Apparatus for converting a video processor

• US 4,862,253 A
• Filed: 07/20/1988
• Issued: 08/29/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Everest Vit, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Danna, Dominick, English, Stanley R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/221,776
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 358/75, 358/42, 358/41, 358/209, 358/294, 358/55, 358/98
• US Class Current: 348/269
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An apparatus for converting an image generation system of a video processor from one form into at least one other form. The image generation system being of the type having a light source emitting a light beam and a rotating light control wheel, such as a color filter wheel, disposed in the path of the light beam. The converting apparatus comprises a mounting member, displaceably connected to a frame to permit reciprocal movement of said mounting member between a plurality of positions; means, coupled to the mounting member, for actuating the mounting member and a wheel assembly, including the control wheel and means for rotating the control wheel. The wheel assembly is rotatably mounted to the mounting member, such that the position of the control wheel, relative to the light source, is determined by the position of the mounting member. Accordingly, when the mounting member is in one position, the rotating control wheel affects the light beam in one way to provide an image generation system of one form, and when the mounting member is in another position, the rotating control wheel affects the light beam in another way to provide an image generation system of another form.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting an image generation system of a video processor from one form into at least one other form, the image generation system being of the type having a light source emitting a light beam and a rotating light control wheel disposed in the path of the light beam, comprising

a mounting member, having first and second ends, displaceably connected to a frame at its first end to permit reciprocal movement of said mounting member between a plurality of positions,

means, coupled to said mounting member, for actuating said mounting member, and

a wheel assembly, including the control wheel and means for rotating the control wheel, rotatably mounted to the second end of said mounting member, such that the position of the control wheel relative to the light source is determined by the position of said mounting member,

such that when said mounting member is in one position, the rotating control wheel affects the light beam in one way to provide an image generation system of one form, and when said mounting member is in another position, the rotating control wheel affects the light beam in another way to provide an image generation system of another form.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control wheel is a color filter wheel containing red, blue, and green filters and having a plurality of blades projecting therefrom in a radial direction, such that when said mounting member is in a first position, the color filter wheel filters the light beam with the red, blue and green filters to provide a field sequential color video imaging system, when said mounting member is in a second position, the color filter wheel blocks the light beam with the plurality of blades to provide a black and white video imaging system, and when said mounting member is in a third position, said color filter wheel is substantially removed from the path of the light beam to provide a constant light source system.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said control wheel is a shutter wheel containing a plurality of blades projecting therefrom in a radial direction, such that when said mounting member is in a first position, the shutter wheel blocks the light beam with the plurality of blades to provide a black and white video imaging system, and when said mounting member is in a second position, said control wheel is substantially removed from the path of the light beam to provide a constant light source system.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the control wheel is a color filter wheel containing red, blue and green filters, such that when said mounting member is in a first position, the color filter wheel filters the light beam with the red, blue and green filters to provide a field sequential color video imaging system, when said mounting member is in a second position, the color filter wheel is substantially removed from the path of the light beam to provide a constant light source system.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising

means, contained in a support member, for filtering infra-red light, said support member being displaceably connected to the frame to permit reciprocal movement of said support member between a filter position where said infra-red filter means is disposed substantially within the path of the light beam and an out position where said infra-red filter means is substantially removed from the path of the light beam,

linkage means, coupled to said mounting member and coupled to said support member, for translating movement of said mounting member into reciprocal movement of said support member,

such that when said mounting member is in one position, said infra-red filter means is in the filter position, and when said mounting member is in another position, said infra-red filter means is in the out position.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising

means, contained in a support member, for filtering infra-red light, said support member being displaceably connected to the frame to permit reciprocal movement of said support member between a filter position where said infra-red filter means is disposed substantially within the path of the light beam and an out position where said infra-red filter means is substantially removed from the path of the light beam,

linkage means, coupled to said mounting member and coupled to said support member, for translating movement of said mounting member into reciprocal movement of said support member,

such that when said mounting member is in the first position, said infra-red filter means is in the filter position, when said mounting member is in the second position, said infra-red filter means is in the out position, and when said mounting member is in the third position, said infra-red filter means is back in the filter position.

