High speed image recording system

• US 4,280,151 A
• Filed: 02/21/1979
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakane, Toshio, Tsunekawa, Tokuichi, Taguchi, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Konick, Bernard
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US06/013,364
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 360/9, 360/10, 360/33, 360/35, 360/22, 360/23, 358/22, 358/127, 358/140, 358/151, 358/212, 358/213, 358/296, 358/298, 358/302, 358/283, 358/285
• US Class Current: 386/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A magnetic image recording system in which an image is electrically scanned to obtain a video signal and this is magnetically recorded on a magnetic recording medium. According to improvements of the present invention, for the image scanning means, use is made of a two-dimensional arrangement of a plurality of photo-sensitive elements and further of a self-scanning type solid-state image sensing device constructed so as to be capable of simultaneously reading out image scanning signals from the individual lines of the two-dimensional arrangement. With this solid-state image sensing device, in scanning an image, it is, for example, the individual odd number lines in the aforesaid two-dimensional arrangement that at first produce image scanning signals based on which the video signal is obtained. Then the video signal is recorded as an odd number field signal on the recording medium through a multi-head. Then, another video signal obtained by image scanning signals from the individual even number field signal is recorded on the recording medium through the multi-head. Compared with conventional systems in which horizontal field lines are sequentially scanned and recorded, all of the horizontal video scan line signals which constitute an entire field are simultaneously recorded in the present system. In other words, in contrast to conventional systems wherein images are recorded and played back at a rate of, for example, 60 fields per second, the system of the present invention enables a substantially greater number of fields to be recorded each second so that when the recorded fields are played back at a conventional rate, i.e., 60 fields per second, a substantial "slow motion" reproduction can be obtained.

Claims

1. An image recording and reproducing system comprising in combination:

(a) image scanning means having an array of a plurality of linear scanning portions arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of line scanning video signals corresponding to line portions of a received image;

(b) means for concurrently recording said plurality of sequences of line scanning video signals on and along corresponding ones of different line video signal recording channels of a recording medium, said recording means having a plurality of recording element each for recording one sequence of line scanning video signal on the corresponding line video signal recording channel as a substantially continuous line video signal;

(c) means for concurrently reproducing the sequences of line video signals recorded on the recording medium; and

(d) means for concurrently receiving the sequences of line video signals reproduced from the recording medium and for putting out each of the received sequences of line video signals in a time seriating manner in the order of line numbers so as to form a substantially continuous standard field or frame display signal.

2. An image recording system comprising:

(a) an image scanning device having an array of a plurality of linear scanning means arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of linear scanning signals corresponding to a received image;

(b) means for concurrently extracting at most all the sequences of linear scanning signals from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

(c) circuit means for concurrently receiving the extracted sequences of scanning signals and for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of recording signals in response to said extracted sequences of scanning signals;

said circuit means including;

means for converting said extracted sequences of scanning signals into said plurality of sequences of recording signals;

means for concurrently accepting said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

means for concurrently storing said extracted sequences of scanning signals from said accepting means; and

means for selecting either one of the scanning signals accepted through said accepting means and the scanning signals stored in said storing means for alternate application to said converting means;

wherein said converting means produces first and second field recording signals in response to the signals accepted through said accepting means and the signals stored in said storing means, respectively; and

(d) means for concurrently receiving said plurality of sequences of recording signals and for concurrently recording the sequences of recording signals on different corresponding portions of a recording medium;

said recording means having at least the same number of recording members for concurrently recording the signals on a recording channel of the recording medium at different portions of the recording medium as the number of said linear scanning means in said scanning device; and

said recording means including rotating means for concurrently rotating said recording members along corresponding ones of the recording channels of the recording medium.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said image scanning device has an array of a plurality of light-responsive elements, and wherein each of said plurality of linear scanning means includes a linear array of a plurality of said light-responsive elements.

