Image Output Apparatus Fine Jog Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image output technologies struggle to align and play CG animation frames precisely at a time code level, especially when playing at slower speeds, as they are limited to frame or field units, making fine adjustments difficult.
Innovation Solution
An image output apparatus capable of playing in units finer than frame/field units on a time axis, with a control unit that determines a play amount by multiplying jog operation dial steps by a real-valued step amount, allowing for fractional frame or field advancements, and optionally using a velocity coefficient for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the jog operation advances frames by one frame/field unit at a time, then the operation is simple and compatible with standard time code, but the alignment precision is insufficient for fine adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the jog operation unit based on playback conditions. During slow playback, the system enables fractional frame advancement (e.g., 1/30 frame per step), while during normal playback it uses standard one-frame steps. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing fine precision when needed and simple operation when not needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of frame advancement unit from fixed (one frame/field) to variable (fractional frames). By introducing a scaling factor that multiplies the basic jog step, the system can achieve precision beyond standard frame boundaries while maintaining compatibility with existing time code structures. The play amount is calculated as: play amount = jog steps × step amount, where step amount can be fractional.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses fixed frame rate playback, then the playback is stable and synchronized with time code, but the flexibility for variable speed playback is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts playback speed by varying the step amount parameter. During slow playback, it uses fractional steps (e.g., 1/10 of a frame per jog step), while during normal playback it uses full frame steps. This maintains time code synchronization reliability while providing adaptability for different playback speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary calculation layer between the jog operation and frame advancement. The control unit calculates the play amount by multiplying jog steps by a step amount parameter, which acts as a mediator that can be adjusted for different playback speeds. This intermediary mechanism preserves time code accuracy while enabling flexible speed control.
3Measurement precision
If the jog operation dial is calibrated for one frame per step, then the operation is straightforward, but fine adjustments below one frame are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter from fixed one-frame-per-step to variable step amounts. The control unit multiplies the jog step count by a configurable step amount (e.g., 0.033 for 1/30 frame), enabling precision below one frame while keeping the physical dial operation simple and familiar to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically calculates and applies the appropriate step amount based on the current playback context, eliminating the need for users to manually configure complex parameters. The control unit handles the multiplication of jog steps by step amount automatically, providing fine precision without increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image output apparatus including an image output unit capable of playing in a unit finer than a frame/field unit on a time axis, and a control unit that determines a play amount by performing a predetermined operation on an operation input amount, advances a time indicating a position on the time axis in accordance with the determined play amount, and instructs the image output unit to output an image at the advanced time.