New York Institute of Technology

Cbs Corporation

William E Glenn, Jr

Arthur Kaiser

James Kenneth Moore

An apparatus and method for generating video signals using an improved camera system is disclosed. The camera system includes first and second video imaging devices which are scanned at different scan rates. An optical switching system directs light from the scene alternately in time to the first and second video imaging devices, and makes efficient use of available light from a scene being imaged. In an embodiment of the invention, the optical switching system includes a reflective shutter.

High definition television camera system and method with optical

An apparatus and method for generating video signals using an improved camera system is disclosed. Video recording techniques which save bandwidth, and a temporal filter which is tailored to the eye's temporal response are also disclosed. In the camera apparatus, an optical means directs light from a scene to both a first video imaging device operating at a relatively fast frame rate and a second video imaging device operating at a relatively slow frame rate. The outputs of the two video imaging devices can be combined to obtain a high definition video signal.

Television camera and recording system for high definition television

The disclosure is directed to an apparatus and method for encoding and/or decoding video signals for use in a compatible high definition television system or in other applications. In a form of the disclosure there is provided an encoder which includes means for storing an input frame as an array of digital pixel values, and means for interrogating the stored array and for generating a sum signal and at least one difference signal. The sum signal is representative of the sum of the pixel values in a group of pixels. The difference signal is representative of the difference between the total of the pixel values in some of the pixels in the group and the total of the pixel values of other pixels in the group. The sum signal and the difference signal are generated for a multiplicity of groups which cover the video frame. The sum signal is generated at a relatively high information refresh rate and the difference signal is generated at a relatively low information refresh rate. The decoder includes means for storing the sum signal and each of the difference signals, and means for combining the sum and difference signals to obtain an output pixel value for each pixel of an output video frame. In another form of the disclosure, electronic processing is performed to obtain low and high spatial frequency component representations of the image represented by the video signal, and these are stored in a digital memory in the encoder. Output frames of the low spatial frequency component representation are produced at a fast frame refresh rate, and output frames of the high spatial frequency component representation are produced at a slow frame refresh rate.

Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding video

The disclosure is directed to improvements in an apparatus for generating an image from an input video signal. A semiconductor device is provided, the device having an array of spaced charge storage electrodes thereon. An elastomer layer is disposed on the semiconductor device, over the array of charge storage electrodes. The elastomer layer has a thickness in the range between one-tenth and one times the average spacing between charge storage electrodes. At least one conductive layer is disposed over the elastomer layer. The semiconductor device is responsive to the input video signal to selectively apply voltages between the charge storage electrodes and the at least one conductive layer to cause deformations of the conductive layer and the elastomer layer. An optical subsystem is provided for converting deformations of the at least one conductive layer into an image, for example using a Schleirin optical system. In a preferred embodiment, a plastic pellicle layer is disposed between the elastomer layer and the at least one conductive layer. This plastic pellicle layer is useful during the fabrication of the device, and also serves to protect the at least one conductive layer against elements in the elastomer layer that might have a degrading effect thereon.

Solid state light modulator structure

The disclosure is directed to improvements in a method of making a solid state light modulator structure for use in an apparatus for generating an image from a video signal. A semiconductor device is provided, the device having an array of spaced charge storage electrodes on a surface thereof. A layer of elastomer material, preferably a silicone gel, is applied over said surface. A plastic pellicle is applied over the elastomer layer. Layers of gold and silver are then successively applied over the pellicle layer.

Method of making deformable light modulator structure

An improved ultrasonic scanning head is disclosed for use in an apparatus for imaging sections of a body by transmitting ultrasonic energy into the body and determining the characteristics of the ultrasonic energy reflected therefrom. The scanning head includes a scanning window which comprises an acoustic lens for converging the scan of the ultrasound beam. This serves to reduce geometrical distortion.

Ultrasonic scanning head with reduced geometrical distortion

The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for determining the velocity of a material within a body, and which is also capable of simultaneously imaging sections of the body. In the velocity-determined method, a focused beam of ultrasound is directed, over a given aperture, toward the skin of the body, the central ray of the focused ultrasound beam being oriented substantially normal to the skin. The ultrasound beam reflected from the body is received over the same aperture. Preferably, the steps of directing and receiving the ultrasound employ the same single transducer, and focusing is achieved using a focusing lens. Beat frequency signals are detected in the received beam, these signals resulting from the beating of Doppler effect components reflected from the moving material, for example, blood corpuscles of moving blood within the body. Velocity-representative indications, for example, audio or video presentations, are then generated as a function of the detected beat frequency signals. The detected beat frequency signals are beats between Doppler effected portions of the received ultrasound beam which have frequency components above and below the frequency of the originally directed ultrasound beam.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic Doppler detection

A selectable delay system for coupling between a plurality of elements and an input/output terminal, the relative delays between the input/output terminal and the individual elements being selectable under operator control. A single delay line is employed to obtain up to three different effective delay configurations that can be used, for example, to obtain three different focuses in an ultrasonic imaging system.

Selectable delay system

A variable delay system in which multistage delay lines are 'shared' between different elements (e.g. different transducer elements or segments). A plurality of delay lines are provided, the delay lines having respectively different numbers of stages. The signals from the first and last segments of a segmented transducer are applied to opposing ends of the delay line having the largest number of stages. The signals from the second and next-to-last segments of the transducer are applied to opposing ends of the delay line having the next-to-largest number of stages, and so on. A plurality of coupling circuits are respectively associated with the plurality of delay lines and are operative to sample, as a function of time, the signals at different delay stages of their respective delay lines. The outputs of the coupling circuits are combined to form an image-representative signal.

Variable delay system

The disclosure pertains to an optical display apparatus, or fiber optics magnification panel, and a method of making same. The display apparatus comprises a light input surface defined by one end of each of a multiplicity of elongated optical carrier strands, e.g. fiber optic strands, the one ends being arranged in a relatively closely spaced array of rows and columns. A light output surface is substantially perpendicular to the light input surface and is defined by the other ends of the strands, the other ends being arranged in a relatively remotely spaced configuration of rows and columns. Each column of strands extends rearwardly from the input surface to a depth which depends upon the column's position in the order of columns. Each strand of a column bends sidewardly at its point of greatest depth to an orientation which is substantially parallel to the input surface. The strands of each column are of different length with each strand of a column terminating at a transverse position which depends upon its row order in the column, such that the other ends of the strands of the columns of the input surface define columns of the output surface which are at less than a right angle with respect to the columns of the input surface. The result is a compact wedge-shaped display apparatus.

Optical display apparatus

A system for reducing noise in a color video signal which utilizes frame store integration and includes a delay or storage device for storing a single television frame, a summing device for adding a fractional amplitude portion of the signal stored in the storage device to a fractional amplitude portion of the present video signal, and a chrominance corrector circuit for altering the chrominance component of the stored signal so as to be in the proper phase relationship to be summed with the chrominance component of the present video signal. The system is operative automatically to change the fractional amplitude portion of the stored signal fed back to the summing device as a function of the difference between stored and present signals thereby to change the integration time constant of the system to accommodate for motion between the present signal and the stored frames. The system functions as a comb filter whose tines are very narrow when there is little or no motion between the present and stored frames and which are automatically widened to allow motion to be portrayed when there is relative motion between past and present signals.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States of America

William E Glenn, Jr