Method and apparatus for generating, storing, reproducing, and displaying image information

• US 5,177,645 A
• Filed: 10/02/1991
• Issued: 01/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1955
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Lemelson
• Inventors: Lemelson, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Application Number:
  US07/770,601
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 360/35.1, 360/13, 360/10.1, 360/27, 358/313, 358/335, 358/342, 358/344, 358/345, 358/347, 358/348
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 19/14 and presenting a text of more than one line
• CPC Class Codes: B41B 27/00 Control, indicating, or safety devices or systems for composing machines of various kinds or types computers in general G06F
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/14 using punched cards or tapes G05B19/128 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermographic registration recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 13/26 Winding-up or unwinding of record carriers; Driving of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0012 with more than one selection steps, e.g. selection of a record carrier from a selected compartment of a compartmented storage storage devices for articles B65G1/0407
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0016 Selecting or retrieving of images by means of their associated code-marks, e.g. coded microfilm or microfiche microfilm reading G03B21/11; computers therefor G06F16/00; teaching devices G09B5/02; accessing record carriers G11B27/002; static digital stores using optical elements G11C13/04; intermediate storage of facsimile picture signals H04N1/21
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0019 for images on filmstrips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/04 by mechanical means, e.g. by pins operating electric contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/08 by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/084 sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/253 visually
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/194 using image scanning and comparing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/26 using storage tubes tubes therefor H01J31/58
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/005 Programmed access in sequence to indexed parts of tracks of operating tapes, by driving or guiding the tape access by driving of both record carrier and head G11B15/1816; see prov. also G11B15/602
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1883 : for record carriers inside containers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/1891 : the record carrier being endless
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/24 : Drive disengaging means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/32 : through the reels or cores on to which the record carrier is wound
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/444 : reversing arrangements G11B15/442 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/683 : wherein the recorder or player is moved according to the location of a selected cassette G11B15/684 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6875 : wherein the recorder or player is moved towards a selected cassette in the magazine
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6895 : Automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/10 : by sensing presence or absence of record in accessible stored position or on turntable
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/02 : Driving or moving of heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 : Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 : Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/04 : using flat record carriers, e.g. disc, card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 : Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/02 : Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 : with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/029 : Insert-editing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 : of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/28 : by using information signals recorded by the same method as the main recording G11B27/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 : used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/326 : used signal is a video-frame or a video-field (P.I.P.)
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/54 : with provision for moving the head into or out of its operative position or across tracks
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/55 : Track change, selection or acquisition by displacement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00358 : Type of the scanned marks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00374 : on the same page as at least a part of the image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/217 : Interfaces allowing access to a single user
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2175 : with local image input
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2179 : Interfaces allowing access to a plurality of users, e.g. connection to electronic image libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32042 : with reading of job-marks on a page
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7826 : involving helical scanning of the magnetic tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Information signals including single frame video signals are recorded on selected areas of a recording medium, with accompany recorded code signals associated with each frame. Address codes are employed to locate and read the information signals stored on the recording medium. The information read from the recording medium is processed, stored in a display buffer, and displayed on a viewing screen.

Claims

1. A method for recording information in a record member and transducing selective portions of said information to form monitorable still images, said method comprising the steps of generating a first group of information signals, recording said first group of information signals on a first portion of said record member, generating and predeterminately recording a first code on said record member for locating and identifying the recording of said first group of information signals, repeating the preceding steps to generate and record a plurality of additional groups of information signals and respective codes, each of which code identifies and defines the location of a respective one of said additional groups of information signals, and when it is desired to monitor the information contained in a selected one of said recorded groups of information signals, selectively reproducing an address signal representative of the first code which identifies and locates the selected group of information signals, and employing said first code to effect the selective reproduction of said information signals from said record member and the application of said information signals to a display means operable for generating images, and generating an image derived from said selectively reproduced information signals on said display, means and wherein a plurality of different characteristic codes are recorded, each of which defines a characteristic of the information contained in one of said recorded groups of information signals, and wherein each of the plurality of different characteristic codes differs from the others and is related to a different characteristic other than location of the group of information signals defined thereby.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of generating the first and additional groups of information signals includes generating the groups in the form of television video signals, and wherein the step of recording the first and additional groups of information signals includes recording the groups in the form of television video signals.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of recording the first and additional groups of information signals includes recording the groups on said record member in the form of signals defining video information.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of generating said first and additional groups of information signals includes deriving them from video signals defining full frames of video information.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of generating the video signals on an output of an electronic camera.

