Video system for producing video images simulating images derived from motion picture film

• US 5,140,414 A
• Filed: 10/11/1990
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Harry E. Mowry
• Inventors: Mowry, Craig P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kim Y.
• Application Number:
  US07/595,082
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 358/22, 358/81, 358/54, 358/76, 358/78, 358/216
• US Class Current: 348/577
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2545 CDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• 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 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/43 Conversion of monochrome picture signals to colour picture signals for colour picture display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/74 for obtaining special effects H04N9/65 - H04N9/73 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/79 Processing of colour television signals in connection with recording

Abstract

Digital signals are generated and stored for each pixel of a frame of high definition video originated material. A computer reads the digital signals and converts them to binary image data by employing a selected look-up-table program to reassign color and black component values for each pixel. The programs applied in the component value reassignments are compiled from, and based on, comparative digital video component results of telecined film stocks'"'"' responses to selected color and grey scale gradients as charted against a selected video unit'"'"'s response to the same charts under a selected number of identical lighting circumstances. The revised digital data is assembled and converted to an analog signal for a secondary modification wherein: A projector unit projects the high definition video frame through a macro lens onto a strip of exposed and processed motion picture film of an optional grey scale gradient and thus grain pattern density. An automatically variable filter over the projector lens compensates to maintain the same brightness result from the opposite side of the film surface. A precisely aligned, compatible high definition camera unit provides a synching signal to the projector and automatically frames and focuses on the projected image from the reverse side of the celluloid surface, scanning the projected scan lines, to output the grain-embodying image for recording and displaying on a high definition format or external conversation to NTSC for broadcast purposes.

Claims

1. A video signal modification system for simulating video images originated on motion picture film stocks from high definition video originated images, including:

computing means for reassigning color and black component values for each pixel, scan-sequentially, within each frame of a high definition originated image stored on tape, based on digital component modifications;

look up table programs on which said digital component modifications are based, representing and compiled from comparative digital results of film stocks'"'"' responses to selected color chart gradients under selected lighting conditions, following a telecine transfer to digital video, as plotted against a video originated response to color and grey scale charts under same lighting combinations;

means for physically instilling selected film grain patterns of optional density and size, to the images resulting from a high definition videoprojection of frame store data derived from primary digital modification effected with said computing means;

means for videographing said videoprojection with a high definition camera unit, aligned to and with technical means to maintain a high degree of the projected image'"'"'s integrity;

means for compatibly;

recording;

playing back;

frame-storing in digital form;

digitally altering;

frame-storing again;

reconverting to analog and videoprojecting;

re-recording and displaying on a monitor, a high definition video signal; and

means for governing all insert time-code editing, system function, timing, and component advance signals through a system computer from a keyboard coupled to said system computer.

2. The system as in claim 1, said computing means including a computer having means to address and replace digital color and black component data for every pixel within a high definition image stored on tape, and to recall look-up table programs to employ as the basis of digital translations effected by said computing means.

3. The system as in claim 2, wherein said look up table programs used as the basis of the primary digital modification are of the one dimensional kind, compiled and recalled according to selected data plateaus based on the chosen film stock to be simulated and three principal videography variables:

color temperature in degrees kelvin

brightness in foot candles

the selected shooting f-stop setting.

4. The system as in claim 3, wherein look up table data for ranges of original video data, and corresponding response data indicating anticipated film stock response, are derived from detailed digital logs from analyses of videography and telecined film shot of selected color chart and grey scale gradients under the said lighting and f-stop variable combinations shared by the look-up-table being assembled.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein the number of shooting-variable based look-up-tables prepared for a given film stock program alone determine the number of said lighting and f-stop variables available for use during principal videography.

6. The system as in claim 4, wherein said look-up-tables are at least detailed enough to contain data plateaus necessary to address those color component and grey scale gradients deemed registrable by NTSC television standards, with any additional detail and specificity in digital component modification for providing additional color detail discernible by more sensitive television systems and monitors being determined by the incremental size of data groupings of original video data and thus the number of corresponding digital answers provided by a look-up-table employed.

