Polaroid Corporation

Lex Computer and Management Corporation

L-3 Communications Corporation

Lex Computing & Management Corporation

Kenneth C Kiesel

Chester L Schuler

Ronald C Barker

William R Wray

Edwin C Moxon

The invention pertains a bathymetric sonar system involving a single swept transmit beam projector system which compensates for ship attitude and positioning changes. A sonar transducer array has a matrix of acoustic projector elements arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows and a plurality of substantially parallel columns; and means for causing each of the projector elements to generate an acoustic signal at a frequency and phase independently from each other projector element. Preferably the transducer array is operated by causing the projector elements to generate an acoustic signal at a frequency and phase independently from each other projector element, at a frequency and phase which is initially the same as the frequency and phase of each other element in its column and such that the frequency and phase of the projector elements in each column is different from each other column. Thus a single swept beam is projected toward the ocean floor. Then the frequency and phase of each projector element is modified to compensate for ship attitude and position changes.

Swept transit beam bathymetric sonar

A composing apparatus and method select segments from image source material stored on at least one storage medium and denote serially connected sequences of the segments to thereby form a program sequence. The apparatus has a pictorial display monitor, an operator control panel, and a composing control device responsive to the operator control panel for controlling the storage medium and the pictorial display. The operator control panel can selectively display segment frames on the pictorial display and can control, through a manual rotation wheel, the frame being displayed. The rotation wheel has a plurality of operating positions and the display is responsive to each successive rotation position for displaying a next successive segment frame. The direction of the next frame with respect to the present displayed frame corresponds to the direction of rotation of the rotation wheel. Thereby, through back and forth rotation of the rotation wheel, action scrolling of the segment frames can be achieved.

Video composition method employing action scrolling

A video composition method and apparatus select segments from image source material stored on at least one storage medium and denote serially connected sequences of the segments to thereby form a program sequence. The apparatus and method employ pictorial labels associated with each segment for ease of manipulating the segments to form the program sequence. The labels are displayed in an ordered spatial array of display monitors to simulate the temporal relationship between the segments in what is typically a snapshot-style non-temporal display. The apparatus and method enable the images displayed on the monitors to be scrolled, in a visually pleasing fashion, across the monitors. The scrolling of labels across the monitors is implemented by an operator control circuitry.

Video composition method and apparatus employing smooth scrolling

A video composition apparatus and method select segments from image source material stored on at least two storage media and denote serially connected sequences of the segments to thereby form a program sequence. The apparatus and method employ pictorial labels associated with each segment for ease of manipulating the segments to form the program sequence. The composition control function is highly user interactive and responds to user commands for selectively displaying segments from the source material on a pictorial display monitor. The control function allows the user to display two segments, a 'from' segment and a 'to' segment, and the transition therebetween. The segments can be displayed in a film-style presentation or a video-style presentation directed to the end frame of the 'frame' segment and the beginning frame of the 'to' segment. The apparatus can selectively alternate between the film-style and video-style presentations.

Method of display presentation for video editing

A method for playing a plurality of segments, selected from a plurality of reference segments recorded on each of a plurality of video tape recorders in a known recorded sequence, provides for a continuous replay without the need for creating a master tape. The playback sequence, defined for example by an edit decision list, defines an order different than the order in which the reference segments have been recorded and typically represents all or part of a program. The method provides for playing successive segments with different tape recorders so that the various tape recorders have sufficient time to reach their next assigned segment. The method further provides for continuous replay of the program until interrupted by an external command.

Method and apparatus for playing serially stored segments in an

Improvements in a full resolution image A are effected with an economical use of computer processing equipment and time by determining a field of improvement functions derived from processing a coarse representation of the original full resolution image. The coarse representation B is subjected to lightness field analysis to obtain an improved coarse image C, from which a coarse improvement field D is extracted by subtracting the original coarse representation. To obtain a full resolution improvement field E, the coarse improvement function is smoothly expanded by interpolation to the dimensions of the full resolution image. By modifying the original full resolution image field A with the values of the full resolution improvement field E, an improved full resolution image is obtained.

Reconstitution of images

A focusing system and method for a photographic camera providing an automatic adjustment in the focus setting of the camera lens with aperture size to exploit the increased depth of focus available with a reduction in aperture size. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture size is determined in accordance with scene light level, and the focus setting of the lens for a given camera/subject distance, as determined by an acoustical range finder, is adjusted automatically one or more positional increments toward the infinity focus setting of the lens to shift the in-focus field of the lens farther from the camera, in response to available subject illumination.

Focusing system and method with adjustment for lens depth of focus

A sensor for producing an electrical signal parameter responsive to the mean square of an applied alternating voltage has a rectifier element, and has a zener diode element electrically in series with a light-emitting diode element across the direct voltage which the rectifier element produces. The polarity of the direct voltage applies reverse voltage to the zener diode element and applies forward voltage to the light-emitting diode element. A photoconductor is optically coupled to receive electroluminescense which the light-emitting diode element emits.

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Wayland, MA, United States of America

Kenneth C Kiesel