6. The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising the step of generating the video signals on an output of an electronic storage device.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of recording the first and additional groups of information signals in said record member includes recording said groups in the form of analog signals defining video information.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of generating said first and additional groups of information signals includes deriving said groups from analog signals defining full frames of video information.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of deriving the groups of information signals from the analog video signals includes receiving the analog video signals from an output of an electronic camera.

10. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of storing, in a display buffer, display signals derived from said selectively reproduced information signals, and wherein the step of generating an image includes the step of repeatedly reading said display signals from said display buffer and applying said display signals to generate and maintain said image on a short persistence display screen.

11. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of recording the first and additional codes on said record member includes recording the codes in digital form.

12. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of recording the plurality of additional characteristic codes on said record member includes recording the characteristic codes in digital form.

13. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include storing the codes and information signals on a magnetic disc.

14. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include storing the codes and information signals on a record member which is coated with magnetic recording material.

15. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include storing said codes and information signals on a record member comprised of electro-optical recording material.

16. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include storing said codes and information signals on a record member comprised of magnetic tape.

17. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include recording said codes and information signals in a magnetic recording layer of the record member.

18. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include controlling a laser to record the codes and information signals on an optically scannable record member.

19. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the steps of recording said first and additional codes and said information signals on said record member include controlling an electron beam to selectively heat recording regions of a thermoplastic recording material.

20. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of applying said information signals to a display means includes generating synchronizing signals to control a display screen of a video monitor.

21. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of applying said information signals to a display means includes generating analog signals to control a beam to create an image on a display screen of a television receiver.

22. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of applying said information signals to a display means includes generating analog signals to control a beam to create an image on a display screen of a cathode ray tube.

23. A method of addressing information stored on a record member comprising the steps of:

recording first codes on code-recording portions of a record member, recording discrete groups of information signals adjacent said code-recording portions of said record member, effecting relative movement between said record member and a transducing device which records and reads codes, generating feedback signals by reading said first codes recorded on said code-recording portions of said record member, comparing said feedback signals with a select address code, generating a control signal when the feedback signals match said select address code, and using said control signal to generate and record a further code on a selected area of said record member.

24. The method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said further code recorded on said selected area of said record member indicates that a match occurred between the select address code and the feedback signal.

25. The method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising the step of recording the first codes in digital form.

26. The method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising the step of generating said select address code by selectively operating at least one of a plurality of switches.

27. The method in accordance with claim 26 wherein the switches are manually operated.

28. The method in accordance with claim 23 wherein said select address code is generated by manually operating selected keys of a keyboard.

29. The method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising reading said first codes recorded on the code-recording portion of the record member in a sequential manner.

30. The method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising the step of using said control signal to effect the reproduction of a select discrete group of information signals from said record member.

31. The method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising recording said discrete groups of information signals in said record member in the form of signals defining video information.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31 further comprising reproducing said select information from said record member in the form of signals defining video information.

33. The method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising the step of storing said reproduced signals defining video information in video memory means for use in effecting the generation of full frame video display signals.

34. The method in accordance with claim 33 further comprising the step of applying the full frame video display signals to generate an image on a short persistence video display screen.

35. The method in accordance with claim 32 wherein said signals defining video information are derived from video signals representing full frames of video data.

36. An apparatus for storing, reproducing and displaying information comprising:

first means for storing a plurality of discrete groups of signals defining frames of visual information,

second means for reproducing from said first means select ones of said discrete groups of signals and for generating electrical signals representative of the frame of visual information defined by said reproduced group,

third means including a display having a viewing screen with a short persistence image generating means requiring restorative information signal scanning at a fixed rate to maintain an image on said viewing screen to permit said image to be visually monitored by a person viewing said screen,

fourth means connected to said display for receiving and storing said electrical signals generated by said second means,

fifth means for reproducing said electrical signals stored by said fourth means at a fixed frequency equal to the restorative information signal scanning rate required to maintain an image on said viewing screen of said display,

sixth means for applying said electrical signals reproduced from said fifth means to said display to effect the generation and retention of images on its viewing screen for a sufficient period of time to permit a person viewing said screen to visually monitor the information defined by the discrete group selectively reproduced from said first means, and

seventh means for controlling the operation of said fifth means to cause it to erase electrical signals recorded in said fourth means permitting new discrete groups of signals defining at least one frame of visual information to be selectively reproduced from said first means by said second means and applied to said fourth means and to be reproduced therefrom and employed to effect the generation of respective images on said display screen.

37. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the discrete groups of signals stored in the first means comprise analog video signals.

38. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the discrete groups of signals stored in the first means comprise signals derived from the output of an electronic camera.

39. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the discrete groups of signals stored in the first means comprise analog signals derived from the output of an electronic camera.

40. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the discrete groups of signals stored in the first means comprise signals derived from the output of an electronic storage device.

41. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the discrete groups of signals stored in the first means comprise signals derived from the output of an electronic recording and reproduction unit.

42. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the first means comprises a magnetic tape recording and reproduction unit.

43. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the first means comprises a magnetic disk.

44. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the first means includes an electro-optical storage device.

45. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein said second means includes a plurality of manual switches and control means controlled by the selective manual operation of said switches for transducing select ones of said discrete groups of signals to electrical signals defining frames of visual information.

46. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein said first means includes:

a record member;

means for recording first codes on code-recording portions of said record member;

means for recording each of said discrete groups of signals on a respective information-recording portion of said record member, each one of said information-recording portions being associated with a corresponding one of said code-recording portions;

means for reading said first codes recorded on said code-recording portion of said record member and generating corresponding location-indicating signals representative of the location of said first code in said record member; and

means for reading the discrete groups of signals recorded on said information-recording portions of said record member.

47. The apparatus in accordance with claim 46 wherein said second means comprises a plurality of manually operable selection switches for generating a signal representative of a select one of said first codes, an electronic code-matching means, means for applying to said code-matching means said signals representative of said select first code generated by operating the selection switches, means for initiating said first means to read said first codes recorded on said record member to generate said corresponding location-indicating signals, means for applying said location-indicating signals to said electronic code-matching means, and means for generating a control signal when a match occurs between said location-indicating signals and said signals representative of said select first code.

48. The apparatus in accordance with claim 47 further comprising means for employing said control signal to cause said first means to read the discrete group of signals stored on said respective information-recording portion of said record member that corresponds to said select first code.

49. The apparatus in accordance with claim 46 further comprising means for selectively generating and recording at least one additional characteristic code associated with each discrete group of signals recorded on respective information-recording portions of said record member, said additional characteristic code being different from said first code in content and defining a characteristic of said associated discrete group of signals other than the location where said group is recorded on said record member.

50. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the display of said third means comprises a television monitor.

51. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the display of said third means comprises a video receiver.

52. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the display of said third means comprises a monitor.

53. The apparatus in accordance with claim 36 wherein the display of said third means comprises a cathode ray tube.

54. A method of storing, reproducing and displaying information comprising:

storing information at a plurality of select storage locations of a storage means, and

when it is desired to visually monitor the information stored at a select location of said storage means, selectively reproducing the information stored at said select location and generating electrical signals representative of such recording,

passing said generated electrical signals to a further signal storage means and storing a representation of the information defined by said electrical signals in said further signal storage means,

thereafter employing said electrical signals stored in said further signal storage means to generate further electrical signals representative of the selectively reproduced information and repeatedly reproducing at a fixed frequency said further electrical signals, and

applying said repeatedly reproduced further electrical signals to a display having a viewing screen defined by a short persistence image generating means wherein the frequency at which said further electrical signals are generated and repeated is such as to effect the retention of an image on the viewing screen of said display by the repeated scanning of a phosphor image generating means thereof, which image is a visual representation of the information contained in the recording reproduced from the select storage location of said storage means.

55. The method in accordance with claim 54 wherein said step of storing information at a plurality of select storage locations includes storing the information as a plurality of discrete information recordings.

56. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising storing the discrete information recordings in the form of signals defining video information.

57. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising storing the discrete information recordings in the form of signals defining full frames of video information.

58. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising storing the discrete information recordings in the form of signals defining analog video information.

59. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising storing the discrete information recordings in the form of signals defining full frames of analog video information.

60. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising the step of deriving the discrete information recordings from the output of an electronic camera.