4. An image recording system comprising:

(a) an image scanning device having an array of a plurality of linear scanning means arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of linear scanning signals corresponding to a received image;

said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device being arranged in odd-numbered and even-numbered groups;

said scanning device having an even number of said linear scanning means;

(b) means for concurrently extracting at most all the sequences of linear scanning signals from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

(c) circuit means for concurrently receiving the extracted sequences of scanning signals and for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of recording signals in response to said extracted sequences of scanning signals;

said circuit means including;

means for converting said extracted sequences of scanning signals into said plurality of sequences of recording signals;

means for concurrently accepting those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as first field scanning signals;

means for concurrently storing those of said extracted sequences of signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from the other group of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as second field scanning signals; and

means for selecting either one of said first field scanning signals accepted through said accepting means and said second field scanning signals stored in said storing means for application to said converting means;

wherein said converting means comprises means for producing first and second field recording signals in response to said first and second field scanning signals, respectively; and

(d) means for concurrently receiving said plurality of sequences of recording signals and for concurrently recording the sequences of recording signals on different corresponding portions of a recording medium;

said recording means having recording members for concurrently recording the signals on a recording channel of the recording medium at different portions of the recording medium equal in number to at least one-half the number of said scanning means;

said recording means including rotating means for concurrently rotating said recording members along the recording channel of the recording medium.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said image scanning device has an array of a plurality of light-responsive elements, and wherein each of said plurality of linear scanning means includes a linear array of a plurality of said light-responsive elements.

6. An image recording system comprising:

(a) an image scanning device having an array of a plurality of linear scanning means arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of linear scanning signals corresponding to a received image;

said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device being arranged in odd-numbered and even-numbered groups;

(b) means for concurrently extracting at most all the sequences of linear scanning signals from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

(c) circuit means for concurrently receiving the extracted sequences of scanning signals and for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of recording signals in response to said extracted sequences of scanning signals;

said circuit means including;

first memory means for storing those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as first field scanning signals, said first memory means including a plurality of memory blocks each having a predetermined number of memory locations for storing a predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals and operable in such a manner that said predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals are concurrently stored and each of the stored sequences of scanning signals is produced successively in order;

second memory means for storing those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from the other group of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as second field scanning signals, said second memory means including a plurality of memory blocks each having a predetermined number of memory locations for storing a predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals and operable in such a manner that said predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals are concurrently stored and each of the stored sequences of scanning signals is produced successively in order;

means for controlling said first and second memory means, said controlling means comprising means for causing said first memory means to store those of the extracted sequences of scanning signals which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said scanning means and for causing said second memory means to store those of the extracted sequences of scanning signals which originate from the other group, and upon reading of the stored signals for successively causing outputs of each stored sequence of scanning signals in each memory block in the first memory means in order followed by successive outputs of each stored sequence of scanning signals in each memory block in the second memory means in order; and

means for receiving and converting the output sequences of scanning signals of said first and second memory means into the sequences of recording signals, said converting means being operable for producing first and second field recording signals in response to said first and second field scanning signals given from said first and second memory means, respectively;

wherein said first and second memory means each have an equal number of said memory blocks; and

(d) means for concurrently receiving said plurality of sequences of recording signals and for concurrently recording the sequences of recording signals on different corresponding portions of a recording medium;

said recording means having at least the same number of recording members for concurrently recording the signals on a recording channel of the recording medium at different portions of the recording medium as the number of memory blocks contained in said first memory means, and said recording means including rotating means for concurrently rotating said recording members along corresponding ones of the recording channels of the recording medium.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said image scanning device has an array of a plurality of light-responsive elements, and wherein each of said plurality of linear scanning means includes a linear array of a plurality of said light-responsive elements.

8. An image recording and reproducing system comprising in combination:

(a) image scanning means having an array of a plurality of linear scanning portions arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of line scanning video signals corresponding to line portions of a received image, said plurality of linear scanning portions being arranged in odd-numbered and even-numbered groups;

(b) means for concurrently extracting, as a first field scanning video signal, sequences of the line scanning video signals from those of said scanning portions which are included in one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups, and for subsequently concurrently extracting, as a second field scanning video signal, sequences of the line scanning video signals from those of said scanning portions which are included in the other group;

(c) means for concurrently recording the sequences of the line scanning video signals which constitute said first field scanning video signal on and along corresponding ones of different line video signal recording channels in a first field frame of a recording medium as a first field video signal, and for subsequently concurrently recording the sequences of the line scanning video signals which constitute said second field scanning video signal on and along corresponding ones of different line video signal recording channels in a second field frame of the recording medium as a second field video signal, said recording means having a plurality of recording elements each for recording one sequence of line scanning video signal on the corresponding recording channel as a substantially continuous line video signal;

(d) means for concurrently reproducing the sequences of the line video signals recorded in said first field frame of the recording medium, and for subsequently concurrently reproducing the sequences of the line video signals recorded in said second field frame of the recording medium; and

(e) means for concurrently receiving the sequences of the line video signal reproduced from said first field frame of the recording medium and for putting out each of the received sequences of the line video signals reproduced from the first field frame in a time seriating manner in the order of line numbers in a first field so as to form a substantially continuous standard first field display signal, and for subsequently concurrently receiving the sequences of the line video signals reproduced from said second field frame of the recording means and for putting out each of the received sequences of the line video signals reproduced from the second field frame in a time seriating manner in the order of line numbers in a second field so as to form a substantially continuous standard second field display signal.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said scanning means has an even number of said linear scanning portions, and said recording means has said recording elements in number to at least one-half the number of said linear scanning portions.

