Patent US5798798A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5798798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Simultaneously acquiring video images and analog signals
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1996-02-26
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Granted: 1998-08-25
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Expires: 2016-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A system provides for simultaneous collection, storage and analysis of an analog signal and video signal. Multiplexes of up to 240 low bandwidth analog channels with a camera video signal is effective. The output is a standard composite video signal containing analog and video data. The combined signals can be stored on videotape, or can be digitized by a framegrabber. The circuitry separates horizontal synchronizing pulses from a camera output. The signal is then multiplexed with the video signal, such that a portion of each video horizontal line represents the analog data. The combined output is stored together, providing a means for synchronizing the two signals during analysis. The design allows easy coordination of animate and inanimate events with video images from a standard video camera. The system also provides for interleaving digitized physiological signals and video images of subjects onto digital media in a standard file format. The system can provide for multimedia communications such as teleconferencing, surveillance systems using video and analog signals and also single cell physical and visible behavior according to changing conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Rector
- 👤 Ronald M. Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:01
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/147; G; G16; G16H; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/91; H04N5/92; H04N5/9201; H04N7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
83 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outputting means is selected from the group comprising at least one of a digitizer, and means for storing the mixed signals on a videotape, means for storing the mixed signals on a computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for representing the analog signal visually on a band in a visual video frame representation of the video signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the band is composed of multiple horizontal signals, the analog signal corresponds to at least part of the horizontal lines of the video signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the intensity of the analog signal on a respective horizontal line is representative of the intensity of the analog signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a single analog signal is contained on a single horizontal line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the band is a vertical band containing multiple analog signals on respective horizontal lines of the video frame, and wherein the band is located at a predetermined vertical position on the video frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the video signal is represented by at least about 240 horizontal lines and wherein at least about 240 analog signals are inputted and mixed on respective horizontal lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the video signal is represented by a predetermined first number of horizontal lines, and including multiple analog signals represented by a second predetermined number of signals, said second predetermined number being equal to the first predetermined number, or a lesser number of predetermined signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the lesser number is a lesser multiple of the second number, selectively a half, a quarter, or an eighth of the second predetermined number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including a screen for representing the video signals and the analog signal, and wherein a representation of the analog signal is depicted on the screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for receiving the analog signal in response to a horizontal trigger pulse representative of respective horizontal lines of a video signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for receiving physiological data as at least one of the analog signal or video signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the double buffering includes means for reading out a signal from a first buffer, and means for reading analog signal into a second buffer, such that the analog signal is offset in time by at least one video frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for representing the analog signal on a selected portion of a video frame, and wherein the analog signal is represented on the video frame at a selectable, movable and variable location relative to the video frame of the video signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for obtaining a DC ground reference signal, said signal being at least one of multiple analog signals inputted to the mixing means, including means for varying at least some of the other analog signals in terms of the DC ground reference signal, and including means for feeding the ground reference signal to a differential amplifier for DC restoration.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitizing the video signal, means for digitizing the analog signal, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for subsequently effecting mixing of the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved file format.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
108 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digitizing the video signal, means for digitizing the analog signal, means for digitally double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and means for subsequently effecting mixing of the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved file format.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 including means for receiving the interleaved format as a single file format.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 including means for parallel transmitting the digitized video signal and the digitized analog signal to a computer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
73 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 including means for storing the digitized video signal and digitized analog signal as a digital signal and including means for selectively processing the signal, such processing being selected to be from the group of at least one of means for storing the signal, means for analyzing the signal, and means for displaying the signal, such signal being the concurrent signal of the video and analog signal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing multiple signals comprising: receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing multiple signals comprising: receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the outputting is selected from the group comprising at least one of a digitizing, storing the mixed signals on a videotape, means for storing the mixed signals on a computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 including representing the analog signal visually on a band in the visual representation of the video signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the band is a vertical band containing multiple analog signals on respective horizontal lines of the video image, and wherein the band is located at a predetermined vertical position on the video image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 including receiving multiple analog signals in response to a horizontal trigger pulse representative of respective horizontal lines of a video signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 including receiving physiological data as at least some of the analog signal or video signals.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the buffering is effected digitally to thereby repeat a sampling of the analog signal more than once within a single video frame.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing multiple signals comprising: receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being communications data, digitizing the video signal, digitizing the analog signal, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal, and receiving the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved format.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for processing multiple signals comprising: receiving video signals representative of a camera image, and wherein the video signal is represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being communications data, digitizing the video signal, digitizing the analog signal, double buffering the analog signal to effect repetition of the analog signal, and receiving the digitized multiple analog signal and the digitized video signal in an interleaved format.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 28 including storing the digitized video signal and digitized analog signal as a digital signal.