61. The method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising the step of deriving the discrete information recordings from the output of an electronic storage device.

62. The method in accordance with claim 54 wherein the step of applying said repeatedly reproduced further electrical signals to a display includes controlling an image generating means to display said image on a display screen of a television monitor.

63. The method in accordance with claim 54 wherein the step of applying said repeatedly reproduced further electrical signals to a display includes controlling an image generating means to display said image on a display screen of a monitor.

64. The method in accordance with claim 54 wherein the step of applying said repeatedly reproduced further electrical signals to a display includes controlling an image generating means to display said image on a display screen of a cathode ray tube.

65. A method for recording, reproducing and utilizing information signals comprising:

(a) sequentially generating a series of groups of information signals, wherein each group of said signals comprises picture elements and code signal elements and wherein said code signal elements define respective locations of the recordings of respective of said picture elements,

(b) recording said picture elements of each group as discrete frame-defining recordings along first select areas of a primary information recording portion of a magnetic recording member,

(c) recording said code signal elements along select areas of a code recording portion of said magnetic recording member,

(d) when it is required to reproduce and utilize selected of said picture elements, scanning said code recording portion of said magnetic recording member with a reproduction transducing means and generating coded electrical signals on the output of said transducing means, said coded electrical signals being derived from said code signal elements,

(e) applying said coded electrical signals to a code matching electronic circuit,

(f) selecting and generating an address code defining the location of said selected picture elements and applying said address code to said code matching electronic circuit,

(g) when a match occurs at said code matching electronic circuit between said address code and one of said coded electrical signals generated by said transducing means, generating a control signal and applying same to control the reproduction of said selected picture elements from said recording thereof along said select portion of said magnetic recording member, and

(h) applying the reproduced picture elements to a video display means to cause a display screen thereof to display the information defined by said select picture elements.

66. The method in accordance with claim 65 further comprising recording the picture elements in analog form.

67. The method in accordance with claim 65 wherein the step of recording the groups of information signals on a record member includes recording said groups on a magnetic disc.

68. The method in accordance with claim 65 further comprising deriving the picture elements from a full frame of video information.

69. The method in accordance with claim 65 wherein the step of recording said groups of information signals recorded on said record member includes recording said groups in the form of analog signals defining video information.

70. The method in accordance with claim 69 wherein the step of reproducing selected picture elements from said record member includes reproducing said elements in the form of analog signals defining video information.

71. A method for recording, reproducing and monitoring visual information comprising:

(a) recording a plurality of discrete groups of information signals at a plurality of select recording locations of a record member;

(b) when it is desired to generate and display information defined by a select one of said discrete groups of information signals, generating an address code to selectively reproduce said selected discrete group of information signals from its respective recording location of said record member;

(c) employing said information signals to generate corresponding electrical signals;

(d) recording said corresponding electrical signals in an erasable buffer memory;

(e) automatically reproducing the recordings of said electrical signals in said erasable buffer memory at a predetermined fixed frequency as further electrical display signals defining image information;

(f) applying said electrical display signals as they are generated to control the operation of a display means requiring restorative information signal scanning of a fixed rate in order to maintain on said display an image to be visually monitored.

72. The method in accordance with claim 71 wherein the step of recording said discrete groups of information signals on a record member includes recording said discrete groups on a magnetic disk.

73. The method in accordance with claim 71 wherein the step of recording said discrete groups of information signals on a record member includes recording said discrete groups on a magnetic tape.

74. The method in accordance with claim 71 wherein the step of recording said discrete groups of information signals on a record member includes recording said discrete groups in the form of electro-optically scannable information.

75. A method in accordance with claim 71 which further includes generating a plurality of location indicating codes each of which defines the location of a corresponding one of said discrete groups of said recorded information signals in said record member, recording said location indicating codes at select locations of a code recording portion of said record member, and thereafter effecting the reproduction of a selected one of said discrete groups of information signals from its recording location in said record member by:

scanning said code recording portion of said record member and reproducing the codes recorded thereon as coded electrical signals, comparing said reproduced codes to said address code, and effecting the reproduction of said selected one of said discrete groups of said recorded information signals when said address code and said reproduced code matches.

76. The method in accordance with claim 75 further comprising manually generating said address code by operating a plurality of switches.