Dfr2000, Inc.

Other

Harry L Tarnoff

Stuart T Spence

An illumination subsystem, a film guide subsystem, and an imaging subsystem are combined to form an optical system for a film conversion device which projects an image recorded on film onto the at least one optical sensor. The illumination subsystem comprises a lamp. The film guide subsystem comprises a film guide wide enough to support film moving thereover and having an aperture that permits passage of light from the lamp through the film. The imaging subsystem comprises an imaging lens and an optical sensor situated so as to receive the light passing through the aperture and the film. The three subsystems together have an optical path that is folded substantially into the shape of a 'U'. This folded arrangement is achieved by placing optical beam bending elements in the optical path of the film conversion device between the illumination subsystem and the film guide subsystem, and between the film guide subsystem and the imaging subsystem. This folded arrangement of the components of the optical system permits the components of the illumination subsystem and the imaging subsystem to be mounted back-to-back on the same support structure within the film-to-video module. Consequently, the optical system requires less space than is required without the folding of the optical path.

Optical design for film conversion device

A reconfigurable digital processor to improve efficiency and flexibility in film conversion applications is described. Analog signals corresponding to film images are digitized and provided to the reconfigurable digital processor. The reconfigurable digital processor uses programmable circuit elements, such as field programmable gate arrays and digital signal processors, to perform film conversion functions. The number of programmable circuit elements can be scaled in proportion to cost or desired throughput rates, thereby offering a variety of cost-efficient film conversion devices for varying needs. The reconfigurable digital processor provides one or more outputs which are formatted to produce one or more digital motion picture files in parallel. The reconfigurable digital processor can be altered using software codes at any time to perform different film conversion functions and adapt to changes in format of digital motion picture files.

Method and apparatus for a reconfigurable digital processor for film conversion

A cost-efficient digital parallel processor to improve throughput and offer a variety of output formats in film conversion is described. Image pixels on film are translated into electrical signals by photosensitive detectors. The electrical signals are digitized by analog-to-digital converters and thereafter provided to a digital parallel processor for film conversion functions. The digital parallel processor includes two or more groups of circuit elements to facilitate parallel processing. Each group of circuit elements can process a different set of image pixels simultaneously. In addition, image pixels belonging to the same set can be processed in parallel. This two-dimensional parallel processing structure facilitates faster than real-time film conversion sessions. A supervisor control circuit monitors and controls the sequence of film conversion functions. The output of the digital parallel processor is provided to a formatter which manipulates the data to conform to one or more standard formats. The data in different standard formats can be provided in parallel, thereby eliminated the need for additional film conversion sessions. The data in standard formats can be stored in local memory, written to a storage medium, provided to another device for further processing, or converted by a digital-to-analog converter for display on a video monitor.

Method and apparatus for a digital parallel processor for film conversion

A lamp, a film guide, and a photosensitive detector are combined into an optical system contained in a portable device that generates electrical signals representing images recorded on motion picture film. The film guide has a surface proximate to the motion picture with an aperture therein through which light from the lamp passes to image the film on the photosensitive detector. A digital processor, which is electrically connected to the photosensitive detector processes an electronic signal output by the photosensitive detector. To provide compactness, the optical system has a folded path comprising three segments each separately mounted on a different surface. The first segment includes the lamp, the second includes the film guide, and the third includes the photosensitive detector. An optical detector positioned so as to receive light from the lamp enables adjusting the device when the device is moved to a location where the temperature and other environmental conditions change. This configuration also finds use when the device is located in an environment whose temperature remains consistently hot.

Portable film conversion device

A digital processor to synchronize ancillary information with film images during a film conversion session is described. The ancillary information includes metadata information and audio information. The digital processor advantageously processes the ancillary information at a speed to support faster than real-time film conversion. The ancillary information can come from various sources and in various forms. Information from analog sources is digitized for processing using digital technology. A pitch adjuster frequency shifts digitized analog signals and digital input signals to achieve a selected data rate that matches the rate of film conversion. Digitally encoded input data can be decoded and re-encoded to achieve the selected data rate. A formatter manipulates the ancillary information at the selected data rate to conform to a standard format and combines the formatted ancillary information with film images conforming to a standard motion picture format.

Growing community of inventors

Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America

Harry L Tarnoff