Patents Examined by R. John Godfrey
  • Patent number: 3950613
    Abstract: An x-ray beam is transmitted through an object under study and through an encoding grating structure consisting of alternate stripes of materials each having different x-ray absorption characteristics. The recorded image has a grating structure which is modulated by the energy spectrum information represented by the difference of the absorption characteristics of the two stripe materials. The grating amplitude information is decoded by coherent optical filtering or by scanning and used to indicate the presence of specific materials in the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1973
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1976
    Inventor: Albert Macovski
  • Patent number: 3949417
    Abstract: A SECAM decoder for deriving the signals for a color display from the composite color picture signal determined largely by digital means having digital line switching, multiple delay lines, decoder center frequency clamps and indicator of drift of encoded white, dual digital phase detector for each phased locked loop decoder, switchable de-emphasis and a waveform squaring circuit whereby ease of adjustment to different recording subcarrier frequencies or to sequence color and memory standards is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Allan Nelson
  • Patent number: 3949414
    Abstract: A gain control circuit for a video signal reproducing apparatus provides a variable gain circuit in the reproduced video signal path and an amplitude detector circuit to which a pilot signal separated from the reproduced video signals is applied. The gain control circuit has N series circuits, each consisting of a series-connected capacitor and a switching element, each of the series circuits corresponding to one of the transducers of the video signal reproducing apparatus. The series circuits are connected to form a parallel circuit across which is applied an output signal from the amplitude detector circuit to supply a gain control signal to the variable gain circuit. Further, each switching element of the series circuits is controlled to be conductive only during the intervals during which a reproduced video signal is obtained from a corresponding rotary head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 3949415
    Abstract: A color TV signal is recorded on an information carrier and includes a luminance component which occupies a predetermined luminance frequency range and a modulated chrominance subcarrier. In a conventional color TV signal, the modulated chrominance subcarrier occupies a first chrominance frequency range having a predetermined location relative to the luminance frequency range. However, the modulated chrominance subcarrier is assigned a different second frequency range which has the advantage that the modulated chrominance subcarrier in such range is easier to record. A color TV picture is to be reproduced from such recorded color TV signal. Firstly, there is introduced into such color TV signal a corrective phase shift bringing the signal into synchronism with a studio synchronizer. Only thereafter is the modulated chrominance subcarrier frequency-translated from the second back to the conventional first chrominance frequency range to thereby form a conventional color TV signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Robert Bosch G.m.b.H.
    Inventors: Hubert Foerster, Andreas Ilmer
  • Patent number: 3949416
    Abstract: The drop out compensation system comprising input means for accepting a colour or monochrome picture information signal, output means, a drop out compensating signal generator, switch means for effecting connection of said input means to said compensating signal generator and for effecting connection between said compensating signal generator and said output means, and a drop out detector for effecting switching of said switch means, said compensating signal generator including delay means for providing a delayed output signal of the information signal entering the delay means, adder means for summing the information arriving simultaneously at the delay means and said delayed output, means for reducing the level of the signal from the compensating signal generator so that the low frequency luminance level of said resulting compensating signal at said output means has a value the same as that in the colour picture information signal at the input means, and storage means for effecting a delay within the compens
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1976
    Assignee: Quantel Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Donald Stalley, John Albert Coffey
  • Patent number: 3946152
    Abstract: The video signals are applied to a standard aperture correction circuit and also to a non-linear circuit. The output of the non-linear circuit and the output of the standard aperture correction circuit are applied to the two inputs of a modulator whose output is combined in a summing circuit with video signals delayed by a time delay corresponding to the time delay in the non-linear circuit and modulator. In a preferred embodiment the non-linear transfer function corresponds to A.sup.2 -A and is achieved by a double-balanced modulator the DC level at whose inputs is adjusted to yield the desired transfer function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Inventors: Gerhard Illetschko, Horst Peth
  • Patent number: 3946432
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for digitally encoding an NTSC color television signal in a manner that facilitates comb filtering of the digitally encoded signal. In accordance with the invention there is provided a means for generating a first sampling signal having a characteristic frequency of three times the NTSC color subcarrier signal. Another means is provided for generating a second sampling signal having the same characteristic frequency, this second sampling signal having its sampling reference points interspersed equally in time between the sampling reference points of the first sampling signal. Enabling means, responsive to the NTSC color television signal, are provided for alternately enabling the first and second sampling signals during successive horizontal scanlines of the television signal. Further provided is a means, responsive to the enabled sampling signal, for sampling the television signal. Finally, means are provided for converting the sampled television signal into digital form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: CBS Inc.
