US3919474A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for transferring motion picture films to video recordings, and for changing aspect ratios
Assignee: GOLDMARK COMMUNICATIONS CORP
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Filing: 1974-01-18
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-01-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is described to automatically transfer a high aspect ratio motion picture film to a lower aspect ratio video recording according to predetermined film editing cue data. The film to video conversion is carried out on a real time basis by horizontally scanning the film projection relative to the optical input of a video camera. Cue data is placed in a magnetic storage from which the data is retrieved in sequence as a film frame count is compared with film length cue data in magnetic storage. The horizontal cue scanning is carried out during blanking of the projector when a new film frame is brought into its projecting position. A frame pulse indicative of this pull-down time period is produced to initiate the cue change at the appropriate predetermined film frame position.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Blair Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/253; H04N5/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for generating a video recording of a motion picture film having a different greater aspect ratio from that of the video recording comprising means including a video camera having an optical aperture for producing a video recording with a video aspect ratio; a motion picture film projector to produce a film projection of a film with said different greater aspect ratio from the video recording and oriented to direct the film projection onto the optical aperture of the video camera, said film projection being blanked during a film frame pull-down cycle; optical beam bending means for angularly changing the position of the film projection relative to the video optical aperture to enable said video recording of desired segments of the film projection; said optical beam bending means having a mass which is selected sufficiently low to enable repositioning thereof during a film frame pull-down cycle; means producing cue position signals representative of the desired position of the video optical aperture relative to the film projection and cue frame length signals indicative of the film segments during which the cue position signals are to be effective; and means controlled by the cue frame signals and operative during the frame pull-down cycle of the film projector for applying the cue position signals to the positioning means for establishing a relative position between the film projection and the optical video aperture in accordance with the applied cue position signal whereby a direct video recording of a motion picture film is obtained.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
250 words
A system for generating a video recording of a motion picture film having a different greater aspect ratio from that of the video recording comprising means including a video camera having an optical aperture for producing a video recording with a video aspect ratio; a motion picture film projector to produce a film projection of a film with said different greater aspect ratio from the video recording and oriented to direct the film projection onto the optical aperture of the video camera, said film projection being blanked during a film frame pull-down cycle; optical beam bending means for angularly changing the position of the film projection relative to the video optical aperture to enable said video recording of desired segments of the film projection; said optical beam bending means having a mass which is selected sufficiently low to enable repositioning thereof during a film frame pull-down cycle; means producing cue position signals representative of the desired position of the video optical aperture relative to the film projection and cue frame length signals indicative of the film segments during which the cue position signals are to be effective; and means controlled by the cue frame signals and operative during the frame pull-down cycle of the film projector for applying the cue position signals to the positioning means for establishing a relative position between the film projection and the optical video aperture in accordance with the applied cue position signal whereby a direct video recording of a motion picture film is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system for generating a video recording as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for applying the cue position signals further includes means associated with the film projector for generating frame pulses representative of the pull-down cycle of the film frame, said frame pulses being coupled to initiate the application of the cue position signals at the desired film frame lengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system for generating a video recording as claimed in claim 2 wherein the applying means further includes means for accumulating frame pulses and producing a frame length count indicative of the film length being projected; and means for comparing the frame length count with a cue frame length signal to produce a cue enable signal when the cue position signal associated with the cue frame length signal is to be applied to the horizontal positioning means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system for generating a video recording as claimed in claim 1 and further including a rear projection screen located to receive the projection on one side thereof and expose the optical aperture of the video camera on the other side of the screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system for generating a video recording as claimed in claim 4 wherein the reflective horizontal positioning means includes a mirror mounted for rotation along an axis oriented to enable said horizontal positioning; and means for rotating the mirror to cue position signal determined positions.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
246 words
A system used for producing a video recording of a motion picture film having a different aspect ratio with cue data comprising means including a video camera having an optical input aperture for producing a video recording with a video aspect ratio; a motion picture film projector for producing a projection of a film having a different aspect ratio from that of the video recording, said motion picture film projection being effectively directed at the optical aperture of the video camera for producing a video recording of the motion picture film; means associated with the film projector for producing frame pulses representative of the projector blanking time periods during the film projection; means for enabling dIfferent relative positions between the optical input of the video camera and the projection of the film frames to expose the optical input of the video camera to desired segments of the motion picture film; means for producing cue data representative of the desired positions of the optical input aperture of the video camera relative to the motion picture film projection for preselected film lengths; means for storing the cue data; means responsive to the frame pulses for retrieving from the storing means predetermined cue data operative during the preselected film lengths; and means operative during a frame pulse for controlling the relative positioning means to expose the optical aperture of the video camera to a desired segment of the motion picture film projection in accordance with the retrieved cue data.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
246 words
A system used for producing a video recording of a motion picture film having a different aspect ratio with cue data comprising means including a video camera having an optical input aperture for producing a video recording with a video aspect ratio; a motion picture film projector for producing a projection of a film having a different aspect ratio from that of the video recording, said motion picture film projection being effectively directed at the optical aperture of the video camera for producing a video recording of the motion picture film; means associated with the film projector for producing frame pulses representative of the projector blanking time periods during the film projection; means for enabling dIfferent relative positions between the optical input of the video camera and the projection of the film frames to expose the optical input of the video camera to desired segments of the motion picture film; means for producing cue data representative of the desired positions of the optical input aperture of the video camera relative to the motion picture film projection for preselected film lengths; means for storing the cue data; means responsive to the frame pulses for retrieving from the storing means predetermined cue data operative during the preselected film lengths; and means operative during a frame pulse for controlling the relative positioning means to expose the optical aperture of the video camera to a desired segment of the motion picture film projection in accordance with the retrieved cue data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
134 words
The system for producing video recordings as claimed in claim 6 wherein the retrieving means further includes means responsive to the frame pulses for producing an actual film length signal representative of the actual length of the film which has been projected; means for comparing the actual film length signal with a predetermined film length signal located in the storing means and associated with a stored cue position signal and producing a cue enabling signal upon coincidence between said film length signals; and wherein the controlling means includes means responsive to the cue enabling signal for applying the retrieved cue position signal to the different relative position enabling means to expose the optical input of the video camera to the desired segment of the motion picture film as determined by the retrieved cue data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The system for producing video recordings as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for enabling different relative positions between the optical input of the video camera and the projection of the film frames include a mirror mounted for rotation and located to reflect the projected film onto the optical aperture of the video camera; and means for rotating the mirror to discrete retrieved cue position data determined positions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system for producing video recordings as claimed in claim 8 and further including a rear projection screen operatively located between the mirror and the optical aperture of the video camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system for producing video recordings as claimed in claim 6 wherein the frame pulse producing means further includes a rotating element driven in synchronous relationship with the film projector, and means associated with the rotated element for generating said frame pulses representative of the blanking time of the film projector. 11.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system for producing video recordings as claimed in claim 11 wherein the rotating element is provided with metallic tabs angularly located in correspondence with the film projector blanking; and a proximity detector mounted adjacent the rotating element to sense passage of the metallic tabs and produce an output signal representative of said frame pulses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for generating a video recording of a motion picture film projection being projected with a film projector with an aspect ratio which is greater than the video recording aspect ratio, the film projection being blanked during a film frame pull-down cycle, with the video recording being made in accordance with the film editor produced cue information formed of cue position data and cue film length data, the improvement comprising a video camera having an optical input; a rotatable scanning element located to enable positioning of a motion picture film projection relative to the optical aperture of the video camera; said rotatable scanning element having a mass which is selected sufficiently low to enable repositioning thereof during a film frame pull-down cycle; means producing a frame signal during the time of blanking of the film projection; and means actuated by the frame signal for locating the roTatable scanning element during the film frame pull-down cycle in accordance with the cue position data at corresponding film lengths determined by the cue film length data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
In a system for generating a video recording of a motion picture film projection being projected with a film projector with an aspect ratio which is greater than the video recording aspect ratio, the film projection being blanked during a film frame pull-down cycle, with the video recording being made in accordance with the film editor produced cue information formed of cue position data and cue film length data, the improvement comprising a video camera having an optical input; a rotatable scanning element located to enable positioning of a motion picture film projection relative to the optical aperture of the video camera; said rotatable scanning element having a mass which is selected sufficiently low to enable repositioning thereof during a film frame pull-down cycle; means producing a frame signal during the time of blanking of the film projection; and means actuated by the frame signal for locating the roTatable scanning element during the film frame pull-down cycle in accordance with the cue position data at corresponding film lengths determined by the cue film length data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement for generating a video recording as claimed in claim 13 wherein the low mass reflective scanning element is formed of a mirror mounted for rotation along an axis oriented to enable said horizontal positioning.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 14 and further including a dampening element coupled to the mirror to enable the mirror to be rotated to a new cue position during the blanking of the film projection without extended oscillations.
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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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |