Patents by Inventor Don P. Behrns

Don P. Behrns has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040066491
    Abstract: A method of making motion picture release-print film, such as 35 mm film. The film has an enlarged frame that occupies substantially the entire width of the film that is available for the exposure of images, and the spacing between frames is minimized. Film having these enlarged frames provides an enhanced image with a minimum of film waste. Aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and 2.01:1 in the enlarged frame size are contemplated in three and four perforation formats. A digital soundtrack or other appropriate soundtrack replaces the analog soundtrack that occupies a portion of the available width. The soundtrack may provide for redundancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20040057015
    Abstract: A system and method for registering the frames of film with respect to an aperture in a motion picture projector. A registration reference mark is applied to each frame corresponding to the location of the frame on the film. When the film is intermittently stopped in the projector's film gate, the registration reference mark is read to determine the location of that frame relative to the immediately preceding frame. If the frame in the gate is misregistered, the gate is moved to correctly register the frame prior to projection. By properly registering the frames, the “jitter” and “weave” associated with conventional projectors is eliminated and resolution of the projected film image is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Ty Safreno, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20030048419
    Abstract: The present invention relates to film transport systems for motion picture projectors and, more particularly, to a film projector movement that is capable of transporting film prints having frames spanning a predetermined number of perforations per frame at a specified projection frame-rate and then automatically switching to another film format having frames spanning a different number of perforations per frame as well as a different projection frame-rate, based on the detection of an encoded trigger strip on the film which carries the format characteristics of the incoming film. A controller enables the system to automatically switch between a variety of different film formats and frame-rates, on the same projector and on the same platter of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20030043344
    Abstract: A method of making motion picture release-print film, such as 35 mm film. The film has an enlarged frame that occupies substantially the entire width of the film that is available for the exposure of images, and the spacing between frames is minimized. Film having these enlarged frames provides an enhanced image with a minimum of film waste. Aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and 2.01:1 in the enlarged frame size are contemplated in three and four perforation formats. A digital soundtrack or other appropriate soundtrack replaces the analog soundtrack that occupies a portion of the available width. The soundtrack may provide for redundancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20030011746
    Abstract: A system and method for registering the frames of film with respect to an aperture in a motion picture projector. A registration reference mark is applied to each frame corresponding to the location of the frame on the film. When the film is intermittently stopped in the projector's film gate, the registration reference mark is read to determine the location of that frame relative to the immediately preceding frame. If the frame in the gate is misregistered, the gate is moved to correctly register the frame prior to projection. By properly registering the frames, the “jitter” and “weave” associated with conventional projectors is eliminated and resolution of the projected film image is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Ty Safreno, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 6450644
    Abstract: A system and method for registering the frames of film with respect to an aperture in a motion picture projector. A registration reference mark is applied to each frame corresponding to the location of the frame on the film. When the film is intermittently stopped in the projector's film gate, the registration reference mark is read to determine the location of that frame relative to the immediately preceding frame. If the frame in the gate is misregistered, the gate is moved to correctly register the frame prior to projection. By properly registering the frames, the “jitter”and “weave” associated with conventional projectors is eliminated and resolution of the projected film image is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Maxivision Cinema Technology
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Ty Safreno, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20020021412
    Abstract: A method of making motion picture release-print film, such as 35 mm film. The film has an enlarged frame that occupies substantially the entire width of the film that is available for the exposure of images, and the spacing between frames is minimized. Film having these enlarged frames provides an enhanced image with a minimum of film waste. Aspect ratios of 1.85:1 and 2.01:1 in the enlarged frame size are contemplated in three and four perforation formats. A digital soundtrack or other appropriate soundtrack replaces the analog soundtrack that occupies a portion of the available width. The soundtrack may provide for redundancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Publication number: 20010043310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to film transport systems for motion picture projectors and, more particularly, to a film projector movement that is capable of transporting film prints having frames spanning a predetermined number of perforations per frame at a specified projection frame-rate and then automatically switching to another film format having frames spanning a different number of perforations per frame as well as a different projection frame-rate, based on the detection of an encoded trigger strip on the film which carries the format characteristics of the incoming film. A controller enables the system to automatically switch between a variety of different film formats and frame-rates, on the same projector and on the same platter of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 6019473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to film transport systems for motion picture projectors and, more particularly, to a film projector movement that is capable of transporting film prints having frames spanning a predetermined number of perforations per frame at a specified projection frame-rate and then automatically switching to another film format having frames spanning a different number of perforations per frame as well as a different projection frame-rate, based on the detection of an encoded trigger strip on the film which carries the format characteristics of the incoming film. A controller enables the system to automatically switch between a variety of different film formats and frame-rates, on the same projector and on the same platter of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: MaxiVision Cinema Technology
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 5946076
    Abstract: A switchable pulldown film projection system comprising a film transport system for transporting film through a projector. The film transport system has a plurality of sprockets with teeth for engaging perforations on the film, and a pair of motors that rotate the sprockets and move the film in a frame-by-frame manner past an aperture in the projector. The motors are controlled by an electronic controller that changes the rotational output of the motors based on a signal related to the format of the film in terms of the number of perforations spanned by each frame on the film. The controller enables the system to switch between a variety of different film formats, on the same projector and on the same strip of film, without substantially interrupting or delaying operation of the projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: MaxiVision Cinema Technology
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 5812245
    Abstract: An asynchronous contact printer and a related method for printing motion picture film in different formats. The contact printer has a pair of film drives that move duplicate film and original film at different increments through the printer, and then intermittently stop the film to permit exposure of the original onto the duplicate. The printer can print duplicate film in an alternate format, such as the three-perforation or 2.5-perforation format, from original film in another format, such as the four-perforation format. This is accomplished by moving the film asynchronously through the printer and exposing frames of the original film onto the duplicate film on a frame-by-frame basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns
  • Patent number: 5745213
    Abstract: A method of making motion picture release-print film, such as 35 mm film. The film has an enlarged frame that occupies substantially the entire width of the film that is available for the exposure of images, and the spacing between frames is minimized. Film having these enlarged frames provides an enhanced image with a minimum of film waste. An aspect ratio of 1.85:1 in the enlarged frame size is contemplated in a three perforation format. A digital soundtrack or other appropriate soundtrack replaces the analog soundtrack that occupies a portion of the available width. The soundtrack may provide for redundancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventors: Dean K. Goodhill, Don P. Behrns