10. The system according to claims 8 or 9, wherein said scanning means has an array of a plurality of light-responsive elements, and wherein each of said linear scanning portions includes a linear array of a plurality of said light-responsive elements.

11. An image recording system comprising:

(a) an image scanning device having an array of a plurality of linear scanning means arranged for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of linear scanning signals corresponding to a received image;

(b) means for concurrently extracting at most all the sequences of linear scanning signals from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

(c) circuit means for concurrently receiving the extracted sequences of scanning signals and for concurrently producing a plurality of sequences of recording signals in response to said extracted sequences of scanning signals; and

(d) means for concurrently receiving said plurality of sequences of recording signals and for concurrently recording the sequences of recording signals on an along a recording channel of a recording medium at different corresponding portions of the recording channel so as to form a substantially continuous field or frame signal along the recording channel.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device are arranged in odd-numbered and even-numbered groups, and said circuit means includes:

means for converting said extracted sequences of scanning signals into said plurality of sequences of recording signals;

means for concurrently accepting those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as first field scanning signals;

means for concurrently storing those of said extracted sequences of signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from the other group of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as second field scanning signals; and

means for selecting either one of said first field scanning signals accepted through said accepting means and said second field scanning signals stored in said storing means for application to said converting means;

wherein said converting means comprises means for producing first and second field recording signals in response to said first and second field scanning signals, respectively.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said circuit means includes:

means for converting said extracted sequences of scanning signals into said plurality of sequences of recording signals;

means for concurrently accepting said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means from said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device;

means for concurrently storing said extracted sequences of scanning signals from said accepting means; and

means for selecting either one of the scanning signals accepted through said accepting means and the scanning signals stored in said storing means for alternate application to said converting means;

wherein said converting means produces first and second field recording signals in response to the signals accepted through said accepting means and the signals stored in said storing means, respectively.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of linear scanning means in said scanning device are arranged in odd-numbered and even-numbered groups, and said circuit means includes:

first memory means for storing those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as first field scanning signals, said first memory means including a plurality of memory blocks each having a predetermined number of memory locations for storing a predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals and operable in such a manner that said predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals are concurrently stored and each of the stored sequences of scanning signals is produced successively in order;

second memory means for storing those of said extracted sequences of scanning signals extracted by said extracting means which originate from the other group of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said plurality of scanning means in said scanning device as said second field scanning signals, said second memory means including a plurality of memory blocks each having a predetermined number of memory locations for storing a predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals and operable in such a manner that said predetermined number of sequences of scanning signals are concurrently stored and each of the stored sequences of scanning signals is produced successively in order;

means for controlling said first and second memory means, said controlling means comprising means for causing said first memory means to store those of the extracted sequences of scanning signals which originate from one of the odd-numbered and even-numbered groups of said scanning means and for causing said second memory means to store those of the extracted sequences of scanning signals which originate from the other group, and upon reading of the stored signals for successively causing outputs of each stored sequence of scanning signals in each memory block in the first memory means in order followed by successive outputs of each stored sequence of scanning signals in each memory block in the second memory means in order; and

means for receiving and converting the output sequences of scanning signals of said first and second memory means into the sequences of recording signals, said converting means being operable for producing first and second field recording signals in response to said first and second field scanning signals given from said first and second memory means, respectively.

15. The system according to one of claim 11 or 12 or 13 or 14, wherein said image scanning device has an array of a plurality of light-responsive elements, and wherein each of said linear scanning means includes a linear array of a plurality of said light-responsive elements.

16. The system according to one of claim 11 or 12 or 13 or 14, wherein said recording means includes a plurality of recording elements arranged so as to be aligned with the recording channel of the recording medium for concurrently recording the sequences of recording signals on and along the recording channel of the recording medium at different portions of the recording channel so as to form said substantially continuous field or frame signal along the recording channel.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said recording means further includes means for supporting said recording elements for concurrent rotation of the elements along the recording channel of the recording medium and means for concurrently rotating said recording elements along the recording channel of the recording medium so as to form said substantially continuous field or frame signal along the recording channel.