EP0177570A1 - Jitter-free still-framing - Google Patents
Jitter-free still-framingInfo
- Publication number
- EP0177570A1 EP0177570A1 EP85901806A EP85901806A EP0177570A1 EP 0177570 A1 EP0177570 A1 EP 0177570A1 EP 85901806 A EP85901806 A EP 85901806A EP 85901806 A EP85901806 A EP 85901806A EP 0177570 A1 EP0177570 A1 EP 0177570A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- frame
- television set
- line
- video signals
- signals
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
Definitions
- This invention relates in general to elec- tronic imaging systems, and more particularly to such systems which employ television for image dis ⁇ play purposes.
- television shall be taken to be of the American standard...i.e. 525 raster lines, . 30 frames per second, two inter- laced fields per frame etc...although, as will be apparent, the invention is applicable as well to other television standards, e.g. those employed in PAL and SECAM.
- burst An exciting new "burst" technique has been indicated for use in the display of motion picture scenes on television sets: Imagine, for example, a video camera adapted to feed video signals--via some suitable transmission link—to a television set.
- a "burst" corresponding to a first movie scene is fed by the camera-transmission link to the television set; then a second scene-representative "burst” is fed by the camera-transmission link to the tele ⁇ vision set; then a third; and so on.
- the last frame thereof is left as a continuous still frame appearing on the face of the television set until the start of the next occurring "burst”...this being in contrast to the prior art practice of having the face of the tele- vision set go dark or (worse still) bright between movie scenes.
- the camera operator determines the time duration of each video "burst".
- Conventional video cameras supply video information at the frame rate of 30 frames per second, albeit that each frame is comprised of two fields apiece, each occurring at the field rate of 60 fields per second.
- conventional video cameras capture the two fields (f, and f detox) of each frame in different successive succession ⁇ sive sixtieths of a second. This unfortunately gives rise to a problem associated with the above referred to inter-burst still frame display, viz. in the event scene motion had occurred between the suc- cessive fields of the displayed still frame (as is likely), then the display of that frame will be (and will so appear) less sharp than the "movie" frames from which it was derived.
- the concept of the invention provides that both fields of each frame be captured simultaneously, and that only then are such fields to be separately sequenced for, say, interlaced display on the face of a standard television set. Since both fields of each frame are captured together, inter-field jitter (and image fuzziness produced thereby) is avoided. Attendantly, utilization of the "burst" concept is productive of as much picture sharpness during still framing as occurs during motion picture scenes.
- the inventive concept employs a frame (not field) imager and a 30 Hz shutter for intercepting image radiation, and for cyclically imaging onto the imager at the indicated frame rate.
- the imager is then read out in such a way as to produce successive interlaced field sig ⁇ nals for (recording and/or for) application to a television set.
- the signals applied to the television set are (from the standpoint of the tele- vision set) conventional, the television set oper ⁇ ates conventionally; but because the field signals of each frame originate concomitantly, there is no blur-producing inter-field jitter attendant when ⁇ ever, say at the end of a "burst", the television displays a still frame.
- a frame-converter Since an interline transfer type imaging device, by its nature, is productive of signals corresponding to successive interlaced image fields, a frame-converter according to a presently preferred form of the invention employs such a device in con ⁇ junction with a 30 frame per second shutter, thereby to produce successive pairs of concomitantly gener ⁇ ated field signals.
- the imaging device output signals are processed to a television set (transmission link) without processing by any internal frame-converter storage means; and only during inter-burst opera ⁇ tion, while still framing, are field signals pro ⁇ Ded to-and-from storage means within the frame- converter.
- Fig. 1 is a block diagram of apparatus embodying the invention
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partially in block form, of one embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 3 is a schematic block diagram of apparatus according to the invention
- Fig. 4 is a set of waveform diagrams useful in describing the apparatus of Fig. 3
- Fig. 5 is a block diagram of another apparatus embodying the invention
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partially in block form, of the embodiment of Fig. 5,
- Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram of apparatus acccording to the invention.
- Fig. 8 is a set of waveform diagrams useful in describing the apparatus of Fig. 7, and
- Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of a switching circuit useful with the invention.
- a system for use in apparatus such as that employing the aforementioned "burst” technique is shown having (a) a frame imager and store 10, and (b) a cooperating shutter 12.
- the frame imager and store 10 includes an electronic imaging device 14 (solid state, e.g. CCD, CID, photodiode, etc., or Vidicon, or the like) and a signal store 16, the imaging device 14 being dis ⁇ posed to receive image signal-generating radiation via the shutter 12.
- an electronic imaging device 14 solid state, e.g. CCD, CID, photodiode, etc., or Vidicon, or the like
- a signal store 16 the imaging device 14 being dis ⁇ posed to receive image signal-generating radiation via the shutter 12.
- the term "generating” shall refer to the signal creation process as caused by incident radiation.
- signal "producing” shall pertain to the process by which signals are, or may be, applied to cooperating devices.
- the shutter 12 is operated F times per second (e.g. at a frame rate of 30 frames per second) for expo ⁇ sure durations (E TM ) less than 1/F seconds (e.g. less than l/30th of a second).
- E TM expo ⁇ sure durations
- the signal store 16 stores, by virtue of the operation of the shutter 12, a new full frame of concomitantly generated video signal information each l/30th of a second, the signal store 16 is operated so as to produce (readout device IP) two differently composed (i.e.
- a solid state imag ⁇ ing device 10' of the frame transfer type (See, for example, Charge Transfer Devices, Sequin and Tompsett, page 153, Library of Congress 63-12814, as representative of the state of the art) is shown cooperating with a rotary shutter 12' and signal receiving electronics 18'. (Primed notations have been employed to indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.)
- Frame transfer imaging devices as is known, have light sensitive (14 f ) and signal storage (16') areas. _As employed herein, full frames of signals generated in the light sensitive area 14 f are rapidly shifted into the (masked) storage area 16', during vertical retrace times, for subsequent line-by-line readout via a register 20.
- the shutter 12' which intercepts image radiation, is driven by a motor 22 and serves to cause the imaging device 10' to be exposed once every thir- tieth of a second.
- E ⁇ duration of exposure of the imaging device 10'.
- prior art util ⁇ ization of the imaging device 10' has called for such device to be exposed twice (for each of the two fields per frame) every thirtieth of a second... whereas according to the invention both fields of each frame are generated concomitantly, but produced sequentially (for interlace purposes).
- Electronics 18' serve to provide the sequenced readout of the stored (16') fields as will now be more fully described with reference to Figures 3 and 4:
- the frame transfer imaging device 10 1 ' has 484 lines of 380 photo ⁇ sensitive picture elements (pixels) apiece in its imaging area 14''. (The difference between 484 and 525 video lines corresponds to vertical retrace time.) Similarly, the masked storage area 16'' has a like number of storage sites. After the imaging area 14' ' of the imaging device 10'' is (first) ex- posed (at a 30Hz rate) via the shutter 12'' (wave ⁇ form a, Fig.
- a frame transfer pulse (waveform b) is applied to an AND gate 30 to cause a high fre ⁇ quency frame shift clock (waveform c) to be applied to the imaging device 10'' during the vertical re- trace time associated with the frame in question.
- waveform c a high fre ⁇ quency frame shift clock
- pixel signals residing in the storage area 16'' are clocked (under control of an AND gate 34) line-by- line into the output register 20'' of the device 10''; and thence to an analog-to-digital convertor 32 under control of a pixel clock.
- frames of video signals generated in response to the operation of the 30 Hz shutter 12'' are processed as has just been described.
- every other line of concomitantly generated pixel signals of each given frame is routed to one or the other of a pair of field stores 36, 38 for sequenced processing of such stored fields to a television set or recorder. That is, having captured, via the shutter 12'', a full frame of concomitantly generated video signals, signals corresponding to the odd lines thereof (field f, , waveform e) are processed into the appropriately numbered registers 39 of the field store 36, and signals corresponding to the even lines of such frame (field f 2 , waveform g) are processed into the appropriately numbered registers
- the analog-to-digital convertor 32 applies its output pixel signals to a pair of AND gates 40,
- the line signal out ⁇ put of the AND gate 34 is switched between a pair of l-to-242 counters 46, 48 by means of a switching circuit 50 comprised of a pair of AND gates 52, 54.
- the circuits 43 and 50 work the same way. As each count is indicated by the count ⁇ ers 46, 48, decoding circuits 54, 56 arm respective AND gates 58, 60 for respective line-ass gnment to the registers 39, 41.
- l-to-242 counters 62, 64 are employed for use in addressing, respectively, the registers of the field stores 36, 38. Under control of an AND gate 66 (waveform h), the counter 62 cyclically counts to 242...and only then does the counter 64 do likewise (waveform i) . As the respective counts of the counters 62, 64 get decoded (68, 70), the field store registers (first those 39 in the field store 36, and then those 41 in the field store 38) get addressed to disgorge their respective lines of pixel signals into a digital-to-analog convertor
- a flip flop 82 is actuated by an appropriate pulse input. Assuming that the flip flop 82 has been actuated to the movie mode, AND gates 84 close to permit updated field signals corresponding to the successive movie frames to be applied to the field stores 36, 38. In the event, however, that the flip flop 82 is again pulsed, signifying a switch to a still frame mode, AND gates 86 close, thereby causing the field signals stored by the field stores 36, 38 to re-circulate...over and over through the field stores...until the next- occurring pulse input to the flop flip 82.
- a presently preferred form of the invention employs an interline transfer type imaging device instead of a frame-transfer device and its attendant need for noise inducing field stores (36, 38).
- Fig. 5 shows an imaging device 110—for example, a device of the same form as ICX016AK, available " from SONY Corp.--disposed to receive image signal-generating radiation via the shutter 12.
- the shutter 112 is operated F times per second (e.g.
- the imaging device 110 captures, by virtue of the operation of the shutter 112, a new full frame of concomitantly generated video signal information each l/30th of a second, such device 110 is operated so as to produce two differently composed (i.e. f, f f «) inter ⁇ laced video field signals—during successive (i.e. different) sixtieths of a second--from such concomi- tantly generated signal information.
- an interline trans ⁇ fer type imaging device 110' is shown cooperating with a rotary shutter 112' and signal receiving electronics 118'.
- Interline transfer type imaging devices as is known, have rows and columns of light sensitive areas; and, typically, column-wise masked areas for receiving alternate lines of photo- signals. As employed herein, fields of signals are shifted into the column-wise areas, during vertical retrace times, for subsequent line-by-line readout via a register 120'.
- the shutter 112' which inter ⁇ cepts image radiation, is driven by a motor 122' and serves to cause the imaging device 110' to be ex ⁇ posed once every thirtieth of a second.
- a position ⁇ able blade 124' forming part of the shutter 112', serves to provide adjustment to the duration (Fiety) of exposure of the imaging device 11 r ; and a timing wheel 123', having an index aperture 125', cooper ⁇ ates with a lamp-and-photocell assembly 127' to pro ⁇ vide frame clock timing for the imaging device 110'.
- a timing wheel 123' having an index aperture 125', cooper ⁇ ates with a lamp-and-photocell assembly 127' to pro ⁇ vide frame clock timing for the imaging device 110'.
- prior art utilization of the imaging device 110' has called for such device to be exposed twice (for each of two fields per frame) every thirtieth of a second...whereas according to the invention both fields of each frame are gener ⁇ ated concomitantly, but produced sequentially (for interlace purposes).
- Electronics 118' serve to apply sequenced concomitantly generated signal fields, via a transmission link, to a television set...and, as heretofore indicated, the transmission link may comprise
- an interline transfer type imaging device 110" has 484 lines of 380 photo-sensitive picture elements 150 (pixels) apiece. (The difference between 484 and 525 video lines corresponds to vertical retrace time.)
- a photogate clock (Fig. 7) alternate rows of pixel charges are dumped, on a field-by-field of basis, into masked columnwise charge coupled registers 152, the "field 1" gate clocks cooperating with the odd numbered rows of the imaging device 110' ', and the "field 2" gate clocks cooperating with the even numbered rows of the imag- ing device 110''.
- the charge coupled registers 152 empty their columns of "field" signals., row-by-row into an output charge coupled register 120' '...the register 120'', in response to a pixel clock, applying in succession 484 lines (for each frame) of concomitantly gener ⁇ ated photocharge signals to electronics 118''.
- output signals from the imaging device 110'' are applied by a switch 154a to encoding electronics 156 (comprising amplifiers, modulators, etc.); and thence, via a transmission link, to a television set 158.
- the switch 154 (As indicated, the switch 154 —as well as a switch 154b ganged therewith--is depicted as comprising part of a switching circuit 157.
- the circuit 157 is deliberately shown simple..and functional.
- a line counter 164 reset periodically by a frame clock, and operated in response to a line clock—has its count continuously decoded (166) to arm successively AND gates 168 in an array thereof. Accordingly, the AND gates 168—one-by-one--process therethrough the outputs of respective OR gates 170.
- Each OR gate receives either a respective line signal (movie burst mode) appearing at the output of the analog-to-digital converter 159, or a recircu ⁇ lating line signal (still frame mode).
- a respective line signal moving burst mode
- a recircu ⁇ lating line signal still frame mode.
- an array of recirculating AND gates 172 in response to opera ⁇ tion of the switch 154b) serving to assure such dis ⁇ junctive signal processing.
- pixel clocks are applied line-by-line to registers 160 from a circuit 174 comprised of AND gates 176.
- the AND gates 176 are armed one-by-one by the decoded output of the line counter 164.
- the circuit 157 of Fig. 7 may be replaced by the circuit of Fig. 9 at the- connection points a through e.
- a flip flop 186 is set. With the flip flop 186 set, an AND gate 184 applies the frame clock to an OR gate 194, which passes the frame clock onto a second flip flop 188.
- This first occurence of the frame clock following actuation of the pushbutton 180 causes the flip flop 188 to be set, making its Q output a logic ONE and its Q output a logic ZERO.
- the Q output is fed back to the set input of the flip flop 188 via the OR gate 194, forcing the flip flop 188 to remain set.
- the Q output is also applied both to the recirculating AND gates 172 (Fig. 7) and to the analog switch 190 causing infor ⁇ mation stored in the Fig. 7 registers 160 to be applied to the encoding electronics 156.
- the circuit of Fig. 9 works to assure that still frames displayed by the television set 158 are composed of video lines from the same video frame.
- bursts of video movie information would be recorded on, say, a recording disc; at the instant the record button (82) is released, a coded message is recorded with the last-occurring frame of each such movie burst.
- a burst-by-burst presentation is effected as follows: a movie presentation is made until a first code is read; the code then calls for repetitive playback (still picture) of the last-occurring frame of the burst.
- still-framing is terminated until the coded last frame of the next- occurring burst is detected. Thereafter, the cycle repeats for each of the recorded bursts.
Abstract
Le but de la présente invention est que les deux champs de chaque image soient capturés simultanément et qu'alors seulement ces champs soient mis en séquence séparément pour, par exemple, un affichage intercalé sur la face d'un poste de télévision standard. Puisque les deux champs de chaque image sont capturés ensemble, on évite une instabilité entre les champs pendant le cadrage immobile (ainsi que le flou d'image qui en résulte).The object of the present invention is that the two fields of each image are captured simultaneously and only then these fields are sequenced separately for, for example, an interleaved display on the face of a standard television set. Since both fields of each frame are captured together, jitter between fields during still framing (and resulting image blurring) is avoided.
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US59700884A | 1984-04-05 | 1984-04-05 | |
US59689084A | 1984-04-05 | 1984-04-05 | |
US596890 | 1984-04-05 | ||
US597008 | 1996-02-05 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0177570A1 true EP0177570A1 (en) | 1986-04-16 |
Family
ID=27082672
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85901806A Pending EP0177570A1 (en) | 1984-04-05 | 1985-03-25 | Jitter-free still-framing |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0177570A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1985004777A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5196938A (en) * | 1989-11-20 | 1993-03-23 | Eastman Kodak Company | Solid state fast frame recorder having independently selectable frame rate and exposure |
JPH08195912A (en) * | 1995-01-13 | 1996-07-30 | Nec Corp | Solid-state image pickup device |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3397283A (en) * | 1964-12-11 | 1968-08-13 | Mvr Corp | Single picture selector system |
US4499496A (en) * | 1981-09-17 | 1985-02-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Solid state image sensing device |
JPS5928769A (en) * | 1982-08-10 | 1984-02-15 | Sony Corp | Still video camera |
-
1985
- 1985-03-25 WO PCT/US1985/000481 patent/WO1985004777A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1985-03-25 EP EP85901806A patent/EP0177570A1/en active Pending
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO8504777A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1985004777A1 (en) | 1985-10-24 |
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Legal Events
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: SCHAUFFELE, CARL, N. Inventor name: NUTTING, THOMAS, C. Inventor name: FUNSTON, DAVID, L. |