7. The system as in claim 6, wherein digital data groupings contained in said look-up-table programs, indicating ranges of video originated data are derived from digital data resulting from videography of color and grey scale charts with a single, selected high definition camera model of the type with means to scan along at least double the 525 lines per two fields of the NTSC television system.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein said high definition camera model and corresponding record deck for recording the original high definition signal are designated as components of this system and are the preferred models for use in all original videography for modification by this system.

9. The system as in claim 1, wherein an apparatus provides means for instilling various grain textures to the image resulting from the primary digital modification including:

means to videoproject a high definition image on a surface 16 mm, or 35 mm wide;

a transparent grey celluloid length, or celluloid sheath, on which to manifest the projected image;

an assembly to contain the length of celluloid, with means to move the sheath intermittently, and to raise and lower it relative to a projector beam;

a camera unit, with means to generate a video synching signal for the projector unit, aligned and with high definition capability to scan synchronously with scan lines manifested on the celluloid sheath by the projector, including means to focus and frame on a 16 mm or 35 mm image as projected from the opposite side of the celluloid sheath surface;

means for applying peaking and filtering controls, familiar in film to tape transferring systems, to the camera unit and signal output by the camera unit;

means for outputting the camera signal for optional modification by an external unit, such as a separate color modification device or NTSC converter, prior to recording.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said video projector and camera units are mounted on tracks that permit the units to move toward or away from each other, and each correspondingly having electronic, variable macro-lensing providing means to reframe and focus said units simultaneously on a surface area of 16 mm or 35 mm in width when signalled, while maintaining maximum scanning line alignment between the two units.

11. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said camera unit is compatible with said projector unit, having means to produce a technically clean video signal, with a minimal degree of definition loss in videographing said videoprojection.

12. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the camera unit has means for generating a synch signal to the projector unit, which reciprocally has means to slave its projection accordingly to the video synching signal it receives.

13. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said camera unit has means to output a high definition signal for recording as such, or to output said signal for external conforming to NTSC television standards.

14. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the celluloid sheath is stretched between two containment rollers and functions as a transparent image manifest plane for said videoprojection on one side, and the image plane for videography by the camera unit on the reverse side.

15. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said celluloid sheath is a length of exposed and processed motion picture film, at least one meter long and 175 mm in width, containing at least five exposed strips 35 mm in width, of increasing grain density and thus darkness, representing plural grey scale gradients.

16. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said length of celluloid is contained on an assembly capable of raising and lowering containment rollers, and thus the celluloid image manifest plane, providing means for placing a selected grain density celluloid strip in line with the projector beam.

17. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein a variable density light filter and governing motor is aligned between the projector lens and the celluloid sheath, providing means for automatically varying the projection'"'"'s intensity as manifested on the celluloid sheath, in accordance with the darkness of a celluloid strip selected on which the image will be formed.

18. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the assembly includes rollers and has torque means for maintaining tension between the rollers so the celluloid sheath is completely flat in and around an image manifest zone.

19. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said assembly includes rollers and has means to advance the rollers intermittently, in two directions, thus advancing the length of celluloid 20 mm, up to thirty times each second in response to an advance signal received from the system computer.

20. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said assembly includes rollers and said intermittent advancing means has additional means for automatically reversing the rollers'"'"' advance direction, without any delay in the intermittent motion, when the length of celluloid is reached by either roller.

21. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the signal output from said camera unit may be subjected to external color correction devices or other modifications before recording.

22. The system as in claim 1, wherein all high definition components employ compatible technology and number of lines at scan, maintaining a high degree of the high definition image integrity through to its final recording or conversion.

23. The system as in claim 1, wherein editing functions including playback, edit controller and recorder are capable of single frame insert editing at speeds dictated by the system computer.

24. The system as in claim 1, wherein a resulting high definition signal output by this system is of a type able to be efficiently converted to NTSC requirements by an existing external conversion system.

