Patent EP0087296A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0087296A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus and method for generating high quality pictures under low light conditions
Assignee: Ampex Corp
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Filing: 1983-02-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-18
Abstract
Abstract The effective sensitivity of an image tube is increased by inhibiting the readout scan for a plurality of scan periods within a given repeated cycle and enabling the scan for the remainder of the cycle. The output signal produced during the enabled scan is stored and subsequently used to provide a continuous output video signal.
Inventors
- 👤 John O. Ryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/70; H04N23/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S358/00; Y10S358/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A system for increasing the effective sensitivity of an image tube or other optical-to-electrical transducer having a photosensitive screen, characterised by: means (60) for enabling a readout scanning process for a selected scan period within a repeated cycle of scan periods to generate a corresponding output signal of increased sensitivity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A system for increasing the effective sensitivity of an image tube or other optical-to-electrical transducer having a photosensitive screen, characterised by: means (60) for enabling a readout scanning process for a selected scan period within a repeated cycle of scan periods to generate a corresponding output signal of increased sensitivity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system according to claim 1, characterised by: means (64) for inhibiting the readout scanning process for a selected plurality of scan periods of the cycle of scan periods, and means (54) for operating on the said generated output signal in response to the said means for enabling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein the means for operating (54) include storage means for storing the output signal and for subsequently selectively reproducing the signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the storage means include recorder means for storing the output signal and for selectively reproducing the signal as successive still frame pictures at the enabled scan period rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein the recorder means include a videotape recorder for storing the output signal as successive pictures and not reproducing them in the still frame mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the storage means include picture store means for storing the output signal corresponding to the enabled scan period and for selectively reproducing that signal during the inhibited scan periods of the scanning process.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the picture store means include frame store means for storing the output signal as one frame of information for selective reproduction during the inhibited scan periods.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
A system according to any of claims 3 to 7 wherein the means for inhibiting and for enabling include read pulse generating means operatively coupled to the tube for generating a readout enable pulse within the repeating cycle of scan periods.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 8 further including a source (62) of reference sync pulses corresponding to the scan period frequency; and frequency control means (66) for varying the frequency of the readout enable pulses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 9 further including: means (69) for generating a flag timing pulse relative to the occurrence of the readout enable read pulse; and said means for operating being responsive to the flag timing pulse.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for increasing the effective sensitivity of an optical-to-electrical transducer having a conventional continuous scanning action of successive selected scan periods, characterised by the combination of means (60,64) for inhibiting the conventional scanning action for a selectable number of scan periods; means (60,64) for enabling the scanning action for a selected scan period following the inhibited number of scan periods; and means (44,50) for generating an interrupted signal in response to the scanning action of the enabled scan period.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
80 words
A system for increasing the effective sensitivity of an optical-to-electrical transducer having a conventional continuous scanning action of successive selected scan periods, characterised by the combination of means (60,64) for inhibiting the conventional scanning action for a selectable number of scan periods; means (60,64) for enabling the scanning action for a selected scan period following the inhibited number of scan periods; and means (44,50) for generating an interrupted signal in response to the scanning action of the enabled scan period.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein the means for generating include; a photosensitive element (44) integral with the transducer; and signal processor means coupled to the photosensitive element and responsive to the means for enabling.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the means for enabling include: read pulse generator means for generating readout control pulses to initiate the enabled scan period; and wherein the absence of readout control pulses inhibits the readout scanning of the photosensitive surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein: a scan period corresponds to a television frame period; the readout scanning is inhibited for N successive frames; and the readout scanning is enabled for a frame period following the N frames.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 13 or claim 14 further including read frequency control means (64,66) coupled to the read pulse generator means for determining the frequency of the readout control pulses.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
47 words
A system according to any of claims 13 to 15 including solid state image sensor means defining said photosensitive screen; scan means for generating a horizontal and vertical scan raster on the photosensitive screen; and wherein readout of the photosensitive screen occurs during the enabled scan period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system according to claim 13 in which the transducer is: an image tube having a target defining said photosensitive screen, the system including scan means for generating a horizontal and vertical scan raster on the target; and wherein readout of the target occurs during the enabled scan period.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for optimizing the effective sensitivity of an image tube having a repeating cycle of scan periods, comprising; tube control means (36); a source (62) of reference sync pulses corresponding to the frame rate; read pulse generator means (60) for selectively supplying read control pulses to the tube control element from the reference sync pulses; processor means (50) coupled to the tube for receiving a signal therefrom in response to the read control pulses and for providing an output signal; and manipulating means (54) coupled to the processor means for selectively storing and reproducing the output signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
98 words
A system for optimizing the effective sensitivity of an image tube having a repeating cycle of scan periods, comprising; tube control means (36); a source (62) of reference sync pulses corresponding to the frame rate; read pulse generator means (60) for selectively supplying read control pulses to the tube control element from the reference sync pulses; processor means (50) coupled to the tube for receiving a signal therefrom in response to the read control pulses and for providing an output signal; and manipulating means (54) coupled to the processor means for selectively storing and reproducing the output signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein: the tube control means is a cathode; the read pulse generator means supplies a cathode potential sufficient to enable readout only for a selected scan period of the cycle of scan periods.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein: the tube control means is a grid; and the read pulse generator means supplies a grid potential sufficient to enable readout only for a selected scan period of the cycle of scan periods.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein: the tube control means comprises horizontal and vertical scan means; and the read pulse generator means supplies readout control pulses which enables the horizontal and vertical readout scanning only during the enabled scan period of the cycle of scan periods.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
74 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein the read pulse generator means includes: a reference sync pulse source (62); frequency control means (66) for selecting the readout control pulse frequency from a range of numbers of the order to from 2 to 90 corresponding to the repeating cycle of scan periods; and counter means (72)coupled to the reference sync pulse source and responsive to the frequency control means to generate the readout control pulses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 18 wherein the means for manipulating (54) includes recorder/reproducer means for storing the interrupted signals and for selectively reproducing pictures of the stored signals in a selected succession of the pictures.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of improving the effective sensitivity of a continuously scanned sensor, in which a read-out scanning process is enabled only for a selected portion of the continuous scanning time so as to generate an interrupted signal only during the enabled portion of time, the interrupted signal is received and is processed to provide an output signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of improving the effective sensitivity of a continuously scanned sensor, in which a read-out scanning process is enabled only for a selected portion of the continuous scanning time so as to generate an interrupted signal only during the enabled portion of time, the interrupted signal is received and is processed to provide an output signal.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for increasing the effective sensitivity of an image tube, characterised by : inhibiting the readout scanning process of the tube for a. selected plurality of scan periods; enabling the readout scanning process for a scan period following the inhibited scan periods; and generating an interrupted signal during only the enabled scan period.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
54 words
A method for increasing the effective sensitivity of an image tube, characterised by : inhibiting the readout scanning process of the tube for a. selected plurality of scan periods; enabling the readout scanning process for a scan period following the inhibited scan periods; and generating an interrupted signal during only the enabled scan period.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 25 further including: storing the inhibited signal; and reproducing the inhibited signal in a given succession of the signals to define a final output signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 26 wherein the steps of enabling and inhibiting include: controlling the tube's cathode potential to allow readout thereof only during the enabled scan period, and allowing integration of incoming light during the inhibited plurality of scan periods.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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