Flicker processor for cinema video assist

• US 5,119,191 A
• Filed: 05/30/1990
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panavision International LP (Panavision Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Panavision International LP (Panavision Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van den Heuvel, Raymond C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US07/530,235
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 358/214, 358/97, 358/140, 358/215
• US Class Current: 348/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2228 Video assist systems used in motion picture production, e.g. video cameras connected to viewfinders of motion picture cameras or related video signal processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/253 Picture signal generating by scanning motion picture films or slide opaques, e.g. for telecine scanning details therefor H04N3/36 ; standard conversion therefor H04N7/0112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0112 one of the standards corresponding to a cinematograph film standard

Abstract

In a video assist system, an intermittent composite video signal produced by a modified television camera from a motion-picture image is converted to a composite video output signal in a continuous television format, by writing a largely unprocessed intermittent signal (including composite color, intensity and timing information) into a field buffer and reading a continuous television output signal (including both control elements and data) from that field buffer. The field buffer may comprise multiplexed banks of static RAM, with separate read address and write address generators for reading and writing data independently. When a field is repeated on output, an even-lines field may follow a previous even-lines field or an odd-lines field may follow a previous odd-lines field. It is not necessary to synchronize the phase of the video assist system with the motion-picture camera, and it is possible to retrieve television image frames at a divisor of the motion-picture camera frame rate to work with a brighter image.

Claims

1. A video assist system, comprising

means for receiving a motion-picture image at a frame rate of a motion-picture camera;

television camera means for receiving said motion-picture image and for generating an intermittent signal, said intermittent signal having frame in synchrony with a set of frames of said motion-picture image and having image data in each frame disposed at a television rate;

means for storing a substantially unprocessed form of said intermittent signal, having both control signals and data, in a field buffer; and

means for reading a continuous television output signal, having both a set of television control signals and a set of television data, from said field buffer.

2. A video assist system as in claim 1, wherein said image data comprises television composite pixel and synchronization information.

3. A video assist system as in claim 1, wherein said means for storing operates intermittently and said means for reading operates continuously.

4. A video assist system as in claim 1, wherein said field buffer comprises

a plurality of banks of static RAM;

input port means for writing into said field buffer; and

output port means for reading from said field buffer.

5. A video assist system as in claim 1, comprising a read address generator and a write address generator for addressing said field buffer.

6. A video assist system as in claim 5, wherein said read address generator operates substantially at a television-format frame rate.

7. A video assist system as in claim 5, wherein said write address generator operates substantially at a motion-picture frame rate.

8. A video assist system as in claim 1, wherein said field buffer comprises one field of memory, and wherein even and odd fields of said intermittent signal are successively stored in said field buffer, whereby when a field is repeated on output, and even field may follow an immediately previous even field and an odd field may follow an immediately previous odd field.

9. A video assist system as in claim 1, wherein said field buffer is composed of substantially a single field of memory, and wherein even and odd fields of said intermittent signal are successively stored in said field buffer, whereby when a field is repeated on output, an even field may follow an immediately previous even field and an odd field may follow an immediately previous odd field.

10. A device as in claim 1, comprising means for offsetting a write address for said field buffer so that even fields and odd field have different starting addresses, whereby a horizontal timing pulse is stored in said field buffer at the same place for even fields and odd fields.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein said television control signals comprise said control signals from said substantially unprocessed form of said intermittent signal stored in said field buffer.

12. A device for converting a motion-picture image to a television signal, comprising

a television camera, disposed to receive said motion-picture image, having a horizontal synchronization signal input and a vertical synchronization input, capable of operating at a rate other than a standard television rate;

an A/D converter, coupled to an analog output of said television camera;

a dual-port memory, coupled to a digital output of said A/D converter;

a D/A converter, coupled to an output of said dual-port memory;

whereby an output of said D/A converter is suitable for use as a television signal.

13. A device as in claim 12, comprising

a write address generator and a read address generator coupled to said dual-port memory;

a first vertical timer operating at a motion-picture frame rate coupled to said write address generator and to said vertical synchronization signal input;

a second vertical timer operating at a television-format frame rate coupled to said read address generator;

a horizontal timer operating at a television-format horizontal line rate coupled to an input of said first and second timers and to said horizontal synchronization signal input.

14. A device as in claim 12, wherein said dual-port memory comprises static memory.

15. A device as in claim 12, wherein said dual-port memory comprises

a data input port;

a demultiplexer coupled to said data input port; and

a plurality of memory write ports coupled to a plurality of outputs of said demultiplexer.

16. A device as in claim 12, wherein said dual-port memory comprises

a plurality of memory read ports;

a multiplexer coupled to said plurality of memory read ports; and

a data output port coupled to an output of said multiplexer.

17. A device as in claim 12, comprising means for offsetting a write address for said dual-port memory so that even fields and odd fields have different starting addresses, whereby a horizontal timing pulse is stored in said dual-port memory at the same place for even fields and odd fields.

18. A device as in claim 12, wherein said horizontal synchronization signal input and said vertical synchronization input correspond to an output signal which is substantially in synchrony with a set of frame of said motion-picture image and having image data in each frame disposed at a television rate.

19. Apparatus for the conversion of an optical image available through the optical system of the viewfinder of a motion-picture camera to a standard television signal for viewing and recording at a remote location, comprising

a television camera capable of accepting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from an external source;

an analog to digital converter connected to said television camera for converting the analog video signal at the output of said camera into an equivalent digital output;

a dual port memory connected to said analog to digital converter for simultaneously storing the digital output signal from said analog to digital converter and simultaneously reading out portions of said signal;

a digital to analog converter connected to said dual port memory for converting the output of said dual port memory from digital to analog format, whereby said analog format is suitable for use as a standard video signal for video monitors and recorders;

a first address generator comprising counting, incrementing, resetting and offsetting circuits for generating write addresses for said dual port memory and connected to the address bus of said dual port memory by means of gating circuits;

a second address generator comprising counting, incrementing, resetting and gating circuits for generating read addresses for said dual port memory and connected to the address bus of said dual port memory by means of gating circuits;

a first vertical time-base for generating vertical synchronization signals compatible with a frame rate of a motion-picture camera and connected to a vertical synchronization input for said television camera and to a resetting and a presetting input of said first address generator;

a second vertical time-base for generating a standard television vertical synchronization signal and connected to a resetting input of said second address generator;

a horizontal time-base for generating horizontal standard television synchronization signals connected to a clock input of said first time-base, to a clock input of said second time-base, and to a horizontal synchronization input of said television camera;

a waveform generator for generating a set of master clock and logic control signals for said dual port memory, said first and second time-bases, said first and second address generators, said analog to digital converter, and said digital to analog converter.

20. A method of operating a video assist system, comprising the steps of

receiving a motion-picture image at a predetermined frame rate;

receiving said motion-picture image and generating an intermittent signal, said intermittent signal having frame in synchrony with a set of frame of said motion-picture image and having image data in each frame disposed at a television rate;

storing a substantially unprocessed form of said intermittent signal, having both control signals and data, in a field buffer; and

reading a continuous television output signal, having both a set of television control signals and a set of television data, from said field buffer.

21. A method as in claim 20, wherein said predetermined frame rate is an integer divisor of a frame rate of a motion-picture camera.

22. A method as claim 20, wherein said image data comprises composite television pixel and synchronization information.

23. A method as in claim 20, wherein said television control signals comprise said control signals from said substantially unprocessed form of said intermittent signal stored in said field buffer.

24. A video assist system, comprising

a television camera capable of accepting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from an external source and capable of integrating a received television image field for a duration substantially equal to a whole frame, said television camera generating a composite television signal;

an image buffer coupled to said composite television signal;

means for storing said composite television signal in said image buffer in a substantially unmodified form;

means for retrieving said composite television signal from said image buffer.

25. A video assist system as in claim 24, wherein said substantially unmodified form includes timing, luminance, and chrominance signals.

26. A video assist system as in claim 24, comprising

means for integrating each one of a set of even and odd fields generated by said television camera for a full cycle of a motion-picture camera shutter, whereby there is no need for phase control between said shutter and said television camera.

27. A method of operating a video assist system, comprising the steps of

accepting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from an external source, integrating a received television image field for a duration substantially equal to a whole frame in response thereto, and generating a composite television signal in response thereto;

storing said composite television signal in an image buffer in a substantially unmodified form;

retrieving said composite television signal from said image buffer.

28. A method as in claim 27, wherein said substantially unmodified form includes timing, luminance, and chrominance signals.

29. A method as in claim 27, comprising the step of

integrating each one of a set of even and odd fields generated by a television camera for a full cycle of a motion-picture camera shutter, whereby there is no need for phase control between said shutter and said television camera.

30. A video assist system, comprising

means for receiving a motion-picture image and for generating an intermediate video image signal in response thereto;

means for storing a substantially unprocessed form of said intermediate video image signal in a field buffer; and

means for retrieving a continuous signal from said field buffer at a television standard.

31. A video assist system as in claim 30, wherein said intermediate video signal comprises a television format signal having a set of frames in synchrony with a set of frames of a motion-picture image, and having image data in each one of said set of frames disposed at a television rate.

32. A video assist system as in claim 30, wherein said substantially unprocessed form includes timing, luminance, or chrominance signals.

33. A video assist system as in claim 30, wherein said field buffer comprises means for storing control signals and data.

34. A video assist system as in claim 30, wherein said continuous signal comprises control signals and data which have been retrieved from said field buffer.

35. A method of operating a video assist system, comprising the steps of

receiving a motion-picture image and generating an intermediate video image signal in response thereto;

storing a substantially unprocessed form of said intermediate video image signal in a field buffer; and

retrieving a continuous signal from said field buffer at a television standard.

36. A method as in claim 35, wherein said intermediate video signal comprises a television format signal having a set of frames in synchrony with a set of frames of a motion-picture image, and having image data in each one of said set of frames disposed at a television rate.

37. A method as in claim 35, wherein said substantially unprocessed form includes timing, luminance, or chrominance signals.

38. A method as in claim 35, wherein said step of storing comprises storing both control signals and data.

39. A method as in claim 35, wherein said continuous signal comprises control signals and data which have been retrieved from said field buffer.