US3575552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Motion picture production system and method
Assignee: American Broadcasting Co Inc
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Filing: 1968-09-09
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Granted: 1971-04-20
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Expires: 1988-09-09
Abstract
Abstract In the production system, up to six camera units, each including a video camera and a motion picture camera, are used in making a motion picture. The video signals from the video cameras are sent to a control console where they are displayed on individual television monitors. By remote control of the camera unit from the console, the cameras are operated so that, if desired, only one of the cameras operates at a given time, and only the film from that camera is used in making the motion picture. The edge of the film in each camera is marked by exposing it to a colored light whenever that camera is operating, and a coded audio tone signal unique to that camera is recorded beside the program sound on a separate magnetic tape simultaneously with the marking of the motion picture film. At the same time, the instructions of the program director are recorded on the tape beside the tone code signals and program sound. In editing the film, the director''s instructions are reproduced. Then, the colored marks on the film and the tone code signals are reproduced, the starting points of the marks are aligned with one another, and the film is cut and spliced in accordance with the director''s instructions. The system also includes novel tone coding means, as well as novel lap dissolve means.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman H Grant
- 👤 Edward Reingold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/022; G11B27/06; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for recording indicia identifying the motion picture camera which is operating and the period during which it is operating, and means for simultaneously recording the vocal instructions of a person directing the operation of said control means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for recording indicia identifying the motion picture camera which is operating and the period during which it is operating, and means for simultaneously recording the vocal instructions of a person directing the operation of said control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said indicia recording means includes means for generating and recording a plurality of different audio identification tone signals each of whose tone uniquely identifies one of said motion picture cameras, each of said tone signals being recorded only when its corresponding motion picture camera motor is running. 3, Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said indicia recording means includes means for generating and directing colored light onto a portion of the film in each of said cameras, the color of the light produced by each such means being unique to the camera in which the light-generating means is located.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for reproducing simultaneously said recorded indicia and said vocal instructions.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
288 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a lens system and a video camera coupled to receive a portion of the illumination transmitted by said lens system, the remainder of the illumination being transmitted to the film in said camera, a remote control unit, said unit including a keyboard with switching means for automatically stopping one camera motor and starting another in response to the actuation of a switch corresponding to said other camera, a plurality of video receivers in the remote control unit for displaying the video pictures produced by each of said video cameras, and for displaying the video picture produced by the video cameras connected to the film cameras in operation at a given time, an interphone system including a plurality of sets of telephone receivers and transmitters, one set for each camera to be operated, and one for the program director, a microphone system for converting program sound into electrical signals, a synchronizing tone generator for generating tone signals each of which is unique to a particular film camera, magnetic recording/reproducing means for recording in separate tracks on a single magnetic tape the program sound signals, the tone signals and the conversation from the telephone transmitters, lamp means in each film camera for producing a substantially continuous colored mark on the edge of the film in said camera while the motor in the camera is running, and means for effecting the recording of said tone signal and said colored mark for each camera from a predetermined length of time after the motor in that camera starts until the same predetermined length of time after a stop signal is received for that motor.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
288 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a lens system and a video camera coupled to receive a portion of the illumination transmitted by said lens system, the remainder of the illumination being transmitted to the film in said camera, a remote control unit, said unit including a keyboard with switching means for automatically stopping one camera motor and starting another in response to the actuation of a switch corresponding to said other camera, a plurality of video receivers in the remote control unit for displaying the video pictures produced by each of said video cameras, and for displaying the video picture produced by the video cameras connected to the film cameras in operation at a given time, an interphone system including a plurality of sets of telephone receivers and transmitters, one set for each camera to be operated, and one for the program director, a microphone system for converting program sound into electrical signals, a synchronizing tone generator for generating tone signals each of which is unique to a particular film camera, magnetic recording/reproducing means for recording in separate tracks on a single magnetic tape the program sound signals, the tone signals and the conversation from the telephone transmitters, lamp means in each film camera for producing a substantially continuous colored mark on the edge of the film in said camera while the motor in the camera is running, and means for effecting the recording of said tone signal and said colored mark for each camera from a predetermined length of time after the motor in that camera starts until the same predetermined length of time after a stop signal is received for that motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 in which the predetermined length of time for the lamp means is longer than the predetermined length of time for the tone signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
A motion picture production method, said method comprising the steps of recording scenes upon motion picture film in a plurality of different cameras, said cameras operating in sequence, recording on the film in each camera during its operating a visible Mark identifying the camera and indicating the frames at which the pictures to be used start and stop, recording one of a plurality of audio tone signals at substantially the same time as the recording of said visible marks, each of said tone signals uniquely identifying the camera operating at the time, simultaneously recording the sound for said motion picture adjacent said tone signals on a tape record medium separate from said film, and simultaneously recording vocal instructions directing the operation of the cameras.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
124 words
A motion picture production method, said method comprising the steps of recording scenes upon motion picture film in a plurality of different cameras, said cameras operating in sequence, recording on the film in each camera during its operating a visible Mark identifying the camera and indicating the frames at which the pictures to be used start and stop, recording one of a plurality of audio tone signals at substantially the same time as the recording of said visible marks, each of said tone signals uniquely identifying the camera operating at the time, simultaneously recording the sound for said motion picture adjacent said tone signals on a tape record medium separate from said film, and simultaneously recording vocal instructions directing the operation of the cameras.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method as in claim 7 including editing the film produced by said cameras to produce a single motion picture film, said editing comprising the steps of reproducing said tone signals and said vocal instructions, displaying said visible marks on said film, aligning the start of each of the visible marks in the portion of the film to be used from each camera with the start of the corresponding tone signal on said tape, and cutting said film and splicing the cut film portions together in accordance with said tone signals, said visible marks, and said reproduced vocal instructions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a motion picture production system utilizing a plurality of combined motion picture and video camera units, means for remotely controlling said camera units so as to select which is to be in operation at a particular time, means for recording on the film of a selected one of said cameras a visual signal identifying said camera, means for recording the program sound for said motion picture on a separate record medium and simultaneously recording a tone code signal identifying said selected camera, means for recording a dissolve change from a first to a second camera, said dissolve recording means comprising means for recording both the tone code and visual signals from both cameras for as long as any visual image is desired from the first camera, and terminating the tone code and visual signals for the first camera in response to actuation of a switch indicating the end of the desired image from the first camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a motion picture production system utilizing a plurality of combined motion picture and video camera units, means for remotely controlling said camera units so as to select which is to be in operation at a particular time, means for recording on the film of a selected one of said cameras a visual signal identifying said camera, means for recording the program sound for said motion picture on a separate record medium and simultaneously recording a tone code signal identifying said selected camera, means for recording a dissolve change from a first to a second camera, said dissolve recording means comprising means for recording both the tone code and visual signals from both cameras for as long as any visual image is desired from the first camera, and terminating the tone code and visual signals for the first camera in response to actuation of a switch indicating the end of the desired image from the first camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 including means for effecting the recording of said tone code and visual signals for each camera substantially continuously starting a predetermined length of time after the motor for that camera starts, and ending the tone and visual identification signals for the first camera said predetermined length of time after the actuation of said switch.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for recording indicia identifying the motion picture camera which is operating and the period during which it is operating, and means for simultaneously recording the vocal instructions of a person directing the operation of said control means, said indicia recording means including means for generating and recording a plurality of different audio identification tone signals each of whose tone uniquely identifies one of said motion picture cameras, each of said tone signals being recorded only when its corresponding motion picture camera motor is running, means for generating and directing colored light onto a portion of the film in each of said cameras, the color of the light produced by each such means being unique to the camera in which the light-generating means is located, and means forming a part of said control means for effecting the recording of said tone signals and said colored light substantially continuously from a predetermined length of time after the start of the camera motor until the same predetermined length of time after the generation of a turnoff signal for said motor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
223 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for recording indicia identifying the motion picture camera which is operating and the period during which it is operating, and means for simultaneously recording the vocal instructions of a person directing the operation of said control means, said indicia recording means including means for generating and recording a plurality of different audio identification tone signals each of whose tone uniquely identifies one of said motion picture cameras, each of said tone signals being recorded only when its corresponding motion picture camera motor is running, means for generating and directing colored light onto a portion of the film in each of said cameras, the color of the light produced by each such means being unique to the camera in which the light-generating means is located, and means forming a part of said control means for effecting the recording of said tone signals and said colored light substantially continuously from a predetermined length of time after the start of the camera motor until the same predetermined length of time after the generation of a turnoff signal for said motor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a motion picture production system utilizing a plurality of combined motion picture and video camera units, means for remotely controlling said camera units so as to select which is to be In operating at a particular time, means for recording on the film of a selected one of said cameras a visual signal identifying said camera, means for recording the program sound for said motion picture on a separate record medium and simultaneously recording a tone code signal identifying said selected camera, means for recording a dissolve change from a first to a second camera, said dissolve recording means comprising means for recording both the tone code and visual signals from both cameras for as long as any visual image is desired from the first camera, and terminating the tone code and visual signals for the first camera in response to actuating of a switch indicating the end of the desired image from the first camera, said dissolve recording means including a video switcher with dual sets of actuating switches for said camera units, and dissolve transition means including means for varying the amount of video signal provided in the final video picture being produced from each of a pair of different video cameras, one video camera being actuated from one of said switch sets and the other from the other of said switch sets.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a motion picture production system utilizing a plurality of combined motion picture and video camera units, means for remotely controlling said camera units so as to select which is to be In operating at a particular time, means for recording on the film of a selected one of said cameras a visual signal identifying said camera, means for recording the program sound for said motion picture on a separate record medium and simultaneously recording a tone code signal identifying said selected camera, means for recording a dissolve change from a first to a second camera, said dissolve recording means comprising means for recording both the tone code and visual signals from both cameras for as long as any visual image is desired from the first camera, and terminating the tone code and visual signals for the first camera in response to actuating of a switch indicating the end of the desired image from the first camera, said dissolve recording means including a video switcher with dual sets of actuating switches for said camera units, and dissolve transition means including means for varying the amount of video signal provided in the final video picture being produced from each of a pair of different video cameras, one video camera being actuated from one of said switch sets and the other from the other of said switch sets.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 12 in which each switch within each set includes means for deenergizing all other camera units within the set when one switch in the set is actuated.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for generating and recording a plurality of different audio identification tone signals each of whose tone uniquely identifies one of said motion picture cameras, and means for recording substantially simultaneously on side-by-side tracks on a record medium, program sound associated with the pictures being taken, said audio identification signals, and the vocal instructions of a person directing the operating of said control means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
109 words
A system for producing motion pictures, said system comprising, in combination, a plurality of motion picture cameras, each having a video camera coupled to it, control means at a station remote from said cameras for selectively starting and stopping each of said motion picture cameras, means for generating and recording a plurality of different audio identification tone signals each of whose tone uniquely identifies one of said motion picture cameras, and means for recording substantially simultaneously on side-by-side tracks on a record medium, program sound associated with the pictures being taken, said audio identification signals, and the vocal instructions of a person directing the operating of said control means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 14 including means for recording a separate unique tone signal to indicate the condition in which no pictures are being taken.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 14 including means for recording a separate unique tone signal to represent the condition in which all cameras are running simultaneously.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 14 in which each of said tone signals is substantially continuous.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as in claim 17 including means for generating and directing colored light onto a portion of the film in each of said cameras, the color of the light produced by each such means being unique to the camera in which the light-generating means is located.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-19 | 1974-10-19 | 1975-04-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-19 | 1978-10-19 | 1979-04-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-19 | 1982-10-19 | 1983-04-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |