Optical Soundtrack Signal Restoration via Template Matching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for restoring sound signals from optical soundtracks are inefficient, particularly for tracks with imperfections or damage, as they often introduce errors and lose important information due to binarization and high-resolution image requirements, and fail to accurately restore signals from both width- and density-modulated tracks.

Innovation Solution

A method that compares acquired digital images of optical soundtracks with predefined ideal templates to select and reconstruct sound signals, using gray level adjustments and weighting functions to preserve transition zones and modulation information, allowing for reliable restoration of sound signals from both width- and density-modulated tracks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If binarization is used to simplify image processing, then computational complexity is reduced, but information loss occurs in transition zones and modulation details

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage processing complexityVSAvoidmodulation information
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of image representation from binary (2 levels) to multi-level gray scale (256 levels), preserving transition zone information while maintaining computational feasibility through standardized image processing algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If high resolution digital image acquisition is used to reduce aliasing effects, then measurement precision is improved, but device cost and computational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidacquisition system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a digital copy of the optical soundtrack image and processes it through template matching algorithms, allowing standard resolution cameras to achieve high precision restoration through computational methods rather than relying solely on high-resolution hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If local pixel modification is used to correct defects, then restoration accuracy is improved, but device complexity and error potential increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestoration accuracyVSAvoidprocessing algorithm complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces defective line segments with corresponding segments from template lines rather than attempting complex local pixel modification, simplifying the restoration process while maintaining accuracy through the use of pre-defined ideal templates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from modifying individual pixel values to replacing entire line segments based on template matching, reducing computational complexity and error potential while maintaining restoration quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If template matching with gray level adjustment is used to restore sound signals, then restoration reliability is improved, but computational time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverestoration reliabilityVSAvoidcomputational time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs gray level adjustment and template preparation in advance before the actual restoration process, so that during restoration only simple comparison and selection operations are needed, reducing real-time computational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2341390B1Method of and device for reproduction of an audio signal and/or an audio track
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 UNIV DE LA ROCHELLE
  • EP2341390B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2341390B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2341390B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The method involves comparing non defective lines with ideal lines of a digital gauge of a set of ideal lines corresponding to sound track lines according to a preset criterion for each line of the image acquired from a sound track. The ideal lines are selected based on comparison results. A digital sound signal composed of digital sound samples associated with the set of selected ideal lines of the gauge is restored. An ideal digital image of sound track with the set of selected ideal lines of the gauge is restored. An independent claim is also included for a device for restoring a digital sound signal and a digital sound track comprising a comparison unit.