7. An apparatus as cited in claim 3, further comprising

means, contained in a support member, for filtering infra-red light, said support member being displaceably connected to the frame to permit reciprocal movement of said support member between a filter position where said infra-red filter means is disposed substantially within the path of the light beam and an out position where said infra-red filter means is substantially removed from the path of the light beam,

linkage means, coupled to said mounting member and coupled to said support member, for translating movement of said mounting member into reciprocal movement of said support member,

such that, when said mounting member is in the first position said infra-red filter means is in the out position, and when said mounting member is in the second position said infra-red filter means is in the filter position.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising

means, contained in a support member, for filtering infra-red light, said support member being displaceably connected to the frame to permit reciprocal movement of said support member between a filter position where said infra-red filter means is disposed substantially within the path of the light beam and an out position where said infra-red filter means is substantially removed from the path of the light beam,

linkage means, coupled to said mounting member and coupled to said support member, for translating movement of said mounting member into reciprocal movement of said support member,

such that when said mounting member is in the first position said infra-red filter means is in the filter position, and when said mounting member is in the second position, said infra-red filter is in the out position.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said actuating means comprises

a cam wheel rotatably mounted to the frame,

a lever, connected to said cam wheel for rotating said cam wheel from one position to at least one other position, and

a connecting arm having one end mounted to said cam wheel and the other end mounted to said mounting member, such that the position of said mounting member is determined by the position of said cam wheel.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said linkage means further comprises

a first gear fixedly mounted to said mounting member;

a second gear pivotally coupled to the frame and meshedly engaging said first gear;

a first linkage arm, having first and second ends, said first linkage arm being fixedly mounted to said second gear at its first end;

a second linkage arm, having first and second ends, said second linkage arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said first linkage arm at its first end;

a crank arm, having first and second ends, said crank arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said second linkage arm at its first end, and

a connecting shaft, rotatably engaging the frame, said connecting shaft being fixedly mounted to the second end of said crank arm at one end and fixedly mounted to said support member at the other end.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said linkage means further comprises

a first gear fixedly mounted to said mounting member;

a second gear pivotally coupled to the frame and meshedly engaging said first gear;

a first linkage arm, having first and second ends, said first linkage arm being fixedly mounted to said second gear at its first end;

a second linkage arm, having first and second ends, said second linkage arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said first linkage arm at its first end;

a crank arm, having first and second ends, said crank arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said second linkage arm at its first end, and

a connecting shaft, rotatably engaging the frame, said connecting shaft being fixedly mounted to the second end of said crank arm at one end and fixedly mounted to said support member at the other end.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said linkage means further comprises

a first gear fixedly mounted to said mounting member;

a second gear pivotally coupled to the frame and meshedly engaging said first gear;

a first linkage arm, having first and second ends, said first linkage arm being fixedly mounted to said second gear at its first end;

a second linkage arm, having first and second ends, said second linkage arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said first linkage arm at its first end;

a crank arm, having first and second ends, said crank arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said second linkage arm at its first end, and

a connecting shaft, rotatably engaging the frame, said connecting shaft being fixedly mounted to the second end of said crank arm at one end and fixedly mounted to said support member at the other end.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said linkage means further comprises

a first gear fixedly mounted to said mounting member;

a second gear pivotally coupled to the frame and meshedly engaging said first gear;

a first linkage arm, having first and second ends, said first linkage arm being fixedly mounted to said second gear at its first end;

a second linkage arm, having first and second ends, said second linkage arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said first linkage arm at its first end;

a crank arm, having first and second ends, said crank arm being pivotally mounted to the second end of said second linkage arm at its first end, and

a connecting shaft, rotatably engaging the frame, said connecting shaft being fixedly mounted to the second end of said crank arm at one end and fixedly mounted to said support member at the other end.