STOP-IN-FRAME METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILM VIDEO PLAYER

摘要

An electronic film video player for converting pictorial information in image frames on motion picture film into video signals for reproduction of the pictorial information as a video display. Film transport apparatus is operable in a play mode for continuously moving the motion picture film past a scanning gate in a forward direction. The image frames are scanned by a beam of light produced by a flying spot scanner of electrical to-optical signal transducer apparatus in a raster having a horizontal-to-vertical aspect ratio related to the aspect ratio of the image frames, and the continuous rate of movement of the motion picture film past the scanning gate. Optical-to-electrical signal transducer apparatus responds to the moving spot of light modulated in intensity by the pictorial information content of the scanned image frames for producing video signals representative thereof. The film transport apparatus is alternately operable in a rewind mode for continuously moving the motion picture film in a reverse direction to rewind the motion picture film. The film transport apparatus is also operable in a still mode for scanning a stationary image frame located in a predetermined position in the scanning gate. The stationary image frame is located in the predetermined position from either the play or rewind modes of operation of the film transport apparatus through the operation of a control circuit which halts forward or reverse film motion upon a still mode command signal, advances the motion picture film in the forward direction after a time delay sufficient to ensure that film motion has ceased, detects the entry of the image frame to be viewed into the predetermined position in the scanning gate, and halts forward film motion. The scanning beam is suppressed in response to the still command signal until the stationary image frame is located in the predetermined position for still frame scanning. The aspect ratio of the raster produced by the flying spot scanner is made to conform to the aspect ratio of the stationary image frame.