Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Douglas D Kuper

William A Menezes

David C Collier

John B Carlucci

Jon Earl Graham

Kathlynn K Uenaka

David Wheeler

A computerized interactive menu-driven video signal processing apparatus and method for selectively converting and processing color video signals from a color film scanner includes and provides a method for using a film scanner, a video color signal processor, a video signal storage device (e.g. high definition video tape recorder) and a computer with an interactive menu-driven operator control interface. The operator interface includes an alphanumeric keypad, a computer 'mouse,' a graphics display and a video monitor. While viewing analytical data (e.g. film masking coefficients, model film dye characteristic curves) on the graphics display and video images on the video monitor, the operator enters data and commands into the computer via the alphanumeric keypad or mouse to control the film scanner, the video color signal processor and the video signal storage device. Thus, the operator can precisely and interactively control every aspect of the video conversion and signal processing, including the scanning of the film, the actual video signal processing, and the storage and retrieval of the selectively processed video.

Computerized interactive menu-driven video signal processing apparatus

Apparatus is provided for selectively transferring data from one to another of a plurality of display registers. Selector switches are associated with respective ones of the display registers, each selector switch being manually operable so as to be designated either as a source switch or as a destination switch, whereby the data in the display register associated with the source switch is transferred to the display register associated with the destination switch. A central processing unit is responsive to the operation of a first of the selector switches followed by the operation of a second of the selector switches to transfer the data from the display register associated with the first selector switch to the display register associated with the second selector switch. Preferably, indicators are associated with respective ones of the selector switches; and the central processing unit controls the indicator associated with the first-operated selector switch to provide a distinctive indication representing that this selector switch has been designated as the source switch. A desired application of this invention is in video editing apparatus that is used with video playback and recording devices, wherein the data in the respective display registers is position data representing relative positions of the record media of the playback and recording devices.

Apparatus for selectively transferring data between registers

Video editing apparatus for use with video playback and recording devices, such as video tape recorders (VTR's) wherein signals are reproduced from a first record medium and recorded on a second record medium. The apparatus is provided with a console having a plurality of display registers for displaying record medium position data representing respective positions of the first and second media. Register selector switches are associated with respective ones of the display registers, each such switch being operable to select its associated display register. The console also is provided with a plurality of signal selector switches, each being operable to select a particular type of signal (such as a video or audio signal) reproduced from the first medium to be recorded on the second medium when a pre-selected one of the media reaches a position represented by the position data displayed in a selected display register. Indicators, such as visual indicator devices, are associated with respective ones of the signal selector switches and are operative to apprise an operator of the relative positions at which the particular types of signals are to be recorded on the second medium. The apparatus also is provided with a central processing unit responsive to the operation of a selected signal selector switch and a selected register selector switch for associating the position data displayed in the display register associated with that register selector switch with the selected signal selector switch, whereby when the pre-selected medium reaches the position represented by the associated position data, the particular type of signal selected by the signal selector switch is recorded on the second medium.

Video editing apparatus

A cue address generator for generating a cue address representing the position of a respective record medium adapted to be accessed by signal recording/playback apparatus. The cue address generator is particularly adapted to be used in signal editing apparatus of the type wherein signals recorded on a first record medium are transferred to a second record medium when preselected positions of the media are reached. The cue address generator includes a plurality of registers, each operative to store position data representing a relative position of the first or second medium, and a plurality of register selector switches associated with respective ones of the registers, each being selectively operative to select its associated register. Cue selector switches are associated with respective ones of the record media and are selectively operative to initiate a cue address generating operation. A control circuit, such as a CPU, is responsive to the operation of a register selector switch and a cue selector switch to produce a difference signal representing the difference between the position data in the register selected by the operated register selector switch and the position data in a particular register, and to combine this difference signal with the position data displayed in a predetermined register to produce the cue address. Both the predetermined register and the operated cue selector switch are associated with the same first or second record medium.

Cue control apparatus

For determining the address, in terms of its respective longitudinal time code, of a selected video or other information signal recorded on a tape which has both longitudinal time codes and control pulses or control track signals recorded along its length, when the information signal is selected while the tape is being moved at a speed which is insufficient for the reliable reading of its longitudinal time codes, the tape is accelerated to a speed sufficient for the longitudinal time codes to be reliably read and a subsequently encountered longitudinal time code is read, the reproduced control pulses are counted between the time that an information signal is selected and the time that the subsequently encountered longitudinal time code is read, and a derived address of the selected information signal is determined, in terms of its respective longitudinal time code, as a function of the value of the subsequently encountered longitudinal time code and the count of the reproduced control pulses.

Apparatus and method for determining time code addresses at low tape

An error detection arrangement for editing apparatus of the type that is used with playback and recording devices such as VTR's, wherein different signals (e.g. video and audio signals) on a first record medium, such as video tape, are transferred to a second record medium, and wherein the relative positions of the record media are represented by record medium position data. The editing apparatus comprises a console having a plurality of display registers for displaying record medium position data, a plurality of register selector switches associated with corresponding ones of the display registers, each register selector switch being operable to select its associated display register, a plurality of register indicators associated with respective ones of the display registers, a plurality of signal selector switches, each signal selector switch being operable to select particular ones of the signals reproduced from the first medium to be recorded on the second medium when a selected medium reaches a position represented by the position data displayed in a selected display register, a plurality of signal select indicators associated with respective ones of the signal selector switches, and control switches operable to initiate edit operations. A central processing unit responds to the selected operation of the signal selector switches and the register selector switches for assigning at least one of the different signals (e.g., the video or the audio signals) for transfer to the second medium when that medium reaches a relative position represented by the position data displayed in a selected display register. The central processing unit includes an error detector responsive to the operation of a control switch to detect if the data displayed in the selected display register is enabling for carrying out the edit operation and, if not, to inhibit the edit operation from being carried out and to actuate selected ones of the indicators to apprise an operator of an error condition.

Error detection for use in editing apparatus

Editing apparatus is provided for controlling the transfer of signals from a playback medium to a recording medium. The apparatus includes a console having a plurality of display registers, including a play IN register for displaying play IN position data representing an edit-in point along the playback medium, a record IN register for displaying record IN position data representing an edit-in point along the recording medium, a play OUT register for displaying play OUT position data representing an edit-out point along the playback medium and a record OUT register for displaying record OUT position data representing an edit-out point along the recording medium. The console also has a plurality of register selector switches, each associated with and adjacent a respective one of the display registers and operable to select the display register associated therewith. A manually operable enabling switch enables position data to be displayed in a selected one of the play IN, record IN, play OUT and record OUT registers as a function of the position data displayed in the remainder of these registers. The apparatus also includes a central processing unit responsive to the operation of the enabling switch and a selected one of the register selector switches to obtain data representing the duration between the edit-in and edit-out points as represented by the position data displayed in two of the registers, neither of which is associated with the selected register switch, to combine the duration data with the position data displayed in a third register, which third register is not associated with the selected register switch, to produce resultant position data, and to cause this resultant position data to be displayed in the register which is associated with the register selector switch.

Growing community of inventors

Campbell, CA, United States of America

Douglas D Kuper