# US 5,710,752 A · Apparatus using one optical sensor to recover audio information from analog and digital soundtrack carried on motion picture film

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- Number: US 5,710,752 A
- Document ID: US5710752A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/472,230
- Filed: 1995-06-07
- Granted: 1998-01-20
- Earliest claimed: 1991-02-04
- Assignees: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
- Inventors: Charles Gordon Seagrave; Martin John Richards; Douglas Evan Mandell; Mark Leighton Atherton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5710752A

## CPC

- G11B 7/013: for discrete information, i.e. where each information unit is stored in a distinct discrete location {, e.g. digital information formats within a data block or sector}
- G03B 31/02: in which sound track is on a moving-picture film
- G06K 7/14: using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light {(G06K7/10831 - G06K7/1097 take precedence)}
- G06K 7/1417: {2D bar codes}
- G06K 7/1443: {locating of the code in an image}
- G06K 19/06037: {multi-dimensional coding}
- G11B 7/0032: {for moving-picture soundtracks, i.e. cinema (cameras or projectors with sound recording or reproducing means G03B31/02)}
- G11B 7/005: Reproducing (G11B7/0065 takes precedence)
- G11B 7/131: Arrangement of detectors in a multiple array
- G11B 7/1384: Fibre optics
- G11B 20/10009: {Improvement or modification of read or write signals}
- G11B 20/10527: {Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements (G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence)}
- G11B 20/1261: {on films, e.g. for optical moving-picture soundtracks (optical aspect G11B7/0032)}
- G11B 20/1426: {conversion to or from block codes or representations thereof}
- G11B 20/1806: {Pulse code modulation systems for audio signals (G11B20/1803 takes precedence)}
- G11B 20/1809: {by interleaving}
- G11B 20/225: {for reducing wow or flutter (by controlling the speed of the record carrier G11B15/46, G11B19/28)}
- G11B 27/36: Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing {(for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06)}
- H04N 5/9202: {the additional signal being a sound signal (H04N5/9155 takes precedence)}
- H04N 9/802: involving processing of the sound signal (H04N9/806, H04N9/835 take precedence)
- H04N 9/8233: {the additional signal being a character code signal}
- G11B 2220/20: Disc-shaped record carriers
- G11B 2220/90: Tape-like record carriers
- H04N 5/87: Producing a motion picture film from a television signal {(standard conversion therefor H04N7/0112)}
- H04N 5/93: Regeneration of the television signal or of selected parts thereof
- H04N 9/89: Time-base error compensation
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An apparatus recovers audio information from analog and digital motion picture film soundtracks using a single optical sensor that senses across the widths of both soundtracks. Symbols representing audio information in the digital soundtrack are encoded in two dimensions and are recovered by oversampling the symbols in two dimensions. The two-dimensional encoding of digital information can be used with a variety of recording media; however, in one embodiment, the symbols are carried on motion picture film between the sprocket holes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for recovering audio information carried by motion picture film in an analog soundtrack and in a digital soundtrack, said apparatus comprising
sample means for generating samples by sampling, output of an optical sensor sensing across widths of said analog soundtrack and said digital soundtrack,
image means for forming a two-dimensional image representation in response to said samples generated along lengths or said soundtracks, and
recovery means for recovering said audio information in response to said two-dimensional image representation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a means for delaying audio information recovered by said recovery means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising analog processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said analog soundtrack, digital processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said digital soundtrack, and a switch switchably coupled to outputs of said analog processing circuity and said digital processing circuitry, whereby audio information may be selectively recovered from either said analog soundtrack or said digital soundtrack.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said optical sensor has a field of view extending beyond opposite outside edges of said analog and digital soundtracks.

### Claim 5

An apparatus for transporting motion picture film, said film carrying audio information in an analog soundtrack and a digital soundtrack, said apparatus comprising an optical sensor mounted in proximity to said film so as to have a field of view spanning widths of both soundtracks.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a delay circuit coupled to an output of said optical sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising analog processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said analog soundtrack, digital processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said digital soundtrack, and a switch switchably coupled to outputs of said analog processing circuity and said digital processing circuitry, whereby audio information may be selectively reproduced from either said analog soundtrack or said digital soundtrack.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said field of view extends beyond opposite outside edges of said analog and digital soundtracks.

### Claim 9

An apparatus for transporting picture film, said film carrying audio information in an analog soundtrack and a digital soundtrack, said apparatus comprising
sensor means for optically sensing said film across widths of both soundtracks,
means for directing output of said sensor means such that information sensed in said analog soundtrack is directed to analog processing circuitry and information sensed in said digital soundtrack is directed to digital processing circuitry.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for delaying said information sensed in said digital soundtrack.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a switch switchably coupled to outputs of said analog processing circuitry and said digital processing circuitry, whereby audio information may be selectively reproduced from either said analog soundtrack or said digital soundtrack.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sensor means has a field of view extending beyond opposite outside edges of said analog and digital soundtracks.

### Claim 13 (depends on 5)

An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising analog processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said analog soundtrack, and digital processing circuitry coupled to said optical sensor so as to receive signals corresponding to said digital soundtrack.