Data acquisition system translates and processes graphical information recorded on high speed photographic film. It automatically scans the film and stores the information with a minimal use of the computer memory

Habbal, N. A.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

August 1970	 .	 Brief 70-10282 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U .S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
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be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546, 
High Speed Television Camera System Processes

Photographic Film Data for Digital Computer Analysis 
Projection 
Screen 
Television Camera System for Reading Photographic Film. 
The problem: 
A data acquisition system is needed to translate 
and process graphical information recorded on high 
speed photographic film. The system must automat-
ically scan the film and store the graphical informa-
tion with a minimal use of the computer memory; 
The solution: 
A previously developed television camera scanning 
technique could easily be applied to read the high
speed movie film. It requires a small portion of the 
computer memory storage (400 locations for 400 
scanning lines), a feature which makes available the 
remainder of the memory for program storage and 
further data processing. The previous operation time 
of two weeks could be reduced to a few minutes by 
this automatic scanning technique. 
How it's done: 
As the beam of the TV camera starts to scan the 
film frame (see figure), it senses a reference line 1, at 
which time a video signal is generated to start a 
counter. The counter continues until reference line 2 
is reached; at this time the video signal stops the 
counter. The value of the signal level stored in the 
counter is proportional to the amplitude (distance) 
between the two reference lines. The information 
stored in the counter is sent to the computer storage 
during the time (blanking interval) the scanning beam 
is being returned to the beginning of the next line. 
The register in the counter is cleared and the scan 
of the next line begins. Consequently, at the end of the 
complete scanning of the frame, sufficient informa-
tion has been stored in the computer to enable calcu-
lations of physical parameters derived from the photo-
graphic image. 
In one particular application of this technique, 
where high speed photographic film was used to re-
cord the static and aerodynamic performance of air-
craft models in a wind tunnel, it was possible to calcu-
late the model attitude and also the displacement vec-
tor from the data of two successive frames. The new 
TV scanning system required only 400 words to define 
the attitude and displacement vector compared to 
640,000 words per frame of a previous system. 
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19700000271 2020-03-17T00:18:24+00:00Z
Notes: 
1. This technique can be used to find the areas under 
curves, and to determine the motion of a body 
travelling along various trajectories and through 
various media. It should be of interest to all organi-
zations involved in the analysis of graphic data. 
2. Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
NASA Pasadena Office 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California 91103 
Reference: B70-10282
Patent status: 
This invention is owned by NASA, and a patent

application has been filed. Royalty-free, nonexclusive

licenses for its commercial use will be granted by

NASA. Inquiries concerning license rights should be

made to NASA, Code GP, Washington, D.C. 20546.

Source: Nazem A. Habbal of

Caltech/J PL
under contract to

NASA Pasadena Office
(NPO- 10745) 
Brief 70-10282	 Category 02


High speed television camera system processes photographic film data for digital computer analysis

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