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving multiple analog signals, respectively selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented by a predetermined first number of horizontal lines, and the analog signals being represented by a second predetermined number of signals, said second predetermined number being less than the first predetermined number, the lesser number being representative of a multiple sampling of each analog signal within each video frame, means for mixing the analog signals with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving multiple analog signals, respectively selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, the video signal being represented by a predetermined first number of horizontal lines, and the analog signals being represented by a second predetermined number of signals, said second predetermined number being less than the first predetermined number, the lesser number being representative of a multiple sampling of each analog signal within each video frame, means for mixing the analog signals with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as claimed in claim 30 including means for representing the analog signals visually on a band in a visual video frame representation of the video signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the band is composed of multiple horizontal signals, the multiple analog signals corresponding to at least part of the horizontal lines of the video signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 32 wherein the intensity of a respective horizontal line is representative of the intensity of the analog signal.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, and being selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being respectively selective representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of analog signal within a single video image frame, the buffering means including means for repeating a sampling of the analog signal more than once within a single video frame, and the double buffering enhancing temporal recovery of the analog signal and amplitude resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced temporal recovery being such that double buffering includes means for a multiple sampling of analog signal and reading out from a first buffer and means for reading analog signal into a second buffer such that the analog signal are offset in time by at least one video frame; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
206 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving a video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, and being selectively representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being respectively selective representative of a communicator image, a site for surveillance or a microscopic image, means for double buffering the analog signal, the means for buffering including means to effect repetition of analog signal within a single video image frame, the buffering means including means for repeating a sampling of the analog signal more than once within a single video frame, and the double buffering enhancing temporal recovery of the analog signal and amplitude resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced temporal recovery being such that double buffering includes means for a multiple sampling of analog signal and reading out from a first buffer and means for reading analog signal into a second buffer such that the analog signal are offset in time by at least one video frame; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving an analog video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digital buffering the analog signal, the means for digital buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and the buffering enhancing recovery of the signal resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced recovery including means for permitting mixing of the analog signal with the video frame at a rate faster than the analog signal; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal whereby the analog signal is contained on at least some of the horizontal lines of the video frame as intensity encoded values of at least some of the video pixels, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
161 words
A system for processing multiple signals comprising: means for receiving an analog video signal representative of a camera image, the video signal being represented as multiple horizontal lines in a video frame, means for receiving an analog signal, the analog signal being representative of an analog input, means for digital buffering the analog signal, the means for digital buffering including means to effect repetition of the analog signal within a single video image frame, and the buffering enhancing recovery of the signal resolution of the analog signal, such enhanced recovery including means for permitting mixing of the analog signal with the video frame at a rate faster than the analog signal; means for mixing the analog signal with the video signal whereby the analog signal is contained on at least some of the horizontal lines of the video frame as intensity encoded values of at least some of the video pixels, and means for outputting the mixed analog and video signals.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 35 including means for digitizing the analog signal prior to mixing the analog signal and the video signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 35 including means for digitizing the analog signal prior to directing the signal to the buffering means, and means for converting the buffered signal back to an analog signal prior to mixing the analog signal and the video signal in the mixing means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the video signal is representative of an image of a person communicating, and the analog signal is representative of the message being communicated by the communicator thereby to provide video telecommunication.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the video signal is representative of an image effecting communication, and the analog signal is representative of a message being communicated by the image thereby to provide video telecommunication.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the video signal is representative of an image effecting communication, and the analog signal is representative of a message being communicated by the image thereby to provide video telecommunication.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the video signal representative of an image, and the analog signal is representative of a selected condition of a different selected switch condition thereby to provide simultaneous monitoring of the video image and the analog signal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the video signal representative of an image, and the analog signal is representative of a selected condition of a different selected switch condition thereby to provide simultaneous monitoring of the video image and the analog signal.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the video signal representative of an image, and the analog signal is representative of a selected condition of a different selected switch condition thereby to provide simultaneous monitoring of the video image and the analog signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the video image is directed to a selected cell, the image being directed through a microscope, and wherein the analog signal is directed to obtaining electrical information from the selected cell.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the video image is directed to a selected cell, the image being directed through a microscope, and wherein the analog signal is directed to obtaining electrical information from the selected cell.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein the video image is directed to a selected cell, the image being directed through a microscope, and wherein the analog signal is directed to obtaining electrical information from the selected cell.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 1 including means for transmitting the mixed analog and video signal along a single wire, and selectively having means for recording the combined mixed analog and video signal on video recording means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 including means for transmitting the mixed analog and video signal along a single wire, and selectively having means for recording the combined mixed analog and video signal on video recording means.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 21 including transmitting the mixed analog and video signal along a single wire, and selectively recording the combined mixed analog and video signal on video recording means.
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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) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |