Slow motion using longitudinal recording and forward/reverse tape transportation

• US 4,511,931 A
• Filed: 07/28/1980
• Issued: 04/16/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spin Physics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Bixby, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald
• Application Number:
  US06/172,915
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 358/127, 358/310, 358/312, 360/9, 360/10, 360/11, 360/14, 360/33, 360/35, 360/10.3
• US Class Current: 386/343
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1875 adaptations for special effects or editing signal processing or indexing therefor G11B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/937 by assembling picture element blocks in an intermediate store

Abstract

Longitudinal recording apparatus for producing a slow motion display of scene information that has been recorded on a magnetic recording medium is disclosed. In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the recording medium is periodically transported in accordance with either a forward or reverse transport cycle during which a frame of scene information is played back from the recording medium and stored in a frame storage device for repeated display on a video monitor. Transportation of the recording medium in accordance with successive forward transport cycles results in a forward slow motion display of scene information, while successive reverse transport cycles result in a reverse slow motion display of scene information.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in providing a slow motion display of scene information recorded on a magnetic recording medium in the form of a plurality of frames of time sequential scene information, the magnetic recording medium being transportable in a reverse direction and in a forward direction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for playing back information from said magnetic recording medium upon the transportation of said magnetic recording medium in the forward direction;

(b) means for repeatedly transporting said magnetic recording medium in accordance with a transport cycle wherein said magnetic recording medium is transported in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction to effect playback of a frame of scene information during each transport cycle;

(c) a frame storage device cooperative with said means for playing back information for storing a frame of scene information as it is played back from said magnetic recording medium by said playback means; and

(d) means cooperative with said frame storage device for continuously reading out information stored by said frame storage device,

said transport means including means for selectively transporting said magnetic recording medium during each transport cycle a distance D_F in the reverse direction and a distance D_F +D_T in the forward direction, where D_T is nominally equal to the distance said magnetic recording medium must be transported in the forward direction to effect playback of a single frame of scene information, thereby resulting in playback of frames of scene information in slowed chronological order that depends on the repetition rate of said means for repeatedly transporting said magnetic recording medium.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transport means further includes means for selectively transporting said magnetic recording medium during each transport cycle a distance D_R in the reverse direction and a distance D_R -D_T in the forward direction, thereby resulting in slow motion playback of frames of scene information in reverse chronological order.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 further comprising means for adjusting the time interval between said transport cycles, thereby providing an information signal suitable for effecting slow motion display at a variable speed reduction that is proportional to the duration of said time interval.

4. Magnetic recorder apparatus for use in producing a slow motion display of scene information on a video monitor, said apparatus being adapted for use with a magnetic tape having frames of time sequential scene information recorded thereon, and said magnetic tape being longitudinally transportable by said apparatus in either a forward direction or in a reverse direction, said apparatus comprising:

(a) transport means for controllably transporting said magnetic tape longitudinally in a forward or in a reverse direction;

(b) means adapted for playing back information recorded on said magnetic tape upon the transportation of said magnetic tape in the forward direction;

(c) control means for controlling the operation of said transport means so that said magnetic tape is periodically transported in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction, each such transportation in the forward direction causing a frame of scene information to be played back by said playback means;

(d) means for storing of scene information upon playback by said playback means; and

(e) means for repeatedly reading out information stored in said frame storage means for display by said video monitor;

said transport means including means for selectively periodically transporting said magnetic recording medium in accordance with a forward transport cycle wherein said magnetic recording medium is transported a distance D_F in the reverse direction and then a distance D_F +D_T in the forward direction, where D_T is nominally equal to the distance said magnetic recording medium must be tranported in the forward direction to effect playback of a single frame of scene information, thereby resulting in slow motion playback of frames of scene information in chronological order.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said transport means also includes means for selectively periodically transporting said magnetic recording medium in accordance with a reverse transport cycle wherein said magnetic recording medium is transported a distance D_R in the reverse direction and then a distance D_R -D_T in the forward direction, thereby resulting in slow motion playback of frames of scene information in reverse chronological order.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further comprising means for adjusting the time period between playback of successive frames of scene information to produce a slow motion display at an adjustable speed reduction that is proportional to said time period.

7. A method for producing a signal suitable for effecting a slow motion display of frames of time sequential scene information recorded on a magnetic tape, said magnetic tape being longitudinally transportable in a forward direction and in a reverse direction, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) periodically transporting said magnetic tape longitudinally in the reverse direction and then in the forward direction;

(b) playing back a frame of scene information from said magnetic tape during forward transportation of said tape;

(c) successively storing played back frames of scene information and

(d) repeatedly reading each stored frame of scene information to produce a signal suitable for effecting a slow motion display wherein each frame of scene information is repeated a plurality of times,

said magnetic tape being selectively periodically transported in accordance with either (1) a forward transport cycle wherein said magnetic tape is transported a distance D_F in the reverse direction and a distance D_F +D_T in the forward direction, D_T being nominally equal to the distance said magnetic tape must be transported in the forward direction to effect playback of a single frame of scene information, thereby resulting in playback of frames of scene information in chronological order, or (2) a reverse transport cycle wherein said magnetic tape is transported a distance D_R in the reverse direction and a distance D_R -D_T in the forward direction, thereby resulting in playback of frames of scene information in chronological order.