Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1930)

30 Motion Picture News July 5, 1930 Claim Ries Sound Patent To Be Basic Jtys: {Continued from page 21) over sound recording apparatus applied to the film at its point of exposure for picture taking would interfere with the field of view. Nevertheless synchronism in recording and reproducing the pictures and sounds (with due allowance for the difference in the speed of light and sound waves) is necessary for the hest results. This is accomplished both in the recording and reproducing apparatus in the following manner. The film travels in succesion over the guide roller 7, positively driven feed sprocket 8, guide roller 9, upper intermittent sprocket 10 and its guide roller 11, down between the lower intermittent feed sprocket 12 and its guide roller 13, positively driven sprocket 14 and its guide roller 15, thence under the guide roller 16 and over the roller 17 to the receiving reel 4. This feed mechanism forms the loops 18 and 20, the feed sprockets drawing the film from the upper reel, and the sprockets 10 and 12 feeding it intermittently past the lens system at 19, after which the roller 14 and reel 4 cause the film section 21 to pass through the sound reproducing apparatus (or the recording apparatus) at a uniform constant speed. The loops 18 and 20 may be of a length usually employed in motion picture cameras or projecting machines. The usual shutter and other mechanism commonly employed in cameras or projecting machines will be employed, but for simplicity of illustration such parts are omitted. There are thus two sections of film, spaced apart a fixed distance, one for intermittent exposure in taking or reproducing motion pictures, and the other for continuous exposure in making or reproducing sound records. The pictures and sounds are recorded or reproduced concurrently, and if film sections 19 and 21 in the reproducing machine are spaced or timed the same as in the recording apparatus the pictures and sounds will be in synchronism when reproduced. Varying the relative positions of film sections 19 and 21, or varying the timing of the two exposures will result in varying the synchronism to compensate for the difference between the speed of light and sound waves, so that they both may be so transmitted over considerable distances as to arrive at the selected point in unison. The fiat film section 19 is opposite the picture-illuminating section, 22, of the lamp-house 23, and in line with the usual picture-projecting lens and shutter (if one be used) which may be mounted on the frame 2. The lower vertical film section, 21, is opposite the lower section, 24, of the lamp house which, as herein illustrated for convenience of description, is shown as containing an arc lamp. 25, fed from the lighting circuit 26, or any other suitable source. As will be seen, the lamp house 23 is mounted adjustably on guide rails, 27, mounted on the base or stand 28, that carries the entire projecting apparatus. The lower vertical film section, 21, as well as that portion of the film 1 below the positively-driven sprocket 14 (unlike the upper section 19 and its loops 18 and 20, which are affected by the intermittentfeed mechanism) will travel at a continuous and uniform speed, since the take-up device 5 causes this portion of the film to be wound up on reel 6 under a slight tension as rapidly as the teeth of the steadily revolving sprocket 14 release it. It is this lower section, 21, therefore, which is removed a distance of approximately not more than three picture spaces from section 19, or a total time-interval of about one-fifth (1/5) of a second, (which time interval is susceptible of still further reducation if more than 16 pictures are exhibited per second, that I employ for the reproduction of the sound record that has previously been impressed upon the film along with the pictures. However, I have been able to devise means hereinafter more fully described, whereby even this minute and practically negligible discrepancy in time may be effectively, completely and automatically eliminated. I prefer for various reasons, in carrying out my invention, to impress such sound waves upon the film in the form of a translucent photographic record, (see Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive,) in which the waves are represented, when developed, by a ribbon or band of varying degrees of translucency represented in the drawings by a series of dots or shaded lines, the parts of the band representing sounds usually merging one into another in continuous succession in the direction of the length of the film. Such a record held to the Nov. 16 1926. E. E RIES 1,607,480 MTH0C or *tr*0DuciN<; PHoiooRArmc fu«j ill, OUMD RBCORDS 3 r.w«ti-itii't a light, presents a substantially straight band made up of a succession of lights and shadows, in which the alternations of light and shade and the distance be tween them correspond with and represent the pitch or frequency of the original sound waves, while the depth or intensity of the shading, or the relative degrees of translucency, correspond with and represent their amplitude. All degrees of light and shade corresponding to the simplest or most complex sound waves may, by properly adjusted and regulated conditions, be accurately recorded. Fig. 6 shows the sound recording arrangement. In practice it is combined with the camera which may be of any suitable type. The film feeding mechanism may be similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and is not shown in this figure. In the chamber 30 is located any suitable light 31, such for examnle as an arc light or an incandescent light of any suitable kind capable of having its luminosity varied, at the speed of the variations of sound waves. This chamber is provided with a tube, 32, containing a lens, ii, and an adjustable cap-piece, 34, having a raised central portion, 35, pierced with either a narrow slit, 36, as shown in Fig. 3 or a small round or souare pin-hole opening 36' such as shown in Fig. 4, corresponding with light openings of like character that are used in the projecting apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Mounted at the upper rear portion of the apparatus -21 miHtssis -j in Fig. 6 is shown a standard 37, containing an adjustable sliding rod 38, that may be extended and turned in any position and if desired may be locked in such position by wing-nut 39. The upper end of rod 38 has a swivel-joint into which is clamped a tele phone-transmitter or microphone 40, which is provided with a large tapering horn or megaphone, 41, designed and adapted to collect the atmospheric sound waves and to direct and focus them upon the diaphragm of the transmitter 40. The minimum height of the horn 41, when the device illustrated in this figure is used in connection with a portable motion -picture camera, is preferably such that the entire camera mechanism, including the chamber 30, containing the photophonic recording appliances, may be mounted as a single, self-contained unit below the line of swing of said horn. The mounting of the horn 41 directly upon the camera apparatus is not essential, as the standard 37, the transmitter 40 and sound-receiving horn 41, may be located at convenient points either near the camera or at any desired distance. The transmitter 40, whether mounted on the apparatus or located at a distance therefrom, is in electrical connection through the circuit or line wires, Court Awards Rights to the Schlesingers 48, 49, 42, and primary winding, 43, of an inductioncoil whose secondary winding, 44, is in series with a condenser, 45, and with the terminals of the lamp 31, as shown. The terminals of the lamp 31, are likewise independently connected, in the usual manner, by means of the circuit wires shown, with a suitable source of direct current 46, and rheostat 47. In front of the cap 34, is shown the moving film, 1, traveling downwardly in close proximity to the raised portion 35, so that the portion of its surface intended for the record passes by the light opening 36. This section of the film, indicated by the numeral 21, corresponds with the lower vertical film section 21 in Figs. 1 and 2. It will of course be understood, that the sensitive film 1 in Fig. 6 is completely inclosed and protected from extraneous light by the camera box in which it moves, and that the edge portion or portions of the film on which the photographic record is to be received are shielded from the light and are thus left unexposed during the transit of the film behind the shutter-opening of the picturetaking lens. The operation of the sound-recording apparatus just described is as follows : Electric energy from the source of direct current 46, passing through rheostat 47 by which its intensity is suitably controlled, travels across the carbons of the lamp 31, forming an arc having the characteristics of a sensitive flame that burns with a steady light and at an approximately constant temperature and luminosity. An arc of this character is capable of being converted by a series of slight but rapid variations in the current supply, into what is known as singing or speaking arc, which is capable of setting up atmospheric vibrations that may be heard directly by the ear at a considerable distance from the arc. Instead, however, of employing the arc to set up such audible vibrations, I enclose it within the soundproof casing 30, and cause variation in the strength of the current corresponding to sound waves to be set up. That is, I produce a series of corresponding variations in the intensity of the light emitted by the lamp, by and in accordance with the speech and other sound waves accompanying the scene or action, and simultaneously impressing the successive variations of intensity of the light upon the moving film in the form of a permanent record. This result I accomplish in the following manner : The sound waves entering the horn 41 from a distant point are concentrated upon the diaphragm of the microphonic transmitter 40, vibrating the same to varj the resistance of the primary circuit containing the battery 42 and the primary coil 43. The latter induces undulatory or alternating currents of high tension corresponding in form and pitch with the sound waves impinging upon the diaphragm, in the secondary coil 44, which currents pass across the condenser 45 and affect the steady current flowing through the arc, 31, from the dynamo or other source 46. The direct current from this source cannot jump across the condenser 45 nor affect the induction coil 44, so that the net result of the variable current impressed upon the current traversing the lamp 31 is to increase and decrease the intensity of the light in accordance with the original sound waves. The light from the lamp 31, (whether this be an arc or incandescent lamp.) passes into the tube i2 and through the lens 33, which converges the rays over the small slit or opening 36 and at least some of them pass through the slit and strike the moving film 1, thus photographically impressing its sensitive surface with a sound record in the manner already explained. As soon as the film is developed, this record is ready for reproduction. Instead of employing an arc lamp for recording purposes, as in Fig. 6, I find it equally expedient and more satisfactory to use for this purpose an ordinary tungsten or other metal-filament incandescent lamp, such as I have illustrated in Fig. 2, in which such a lamp is shown as arranged and utilized for reproducing purposes. It is well-known that the efficiency of an incandescent lamp, in terms of candle-power produced for a given consumption of current, is very greatly increased with very small increments of current after the lamp has already been raised to and is normally burning at, a relatively high intensity. Furthermore, its etinic power under these conditions is likewise enhanced. It is these combined qualities that 1 find particularly useful and which I utilize in my process of converting sound waves into electric waves, electric waves into light waves, and light waves into chemical action upon the film, by the method and appliances already described with reference to Kig. 6. y,<, .