Patent US5450146A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5450146A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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High fidelity reproduction device for cinema sound
Assignee: BEAUFORT CALIFORNIA Inc A CALIFORNIA Corp
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Filing: 1992-09-10
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2012-09-10
Abstract
Abstract Dynamic range and passband problems in cinema sound transmission are solved by using a laser disk (9) read by a laser disk player (10, 11, 12) synchronized (14) with the original sound track of the film. Problems relating to splices in the film are solved by reading the sound in advance, in storing it in a memory (13), in reading it back subsequently from the memory, and, where necessary, in causing the memory read back system to jump (24) in order to avoid reproducing sound that corresponds to images that have been removed from the film.
Inventors
- 👤 Pascal Chedeville
- 👤 Jean-Georges Kaspar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:07
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G03B31/04; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/32; G11B27/321; G11B27/322; G11B27/323; G11B7/00; G11B7/002; G11B7/003; G11B7/0032; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2537; G11B2220/2545; G11B27/002; G11B27/02; G11B27/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A system for reproducing sound sequences corresponding to image sequences of a movie tape while the corresponding image sequences are being displayed, said system comprising: (a) first means for reading a first address from a first memory medium disposed on a movie tape, wherein the first address is an address for data representing a first sound sequence corresponding to a first image sequence; (b) second means, coupled to said first means, for reading sound sequence data associated with the first address from a second memory medium that is not part of the movie tape said second means having a reading speed; (c) a third memory medium; (d) third means, coupled to said second means and coupled to said third memory medium, for storing data read by said second means on said third memory medium; (e) fourth means, coupled to said first and third means, for determining sound sequence data which does correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape and for determining sound sequence data which does not correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape; (f) fifth means, coupled to said fourth means and said third memory medium, for reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape, and for not reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does not correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape; and (g) sixth means, coupled to said fifth means, for producing sound corresponding to the sound sequence data read by said fifth means while corresponding movie images are being displayed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
270 words
A system for reproducing sound sequences corresponding to image sequences of a movie tape while the corresponding image sequences are being displayed, said system comprising: (a) first means for reading a first address from a first memory medium disposed on a movie tape, wherein the first address is an address for data representing a first sound sequence corresponding to a first image sequence; (b) second means, coupled to said first means, for reading sound sequence data associated with the first address from a second memory medium that is not part of the movie tape said second means having a reading speed; (c) a third memory medium; (d) third means, coupled to said second means and coupled to said third memory medium, for storing data read by said second means on said third memory medium; (e) fourth means, coupled to said first and third means, for determining sound sequence data which does correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape and for determining sound sequence data which does not correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape; (f) fifth means, coupled to said fourth means and said third memory medium, for reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape, and for not reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does not correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape; and (g) sixth means, coupled to said fifth means, for producing sound corresponding to the sound sequence data read by said fifth means while corresponding movie images are being displayed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said fourth means further comprises seventh means for timing production of sound to coincide with display of corresponding image sequences from the movie tape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising eighth means, coupled to said first means and coupled to said second means, for controlling the reading speed of said second means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising: (a) ninth means, coupled to said first means, for determining when a first memory medium readable by said first means is not disposed on the movie tape and (b) tenth means, coupled to said ninth means, for coupling sound signals stored on the movie tape to a sound production system and for uncoupling said first means from said second means when said ninth means determines that a first memory medium readable by said first means is not disposed on the movie tape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said system further comprising eleventh means, coupled to the first means, for reading sound sequence data associated with the first address from a fourth memory medium; (b) the fourth memory medium is distinct from the movie tape; and (c) said second and fourth memory media comprise compact disks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising twelfth means, coupled to said first means, for synchronizing the display of image sequences with production of sound sequences when movie tape play is begun, said twelfth means comprising means for reading a high frequency synchronizing signal on a sound track of the movie film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises an optical detector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a compact disk reader.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said third memory medium comprises a plurality of shift registers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said fourth means comprises a sound address memory which stores incremental differences between addresses of sound sequence data for sound corresponding to adjacent image sequences present on the movie tape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said first means comprises a high pass filter having a cutoff frequency coupled to a demodulator having a center frequency and (b) the center frequency of said demodulator is higher than the cutoff frequency of said high pass filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising: (a) thirteenth means for projecting and displaying image sequences from the movie tape and (b) a room for containing projected images of the movie tape and corresponding movie sound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system according to claim 1 and further comprising: (a) a display means for displaying images from the movie tape and (b) a tape transporter for transporting the movie tape so that a point on the movie tape first passes by said first means and then passes by said display means after a delay time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said fourth means further comprises delay means for delaying production of sound from a time after reading of sound sequence data to when corresponding image sequences are being displayed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said third memory medium comprises random access memory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein said third means comprises a write address pointer for indicating the address at which sound sequence data read by said second means is to be stored in said random access memory.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein said fifth means comprises a read address pointer for indicating said address at which sound sequence data is to be read from said random access memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
