Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Recording apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-08
2001-03-06
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Recording apparatus
C358S450000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198544
ABSTRACT:
MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Reference is made to a microfiche appendix which forms part of this specification which includes 1 sheet of microfiche containing 29 number of frames.
The disclosure in the microfiche appendix of this patent document contains material to which a claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of any one of the patent documents or the patent disclosure as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of manufacturing cards that incorporate image structures that provide a visual motion to portions of the image as the card is tilted, and in particular to systems for generating the motion image cards. Even more specifically, this invention relates to a kiosk containing a user interface which guides a user through a video sequence selection process for selecting from the user's provided video sequences a realistic preview of the motion image card that will be produced as a result of the selection process.
2. Background of the Invention
Motion sequence cards are well known and have been available for an extensive period of time. Generally, these cards are mass produced with each card having an identical sequence of images that when viewed and moved in the proper orientation creates an illusion of motion. Images used on the card can be animated or a collection of still images captured over a period of time. In addition, motion sequence cards contain well known subject matter and are generally used for advertisement, promotional, or collectable purposes for the mass market. Motion sequence cards are made by aligning multiple interleaved images behind a linear lens array commonly called a lenticular lens sheet. Motion can be perceived by viewing the card while tilting it around an axis parallel to the lenticules.
Historically, motion sequence cards have been mass produced with the same sequence of images due to the costs associated in setting up and selecting differing sequences for small production runs. A sequence of image frames containing motion has to be culled for those frames that will provide, first of all the desired motion, secondly the smoothness of the desired motion, and somewhat lastly, the selected number of frames that will fit into their respective positions under the lenticular sheet. Frames of images in motion are generally captured in two forms by the general public, the first is by way of movie film, and the second is by way of a video camera. It would be desirable to have a technique (system) that would enable consumers to produce individual custom motion sequence cards from, e.g., their own video source such as VHS and 8 mm video tapes. The preferred system of the present invention is designed to operate with frames of digital image data irrespective of the means for collecting the images.
The aforereferenced, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/570,259, titled “Consumer Applications of Motion-Based Hard Copy Imaging” by Morton, et al., discloses a motion based hard copy imaging system that incorporates an apparatus for selecting, storing, and viewing a series of views from a video sequence. The disclosed system incorporates a programmed processor that accesses, interleaves, and stores the resultant interleaved images.
Systems which produce still images on photographic media from a video tape use VCRs for the purpose of recording the signal. A typical system for creating photographic images from a video may include a computer, printer, and a VCR. Once the signal has been recorded, an image(s) can be printed by electronic means on a photographic media. The same technique can be used to capture and print a sequence of multiple images which when interleaved (spatially multiplexed) and properly arranged behind a lenticular array will create an illusion of motion.
The hardware needed to capture, sequence, and store images for the purpose of creating an image motion card is well understood and readily available. The quality level of a motion sequence card is not as dependent on the hardware used to capture the sequence of images as it is dependent on the method by which the images are selected for recording on the image motion card. It is also desired that the technique by which a sequence of video is captured and selected be incorporated into a kiosk, and that the user interface for the kiosk be easy and intuitive to use.
The present invention addresses the problem of forming custom motion image cards from a sequence of images provided by consumers from their home video tapes in an easy, high quality, and inexpensive manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to one aspect of the present invention, a system for forming a motion card from frames of video selected from a sequence of video frames that have previously been recorded on a VCR tape, comprising a kiosk comprising; a video tape player, a processor for receiving a sequence of video frames from the tape player, a display for previewing a selected range of video frames received by the processor, and an interactive means for enabling a user to select video frames from the displayed selected range of video frames for display as if formed on a motion card, and editing means used in conjunction with the processor for enabling the user to reselect video frames from the sequence of video frames for display as if formed on a motion card; and a printing means for printing the selected frames in an interleaving manner on a card sheet and for applying a lenticular sheet to the card sheet or alternately printing directly to the back of the lenticular sheet so as to provide a motion card that replicates the motion image previewed on the display.
The preview feature of the present invention accurately represents and displays a selected motion sequence as it will appear in a fabricated motion image card so that edits in the sequence may be made by the user/customer to optimize the utility of the motion image card. It is also a natural feature of motion image cards that image quality decreases as the play time represented in the motion card increases. A user interface in conjunction with a preview feature helps the user to trade off play time for image quality to arrive at the optimum motion sequence that is to be recorded on the motion card.
These and other aspects, objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has the following advantages:
Provides a truer viewable representation of the motion sequence selected by the user prior to its being formed on a motion card.
System enables the formation of individualized motion cards with a user friendly interface that is part of a kiosk.
The customized motion cards are formed and made available at the kiosk's location within a short time from the users selection of the appropriate sequence.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3268238 (1966-08-01), Finkel
patent: 3538632 (1970-11-01), Anderson
patent: 5276478 (1994-01-01), Morton
patent: 5404316 (1995-04-01), Klingler et al.
patent: 5455689 (1995-10-01), Taylor
patent: 5697006 (1997-12-01), Taguchi
patent: 5737087 (1998-04-01), Morton et al.
patent: 5867322 (1999-02-01), Morton
U.S. application No. 08/909,789, Morton, filed Aug. 12, 1997.
U.S. applications No. 60/004,556, Morton, et al; filed Sep. 29, 1995.
Agostinelli John A.
Prabhu Girish V.
Wess Raymond E.
Eastman Kodak Company
Grant II Jerome
Noval William F.
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