulse signal each time a selected portion of said record member passes said first means, presettable counting means operatively connected to receive said pulse signals, code generating means, said counting means being operatively connected to said code generating means for causing the latter to generate and transmit codes to said code recording means, means for presetting said counting means to cause said counting means to generate a control signal upon uncounting and means for initiating relative movement between said record member and said first means to cause said first means to generate feedback signals for use in uncounting said counting means whereby, when a selected number of pulses is received by said counting means, said counting means will generate a signal for activating said code generating means and said code generating means will generate a code and means for recording the code generated by said code generating means in a selected portion of said record member.

19. Apparatus for storing, reproducing and displaying video information comprising in combination:

first means for storing video information as a plurality of discrete recordings of video signals defining frames of still images,

second means for selectively reproducing selected ones of said discrete recordings and generating electrical signals representative of said selectively reproduced recordings,

third means including a television receiver having a viewing screen with a short persistence phosphor image generating means requiring restorative information signal scanning at a fixed rate to maintain an image of such information on said viewing screen to permit the image to be visually monitored,

fourth means connected to said television receiver for receiving and storing signals generated by said second means,

fifth means for reproducing signals stored by said fourth means at a fixed frequency equal to the restorative information signal scanning rate required to maintain an image on said viewing screen of said television receiver,

sixth means for transmitting the signals reproduced from said fifth means to said television receiver to effect the generation and retention of images on its viewing screen for a sufficient period of time to permit a person viewing said screen to visually study and monitor the information defined by the video signal selectively reproduced from said first means, and

seventh means for controlling the operation of said fifth means to cause it to erase signals recorded therein permitta new information signal to be selectively reproduced from said first means by said second means and applied to said fourth means and to be reproduced therefrom and employed to effect generation of respective still images on the display screen of said television receiver.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein said fourth means includes an endless erasable record member, reproduction scanning means defining said fourth means, and means for effecting relative movement between said endless record member and said reproduction scanning means to permit said reproduction scanning means to repeatedly scan and reproduce the same picture signals from said endless record member at said fixed frequency.

21. A method of storing, reproducing and displaying video information comprising:

storing video information as a plurality of discrete picture signal recordings at selected frame storage locations of a video storage means, and

when it is desired to visually read and study the information contained in a selected frame location, selectively reproducing the picture signal recording from said selected frame location and generating electrical signals representative of such picture signal recording,

passing said reproduced electrical signals to a further signal storage means and storing a representation of the information defined by said electrical signals in said further signal storage means,

thereafter generating further electrical signals representative of the selectively reproduced signal recording by repeatedly reproducing at a fixed frequency said further electrical signals from the signals stored in said further signal storage means, and

applying said further electrical signals generated by reproduction from said further signal storage means to a television receiver having a viewing screen defined by a short persistence phosphor image generating means wherein the frequency at which said further electrical signals are generated is such as to effect the retention of a still image on the viewing screen of said television receiver by the repeated scanning of the phosphor image generating means thereof which image is a video representation of the information contained in the picture signal recording reproduced from the selected frame storage location of said video storage means.

22. A method for recording a series of discontinuous image recordings in an erasable recording member and reproducing selected of such recordings in visually monitorable form comprising:

generating first electrical signals defining video information containing picture generating signal elements and synchronizing signal elements capable of generating an image on a viewing screen of a video receiver,

selecting a first portion of said record member in which to record said first video information signal,

transducing said first video information signal to record same at said first location of said record member,

selecting a plurality of additional portions of said record member for storing second and successive discontinuous video information signals,

generating a second video information signal and additional video information signals and repeating the steps previously recited for transducing and respectively recording said signals in said additional portions of said record member to provide a series of video recordings in said record member,

when it is desired to monitor the information of a selected video information signal recorded in said record member, selectively reproducing the selected video information recording from said record member by generating electrical signals representative of such recording, and

repeatedly presenting said latter electrical signals to a television receiver having a short image persistency viewing screen at a frequency necessary to generate and retain an image of the information contained in said selected video information signal on said viewing screen of said receiver.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22 wherein the latter step of repeatedly presenting said selectively reproduced video information signal to said television receiver is effected by recording said selected video signal in a buffer and repeatedly reproducing said recorded video information signal from said buffer at said frequency necessary to generate and retain an image on said viewing screen of said television receiver and applying said repeatedly reproduced video information signal to the input of said television receiver to generate a still image on the viewing screen thereof.

24. A method of recording and reproducing document information comprising:

generating a plurality of frame video signals each containing picture signal elements representative of respective frames of document information,

generating a plurality of codes in the form of electrical signals including at least one code for each of said frame video signals, which code defines a characteristic of its frame video signal,

simultaneously recording each of said frame video signals and a corresponding code at respective locations of a memory such that each recorded code defines a respective video signal and its location in said memory, and

when it is desired to selectively reproduce a video signal representative of selected recorded information, generating a selection code and applying said selection code to a comparison circuit, and

reproducing said plurality of codes from the memory recordings thereof and generating a control signal when the selection code and a corresponding code reproduced from said memory are the same and applying said control signal to control and effect the reproduction of a selected video signal from said memory, and

repeatedly presenting the selected video signal to a video monitor having a short persistency image viewing screen wherein the repition rate at which said video signal is presented to said monitor is such as to retain a still image generated on said viewing screen.

25. A method for providing a series of discontinuous video image recordings in an erasable record member comprising:

generating a first code as electrical signals,

generating a first video information signal containing picture generating elements and synchronizing signals capable of generating when applied to a television receiver an image on a viewing screen thereof,

selecting first and second portions of said record member in which to respectively record said first code and said first video information signal,

transducing said first code and video information signal to record same respectively in said first and second portions of said record member,

thereafter generating additional code signals and respective video information signals and repeating the steps previously recited for recording said first code and first video information signal to provide a series of discontinuous video information signal recordings in said record member, and

when it is desired to selectively reproduce one of said video information signal recordings from said record member, scanning the recordings of said code signals and transducing said code signals to electrical signals, and

comparing said code electrical signals with a code representative of a selected video signal recording and generating a control signal when a match is effected,

thereafter employing said control signal to effect the transducing of said selected video information signal to electrical signals and applying said latter electrical signals to generate a monitorable still image on the viewing screen of a television receiver having a short image persistency by generating said information electrical signals repeatedly and applying same to said television receiver to maintain the still image in monitorable form on the viewing screen thereof.