U.S. Philips Corporation

Robert Boschgmbh

Reinhard Fach

Dieter Poetsch

Rolf Hedtke

Mike Christmann

A method and an arrangement for manufacturing a high-resolution digital master for filing cinematographic films and their conversion into different TV and multimedia standards, in which the overall picture and sound information associated with the cinematographic film is high-resolution scanned, digitized and stored. For creating a high-quality electronic duplicate of a film master for the purpose of document-secure filing or for manufacturing different TV and multimedia versions, picture and sound data prescriptions derived from the film for processing steps and parameters associated with the corresponding film frames are additionally stored.

Method and arrangement for manufacturing a high-resolution digital film

A device for scanning films (1) includes a converter (6) for forming an image data signal (11), and for improving the data transfer between the film scanner and a computer network coupled thereto. The image data signal (11) is supplied via a first data interface of the converter (6) in a data format for a single-channel transfer. To transfer the information about the contents of a scanned frame from the film scanner to a further processing stage, one transfer channel is sufficient so that further transfer channels, particularly for feedback information to the film scanner, can be dispensed with. This yields particularly a significantly higher transfer rate.

Film scanner with data interface

Picture field ordinal numbers recorded near the synchronizing signals of video tape recordings are currently stored in a register as the tape is played back while a modulo 4 up/down counter is incremented or decremented according to the direction of tape transport. A comparison operation checks whether the picture field numbering is in step with the counter for detection of discontinuities or errors. Then a longitudinal track with coded pulses can be read from the tape. A further comparison can be made for checking reliability, bridging errors, and for detecting and indicating discontinuities in picture field numbering sequences.

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Griesheim, Germany

Reinhard Fach