A system according to claim 15 wherein: (a) said fourth means comprises a sound address memory which stores incremental differences between addresses of sound sequence data for sound corresponding to adjacent image sequences present on the movie tape; (b) said fifth means comprises a read address pointer for indicating the address at which sound sequence data is to be read from said random access memory; and (c) said system further comprises read address pointer control means, coupled to said sound address memory, for controlling to which memory location said read address pointer points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
205 words
A process for reproducing sound sequences corresponding to image sequences of a movie tape while the corresponding image sequences are being displayed, said process comprising the steps of: (a) reading a first address for data from a first memory medium disposed on the movie tape, wherein the first address is an address for data representing a first sound sequence corresponding to a first image sequence; (b) reading sound sequence data associated with the first address from a second memory medium that is not part of the movie tape; (c) storing data read from said second memory medium on a third memory medium; (d) determining sound sequence data which does correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape and determining sound sequence data which does not correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape; (e) reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape, and not reading sound sequence data from the third memory medium which does not correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape; and (f) producing sound corresponding to the sound sequence data read from said third memory medium while displaying corresponding movie tape images.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
205 words
A process for reproducing sound sequences corresponding to image sequences of a movie tape while the corresponding image sequences are being displayed, said process comprising the steps of: (a) reading a first address for data from a first memory medium disposed on the movie tape, wherein the first address is an address for data representing a first sound sequence corresponding to a first image sequence; (b) reading sound sequence data associated with the first address from a second memory medium that is not part of the movie tape; (c) storing data read from said second memory medium on a third memory medium; (d) determining sound sequence data which does correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape and determining sound sequence data which does not correspond to image sequences present on the movie tape; (e) reading sound sequence data from said third memory medium which does correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape, and not reading sound sequence data from the third memory medium which does not correspond to image sequences which are present on the movie tape; and (f) producing sound corresponding to the sound sequence data read from said third memory medium while displaying corresponding movie tape images.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the step of timing production of the sound to coincide with display of corresponding image sequences from the movie tape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the step of controlling the speed of reading of the second memory medium to account for missing segments of the movie tape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the steps of: (a) determining when the first memory medium storing the first address data is not disposed on the movie tape and (b) coupling sound signals stored on the movie tape to a sound production system when said first memory medium storing the first address data is not disposed on the movie tape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein: (a) said process further comprises the step of reading sound sequence data associated with said first address from a fourth memory medium, wherein said fourth memory medium is distinct from the movie tape and (b) said second and fourth memory media comprise compact disks.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising synchronizing the display of image sequences with production of sound sequences when movie tape play is begun by reading a high frequency synchronizing signal on a sound track of the movie tape.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the first address is read from said first memory medium using an optical detector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said second memory medium is read by a compact disk reader.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said third memory medium comprises a plurality of shift registers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the step of storing incremental differences between addresses of sound sequence data for sound corresponding to adjacent image sequences present on the movie tape.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the step of high pass filtering and demodulating the first address data using a demodulator the center frequency of which is higher than the cutoff frequency of said high pass filter.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the step of projecting and displaying image sequences from the movie tape while broadcasting sound corresponding to the image sequences.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to claim 19 and further comprising the steps of: (a) displaying images from the movie tape and (b) transporting the movie tape so that a point on the movie tape first passes by a means to read the first data and then passes by a means to display movie images after a delay time.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 31 and further comprising the step of delaying production of sound from a time after reading of sound sequence data to when corresponding image sequences are being displayed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein said third memory medium comprises random access memory.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of indicating the address at which sound sequence data read by said second means is to be stored in the random access memory with a write address pointer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 33 and further comprising the step of indicating the address at which sound sequence data is to be read from the random access memory with a read address pointer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
84 words
A process according to claim 33 and further comprising the steps of: (a) storing incremental differences between addresses of sound sequence data for sound corresponding to adjacent image sequences present on the movie tape in a sound address memory; (b) indicating the address at which sound sequence data is to be read from said random access memory with a read address pointer using the sound address memory; and (c) controlling the memory location at which said read address pointer points to the indicated address.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
155 words
A motion picture sound system for a motion picture that is provided on a film having a series of picture frames and a time code identifying locations along the film, comprising: a relatively large capacity digital data storage means for storing digital audio data associated with said film locations, a relatively fast access digital data storage buffer for temporarily storing digital audio data from said relatively large capacity digital data storage means, means for converting digital audio data from said buffer to an analog audio signal, means for reading the time code on said film, and controller means responsive to the time code read by said reading means for accessing said relatively large capacity digital data storage means to shift digital audio data associated with the film locations identified by said time code to said buffer, and for accessing said buffer to shift digital audio data stored therein to said digital audio data converting means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
155 words
A motion picture sound system for a motion picture that is provided on a film having a series of picture frames and a time code identifying locations along the film, comprising: a relatively large capacity digital data storage means for storing digital audio data associated with said film locations, a relatively fast access digital data storage buffer for temporarily storing digital audio data from said relatively large capacity digital data storage means, means for converting digital audio data from said buffer to an analog audio signal, means for reading the time code on said film, and controller means responsive to the time code read by said reading means for accessing said relatively large capacity digital data storage means to shift digital audio data associated with the film locations identified by said time code to said buffer, and for accessing said buffer to shift digital audio data stored therein to said digital audio data converting means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
66 words
The motion picture sound system of claim 37, wherein said controller means shifts, from said large capacity digital data storage means to said buffer, digital audio data associated with film locations that follow the location for the time code currently read by said reading means, to facilitate a jump in accessing the audio data in said buffer when a jump in the time code is encountered.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
87 words
The motion picture sound system of claim 38, further comprising means for projecting said picture frames, and means for providing the time code associated with said film locations to the controller means a predetermined advance period prior to the projections of said picture frames, said controller means coordinating the transfer of data between said relatively large capacity digital data storage means, said buffer and said digital audio data converting means so that an analog audio signal is provided in synchronism with the projection of said picture frames.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of producing a motion picture audio signal from a film which includes a series of picture frames and a time code adjacent to and identifying locations on the film, comprising: providing a relatively large capacity digital signal storage device which stores digital audio signals corresponding to successive locations on the film, scanning the film, reading the time code on the film as it is scanned, accessing the digital signal storage device to transfer therefrom the digital audio signals corresponding to the time code that has been read, temporarily storing said transferred digital audio signals in a relatively fast access, digital data storage buffer, reading out the digital audio signals temporarily stored in said digital data storage buffer in synchronism with the scanning of said film, and comparing successive time codes read for successive locations on the film.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of producing a motion picture audio signal from a film which includes a series of picture frames and a time code adjacent to and identifying locations on the film, comprising: providing a relatively large capacity digital signal storage device which stores digital audio signals corresponding to successive locations on the film, scanning the film, reading the time code on the film as it is scanned, accessing the digital signal storage device to transfer therefrom the digital audio signals corresponding to the time code that has been read, temporarily storing said transferred digital audio signals in a relatively fast access, digital data storage buffer, reading out the digital audio signals temporarily stored in said digital data storage buffer in synchronism with the scanning of said film, and comparing successive time codes read for successive locations on the film.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
115 words
An anticipatory method of reading sequential digital data out from a relatively slow access, large capacity digital storage device in response to a sequential control signal that is subject to jumps in the data sequence, comprising: transferring digital data which sequentially follows the current control signal to a relatively fast access digital data storage buffer so that both the digital data which corresponds to the current control signal and sequentially following digital data is stored in said buffer, reading out digital data from said buffer under the control of said control signal, and in response to a jump in the control signal, making a corresponding jump in the digital data read out from said buffer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
115 words
An anticipatory method of reading sequential digital data out from a relatively slow access, large capacity digital storage device in response to a sequential control signal that is subject to jumps in the data sequence, comprising: transferring digital data which sequentially follows the current control signal to a relatively fast access digital data storage buffer so that both the digital data which corresponds to the current control signal and sequentially following digital data is stored in said buffer, reading out digital data from said buffer under the control of said control signal, and in response to a jump in the control signal, making a corresponding jump in the digital data read out from said buffer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 41, wherein digital signals are transferred from said large capacity digital storage device to said buffer at a substantially higher rate than the digital signals are read out from said buffer following such a jump.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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