Sony Electronics Inc

Sony Corporation of America

Other

Sony Corporation

Michael T MacKay

James Francis Kellinger

Robert W Duffy

Joseph A McArdle

William S Herz

Lee A Cotterill

Joe McArdle

Patrice J Capitant

Vinson R Perry

Ted E Langford

Robert J Berger

Matthew R Adams

Donald Morgan

Kumar B Swamy

Device for storing energy, using a physical object, such as a mass or buoyant object floating in fluid. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage. Maintaining the charge is indefinitely lossless.

Gravity field energy storage and recovery system

Invention defines a method and apparatus for storing energy where a power source is used to reposition a mass in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy where the stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss, where the force of gravity may be allowed to accelerates the mass, where the resulting kinetic energy is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. A variation defines a method where a power source is used to submerge a buoyant object in a fluid, where the submerged object represents a potential energy, where the force of gravity displaces the submerged buoyant object, where the kinetic energy resulting from the displacement is converted to shaft horsepower. Said shaft horsepower may be similarly converted to pneumatic, electrical, or hydraulic power. Invention defines a process where available energy can be used to do work to raise a massive object against a planetary gravitational field, to a position of high potential energy which can be maintained indefinitely. On demand the mass can be accelerated by the gravitational field and converted to kinetic energy, which is harnessed and converted to shaft horsepower, allowing the desired energy recovery from the energy storage system.

Device for storing energy using a physical object, such as a mass of greater than 10,000 kg, or buoyant object, floating in fluid, capable of displacing 10,000 kg. A mass is repositioned to greater altitude in a gravitational field to a position of higher potential energy. A buoyant object is forcibly submerged into a fluid, displacing greater than 10,000 kg of fluid, to a position of higher potential energy. The stored potential energy may be recovered with extremely low loss regardless of the state of charge of the system, or length of time of the storage.

An interactive high definition display system generates its own graphics display data, accepts multiple video signals and graphics display signals based upon multiple standards, and selectively produces therefrom an integrated video and graphics display featuring multiple images or compositing. The incoming video signals are decoded into their corresponding RGB signals, digitized and written into memory. The incoming and internally generated graphics display data signals are also written into memory. According to preprogrammed instructions, or interactively according to instructions received via a computer interface, an integrated, multiple image or composite display pattern with both active video and graphics display images can be generated by selecting from and arranging for display the stored video and graphics display data, and viewed on a high definition display or stored on a high definition video tape recorder.

Multistandard video and graphics, high definition display system and

A switch assembly that can vary at least two controllable parameters and can vary the upper, lower and any intermediary limits of the switch assembly. The switch assembly has a pair of nested coaxial rotary knobs each attached by shafts to sensors that determine the radial position of a reference point on each knob. The knobs rotate with respect to each other and are constructed to allow rotation of the knobs with one hand. The sensors are attached to the controls of the parameters, such that rotation of the knobs varies the output of the parameters. The sensors are coupled to a magnetic clutch that engages and prevents rotation of one of the knobs, when the knob is rotated into a predetermined radial position. A computer can be connected to the magnetic clutch and sensors. The computer receives input signals from the sensors and produces an output signal to the clutch, to engage the clutch and prevent rotation of the knob in accordance with a computer program.

Variable scale rotary switch

A network multi-media production and authoring system. A real-time network referred to as an 'AV LAN' is defined. Coupled to the AV LAN are a number of shared multi-media production resource devices. These multi-media production resource devices include video tape recorders, audio tape recorders, video titling devices, graphics devices, special effects generators, etc. Also connected to the AV LAN are a number of workstations which are used to control the production resources connected to the AV LAN. The production resources are connected to the AV LAN through an interface unit known as a `device translator`. The device translator is a microprocessor driven device that translates coded messages received over the AV LAN into specific commands which the particular production resource understands. The edit workstations present the user with an intuitive graphical user interface that enables the user access the various production resources in order to create, define, edit, and store elements for use in a multi-media production. The scalable nature of the AV LAN system allows users to design and build AV LAN networks to suit their particular needs. An AV LAN system can be as simple as a single workstation connected to a single production resource device. The AV LAN can be expanded into entire production, editing, and post-production studio. This is accomplished by coupling together several individual AV LAN networks using a network bridge. Efficient organization of such a large system can be accomplished by grouping together like kind production resources onto the same local AV LAN network.

Integrated multi-media production and authoring system

A video image storage, processing, and distribution system is provided with a processing and a distribution subsystem. The processing subsystem comprises at least one high performance video signal input device, one recording format independent hierarchy of storage, at least one recording format and resolution independent video data processor, and a high performance digital data recorder. The distribution subsystem comprises an archive library of recording format independent high performance digital tapes and instrument data players, a recording format independent hierarchy of staging storage, at least one recording format independent video distribution control processor, and a RF signal generation subsystem. The hierarchical storage of the processing subsystem comprises a first level of high performance random access mass storage amenable to large volume storage and high performance file transfers, and a second level of high performance random access storage amenable to high performance byte manipulations. The hierarchical staging storage comprises a first level of high performance random access storage amenable to high performance file transfers. Together, these elements cooperate to store, process, and distribute a high volume of video data on demand.