25. The system as in claim 1, wherein all system functions, timing features, single-frame insert editing functions, advance signals and variable selections are governed by the system computer, with all system options and manual aesthetic adjustments of the digital component modification and film-grain instilling process controllable from the keyboard portion of said computer.

26. The system as in claim 1, wherein a second possible configuration of system components replaces high definition units with NTSC compatible components with the system of this configuration recording a modified NTSC signal derived from original NTSC taped material, with the video projector unit remaining the single system component with scanning line capacity of at least double that of NTSC standards.

27. The system as in claim 26, wherein an existing scandoubling system provides means to relay a signal of an increased scan line number from an NTSC signal originally derived from any NTSC camera and VTR combination, to the video projector unit for manifestation of the video image on the celluloid sheath to be videographed by an NTSC camera unit.

28. The system as in claim 1, including system configuration control means for maintaining said video originated images as a digital signal, throughout, said system configuration control means including:

a digital video camera and videotape recorder for effecting principal videography;

a digital video projector and camera comprising said film grain pattern instilling means;

whereby analog-to-digital conversion prior to processing said video originated images in said look-up table means, and digital-to-analog conversion prior to effecting videoprojection of said intermediate video images, is rendered unnecessary.

29. A video signal modification system for converting video originated images into final video images simulating images originated from motion picture film, the modification system including:

look-up table means for holding conversion data correlating color and black component values of picture pixels in said video originated images with modified component values, said conversion data being selectable for said picture pixels based on a plurality of parameters including lighting conditions;

computing means coupled to said look-up table means for reassigning values for said color and black component values for substantively each said picture pixel within each frame of said video originated images in dependence on said modified component values selected from said look-up table means and thereby producing intermediate video images;

grain pattern instilling means for physically instilling selected film grain patterns of optional density and size into said intermediate video images; and

final image producing means for producing said final video images from said intermediate video images which have had said film grain patterns instilled therein.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said grain pattern instilling means includes means for producing a high definition video projection of frame store data derived from said intermediate video images.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said grain pattern instilling means comprises means for videographing said high definition video projection with a high definition camera unit which is synchronized to said high definition video projection to maintain a high degree of projected image integrity.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein said video originated images comprise images obtained with a high definition video image generating apparatus.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said video originated images are sequentially scanned video images.

34. The system of claim 29, further including compatibility maintaining means for compatibly:

recording;

playing back;

frame-storing;

digitally altering;

frame-storing again;

reconverting to analog and video projecting; and

re-recording and displaying on a monitor, a high definition video signal.

35. The system of claim 29, further including control means for controlling all insert time-code editing, system function, timing and component advancing through a system computer from a single keyboard.

36. A video signal modification system for converting video originated images into final video images simulating images originated from motion picture film, the modification system including:

look-up table means for holding conversion data correlating to color and black component values of picture pixels in said video originated images with modified component values, said conversion data being selectable for said picture pixels based on a plurality of parameters including lighting conditions;

said conversion data being compiled and recallable according to a chosen film stock to be simulated, said parameters including;

(a) color temperature;

(b) brightness; and

(c) a selected shooting f-stop setting;

computing means coupled to said look-up table means for reassigning values for said color and black component values for substantively each said picture pixel within each frame of said video originated images in dependence on said modified component values selected from said look-up table means and thereby producing intermediate video images; and

means for producing said final video images from said intermediate video images.

37. The system as claimed in claim 36, wherein look-up table data for ranges of original video data, and corresponding response data indicating anticipated film stock response, are derived from detailed digital logs taken from analyses of videography and telecined film shots of selected color chart and grey scale gradients under combinations of said brightness and f-stop setting.

38. The system as in claim 37, wherein the look-up table means comprises a plurality of shooting-variable look-up tables and the number of shooting-variable look-up tables prepared for a given film stock program alone determine the number of said brightness, temperature, and f-stop settings available for use during principal videography.