US5311324A — Apparatus with frame check capability for reprodu…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for reproducing images by concurrent operations of disk players, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a frame designation signal indicative of a frame to be reproduced; a plurality of disk players responsive to the frame designation signal to retrieve the frames to be reproduced and generate disk player output signals corresponding thereto and a present frame number for each frame read, said frame designation signal being common to all of said disk players; a synthesizing circuit to synthesize video format signals; relaying circuits for relaying the disk player output signals to the synthesizing circuit, means for comparing for coincidence the present frame number output by each of the disk players with the frame number to be reproduced as indicated by the frame designation signal and means for supplying a disable signal to a relaying circuit corresponding to a disk player for which the comparing means fails to indicate coincidence, the relaying circuit stopping relaying of an output signal of the disk player failing to indicate coincidence, in response to said disable signal.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 174 words

An apparatus for reproducing images by concurrent operations of disk players, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a frame designation signal indicative of a frame to be reproduced; a plurality of disk players responsive to the frame designation signal to retrieve the frames to be reproduced and generate disk player output signals corresponding thereto and a present frame number for each frame read, said frame designation signal being common to all of said disk players; a synthesizing circuit to synthesize video format signals; relaying circuits for relaying the disk player output signals to the synthesizing circuit, means for comparing for coincidence the present frame number output by each of the disk players with the frame number to be reproduced as indicated by the frame designation signal and means for supplying a disable signal to a relaying circuit corresponding to a disk player for which the comparing means fails to indicate coincidence, the relaying circuit stopping relaying of an output signal of the disk player failing to indicate coincidence, in response to said disable signal.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the relaying circuits compress the time base of the output signals.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the relaying circuits comprise means for adjusting a time base of the output signals of the disk players.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 115 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said means for comparing comprises a controller, said controller having means for transmitting a designation frame to each disk player during a vertical period, V; means for receiving a present position frame from each disk player during the vertical period, V; means for comparing the present frame position received from each disk player during a vertical period interval with a designation frame transmitted during an immediately preceding vertical period and generating a stop signal to activate a means for stopping receipt of video signals from a disk in which the present frame position is not the same as the designation frame transmitted during the immediately precediing vertical period.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus recited in claim 4, further comprising means for detecting if a disk player is generating a disable signal and, if so, activating means for stopping receipt of video frame that disk player.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus recited in claim 4, further comprising means for detecting a servo signal status from a disk player and if normal, allowing receipt of video from the disk player; if abnormal, detecting if the servo is conducting a jump operation.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus recited in claim 6, further comprising means for activating the means for stopping receipt of video from the disk player, if it is detected that the servo is not conducting a jump operation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, comprising means for reading disk ID numbers, determining from the disk ID information if the disk has previously been played on the apparatus with the other disks to be played concurrently, and (i) if so, initiating reproduction; (ii) if not, verifying that the disks are compatible before initiating reproduction.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising means for compensating for drop-out of signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein said means for compensating comprises means for providing a signal corresponding to a dropped out signal from a preceding horizontal line.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising means for determining if compatible disk types are loaded in the apparatus.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 163 words

An apparatus for reproducing images by concurrent operations of channels on a disk player, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a frame designation signal indicative of a frame to be reproduced; a disk player responsive to the frame designation signal to search frame stored in a plurality channels thereon, retrieve the frame to be reproduced and generate disk player channel output signals corresponding thereto and a present frame number for each frame read; a synthesizing circuit to synthesize video format signals; relaying circuits for relaying the channel output signals to the synthesizing circuit, means for comparing for coincidence each present frame number with the frame number to be reproduced as indicated by the frame designation signal and means for supplying a disable signal to a relaying circuit corresponding to a channel for which the comparing means fails to indicate coincidence, the relaying circuit stopping relaying of an output signal of the disk channel failing to indicate coincidence, in response to said disable signal.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 163 words

An apparatus for reproducing images by concurrent operations of channels on a disk player, the apparatus comprising: means for generating a frame designation signal indicative of a frame to be reproduced; a disk player responsive to the frame designation signal to search frame stored in a plurality channels thereon, retrieve the frame to be reproduced and generate disk player channel output signals corresponding thereto and a present frame number for each frame read; a synthesizing circuit to synthesize video format signals; relaying circuits for relaying the channel output signals to the synthesizing circuit, means for comparing for coincidence each present frame number with the frame number to be reproduced as indicated by the frame designation signal and means for supplying a disable signal to a relaying circuit corresponding to a channel for which the comparing means fails to indicate coincidence, the relaying circuit stopping relaying of an output signal of the disk channel failing to indicate coincidence, in response to said disable signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-05-09	1997-11-08	1998-05-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-05-09	2001-11-08	2002-05-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-05-09	2005-11-08	2006-05-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus with frame check capability for reproducing images by combining outputs of concurrently operating disk players storing portions of the images

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