US2111159A - Picture and sound apparatus - Google Patents

Description

March 15,1938. G. WALD 2,111,159

PICTURE AND SOUND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7'/e 1257b Ede/ er? 9 g g 60/296 0/5, 8- a- Z29 v 13' fifoxwg ar March 15, 1938. G WALD 2,111,159

PICTURE AND SOUND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 P if I I L 797's iiforwg af March 15, 1938. WALD 2,111,159

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fia/ye 74 4/51 March 15, 1938. G. WALD PICTURE AND SOUND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 15, 1938. G. WALD 2,111,159

PICTURE AND SOUND APPARATUS Filed Nov. 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F5. -11- a H 5 a Z 200-206 K61 00-135 ff 6'.

Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for receiv-- ing, transmitting and reproducing images and audible signals.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus whereby images and audible signals may be received and transmitted over a single transmission means, and reproduced concurrently.

' Another object of the invention is to transform an audible signal into a light impulse and, together with a light impulse produced by an image, transmit the same over a conductor or radio carrier wave as a combined signal, then reconvert the signal into an image and audible ray, reproduce the image ray so that it may be visibly read, and transform the audible signal to an electric current variation which is reproduced as an audible signal at the receiver.

The full advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description 9 taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which v Fig. '1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits for receiving an translating the audible and image signal. I

Fig. 2 is a. diagrammatic view illustrating the reflector of the audiblesignal translation device.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the screen disc televisor for reception of an image and audible signal from a combined image and audible reproducing signal film.

Fig. dis a diagrammatic view illustrating the current impulses produced by the audible signal.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the current impulses reproduced by the image reflection.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a sending device for reproducing the reflection of a natural image and primarily generated audible signal.

Fig. '7 is an illustration, in diagram form; of a modification of the sending apparatus employing a pair of scanning discs for separately receiving and combining the image signal and the audible signal.

Fig. 8 is an apparatus constituting a modification of the sending apparatus for receiving and apparatus may be understood, reference will be made first to Fig. 3 ofthe drawings in which the sending or receiver portion of the apparatus is illustrated in its simplest form. In this View I indicates a scanning disc familiar to the art of television. This disc, it will be understood, is rotated at a predetermined speed and scans the image which, by known means, is reproduced at a receiver. The familiar scanning disc has a plurality of small openings 2 arranged in spiral form, each line of the image being scanned being traced by each rotation of the disc. In Fig. 3 it is assumed that by known mechanism a film, comprising image sections, 3 an intermediate blank section 4 and an audible signal section 5, is passed across the face of the disctransversely of the scanning disc openings. In the film assumed in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the image and audible signals are synchronized in transverse alinement on the film. As the film is actuated during the rotation of the scanning disc, it will be understood that the current fluctuations in the photoelectric cell, influenced by the scanning disc, will vary in each line traced in response both to' the image, signal and the audible signal of the film. That is to say, the photoelectric cell will reproduce a current at the receiver proportionate to each line of the entire width of the film. The part of each line traced from 0-1) reproduces a television current which skips over the blank space 4 of the film, the portion from 0-11 reproducing an audible current signal. These two signaladue to the current fluctuations in the photoelectric cell, may be transmitted on a single carrier wave or on a line conductor.

The signals thus sent over the carrier are received on the apparatus diagrammatically shown in Fig. l, in which the part R. F. is the normal radio frequency receiver of-any known type which may be directly connected with the part marked A. F. or the audio frequency section of the receiving apparatus. With; this normal receiver there is associated for connection any known form of television receiver, which rece ves and translates the current impulses generated by the television signal. Connected with this apparatus is a part marked A. R., or Audio signal receiver, whereby the light ray current is translated into an audio signal that is amplified by the usual audio frequency section of the receiver.

The impulses received in the television receiver influence the gas filled cell 6 so that a light ray is transmitted therefrom which includes both the image signal and the audible signal for each line traced at the sending apparatus. That portion of the ray that is indicated by a'b' is reflected directly to a screen I. The cone of the ray is intercepted so that it is broken into a portion c'd' that corresponds to the audible signal and, since this portion of the ray is proportional to the currentstrength of the audible signal cd. This portion of the ray is thrown on a mirror 8 and is reflected by the mirror on the photoelectric cell 9 of the audio receiver through the ray c"d". This produces a current fluctuation in the photoelectric cell 9 which is sent through the audio frequency circuit of the receiver, reproducing an amplified audible signal in the head phone or loud speaker device I9 connected with the audio frequency circuit.

By reference to the diagrams of Figs; 4 and 5 the relationship of the current impulses will be understood. In Fig. 4 the audible portion of the wave impulses is shown, and in Fig. 5 the image portion of the wave impulse is shown. By comparing these views it will be understood that, from the standpoint of time duration for each line traced, the audible signal occupies one-fourth of the time, whereas the image impulse occupies three-fourths of the time. Due to the persist,- ency of vision the interruption of the translated impulse is not perceptible to an observer. Likewise, the interruption of the audible signal will not be observable because the repetition of the signal is suiiiciently continuous to reproduce the signal with substantial continuity, because the signal is passed through the photoelectric cell 9 to the audible receiver in the form of head phones or loud speaker. The photoelectric cell may be so designed as to have a lag, as likewise there is a lag in the audio frequency circuit so that even though the audible signal is interrupted the final result will be one in which there is an apparent continuity of sound.

The sending andreceiving apparatus thus described in its simplest form results in provision for the apparent simultaneous transmission of sound and light by sending a chain of electrical impulses some influenced by image reflection and others by audible signals and the reception thereof at a receiver, whereby the separate signals are reproduced in their component parts. Obviously, therefore, the invention is accomplished in the apparatus in its simplest form. However, there are certain factors requiring variation in the sending apparatus and also in the receiving apparatus to reproduce the invention in its highest state of efliciency.

In Figs. 6 to 9 the principles disclosed are applied to the sending of an image reflected from an object simultaneously with the primary generated audio signal. In Fig. 6 an image form Ii is reflected on a lens I2 and thrown on a scanning disc I! which is mounted on a common shaft I4 carrying a second scanning disc IS, the two scanning discs operating in exact synchronism. The image from the object II is traced by the scanning disc I3 and is thrown on a photoelectric cell I9. The apparatus is so arranged that one-fourth of the distance between each pair of openings in the scanning disc I3 is masked by a screen ll. The distance between the openings in the scanning disc I5 is masked by a screen I9 so that approximately three-fourths of the space is screened. Thus, as each opening in the scanning disc I3 passes the path ef it influences the photoelectric cell I9 to reproduce an image signal, and as each opening in the disc I5 passes the path g-h it influences the photoelectric cell I9 to reproduce an audible impulse generated from a microphone l9 connected into the transformer adjuster 2,0, and translated into a light ray by a tube 2I. The tube 2| is adjusted to produce a ray which generates a current in the photoelectric cell I9 that will fluctuate in the same amplitudes as that of the television current generated by the reflected light from the image on the photoelectric cell I9. Thus, there is produced from the two sources a variable current in the photoelectric cell I9 corresponding in variation of amplitudes to that produced by the primary audible signal on the one hand for a portion of the time, and to the image reflection for the remainder of the time. An apparatus is thus produced whereby a live subject may speak or generate audible signals and, at the same time, be reproduced as a reflected image.

In Fig. 8 there is illustrated a form of apparatus adapted-for the transmission of the image and audible signals from a standard form ofsocalled talking moving picture fllm. This adaptation is necessary, because on the standard fllm, as is known, the image and the audible signalgenerating means are not in alinement. In this apparatus, as illustrated in Fig. 8, the fllm 22 is formed in a U-shaped loop over rollers 29. The same form of double disc sending apparatus as shown in Fig. 6 is employed, therefore, similar parts have been given like reference numerals. The principles are otherwise the same.

In Fig. 7 there is shown a further mcdiflca tion of the sending apparatus in which the scanning discs are arranged in vertical alinement and geared together by gear wheels 24 so that they may be driven in synchronism. The fllm 22 in" this instance is moved parallel to the parallel faces of the scanning discs. In this apparatus there are two photoelectric cells 25 and 29, connected in series. This arrangement permits the Joint transmission of the signals received, the signals from the photoelectric cells 29 and 29 being sent through the same transmission means. Obviously, this apparatus may be used for object and original audible signals, instead of a combined image and audible signal fllm.

Fig. 10 represents another form of sending apparatus to be substituted for the scanning discs. This construction is of the magnetic raytilter type of televisor as described heretofore in connection with .Figs. 1 and 1a, the cathode-ray tube I9 is similar to tube 9a and includes an angular mirror having two faces 29 and 99. The face 29 reflects the image ray'to the photoelectric cell I9 and the face 99 reflects the audible signal ray to the same element such as the Braun tube of an ordinary magnetic ray-tilting type with magnetic deflecting coils for an electronic beam emitted by a fllament. This device is illustrated as an alternative method of sending the image and audible signals using a photoelectric cell It in the form of a tube with magnetic ray deflectors. The principles of the invention in which these are employed remain the same as that heretofore described.

In Fig. 11 I have illustrated a special form of receiving or sending apparatus which is of the general type illustrated in my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,754,491; 1,790,736 and 1,810,692. In this figure there is shown diagrammatically a modification of the transmitter construction and of the receiving frame of my said prior applications. When considered as a transmitter it corresponds to my application Serial No. 389,383, now Patent No. 1,790,736, granted Feb. 3, 1931, and when considered as a receiver it corresponds to the receiving element of my U. S. Patent No. 1,790,736. The apparatus, which may be a receiver or a transmitter, comprising a screen formed by conductors 4| and 44 supported at right angles to each other and insulated from each other, with heated filament 39 under the screen. Conductors 4! are connected with consecutive taps of an induction coil 40, and the conductors 44 are similarlyconnected with taps of an induction coil 45, the coils being connected in tuned circuits with transformers 43 and 38 whose primaries 42 or 31 may be connected with a channel through which a variable frequency scanning current signal is transmitted. The coil 40 may be tuned for a lower frequency so that the wave crest may travel over all the wires 44 while a corresponding crest still remains on a single wire 4|. A portion ab of the screen can be used for picture transmission or reception, while the portion cd may be used for audio signal transmission or reception. This apparatus is more fully described in my foregoing patents. The taps from the induction coil 45 may be taken off at intervals as shown in the present diagram, the taps running to the audible signal section of the apparatus. Thus, for example, when it is assumed that an image transmitted by the transmitter, as disclosed in this view of the drawings, is two inches wide, forty lines to the inch, the total.

number of lines representing the width of the image and the audible signals will be eighty vertical members, of which sixty will represent the image and twenty the audible signal. Thus, the first fifteen vertical elements will be that of the ;image, the next five vertical elements will represent the audible impulses, following across each line in the same sequence. Therefore, each line will have four audible signal impulses evenly distributed throughout the line tracing, and the audible impulses per second of the audible Signal current will be 40 x 80 x 10 (10 frames per second), or 3200 impulses per second of the audible signal current.

This transmitter apparatus differs from the transmitter apparatus employing the scanning discs and the magnetic ray-tilting devices in that the audible signals are arranged as intermittent signals in respect of the image signals per line, thus avoiding the relatively sharp separation between the signals and causing them to be transmitted and received intermittently instead of in series for each line.

From the foregoing description it will 'be understood that the invention fully accomplishes its purposes. It will also be understood that it may be modified in many particulars without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for translating an audible signal into a light impulse, a transmitter apparatus having an electrical impulse producing element, means responsive to light impulses for influenclng said element, means for successively controlling said light responsive means by said translating means and'by image reflection whereby a chain of electrical impulses are transmitted, and means for receiving and convertingsaid chain of electrical impulses intovisible and audible signals.

2; In an apparatus of the class described, a photoelectric cell, a scanning disc whereby said cell maybe-influenced to produce a series of high frequency electrical impulses corresponding to points on an object, means for translating sound waves into light rays and which is positioned and adapted to influence said cell successive to and apparently concurrent with reflected light from the object, means for transmitting electrical impulses produced by said cell, and means for receiving said electricai impulses and translating them into visible and audible signals with apparent simultaneousness.

3. An apparatus for the transmission of signals comprising means for producing a carrier wave, means for scanning alternately and successively line by line an image and a sound track corresponding to audible signals, means for modulating said carrier wave by light rays under the influence of said scanning means, whereby the carrier wave is first modulated by a line of the image and then by a line of the sound track, and means for receiving and translating said modulated carrier wave into visible and audible signals with apparent simultaneousness.

4. The method of transmitting visible and audible signals with apparent simultaneousness which comprises producing a sound track corresponding to audible signals, producing a carrier wave, scanning alternately and successively line by line an image and the sound track, modulating said carrier wave by light rays under the influence of said scanning means whereby the carrier wave is first modulated by a line of the image and then by a line of the sound track, and receiving and translating said modulated wave into visible and audible signals.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a transmitting apparatus having a photoelectric impulse producing element, means for successively influencing said, element by image reflection and by audible signals, whereby a chain of impulses produced by said element may be transmitted, and means including a source of light-rays for receiving the chain of impulses and separating the impulses in said chain to utilize the portions of the rays produced under the influence of the image reflection to produce an image and theportions of the rays produced under the influence of audible signals to produce sound.

6. A method of transmitting visible and audible signals with apparent simultaneity which comprises scanning a picture in line areas, developing from said scanning a series of electrical impulses, developing between successive line areas a series of impulses corresponding to sound signals, successively modulating a single carrier by said signals, transmitting and receiving said carrier, and translating said impulses into picture and sound signals.

'7. The method of transmitting visible and audible signals with apparent simultaneity which comprises scanning a picture in line areas, developing from said scanning a series of electrical impulses, developing between successive line areas a series of impulses corresponding tosound signals, successively modulating a single carrier by said signals, transmitting and receiving said carrier, converting said series of impulses into light rays, impressing that portion of the light my corresponding to the picture signal on a screen to form an image, and translating that portion of the light rays corresponding to sound into audible signals.

8. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for scanning a picture in line areas thereby generating a series of image signal impulses, means for developing between successive line areas a series oi impulses corresponding to sound signals, means for successively modulating a single carrier by said signals, means for transmitting and receiving said carrier, and means for translating said impulses into picture and sound signals.

9. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for scanning a picture in line areas thereby generating a series of image signal impulses, means for developing between successive line areas a series of impulses corresponding to sound signals, means for successively transmitting and receiving said signal impulses, and means for translating said impulses into picture and sound signals.

10. A method of transmitting visible and audible signals which comprises scanning a picture transmitting said signals.

in line areas, developing from said scanning a series of electrical impulses, developing between successive line areas a series of impulses corresponding to sound signals, successively transmitting and receiving said signal impulses, and translating said impulses into picture and sound signals.

11. A composite television and sound transmitter comprising means for scanning a portion of a picture less than a whole frame, means for developing from said scanning a series of image signal impulses, means ior'developing impulses corresponding to sound signals between said picture signals, a single photoelectric cell successively actuated by said signals, and means for GEORGE WALD.

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