Method and apparatus for a digital parallel processor for film conversion
First Claim
1. A digital processor for film conversion, the digital processor comprising:
- a plurality of input ports configured to receive digital data corresponding to film image pixels;
a first group of circuit elements coupled to the plurality of input ports and configured to perform initial film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a second group of circuit elements configured to perform intermediate film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a third group of circuit elements configured to perform final film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel and output a plurality of signals corresponding to standard image formats in parallel;
a memory bank separately coupled to the three groups of circuit elements and configured to temporarily store partially processed film image pixels, thereby allowing the three groups of circuit elements to work on different sets of film image pixels in parallel; and
a supervisor control circuit configured to communicate with and instruct each group of circuit elements on the processing steps for the film image pixels.
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Abstract
A cost-efficient digital parallel processor to improve throughput and offer a variety of output formats in film conversion is described. Image pixels on film are translated into electrical signals by photosensitive detectors. The electrical signals are digitized by analog-to-digital converters and thereafter provided to a digital parallel processor for film conversion functions. The digital parallel processor includes two or more groups of circuit elements to facilitate parallel processing. Each group of circuit elements can process a different set of image pixels simultaneously. In addition, image pixels belonging to the same set can be processed in parallel. This two-dimensional parallel processing structure facilitates faster than real-time film conversion sessions. A supervisor control circuit monitors and controls the sequence of film conversion functions. The output of the digital parallel processor is provided to a formatter which manipulates the data to conform to one or more standard formats. The data in different standard formats can be provided in parallel, thereby eliminated the need for additional film conversion sessions. The data in standard formats can be stored in local memory, written to a storage medium, provided to another device for further processing, or converted by a digital-to-analog converter for display on a video monitor.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A digital processor for film conversion, the digital processor comprising:
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a plurality of input ports configured to receive digital data corresponding to film image pixels;
a first group of circuit elements coupled to the plurality of input ports and configured to perform initial film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a second group of circuit elements configured to perform intermediate film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a third group of circuit elements configured to perform final film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel and output a plurality of signals corresponding to standard image formats in parallel;
a memory bank separately coupled to the three groups of circuit elements and configured to temporarily store partially processed film image pixels, thereby allowing the three groups of circuit elements to work on different sets of film image pixels in parallel; and
a supervisor control circuit configured to communicate with and instruct each group of circuit elements on the processing steps for the film image pixels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A film conversion device for converting images recorded on film to an electronic format, said film conversion device comprising:
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a photosensitive detector configured to produce an analog signal corresponding to a pixel in a film image;
an analog-to-digital converter configured to produce digital values to represent said analog signal;
a core processor configured to receive and manipulate said digital values; and
a digital formatter configured to receive digital output of said core processor and arrange said digital output to achieve a standard digital format, wherein said core processor further comprising;
a supervisor controller configured to monitor and control functions in said core processor during a film conversion session;
a first group of two or more processing elements configured to receive said digital values and provide input processing;
a second group of two or more processing elements configured to provide intermediate processing;
a bank of memory elements configured to provide temporary storage; and
a third group of two or more processing elements configured to provide final processing and digital output to said digital formatter. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A device for generating electrical signals representing images recorded on film to an electronic format, said device comprising:
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a platform supporting film reels;
a scanning module separate from said platform comprising an illuminating subassembly, a film guide subassembly, and an imaging subassembly;
said illuminating subassembly including a lamp;
said film guide subassembly including a guide having a slit over which said film passes, said slit being illuminated by said illuminating subassembly;
said imaging subassembly including an array of photosensitive detectors that receive light that passes through said slit and said film and outputs electrical analog signals corresponding to respective pixels in said film image;
an analog-to-digital converter configured to produce digital values to represent said analog signals;
a digital processor having a plurality of input ports configured to receive said digital values;
a first group of circuit elements coupled to said plurality of input ports and configured to perform initial film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a second group of circuit elements configured to perform intermediate film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel;
a third group of circuit elements configured to perform final film conversion processing on a set of two or more film image pixels in parallel and output a plurality of signals corresponding to standard image formats in parallel;
a memory bank separately coupled to the three groups of circuit elements and configured to temporarily store partially processed film image pixels, thereby allowing the three groups of circuit elements to work on different sets of film image pixels in parallel; and
a supervisor control circuit configured to communicate with and instruct each group of circuit elements on the processing steps for the film image pixels.
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7. A method for achieving faster than real-time film conversion, the method comprising:
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digitizing analog signals corresponding to scanned film pixels;
performing a substantially identical processing step in a film conversion sequence on a set of two or more digitized scanned film pixels in parallel;
performing substantially different processing steps in the film conversion sequence on different sets of digitized scanned film pixels in parallel;
storing a set of partially processed digitized scanned film pixels in temporary memory when the next processing step in the film conversion sequence is unavailable; and
manipulating processed digitized scanned film pixels to produce digital data in standard file formats.
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Specification