US3690747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Animation system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-10-26
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-10-26
Abstract
Abstract An animation system in which a camera means for exposing frames of film to photograph an object and a support means for supporting the object with respect to the camera means are moved relative to each other in accordance with motion data and status data converted by a computing means into a plurality of data outputs to which a motion means for moving the camera means and the support means relative to each other is responsive, each of the plurality of data outputs including a number of electrical pulses indicative of the motion data and occurring in response to status data. The motion data is converted by the computing means so that the numbers of electrical pulses in the data outputs differ selectively to cause that varying motion of the camera means and support means relative to each other which creates the illusion of an object accelerating or decelerating in the frames of film exposed by the camera means.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A Vaughn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G03B15/08; G05; G05B; G05B2219/00; G05B2219/30; G05B2219/45; G05B2219/45176
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In an animation system for taking a plurality of photographs of an object to provide a series of photographs which will depict change corresponding to desired motion data input when used as successive frames in a motion picture film, a camera having centerline and a shutter operative to expose successive frames of film in said camera, a support means for positioning an object relative to said camera, motion means for moving said camera and said support means relative to each other in response to each of a plurality of data outputs, and computing means operatively connected to provide each of said plurality of data outputs in response to motion data input indicative of a motion of said camera and said support means relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an animation system for taking a plurality of photographs of an object to provide a series of photographs which will depict change corresponding to desired motion data input when used as successive frames in a motion picture film, a camera having centerline and a shutter operative to expose successive frames of film in said camera, a support means for positioning an object relative to said camera, motion means for moving said camera and said support means relative to each other in response to each of a plurality of data outputs, and computing means operatively connected to provide each of said plurality of data outputs in response to motion data input indicative of a motion of said camera and said support means relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The animation system of claim 1, further comprising: signal means operative in response to operation of said shutter to provide a status data output signal; said computing means connected to be operative in response to said status data output Signal to provide said plurality of data outputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
The animation system of claim 1 in which each of said plurality of data outputs includes a number of electrical pulses and in which said number of electrical pulses in one of said plurality of data outputs and said number of electrical pulses in another of said plurality of data outputs are to each other as two segments of a base line, said base line having a length proportional to all of said electrical pulses and said segments having lengths defined by the projection on said base line of equal lengths of an arc of a circle subtended by said base line as the radius of said circle and by a second line perpendicular to said base line at the center of said circle, and said equal lengths being equal in number to said plurality of data outputs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The animation system of claim 3 in which said plurality of data outputs is a first plurality of data outputs, in which said motion of said camera and said platform means relative to each other is provided by said first plurality of data outputs and a second plurality of data outputs, and in which all of said second plurality of data outputs include the same number of electrical pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The animation system of claim 4 in which the number of electrical pulses in the last of said first plurality of data outputs is substantially equal to the number of electrical pulses in each of said second plurality of data outputs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The animation system of claim 4 in which the number of electrical pulses in the first of said first plurality of data outputs is substantially equal to the number of electrical pulses in each of said second plurality of data outputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
The animation system of claim 4 in which all of said electrical pulses in all of said second plurality of data outputs are equal in number to where T is the number of electrical pulses in all of said first plurality of data outputs and in all of said second plurality of data outputs, F is the sum of the number of said first plurality of data outputs and the number of said second plurality of data outputs, N is the number of said first plurality of data outputs, Z is the number of said second plurality of data outputs, and K is a constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The animation system of claim 2 including simulating means to which said computing means is responsive to provide one of said plurality of data outputs when said signal means is inoperative.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The animation system of claim 1 in which said shutter is operative in response to a command pulse included in each of said plurality of data outputs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The animation system of claim 9 including disabling means for rendering said shutter inoperative in response to said command pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The animation system of claim 10 including a platen positioning means for positioning a platen and in which one of said plurality of data outputs includes a platen control pulse to which said platen positioning means is responsive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The animation system of claim 11 including shutter capping means for selectively preventing the exposure of film in said camera when said shutter is operative and in which one of said plurality of data outputs includes a shutter capping pulse to which said shutter capping means is responsive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The animation system of claim 2 in which said shutter is operative during an interval of time and in which said signal means provides said status data at a selectively variable point in said interval of time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
The animation system of claim 1 in which said motion means includes a first motor means for moving said camera and said platform means relative to each other in a first line of motion in response to a first pulse data in one of said plurality of data outputs and a second motor means for moving said camera and said platform relative to each other in a second line of motion in response to a second pulse data in said one of said plurality of data outputs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The animation system of claim 14 In which both said first motor means and said second motor means are a stepping motor responsive to an electrical pulse and in which both said first pulse data and said second pulse data are a plurality of electrical pulses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The animation system of claim 15 in which said computing means selectively varies the frequency rate of said plurality of electrical pulses so that the frequency rate increases from an initial relatively low rate at the beginning of said plurality of electrical pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The animation system of claim 14 in which said computing means provides said first pulse data simultaneously with said second pulse data.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The animation system of claim 14 in which said first motor means is alternately responsive to a manual control means for causing motion of said camera and said support means relative to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The animation system of claim 14 including limiting means responsive to a particular motion of said camera relative to said support means and in which said first motor means and said second motor means are rendered inoperative by said limiting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The animation system of claim 14 in which said first pulse data includes a first series of electrical pulses which cause said first motor means to move said camera and said support means in a first direction along said first line of motion and a final electrical pulse which causes said first motor means to move said camera and said support means in a second direction along said first line of motion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The animation system of claim 1, wherein: each of said plurality of data outputs includes a number of electrical pulses; said motion means is operative as a function of the frequency rate of said electrical pulses; and said computing means is operative to selectively vary the frequency rate of said plurality of electrical pulses as a function of said motion data input.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of motion picture animation comprising the steps of: making a plurality of photographs of an object with a camera; and changing the distance from the object to the camera for each of said plurality of photographs so that said distances have magnitudes in the same ratio to each other as the segments of a base line, said base line having a length proportional to the sum of the magnitudes of all of said distances and said segments having lengths defined by the projection on said base line of equal lengths of an arc of a circle subtended by said base line as the radius of said circle and a second line perpendicular to said base line at the center of said circle, said equal lengths of the arc being equal in number to the number of said distances.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of motion picture animation comprising the steps of: making a plurality of photographs of an object with a camera; and changing the distance from the object to the camera for each of said plurality of photographs so that said distances have magnitudes in the same ratio to each other as the segments of a base line, said base line having a length proportional to the sum of the magnitudes of all of said distances and said segments having lengths defined by the projection on said base line of equal lengths of an arc of a circle subtended by said base line as the radius of said circle and a second line perpendicular to said base line at the center of said circle, said equal lengths of the arc being equal in number to the number of said distances.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of using a computing means to provide data outputs each of which includes a plurality of electrical pulses, comprising the steps of: generating a sequence of data outputs; generating a plurality of electrical pulses concurrently with said sequence of data outputs; and apportioning said plurality of electrical pulses among said sequence of data outputs as a function of an inverse sine relationship.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
64 words
The method of using a computing means to provide data outputs each of which includes a plurality of electrical pulses, comprising the steps of: generating a sequence of data outputs; generating a plurality of electrical pulses concurrently with said sequence of data outputs; and apportioning said plurality of electrical pulses among said sequence of data outputs as a function of an inverse sine relationship.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3158079A
Cited
US3415600A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |