Apert-Herzog Corporation

Arvin Industries, Inc.

William E Nichols

William F Herzog

Boyd L Stratton

William Laumeister

Neil Feldman

An apparatus and method for acquiring and storing video picture frames at a first rate and for reading and displaying said frames at a second rate which is a selectable integral of the first rate implements the steps of: converting analog picture elements to digital words, storing at least one frame of digital words in a first memory at the first rate, reading the frame of digital words out of the first memory at the first rate in interlaced scan format, storing the frame of digital words read out of the first memory in a second memory at the first rate, reading said frame of digital words out of the second memory at a second rate which is a selectable integral multiple of the first rate, converting the digital words read out of the first memory to analog picture values and putting out said converted analog picture values in interlaced scan format, and converting the digital words read out of the second memory to analog picture values and putting out the converted analog picture values at the second rate.

Video data acquisition and display scan converter

A memory stores and repetitively plays back for display an continuously repeating, consecutive sequence of picture frames derived from a source. The memory includes an input for receiving digitized picture element values in a serial bit stream and for framing the stream into consecutive constant length pluralities of digital picture element words. A read/write solid state semiconductor frame memory array is arranged as a ring for storing and playing back a predetermined number of the consecutive video picture image frames. An output receives constant length pluralities of digital picture element words read from the memory array and converts them into an analog picture signal for display. A read/write memory array control controls writing to and reading from the frame memory array so that a selected segment of consecutive video picture frames may be repeatedly played back without interruption at a real time image display rate. The memory read/write memory array control may include a write protect circuit for enabling an operator to single step through a series of consecutive frames written in the array, the write protect circuit for generating and storing at least one write protection value for write protecting at least one of the frames so written. The read/write memory array control further may include a circuit for skipping said at least one write protected frame during subsequent write operations of the memory array and may also include a clear circuit for clearing the write protection value or values.

Television multiple frame store with cyclical repeat

An analog data stream is monitored as a series of blocks. A ring memory array digitally stores the blocks and repetitively loads and unloads the blocks. A freeze switch disables loading of the latest blocks. A block identifier puts out a unique block identification value for each block put out by the memory and is responsive to the freeze switch, so that when loading stops, each block put out bears the same identification value. The invention is particularly well suited to handling of television frames.

Audio-visual monitoring system

A disc recorder has a rotating flexible recording disc and a transducer which is radially movable with respect to the disc. The transducer defines a gap which extends radially of the disc and is positioned for most efficient operation with the disc in closely coupled relation to the transducer on both sides of the gap. A transducer transport includes a guide member extending transversely of the axis of rotation of the flexible disc and defining a guide surface. The transducer is mounted on a carriage which moves along the guide member in contact with the guide surface such that the transducer is moved radially with respect to the rotating disc. A slot in the guide member permits the guide surface to be distorted such that the transducer carriage is tilted as it is moved along the guide surface, thereby maintaining the desired closely coupled relation between the transducer and the disc.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

William E Nichols