US PATENT CLASS 348
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 348/
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.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
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 photos:graphic 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 s: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.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS: 231+, and 714+, for a video camera or television receiver having a static storage device as subcombination.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
73, Measuring and Testing,
596+, for measuring and testing an apparatus including acoustic imaging.
128, Surgery,
4+, for endoscopes in general.
250, Radiant Energy,
200+, and 216+ for photocells, circuits and optics therefor, and subclasses 330+ and 338+ for devices responsive to invisible radiation.
312, Supports: Cabinet Structure,
7.2, for television cabinets.
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, 364+, for cathode-ray tubes.
315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems,
1+, for cathode-ray tube circuits.
318, Electricity: Motive Power Systems,
41, and 85 for synchronization circuitry.
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing,
76.12, for analysis of complex waves.
327, Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems, appropriate subclasses for miscellaneous nonlinear active device circuits.
329, Demodulators,
311+, 315+, 345+, and 347+ for pulse frequency, phase, or amplitude demodulators, respectively.
330, Amplifiers, 11, for DC reinsertion circuit, subclasses 127+ for control of power supply, and subclass 149 for noise compensation.
331, Oscillators,
20, and 172 for television type oscillator synchronization.
332, Modulators, various subclasses for modulators.
333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks,
14, and 24+ for companders and coupling networks.
334, Tuners, various subclasses for tuners, per se.
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion, appropriate subclasses for A/D or D/A conversion.
342, Communications: Directive Radio Wave Systems and Devices (e.g., Radar, Radio Navigation),
1, 205 for radar systems.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, appropriate subclasses.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface 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 s: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")
346, Recorders,
150.1+, for electric recording of phenomenon, particularly subclasses 150.2 for electric discharge and 150.3 for electrochemical, subclass 134 for particular record receivers, subclasses 139+ for scanning devices for markers, and subclasses 107.1+ for light or beam recording of phenomenon.
347, Incremental Printing of Symbolic Information,
112+, for electrostatic marking, particularly subclasses 129+ for photo scanning, subclasses 224+ for light beam marking.
355, Photocopying,
38, for systems for the direct photos:graphic 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")
356, Optics: Measuring and Testing,
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.
358, Facsimile, appropriate subclasses for transmitting, processing, or reproducing a permanent picture, and particularly
479, wherein the image signal is generated by a television type camera. (See References to Other Classes, above.)
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements, various subclasses for optical devices, especially 1+, for holography; subclasses 109+ for optical communication; and subclasses 196+ and 887 for light beam deflectors and sequentially additive filters.
360, Dynamic Magnetic Information Storage or Retrieval,
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")
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
243, for synchronization of shafts and subclasses 173+ and 211 for a photosensitive device in circuits for electromagnets.
364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems,
400+, for the application of a computer in various combinations that may include use of television equipment, as in, for example, subclasses 469+, product manufacturing, and FOR 514+ for foreign art collections of computer-based communication engineering which may include object detection or tracking.
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval, appropriate subclasses. The storage of information, which includes video signal processing, is excluded from this class.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval, appropriate subclasses for recording or reproducing information absent any feature peculiar to video processing.
370, Multiplex Communications, appropriate subclasses for multiplex systems in general.
375, Pulse or Digital Communications, for communication using pulse or digital signals which do not include video signals. 378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices,
98.2+, for systems which deal with television signals.
379, Telephonic Communications, for communication by telephone which do not include videophone.
380, Cryptography, especially
5, 7, and 10+ for cryptos:graphic video equipment and techniques.
382, Image Analysis, appropriate subclass for pattern recognition or alphanumeric character sensing.
382, 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")
386, 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")
395, Information Processing System Organization,
80+, for data processing of robot control systems.
396, 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. 409, Gear Cutting, Milling, or Planing,
2+, 79+, 245+, and 289+ for a pattern controlled device including scanning.
430, Radiation Imagery Chemistry: Process, Composition, or Product Thereof, appropriate subclasses for process, composition, and product involving radiation imagery chemistry.
434, Education and Demonstration,
307, for teaching devices including television combinations.
439, Electrical Connectors, for electrical connectors, per se.
455, Telecommunications, various subclasses for radio transmission or reception.
702, 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.
704, Data Processing: Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics, Language Translation and Audio Compression/Decompression,
200+, for artificial intelligence systems that process speech signals.
706, Data Processing: Intelligent Processing Systems and Methods, various subclasses for artificial intelligence systems that represent, apply, and acquire knowledge and
15+, for neural networks and circuits. 709, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems: Multiple Computer or Process Coordinating,
200+, for data transmission among plurality of spatially distributed computers or digital data processing systems.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery, appropriate subclasses for digital data error in general.
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)