This class deals with generating, processing, transmitting
or transiently displaying a sequence of images, either locally or
remotely, in which the local light variations composing the images
may change with time (e.g., natural "live" scenes) by methods involving
the following steps:
Step 1. The scanning of an object or a scene by partitioning
the object or scene into subareas of image information (e.g., pels
or pixels) and generating therefrom an electrical signal representative
of an image.
Step 2. The transient display of an object or a scene image
by converting an electrical signal representative of the object
image (i.e., video signal) into a visible image of the object.
In this class, the sequence of images is intended to portray
motion with exception of special television type systems that produce
a sequence of still images from a conventional television system
(e.g., videophone, slow scan, film retrieval, and security systems).
These special television systems normally select an image from
a sequence of images of a conventional television system and normally
use a transient display (e.g., CRT or liquid crystal).
Facsimile images are normally of a fixed scene (e.g., document)
that do not form a sequence, cannot portray motion, and normally
the display is fixed (e.g., hard copy). (See References to Other
Classes, below.) In television recording, the sequence of images
are dynamically recorded for later reproduction.
SUBCOMBINATIONS OF TELEVISION SYSTEMS
This class includes circuits specially designed for dealing
with a peculiar component of the television signal (e.g., sync or
chrominance), as distinct from merely signals of a particular frequency
range.
Electrical circuits that are not specific to television which
may constitute subcombinations of such apparatus are classified
in the appropriate class for such circuits.
For a video camera or television receiver having a static storage
device as subcombination, see Subclass References to the Current
Class, below.
SECTION II - LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS
COMBINATIONS OF OTHER APPARATUS WHICH INCLUDE APPARATUS OF
THIS CLASS
This class does not include the following subject matter:
1. Systems in which legible alphanumeric or like character
forms are analyzed according to step 1 above to derive an electric
signal from which the character is recognized by comparison with
stored information are classified elsewhere. (See References to
Other Classes, below.)
2. Systems for the direct photographic copying of an original
picture in which an electric signal representative of a characteristic
of the picture is derived and employed to modify the operation of
the system are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
3. Systems for the reproduction, according to step 2, of images
comprising alphanumeric or computer generated graphics and systems
for the conversion of a computer generated signal into a television
signal are classified elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes,
below.)
4. Systems for the dynamic recording, or reproducing, of black
and white television using a nonmagnetic medium, systems for the
dynamic recording or reproducing of color television, and systems
for photographing displayed images are classified elsewhere. (See References
to Other Classes, below.)
5. Systems for the dynamic recording or reproducing of black
and white images from magnetic media (e.g., magnetic tape) are classified
elsewhere. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
For related elements or systems, see References to Other Classes,
below.
SECTION III - SUBCLASS REFERENCES TO THE CURRENT CLASS
Radiant Energy,
subclasses 200+ and 216+ for photocells, circuits and
optics therefor, and subclasses 330+ and 338+ for
devices responsive to invisible radiation.
Computer Graphics Processing and Selective Visual
Display Systems, for systems for the reproduction, according to the
Class 348 Class Definition, step 2, of images comprising alphanumeric
or computer generated graphics and systems for the conversion of
a computer generated signal into a television signal. (Lines With
Other Classes and Within This Class, "Combinations of Other Apparatus
Which Include Apparatus of This Class").
Recorders,
subclasses 150.1+ for electric recording of phenomenon, particularly
subclasses 150.2 for electric discharge and 150.3 for electrochemical,
subclasses 134 for particular record receivers, subclasses 139+ for
scanning devices for markers, and subclasses 107.1+ for
light or beam recording of phenomenon.
Photocopying,
subclass 38 for systems for the direct photographic copying
of an original picture in which an electric signal representative of
a characteristic of the picture is derived and employed to modify
the operation of the system. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This
Class, "Combinations of Other Apparatus Which Include Apparatus
of This Class").
Optics: Measuring and Testing,
subclasses 3+ for range or distance measurement, subclasses 241.1+ for
borescopes, subclasses 426+ and 237.1+ for inspection
devices, and subclasses 402+ for shade or color measuring.
Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing, appropriate subclasses for transmitting, processing, or
reproducing a permanent picture, and particularly
subclass 479 wherein the image signal is generated by a television
type camera. (See References to Other Classes, above.)
Optical: Systems and Elements, various subclasses for optical devices, especially
subclass 1 for holography, and subclasses 196-226 and 887
for light beam deflectors and sequentially additive filters.
Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval,
subclasses 9.1+ , 14.1+, 19.1, and 33.1+ for dynamic
magnetic recorders peculiar to non-color television signal processing.
(Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Combinations
of Other Apparatus Which Include Apparatus of This Class").
Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
subclass 243 for synchronization of shafts and subclasses 173+ and
211 for a photosensitive device in circuits for electromagnets.
Static Information Storage and Retrieval, appropriate subclasses. The storage of information,
which includes video signal processing, is excluded from this class.
Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, appropriate subclasses for recording or reproducing
information absent any feature peculiar to video processing.
Pulse or Digital Communications, for communication using pulse or digital signals which
do not include video signals, with particular exception, digital
television bandwidth compression are classified in
subclasses 240.01 through 240.29.
Image Analysis, for systems in which legible alphanumeric or like
character forms are analyzed according to the Class 348 Class Definition,
step 1, to derive an electric signal from which the character is
recognized by comparison with stored information. (Lines With Other
Classes and Within This Class, "Combinations of Other Apparatus
Which Include Apparatus of This Class").
Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording
or Reproducing, for systems for the dynamic recording, or reproducing,
of black and white television using a nonmagnetic medium, systems
for the dynamic recording or reproducing of color television, and
systems for photographing displayed images. (Lines With Other Classes
and Within This Class, "Combinations of Other Apparatus Which Include
Apparatus of This Class").
Photography, appropriate subclasses for a camera which when actuated
uses light to record a chemically developable image or subcombinations
thereof. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, in
the class definition therein for the line with Class 348.
Data Processing: Generic Control Systems or Specific
Applications,
subclasses 90 through 306for the application of a computer in various combinations
that may include use of television equipment, as in, for example, subclasses
95-212 product manufacturing, and subclasses 245-264 for data processing
of robot control systems.
Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing, for the application of a computer in measuring,
testing, or calibrating apparatus that may include use of television
equipment.
Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclasses 200+ for artificial intelligence systems that process speech
signals.
Data Processing: Intelligent Processing Systems
and Methods, various subclasses for artificial intelligence systems
that represent, apply, and acquire knowledge and
subclasses 15+ for neural networks and circuits.
Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating, appropriate subclassesfor data transmission among plurality of spatially
distributed computers or digital data processing systems and FOR
101 for foreign art collection of computer-bases communication engineering
which may include object defection or tracking.
Error Detection/Correction and Fault
Detection/Recovery, appropriate subclasses for digital data error in
general.
SECTION V - GLOSSARY
BASIC RECEIVER
A receiver for converting incoming electric signals into television
pictures and the associated sound.
BURST
Also called reference burst, the portion of the composite or
noncomposite color-picture signal, comprising a few cycles of a
sine wave of chrominance subcarrier frequency, that is used to establish
a reference for demodulating the chrominance signal.
COMPOSITE COLOR SIGNAL
A color picture signal with all blanking and synchronizing
signals. Including luminance and chrominance components; vertical-
and horizontal-sync pulses; vertical- and horizontal-blanking pulses;
and the color burst signal, with or without accompanying audio.
COMPOSITE VIDEO SIGNAL
A signal in television that conveys all of the intelligence present
in the image together with the synchronizing information (e.g.,
vertical and horizontal pulses) with or without audio information.
CONVENTIONAL CHANNEL
A portion of the spectrum assigned for the standard operation
of a specific carrier and the minimum number of sidebands necessary
to convey intelligence.
FORMAT
The particular method for combining the time variable video
signal with a synchronizing signal to allow reconstruction of an
image from the originating video signal.
FREQUENCY DOMAIN
A way of looking at the frequency of waveform components.
IMAGE SENSOR
A generic name for both cathode-ray tube and solid-state
imaging devices which converts an optical image of an object into
an electrical signal representative of the object image.
KEYSTONING
A distorted scanning pattern, with a top wider than the bottom
or vice versa, produced when the electron beam in the television
camera tube is at angle with the principal axis of the tube.
PICKUP TUBE
A television camera tube consists of a cathode-ray tube which
includes vidicon, orthocon, iconoscope, or plumbicon (i.e., vidicon
with lead-oxide target, trademark of N. V. Philips of Holland).
PIXEL OR ELEMENT RATE
The smallest distinguishable and resolvable area in an image.
SCANNING
The successive analyzing or synthesizing, according to
a predetermined method, the light values or equivalent characteristics
of elements constituting a picture area.
SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE
A device that uses a mosaic of tiny light-sensitive semiconductors
(photo-transistors) to produce individual outputs which are then
converted into a coherent video signal.
SPATIAL CONTENT, DOMAIN
The content of a single video image.
TEMPORAL CONTENT
The content of the image is changed with respect to time.
VIDEO SIGNAL
A signal in television derived from optical image (e.g., active
video).
TWO-WAY VIDEO AND VOICE COMMUNICATION (E.G., VIDEOPHONE):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter comprising a bidirectional communication
of both image signal and accompanying speech signal over a transmission
line.
Interactive Video Distribution Systems,
subclass 99 for user-requested video program using a telephone
network, subclass 106 for telephony via a television distribution
network, and subclass 122 for detail of return path via telephone
network in video distribution with upstream communication.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.01. Subject matter using communication medium other than transmission
line (e.g., radio frequency or infrared frequency).
Data Processing: Presentation Processing of Document,
Operator Interface Processing, and Screen Saver Display Processing,
subclasses 733 through 759for concurrently established related or collaborative
user interfaces including computer conferencing and computer supported
cooperative work.
Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,
subclasses 204 through 207for multiple computer conferencing with significant data
processing.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.08. Subject matter wherein transmitted image information represents
only changes from a previous image among three or more terminals.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.01. Subject matter including a structure for selectively connecting
a conversational video call to a receiving station.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.01. Subject matter including detail of signals formatting,
modulating, combining voice and video, or synchronizing for transmission between
stations.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.12. Subject matter including particular details of transmission
scheme for reducing or reconstructing transmission bandwidth.
Multiplex Communications,
subclass 477 for transmission bandwidth conservation and subclass
521 for time compression of expansion for multiplex signals.
Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclasses 500 through 504for audio signal bandwidth or time reduction or
expansion.
Pulse or Digital Communications,
subclasses 240.12 through 240.17for digital television predictive bandwidth reduction
which may include field or frame difference.
This subclass is indented under subclass 14.01. Subject matter including a structure to ensure that the
user is positioned properly in front of a television camera.
PLURAL TRANSMITTER SYSTEM CONSIDERATIONS (E.G., INTERFERENCE REDUCTION):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including two or more transmitters with means
or method for reducing interference between the transmitters.
(1)
Note. Such methods include frequency offsets and special
formats.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter involving a periodic or selective transmission
of single video frames during a period greater than the period required for
a portrayed motion.
(1)
Note. A portrayed motion requires at least 8 frames per second.
In a television system, 25 or 30 frames per second are mostly used.
(2)
Note. A system included herein is normally intended for use
with a telephone system, but the telephone system is not claimed.
for two way conversational television systems which
may use a slow scanning transmission technique, and see particularly
subclass 18 for a still frame transmission.
This subclass is indented under subclass 22. Subject matter wherein the transmitted video signal includes
portions indicating the existing color of an original object or
scene.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter comprising a system which forms a series
of unrelated images at convention frame rates and a receiver which selectively
grabs one frame for display.
(1)
Note. The frame selected is selected as the viewer watches
a program. The systems classified herein often are selected when
the frame code matches a viewer selected code.
IMAGE FALSIFICATION TO IMPROVE VIEWER PERCEPTION OF SELECTIVE OBJECT
(E.G., MOVING OBJECT OR TARGET):
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter involving a system wherein a picture is presented
or processed in such a manner as to enable a viewer to quickly perceive
selected information in the picture.
(1)
Note. Included herein are systems that subtract two images
to present the difference, such as motion, or subtract a polarized
image from a nonpolarized image to present objects that polarize
light.
This subclass is indented under subclass 25. Subject matter wherein a display is produced in the form
of a line drawing, a line being generated as a result of the interconnection
of points exhibiting substantial changes between adjacent pixels.
This subclass is indented under subclass 25. Subject matter wherein a picture signal is separated into
discrete amplitudes to expand the difference between selected information
and background.
This subclass is indented under subclass 25. Subject matter wherein a picture signal has (a) a selected
geometrical area with a gray scale which is extended generally to
a full range or (b) a selected range of gray scale which is extended
generally to a full range to enable a viewer to perceive a selected
object from a similar background.
This subclass is indented under subclass 25. Subject matter including a color display with a presentation
or processing that uses differences in color to accentuate different
information in an image.
(1)
Note. An example of a system found herein is a movement detection
system that presents one field in green and the other in magenta
(blue and red) such that stationary objects are in black and white and
moving objects are outlined in color.
(2)
Note. A system that maps different gray levels to arbitrary
colors is found in subclass 34 (pseudo color including intensity
to color conversion) regardless of the statement of intent to provide
a colored display or to present data for easier presentation.
This subclass is indented under subclass 29. Subject matter including means for mapping a narrow area
of the hue circle into a larger area of the hue circle.
(1)
Note. For example, if the center of the narrow area is red
after hue expanding, red input will be displayed as red, purple input
will be displayed as blue, and orange input will be displayed as
yellow.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including means to minimize an adverse effect
on a reproduced picture due to the presence of an imperfect optical medium
between an object being viewed and a camera.
(1)
Note. Examples of imperfect optical medium are turbid water
or atmospheric fog which may scatter light transmitted between the
camera and the object, the reduction of backscattered light may
be obtained by gating a camera during a period corresponding to
the round trip transit time of light from the light source to the
object and back to the camera.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including generating, transmitting, recording,
reproducing, or displaying a picture representative signal which includes
portions indicating arbitrarily assigned color.
This subclass is indented under subclass 32. Subject matter including more than one picture signal each
represented by a distinct frequency band which is arbitrarily assigned
a color.
(1)
Note. For example, more than one camera is pointing to a
sole object, each camera is responsive to a different specific band
of wavelengths.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including generating, transmitting, recording,
reproducing, or displaying a picture representative signal which includes
portions indicating arbitrarily assigned gray level representative
of color.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter including means for generating television
information for a wide-angle field of view.
(1)
Note. The wide-angle field of view should be greater than
the television wide aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9).
This subclass is indented under subclass 36. Subject matter wherein a continuously rotating element is
used to generate images of successive portions of the scene.
This subclass is indented under subclass 36. Subject matter wherein more than one transmission path is
used to provide simultaneously plural portions of the scene.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter wherein the picture signal includes information
derived from an object wave formed by the resulting interference
pattern of two mutually coherent component light beams.
(1)
Note. In the holographic process a coherent beam is first
split into two component beams, one of which irradiates a recording
medium. The diffraction or scattering of the first component beam by
the object forms the object wave which proceeds to, and interferes
with, the second component beam or reference wave at the medium.
The resulting pattern is a three-dimensional record (hologram)
of the object wave.
This subclass is indented under the class definition. Subject matter in which the picture signal also includes
portions indicating the three-dimensional nature of the original
object or scene.
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14.01