    Inventors: Abraham A. Goldberg, John P. Rossi
  • Patent number: 3944738
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the visibility on a television screen of small difficult-to-see game objects that are thrown or shot according to the rules of the game. The method comprises photographing the game while the game object that is being used in the game carries a retroreflective layer attached to the exterior surface of the object; and projecting a light beam parallel to the optical axis of said television camera so that light retroreflected by said retroreflective layer causes a visible contrast between the image of the game object and the image of the background for the object in a telecast picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James William Johnson
  • Patent number: 3944732
    Abstract: An acoustically scanned, optical imaging system for converting patterns of light into electrical signals. The system includes a monolithic convolver that scans incident light patterns using two counter propagating acoustic waves. Located in front of the convolver is an opaque grid that places a spatial periodicity into the light patterns. When the frequencies of the two acoustic waves propagating in the convolver are selected so that the difference between them is a function of the spatial periodicity placed in the light patterns, the minimum threshold signal or dark current from the convolver is substantially reduced. The imaging system also includes four alternative signal generating and processing circuits that can provide a one dimensional scan, a fast Fourier transform and a Fresnel transform of the light patterns incident on the convolver. Patterns of colored light also can be convolved into electrical signals by using colored filters as the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford University
    Inventor: Gordon S. Kino
  • Patent number: 3943558
    Abstract: An apparatus in which a luminance signal is recorded onto a first storage tube, the two chrominance signals are compressed to one-half, respectively, in time axis to record alternately such compressed chrominance signals onto a second storage tube, and the signals are repeatedly read out from the first and second storage tubes in order to reproduce the colored still picture image, thereby reproducing the picture image without deteriorating resolution and setting up the apparatus to be free from trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1973
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiteru Izura, Keisuke Okano
  • Patent number: 3941926
    Abstract: A large display system capable of displaying a video image receives video signals, quantizes those signals to produce a digital code capable of representing variations in the light content of the image and processes the digital code so as to control individual display devices on a large matrix of such devices to have different levels of visibility to thereby reproduce the video image for viewing by a large audience. A data processor is optionally utilized to store the digital representation of the video image in memory so that on line or off line presentations can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: Stewart-Warner Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory E. Slobodzian, Stanley A. Zielinski, Robert A. Payne
  • Patent number: 3939487
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for developing composite video signals used in color TV transmission using digital techniques. A plurality of N color select channels are gated by appropriate digital-type control signals. Each of the channels includes means for establishing the chroma amplitude and phase of the signal associated with a particular color. The phase and amplitude of each of the channels, which represents chrominance information, is developed by time shifting, gating, and phase shifting the basic 3,579,545 hz square wave. The chrominance information of each channel is combined at an appropriate LC filter. Luminance amplitude information is separately developed for each channel. Chrominance information, luminance information, and other video information (composite sync, combined video) are resistively added at a common node summing point. Other gating signals are also utilized so that the summed signal represents full chroma transmission information, such as is necessary for a standard TV signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Inventor: William Leventer
  • Patent number: 3938179
    Abstract: A composite video signal recorded in a non-standard encoding format is rearranged in a format which can be decoded by standard television circuitry. Simplified circuitry utilizing a relatively inexpensive, narrow band delay line is provided for separating the luminance and chrominance signal components from the non-standard signal. Additional circuitry recombines the separated signal components into a desired composite signal format. Filters are incorporated for providing attenuation to particular frequency regions of the luminance and chrominance signals for effecting a relatively uniform frequency response in the resultant composite signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: John Gordon Amery
  • Patent number: 3937874
    Abstract: An imaging system comprising an array of sensing sites of MIS cell pairs which are arranged in a matrix of rows and columns; a plurality of column conductor lines arranged in a plurality of consecutively numbered sets, each set including the same number of consecutively numbered lines; a plurality of charge integrating means, each being connected to a respective column line of each set for simultaneous readout of an induced current through the column lines of a set; a plurality of video channel circuit respectively in circuit with each of the integrating means; switch means for connecting each set, in turn, for readout; and a correction circuit means connected in circuit with each said plurality of video channel circuit means for generating a correction signal to cancel the D.C. offset voltage between the outputs of said video channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1976
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Joseph Carbone
  • Patent number: 3936597
    Abstract: A video frequency amplifier is biased to provide output signals of a first magnitude. In response to the application of a predetermined control signal, the bias is altered so that output signals are provided of a second, different magnitude. When employed in communications systems of the type in which television images are "frozen" by a storage tube for subsequent transmission on an individual frame basis by a voice-quality telephone link, for example, and subsequently re-created, the control signal indicates whether the system and its storage tube are to operate either in the "transmit" or "receive" mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Peter Dorsey, William E. Rodda
  • Patent number: 3931636
    Abstract: A portable battery operated color television camera is provided with a switch system for use to preserve power while testing the camera and associated equipment or while engaged in standby operation. The switch system removes the power from two of the three pickup tubes in the camera, thereby reducing power consumption while allowing testing or standby operation in a black-and-white mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Fernsehanlagen G.m.b.H.
    Inventor: Hans Dieter Schneider