Patent USRE26171E successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4064528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for enhancing a televised object
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-10-07
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Granted: 1977-12-20
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Expires: 1994-10-07
Abstract
Abstract An image enhancement method and apparatus are provided for use with television equipment whereby a uniquely treated object within the field of a television camera is enhanced electronically for presentation on a television receiver to make it more readily observable to the viewer. A particular application involves treating, as by coating, a hockey puck, football or other target such as used in a sporting event that is being televised, with a material which radiates a spectral code or reflects light of a particular frequency not normally present to the same degree in ambient lighting conditions. The technique may be achieved with a single camera and a filter matched to the unique radiation from the target, or, a pair of ganged cameras where, one is of conventional design adapted to televise the entire scene and the other is particularly sensitive to the unique radiation of the target. Two images are formed in each case where the treated object is enhanced, either naturally or with a symbol, with respect to the overall scene making it easily observable to the viewer. A tracking system may be employed that is responsive to the position of the enhanced image whereby the cameras will automatically follow the puck, ball or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 William R. Bowerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of enhancing a televised object comprising the steps of: a. treating the object to make the same spectrally unique in a natural environment in order to provide a radiating spectral code; b. scanning said natural environment including said object with television camera means sensitive to both said environment and said spectral code to form an electrical image of the environment and of the shape and position of the spectral code in the environment; c. signal processing said image to detect the position of the spectral code; d. electronically generating a representation of the object independent of the shape of the object detected by said scanning, e. substituting said representation in the position where the spectral code has been detected; and f. displaying concurrently said image of the environment and said representation of the object on an output screen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of enhancing a televised object comprising the steps of: a. treating the object to make the same spectrally unique in a natural environment in order to provide a radiating spectral code; b. scanning said natural environment including said object with television camera means sensitive to both said environment and said spectral code to form an electrical image of the environment and of the shape and position of the spectral code in the environment; c. signal processing said image to detect the position of the spectral code; d. electronically generating a representation of the object independent of the shape of the object detected by said scanning, e. substituting said representation in the position where the spectral code has been detected; and f. displaying concurrently said image of the environment and said representation of the object on an output screen.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object having a shape and location within the scene comprising the steps of: scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, sensing said image signals to detect the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, generating a representation of said spectrally unique object independently of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and concurrently displaying said representation superimposed on said display of said scene at said location.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object having a shape and location within the scene comprising the steps of: scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, sensing said image signals to detect the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, generating a representation of said spectrally unique object independently of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and concurrently displaying said representation superimposed on said display of said scene at said location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said scanning step includes scanning said scene with a first camera to generate first image signals representing said scene and scanning said scene with a second camera to generate second image signals representing said spectrally unique object, and wherein said sensing step is responsive to said second image signals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising the steps of: scanning said scene with camera means to generate image signals representing said scene, generating a representation of said spectrally unique object independent of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, storing a position address to form a stored address for defining the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, sensing said image signals to form a detected address defining the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, and updating said stored address with said detected address, displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, concurrently displaying said representation superimposed on said display of said scene at said stored address.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising the steps of: scanning said scene with camera means to generate image signals representing said scene, generating a representation of said spectrally unique object independent of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, storing a position address to form a stored address for defining the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, sensing said image signals to form a detected address defining the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, and updating said stored address with said detected address, displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, concurrently displaying said representation superimposed on said display of said scene at said stored address.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 including the step of updating said stored address with a simulated address when said spectrally unique object is not sensed in said image signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 including the steps of storing a plurality of stored addresses and sequentially displaying said representation at locations defined by each of said stored addresses.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising, means for scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, means for sensing said image signals to detect the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, means for generating a representation, when enabled, of said spectrally unique object, said means for generating operable independently of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, means for displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and means for concurrently enabling said means for generating to superimpose said representation on sid display of said scene at said location.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising, means for scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, means for sensing said image signals to detect the location of said spectrally unique object in said scene, means for generating a representation, when enabled, of said spectrally unique object, said means for generating operable independently of the shape of said object represented by said image signals, means for displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and means for concurrently enabling said means for generating to superimpose said representation on sid display of said scene at said location.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising, scanning means for scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, address means for defining the scan address of said scanning means, sensing means for sensing said image signals to provide a detected signal when said spectrally unique object is detected, memory means for storing the scan address from said address means to form a stored address in response to said detected signal, a symbol generator for generating a symbol representing said spectrally unique object, display means for displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and control means for concurrently enabling said symbol generator to superimpose said symbol on said display of said scene at said stored address.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
An apparatus for enhancing the display of a scene where the scene includes a spectrally unique object comprising, scanning means for scanning said scene to generate image signals representing said scene, address means for defining the scan address of said scanning means, sensing means for sensing said image signals to provide a detected signal when said spectrally unique object is detected, memory means for storing the scan address from said address means to form a stored address in response to said detected signal, a symbol generator for generating a symbol representing said spectrally unique object, display means for displaying said image signals to form a display of said scene, and control means for concurrently enabling said symbol generator to superimpose said symbol on said display of said scene at said stored address.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said address means includes X and Y registers for storing said stored address as the instantaneous X and Y coordinates of a raster scan pattern and wherein said memory means includes X and Y latches for storing the contents of said X and Y registers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means includes means for generating a simulated address and means for storing said simulated address in said memory means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said control means includes a comparator for comparing the scan address from said address means with the stored address from said memory means to provide said detected signal when said scan and stored addresses are equal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said memory means includes push-down stack means having a first stage for storing said stored address and at least a second stage for receiving the contents of said first stage as a second stage address, wherein said control means includes means for forming a simulated address equal to said stored address added to the difference between said stored address and said second stage address, and wherein said control means includes means for storing said simulated address in said first stage in response to the absence of said detected signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said memory means includes a push-down stack of N+2 stages for storing the last N+2 addresses of said symbol and wherein said control means includes means for cycling the addresses from said push-down stack into said first stage whereby said symbol generator is caused to retrace its position on said display of said scene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein memory means inclues means for storing N+2 addresses of said symbol and means to display said N+2 addresses.
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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) | 1980-12-19 | 1981-06-20 | 1981-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-19 | 1985-06-20 | 1985-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-19 | 1989-06-20 | 1989-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |