US3704948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for transmitting information
Assignee: Longshots Inc
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Filing: 1966-10-07
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1986-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An analog-to-digital conversion method and apparatus is disclosed wherein a random noise signal is mixed with an analog signal to produce an output signal of binary pulses, the probability of occurrence of which pulses is proportional to the waveform of the analog signal. More generally, a random information matrix is modulated with an analog information matrix such as a photograph to reduce contrast and produce a continuous ''''gray scale'''' with greater definition in the output.
Inventors
- 👤 Iben Browning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:04
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N19/00; H04N19/90; G; G03; G03B; G03B33/00; H03; H03M; H03M1/00; H03M1/12; H03M1/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
The method of beneficially changing the amount of information and/or the time required to obtain information in an information matrix representative of an image comprising the steps of combining a random distribution of random intensity signals and an analog signal matrix formed from the image and producing a composite information matrix of said signals and signal matrix.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
The method of beneficially changing the amount of information and/or the time required to obtain information in an information matrix representative of an image comprising the steps of combining a random distribution of random intensity signals and an analog signal matrix formed from the image and producing a composite information matrix of said signals and signal matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 1 where the information is an image and the composite information matrix is a reproduction of that image on a photosensitive sheet and including producing the random intensity signals by exposing with various amounts of light energy a multitude of randomly distributed minute regions of the sheet and producing the analog signal matrix by exposing the sheet for a time with the image.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the information is an image, the random intensity signals are a noise signal and the analog signal matrix is an analog input signal and said step of producing a composite information matrix includes mixing said noise signal with said analog input signal to produce an output signal corresponding to the algebraic sum of said noise and analog input signals and discriminating the composite output signal for conversion to a binary digital output signal corresponding to the waveform of the analog input signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
Method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy with a photosensitive sheet comprising steps of exposing said sheet for a time with the image being photographed, exposing a multitude of distributed minute regions of the sheet with various amounts of light energy unrelated to the image and after at least such double exposure developing the sheet to produce a photograph with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
Method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy with a photosensitive sheet comprising steps of exposing said sheet for a time with the image being photographed, exposing a multitude of distributed minute regions of the sheet with various amounts of light energy unrelated to the image and after at least such double exposure developing the sheet to produce a photograph with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said step of exposing a multitude of minute regions of the sheet includes the step of projecting light onto the film through a screen having minute apertures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the step of exposing a multitude of minute regions includes exposing randomly distributed minute regions across the film.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
68 words
The method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy comprising the steps of: exposing a multitude of randomly distributed minute regions of a photosensitive sheet with various amounts of light energy, exposing the sheet with an image to be reproduced and developing the, at least doubly exposed, sheet to produce on the sheet a developed image with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
68 words
The method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy comprising the steps of: exposing a multitude of randomly distributed minute regions of a photosensitive sheet with various amounts of light energy, exposing the sheet with an image to be reproduced and developing the, at least doubly exposed, sheet to produce on the sheet a developed image with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said step exposing distributed minute regions includes multiple exposures of the sheet with an illumination pattern to expose a multitude of distributed minute regions of the sheet with various amounts of light energy, and changing the relation between the illuminating pattern and the film for each exposure.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
87 words
The method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy with a photosensitive sheet comprising the steps of exposing said sheet for a time with the image being photographed, exposing a multitude of randomly distributed minute regions of the sheet with various amounts of light energy unrelated to the image including imaging a defocused illuminated layer of sandlike particles on the sheet and after at least such double exposure developing the sheet to produce a photograph with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
87 words
The method of producing a reduced contrast photocopy with a photosensitive sheet comprising the steps of exposing said sheet for a time with the image being photographed, exposing a multitude of randomly distributed minute regions of the sheet with various amounts of light energy unrelated to the image including imaging a defocused illuminated layer of sandlike particles on the sheet and after at least such double exposure developing the sheet to produce a photograph with lower contrast than if the exposure of minute regions were not made.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2985086A
Cited
US3455633A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |