US1982600A - Apparatus for simultaneously producing moving pictures and reproducing sound pictures - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1934. E L SPQNABLE APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRoDUcING MOVING PICTURES AND REPRODUCING SOUND PICTURES Original Filed March 29, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Earl I. Sponable, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Movietonews, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New York Original application March 29, 19211, Serial No. 179,214. Divided and this application October 10, 1931, Serial No. 568,142

9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in apparatus for the production of moving pictures and the simultaneous synchronized reproduction of' a record corresponding to sound waves, and is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 179,214 filed March 29, 1927.

The main object of the invention resides in the production of moving pictures simultaneously with the reproduction of sound waves from a photo- 10 graphic record of light waves corresponding to sound waves, and in which the reproduced sound will actually issure from the picture.

Heretofore it has been customary and practically necessary to dispose the sound reproducing device or devices at one side of or above or below the screen upon which the moving picture is projected, with the result that the sound did not come directly from the picture, and I have discovered that by the use of a special screen in combination with the other portions of the apfparatus, it is possible to produce a structure and carry out a method by which simultaneously with the production of Athe moving picture the sound waves corresponding to the picture are, actually projected through the picture, whereby"v a more natural and effective result is produced.

I have produced an apparatus of this character and have carried out the method successfully.

In the drawings: i Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of this invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are copies of photomicrographs of a sample of baronet silk.

Referring to the drawings, the moving picture screen 1 must have a co-eilicient of reflection suf-1 iiclent to produce a good picture, and the screen must be o1' a character such that it will not permit the passage of light raysprojected upon it. However, I have produced ank apparatus including a screen having the required coemcient of reflection and the required imperviousness to light rays, which in addition is sumciently porous to permit the substantially undamped. passage of sound waves, whereby the sound producing devices can be disposed directly behind the screen, and the sound waves applicable to the picture actually projected through the picture without the absorption of any substantial amount of sound. 'I'he material ot which screen 1 is made may have substantially the constructional charactristics of baronet silk. In order to obtain a more definite understanding of the exact structure of sol threads are not madeto pass under the same cotton thread but one removed four threads to either side so as to form a staggered Weave. This staggering provides openings 19 extending from front to rear of the material at varying inclinations to the iiat surface thereof, which allows the sound to pass through freely but reflects substantially all of the projected light.

'I'he apparatus as shown comprises the screen 1 and a suitable moving picture projector 2 suitably positioned for projecting light rays constituting the picture upon the screen.

In addition, there is provided a wall 5 having a narrow elongated slot `i `therein preferably corresponding substantially in area to the slot through which the sound picture was produced. The film 3 is adapted to move past theslot 7, preferably in close relation with the slot, and

light rays from a suitable source, indicated at 6,

are projected through the slot upon the iilm and pass through the sound' record upon a light reactive resistance or a photo-electric cell illustrated at 8.

'I'his photo-,electric cell is connected in a circuit including any number of stages of amplification, a single stage being here illustrated, altho preferably a number o! stages are used. This stage of amplification includes an electroionic device 14 of the three-electrode type, and including a filament l21, grid 22 and plate 23.

A suitable means is provided `for heating the filament as for instance, a circuit including battery 13. The grid 22 and filament 21 are 'con-V nected in circuit with thephoto-electric cell 8, such circuit including a source of potential, as battery 12.l Preferably, a potentiometer 10 and a resistance 9 are connected in shunt with said cireter le is connected in shunt with a suitable source of potential as battery il whereby the desired potential may be maintained upon the grid for producing the most eiective result.

The filament 21 and plate 23 are connected in circuit with a suitable source of potential, as battery l5, and in this case with the primary 24 of a transformer i6, the secondary 25 of which is connected in circuit with one or more translating devices 17 in the form of .loud speakers disposed directly behind the screen l., i. e. upon the op posite side of the screen from the projector 2.

Any number of translating devices l'? may be utilized and their form may be widely varied, and although two are here illustrated, l have used four with satisfactory results.

Instead of the secondary 25 of the transformer, any suitable number of stages of amplification may be inserted at this point. The screen 1, as heretofore described, must bev substantially irnpervious to light rays and must have a co-eificient of reflection sufficient to reproduce a good picture and in addition, must have openings or pores of sufficient number and size to permit the passage of sound Waves in substantially undamped condition.

These pores or openings may be disposed in the material which I have selected for the screen at varying inclinations to the surface thereof, or other conditions of structure may assist, not herein possible to describe, but l. have foundl that the material known as baronet silk has all of the characteristics required for accomplishing the objects of this invention.

However, it may be that various other materiads will be found having the same or substan tially the same characteristics or perhaps improved characteristics, and for that reason do not desire to restrict myself to any particular material, but only to the fact that the structure utilized shall include a screen having the necessary co-eiicient of reflection, the necessary imperviousness to light in combination with thel additional features that the screen permits the passage of sound Waves in substantially undamped condition.

l. claim:

l. A .moving picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission, composed of a single thickness of woven textile fabric having a front light reflecting surface to receive projected pictures and provided with interstices therethrough in number and size sufficient to permit passage of sound.l waves therethrough of appropriate volume without blurring, while at the same time preserving the light reflecting properties of such surface sufficiently to constitute an emcient screen, the walls of said interstices being disposed at varying inclinations to. the surface of the screen, so as to prevent any detrimental back reection therefrom.

2, A moving picture screen adaptedfor coordinated sound transmisison composed solely of a single thickness of Woven textile fabric having a front light-reeoting surface to receive projected pictures and provided with small openings therethrough in number and size and arrangement sufcient to permit passage of sound waves therethrough of appropriate volume With- .out blurring, While at the same time, preserving the light-reflecting properties of such surface sumciently to constitute an ecient screen, the Walls of said openings extending from front to nosaooo cuit acrosethe lanient and the grid. Potentiomrear of the screen and being so arranged as to prevent detrimental back reiiection therefrom.

3.51. moving picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission composed solely of a single thickness of woven textile fabric having openings extending from front to rear of the screen sufcient in number andk size to allow sound waves to pass through substantially unimpeded and undistorted but substantially il pervious to light rays and retaining the light re ecting properties suificiently to constitute an enicient screen.

A moving picture screen substantially imu pervious to light rays and having sumcient light reflecting properties to constitute an emcient projection screen adapted for co-ordinate sound transmission comprising a single thickness of woven textile fabric having openings extending from front to rear of the screen sumcient in number and size 'to allow sound Waves to pass through substantially unimpeded and undis torted.

5. A moving-picture screen adapted for co ordinated sound transmission, composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen having a front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture and provided with openings 'therethrough in number and size sufficient to permit passage of sound-Waves therethrough of appropriate volume Without blurring, while at the same time preserving the light-reflecting properties of such surface sufficiently to constitute an emcient screen for the presentation of the pictures, the walls of openings being made up of rounded surfaces of said woven fabric.

lll)

6. a moving-picture screen adapted for coy dinatedsound transmission, composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen having a front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture and provided with openings therethrough in number and size sumcient to permit passage of sound-waves therethrough of appropriate volume Without blurring,

While at the same time preserving the light-reflecting properties of such surface suiciently t0 constitute an eiicient screen for the presentation of the pictures, the Walls of said openings being curved outer surfaces of threads of said fabric.

8. A moving-picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission, composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen having a base of cotton and a front surface of silk, said silk having a front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture and said screen being provided Withopenings therethrough in number and size sumcient to permit passage of sound-Waves therethrough of appropriate volume without blurring, While at the same time preserving the light-rehecting properties of such surface sumciently to constitute an emcient screen .for

transmission comprising a single thicknessof woven textile fabric having openings formed in f the process oi weaving said cloth and extending from front to rear ot the screen sulcient in number and size to allow sound waves to pass through substantially unimpeded and undistorted.

EARL I. SPONAIBLIEI.7

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