Video storage, processing, and distribution system using recording

Video editing and production console

An electronic image stabilization method and apparatus has application for use in hand-held video camcorders. The electronic image stabilization apparatus, contained within the camcorder, comprises a definition television (HDTV) image sensor with photosensitive cells, a gimbaled lens configuration and signal processing circuitry. The lens configuration projects a subject image upon only a portion of the image sensor. As the hand-held camcorder is physically jittered, the lens configuration projects the subject image on a different portion of HDTV image sensor. A scanner circuit reads values from the cells, and a threshold circuit compares the values to a pre-determined threshold value. If the photosensitive cell value is greater, the the projected subject image in the larger HDTV image array is determined, only the photosensitive cells illuminated by the projected subject image extracted from the HDTV image sensor. As a result, jitter in the output image, caused by hand-held shakes, is reduce or eliminated.

Method and apparatus for stabilizing an image produced in a video camera

An improved camera lens and filter adapter assembly has application for use in video and photographic cameras, and in particular, cameras using filters or special effects equipment. Camera lenses are housed in a helical mount located on the lens and filter adapter assembly and focusing of the lens will not rotate the helical mount in a radial direction. Because of this, filters and special effects devices, such as a polarizing filter or a matte box, which must remain stationary in a radial direction will not be effected during focusing. Filters and special effects devices are magnetically coupled to the lens and filter adapter assembly using magnetic rings. Magnetic coupling provides quick, easy and secure mounting of filters and special effects devices to cameras and permits a camera-person to cascade as many filters or special effects devices as needed.

Camera lens and filter adapter assembly

A variable scale device for providing signals indicating selection of an input value from a program controlled range of permissible values is disclosed. The device comprises of a belt, a first and second rollers, a rotary encoder, an interface for sending and receiving signals, a metering module having a plurality of visual displays and a forced feedback motor/clutch. Signals corresponding to the movement of the belt are encoded for sending through the interface to a processor coupled to the device. Based on the programmed responses received from the processor, visual and tactile feedback are provided to the user through the visual displays and the forced feedback motor/clutch. The program controlled range of permissible input values available for selection and the resolution of the selectable values may be dynamically set or reset by the user using the device. Furthermore, the program controlled range of permissible values supported may be increased without sacrificing the device resolution. Thus, the device provides functional and usability improvements over the traditional scaled input devices.

Variable scale input device

A switch that can vary at least two controllable parameters and can vary the upper, lower and any intermediary limits of the switch. The switch has a pair of nested coaxial rotary knobs each attached by shafts to sensors that determine the radial position of a reference point on each knob. The knobs rotate with respect to each other and are constructed to allow rotation of the knobs with one hand. The sensors are attached to the controls of the parameters, such that rotation of the knobs varies the output of the parameters. The sensors are coupled to a magnetic clutch that engages and prevents rotation of one of the knobs, when the knob is rotated into a predetermined radial position. A computer can be connected to the magnetic clutch and sensors. The computer receives input signals from the sensors and produces an output signal to the clutch, to engage the clutch and prevent rotation of the knob in accordance with a computer program within the computer. The integration of a computer allows the limits of a switch to be controlled by changing the computer program. The switch has a button in the center that can be pushed in relative to the knobs. The button is attached by a shaft to a micromotion switch that can also be coupled to the computer. The button can be used as a start/stop switch, or to change the functions controlled by the knobs. The switch can also be constructed such that the knobs are connected to another sensor, such that the equipment can be immediately stopped by pusing the knobs down.

Multi-parameter variable scale rotary switch

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for a multi-dimensional user interface for use in audio visual production. A display system including a central processing unit (CPU) is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad and/or track ball as well as a display device. The CPU is further coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and is also coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of system resource devices such as editors, music synthesizers, graphics generators, scheduling resources, audio enhancement resources, etc. A user viewing the interface on the display may utilize one of the input devices, such as by way of example, the keyboard, to select, incorporate or otherwise integrate the various system resources to develop a unified multi-media production. The user interface of the present invention includes a control frame which in practice substantially fills all of the display screen of the display and is consistent for all user applications. The control frame is comprised of control panels which surround a variety of subwindows and acts as a consistent control area for all users of the interface. Once defined, elements may be selectively placed on an event horizon bar in the control frame. The placement of an element on the event horizon results in the display of timing data for the element, relative to other elements on the event horizon.

Growing community of inventors

Vallejo, CA, United States of America

Michael T MacKay