US5016109A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping, vertical and horizontal sub-fields
Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-02
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Granted: 1991-05-14
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Expires: 2010-07-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping vertical horizontal sub-fields comprising a pyramid shaped element have reflective facets and arranged and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Gaylord
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/143; G02B27/1066; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; H04N25/00; H04N25/40; H04N25/41; H04N7/00; H04N7/015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, the apparatus comprising: a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, the apparatus comprising: a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: optical means for conveying said field of view to said pyramid shaped element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said optical means comprises a lens having an optical axis; and said pyramid shaped element is arranged with its axis along said optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a mirror facing each side facet and arranged to receive and reflect the sub-field developed by the respective facet without obstruction from the pyramid shaped element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein: each said mirror is parallel to the corresponding facet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the number of facets of said pyramid shaped element is four; and said pyramid shaped element develops from said field of view four sub-fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said field of view is rectangular; and each said sub-field is rectangular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein: each said sub-field is substantially the same size.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein: each said side facet is at a 45° angle relative to the base of the pyramid shaped element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A composite camera system for recording contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields of a field of view comprising: a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being orientated and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and camera targets each for receiving the sub-field developed by a different one of said facets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A composite camera system for recording contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields of a field of view comprising: a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being orientated and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and camera targets each for receiving the sub-field developed by a different one of said facets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising: optical means for conveying said field of view to said pyramid shaped element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein: said optical means comprises a lens having an optical axis; and said pyramid shaped element is arranged with its axis along said optical axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 10 further comprising: a mirror facing each side facet and arranged to receive and reflect the sub-field developed by the respective facet without obstruction from the pyramid shaped element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 13 wherein: each said mirror is parallel to the corresponding facet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 10 wherein: the number of facets of said pyramid shaped element is four; said pyramid shaped element develops from said field of view four sub-fields.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 15 wherein: said field of view is rectangular; and each said sub-field is rectangular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 16 wherein: each said sub-field is substantially the same size.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 15 wherein: each said side facet is at 45° angle relative to the base of the pyramid shaped element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 10 wherein: each said camera target is positioned in a plane parallel to the base of said pyramid shaped element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising: means for scanning each target to develop an electrical signal related to the image of the sub-field received by the target.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
A camera system in accordance with claim 20 wherein: each target is scanned horizontally starting from an elemental area of the sub-field bordering its adjacent sub-fields.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for forming a high definition television (HDTV) signal corresponding to a field of view comprising: a composite camera including: apparatus for segmenting said field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, said apparatus comprising a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and camera targets each for receiving the sub-fields developed by a different side-facet; means for progressively scanning each said sub-field formed on each said camera target to develop scanned signals; and means for storing said scanned signals.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
99 words
A system for forming a high definition television (HDTV) signal corresponding to a field of view comprising: a composite camera including: apparatus for segmenting said field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, said apparatus comprising a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and camera targets each for receiving the sub-fields developed by a different side-facet; means for progressively scanning each said sub-field formed on each said camera target to develop scanned signals; and means for storing said scanned signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 further comprising: means for digitizing said scanned signals prior to said storing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
An system in accordance with claim 22 wherein: said scanning means progressively scans each sub-field at a 525 line 60 frame per second scan rate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein: said storing means is a line buffer capable of storing 1050 scanned lines.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 further comprising: means for synchronizing said progressive scanning of each said camera target.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein: said means for synchronizing said progressive scanning causes adjacent boundaries of each said sub-fields to be scanned at close to the same time.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, the method comprising: arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive said field of view, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
49 words
A method for segmenting a field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields, the method comprising: arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive said field of view, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method in accordance with claim 28 further comprising: conveying said field of view to said pyramid shaped element with a lens; and arranging said pyramid shaped element with its axis along the optical axis of said lens.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for recording contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields of a field of view comprising: arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive said field of view, the pyramid shaped element being orientated and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and arranging camera targets to receive the sub-fields developed by different ones of said facets.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for recording contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields of a field of view comprising: arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive said field of view, the pyramid shaped element being orientated and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; and arranging camera targets to receive the sub-fields developed by different ones of said facets.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for forming a high definition television (HDTV) signal corresponding to a field of view comprising: segmenting said field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields by arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive the field of view, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; arranging camera targets to receive the sub-fields developed by different ones of said side facets; progressively scanning each said sub-field formed on each said camera target to develop scanned signals; and storing said scanned signals.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for forming a high definition television (HDTV) signal corresponding to a field of view comprising: segmenting said field of view into contiguous, non-overlapping horizontal and vertical sub-fields by arranging a pyramid shaped element having reflective side facets to receive the field of view, the pyramid shaped element being oriented and configured such that the side facets develop the sub-fields; arranging camera targets to receive the sub-fields developed by different ones of said side facets; progressively scanning each said sub-field formed on each said camera target to develop scanned signals; and storing said scanned signals.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in accordance with claim 31 wherein: said scanning progressively scans each sub-field at a 525 line 60 frame per second scan rate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in accordance with claim 31 wherein: progressive scanning causes adjacent boundaries of each said sub-fields to be scanned at close to the same time.
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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) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |