US3912856A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-08
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus including camera means having a scanner for scanning a subject with a scan beam. Signal generator means is provided which includes a generator screen disposed in the path of the scan beam as reflected from the subject and such generator means is responsive to impingement of the scan beam on the generator screen to generate an electrical location signal corresponding with the location of impingement on the signal generator screen by the scan beam. Image reconstruction means is provided which includes a variable depth reconstruction screen that is rendered locally luminous in response to impingement by a trace beam. A trace beam source is provided for directing a trace beam at the variable depth screen in a pattern determined by the location signal. Variable depth screen control means is responsive to positioning of the scanner to render the variable depth screen operative at depths corresponding to the position of such scanner.
Inventors
- 👤 William S Liddel
- 👤 Executor By Orval Liddell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/30; H04N13/388; H04N13/395
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus comprising: camera means including first scan beam means for projecting a scan beam in a predetermined direction toward a subject and operable to oscillate said beam to progressively scan the surface of said subject for reflection therefrom in a second direction to trace patterns corresponding with the contours of said object scanned during each pass of said scan beam across the surface of said subject; signal generator means including signal generator screen means disposed in the path of said scan beam as reflected from said subject and responsive to localized impingement by said scan beam to generate a first electrical location signal corresponding with the location of the point of impingement thereon by said scan beam; image construction means including variable depth screen means operative in response to impingement by a trace beam to be rendered locally luminous at variable depths in response to impingement by a trace beam; a first trace beam means for directing said trace beam at said variable depth screen means; variable depth screen control means for controlling the operative depth of said variable depth screen means in coordination with the pattern traced by said beam means; and trace beam control means coupled with said signal generator means and said trace beam means and responsive to said electrical location signal to move said trace beam in patterns dictated by said signal generator means to trace an image in said variable depth screen means corresponding with the contour of said subject.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus comprising: camera means including first scan beam means for projecting a scan beam in a predetermined direction toward a subject and operable to oscillate said beam to progressively scan the surface of said subject for reflection therefrom in a second direction to trace patterns corresponding with the contours of said object scanned during each pass of said scan beam across the surface of said subject; signal generator means including signal generator screen means disposed in the path of said scan beam as reflected from said subject and responsive to localized impingement by said scan beam to generate a first electrical location signal corresponding with the location of the point of impingement thereon by said scan beam; image construction means including variable depth screen means operative in response to impingement by a trace beam to be rendered locally luminous at variable depths in response to impingement by a trace beam; a first trace beam means for directing said trace beam at said variable depth screen means; variable depth screen control means for controlling the operative depth of said variable depth screen means in coordination with the pattern traced by said beam means; and trace beam control means coupled with said signal generator means and said trace beam means and responsive to said electrical location signal to move said trace beam in patterns dictated by said signal generator means to trace an image in said variable depth screen means corresponding with the contour of said subject.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said scan beam means includes second scan beam means spaced from said first scan beam means for projecting a second scan beam at said subject from a different direction and operable to oscillate said second scan beam means to scan said subject to be reflected therefrom to trace patterns on said signal generator screen means corresponding with the contours of said subject traced; said signal generator means is responsive to said scan beams to generate a second electrical signal; and second trace beam means spaced from said first trace beam means, connected with said signal generator, and responsive to said second electrical signal to trace patterns in said variable depth screen means corresponding with the contour of said subject traced during each scan, said first and second trace beam means being alternately operable to trace said patterns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
104 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said scan beam means includes means operative to produce said scan beam as it scans said subject with a light bEam; said apparatus includes photocell means disposed in the path of said scan beam as reflected from said subject and responsive to the intensity of the reflected beam to generate an intensity signal corresponding with said beam; and said image construction means includes means connected with said photocell means and responsive to said intensity signal to vary the luminosity of the operative intersection point of said variable depth screen and said trace beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said scan beam means includes means operative to produce an electromagnetic beam for scanning said subject; and said signal generator means includes means responsive to said electromagnetic scan beam as reflected from said subject to generate said first electrical location signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said camera means includes a camera tube including an image-receiving camera facing said subject and intensity beam means for scanning an image of said subject displayed on said image-receiving screen with an intensity beam in synchronization with said scan beam scanning said subject, said camera means further including image intensity sensing means responsive to the local intensity of the image scanned by said intensity beam to generate an image intensity signal of a magnitude corresponding with said image intensity; and said image construction means including image intensity control means connected with said image intensity sensing means and responsive to the magnitude of said image intensity electrical signal to correspondingly vary the luminosity of the intersection point of said variable depth screen and said trace beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said signal generating means includes a photoconductive sheet sandwiched between first and second electrically conductive sheets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said variable depth screen means includes screen beam means for projecting a movable screen beam which is operative upon interaction with said trace beam to be rendered luminous and screen beam control means connected with said scan beam means for synchronizing movement of said screen beams with said trace beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said variable depth screen means includes a plurality of planar screens spaced one behind the other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said variable depth screen means includes a planar screen and means for moving said planar screen in synchronism with said scanning beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said camera includes an image intensity detection tube for receiving an image of said subject and intensity detection means for scanning said tube to produce an electrical signal corresponding with the local intensity of said image; and said construction means includes means connected with said intensity modulation means and responsive to said intensity electrical signal to vary the luminosity of the intersection point between said trace beam and variable depth screen means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
103 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said camera includes tube means for receiving an image of said subject and responsive to impingement of an intensity detector beam on said image to produce an intensity electrical signal corresponding with the intensity of said image; intensity detector beam means for scanning said image on said tube with an intensity detector beam; and said construction means includes intensity control means coupled with said tube means and responsive to said intensity electrical signal to correspondingly vary the luminosity of the intersEction point between said variable depth screen means and said trace beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
90 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said camera includes first and second negative lens means having a selected focal length and disposed in the respective paths of said scan beams and reflected scan beam to deflect said beams a similar amount; and said construction means include positive lens means having a focal length to complement said selected focal length to complement the focal lengths of said first and second lens means and disposed adjacent said variable depth screen means for viewing therethrough by a viewer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 12 that includes: a focusing lens interposed between said subject and said tube screen means for focusing said reflected scan beam on said tube screen means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said scan beam means includes means for producing an electron beam for scanning said subject; and said signal generator means includes means operative in response to impingement thereon of said electron beam as reflected from said subject to generate said electrical location signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 14 that includes: electron lens means disposed in the path of said electron beam as reflected from said subject to focus said beam on said signal generator means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 14 that includes: an electron sensitive intensity modulator disposed in the path of said electron beam as reflected from said subject and operative in response to the intensity of electrons striking thereon to produce an intensity modulated signal; and intensity control means connected with said trace beam means and with said electron sensitive intensity modulator and operative in response to said intensity modulated signal to correspondingly vary the intensity of said trace beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said scan beam means includes means for producing a beam of invisible light defining said beam; and said signal generator means includes means responsive to the scan beam reflected from said subject to generate said electrical location signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
145 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein: said signal generator means includes camera tube means formed with said signal generator and screen means locally responsive to the intensity of the image of said subject projected thereon and to local impingement by an electron beam to produce an electrical intensity signal corresponding with the local intensity of the image of said object displayed thereon, said tube including electron gun means for directing an electron beam at said screen and gun control means for directing said electron beam in repeated scan paths across said tube screen means in a pattern corresponding with the pattern of said reflected scan beam as it strikes said signal generator screen means; and said image construction means includes intensity control means responsive to variations in said electrical intensity signal to correspondingly vary the local intensity of said image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
Three-dimensional image transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 18 that includes: window-mirror means interposed between said subject and said tube screen means for transmitting visible light to said tube screen means and for reflecting said reflected scan beam and a signal generating panel disposed in the path of said scan beam as reflected from said window-mirror means and responsive to the location of impingement thereon of said reflected scan beam to produce said electrical location signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |