Improvements in and relating to Apparatus designed for Reproducing the Illusion of Facial and other Movements.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1893—Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus designed for Reproducing
the Illusion of Facial and other Movements.
I, GEORGES DEMENY, of 3, Rue Saussier Leroy, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Director of the Laboratory of the Paris Physiological Station, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus which I have devised for reproducing the illusion of movements
in general, such as for example those of the mouth in speaking and of the
countenance, is based upon the successive observation of various photographic
images taken at very short intervals of time of the object in motion, for instance of
a person who speaks, this observation taking place as far as possible in the same
total length of time as that which has been required for taking photographic proofs.
If for example twenty-four successive photographs have been taken in one second
of an object in motion, say of a person who speaks, the successive observation of
these twenty-four photographs will reproduce the illusion of the movements
observed.
These images may be observed either by direct vision or by projection by means
of solar, oxyhydric, electric light, the light of a lamp or the like.
The apparatus which enables this reproduction of movements to be realized is
susceptible of various modifications. In all cases the apparatus comprises in
combination an image holder adapted to move at a small velocity and an illuminating
dise pierced with one or more apertures and adapted to move at a great velocity,
the relative movement of the two parts being such that the illuminating disc makes
one turn (if there is only one aperture) while the image holder is displaced only
through the space between two images so that the successive images will receive in
turn the pencil of rays.
One of the arrangements or modifications of the apparatus has a succession of
positive photographic images provided at the circumference of an image holding
disc adapted to turn upon an axis. A second opaque disc pierced with one or more
apertures constitutes the illuminating disc.
This disc is in connection with the image bolding disc by means of a series of
toothed wheels arranged in such a manner that in each passage of the aperture
formed in the illuminating disc in the same diameter the image holding disc has
advanced through a fraction of a turn equal to the interval between two images.
Each of the images fixed upon the image holding disc can thus be perceived
successively through the slot in the illuminating disc.
Morcover, the time during which the images may be perceived is extremely
short, because the illuminating disc moves at a very great velocity proportionately
to the image holding disc, and because the illuminating aperture is only a small
portion of its surface.
If the image holding disc has twenty-four images the velocity of the illuminating
disc with apertures is twenty-four times greater than that of the image-holding disc.
The time of the passage of the illuminating aperture is so short that the image holding
disc has turned only an insignificant distance during the illumination.
The operation of the apparatus may be effected by any suitable mechanism; for
example by means of an axis with a crank and bevil wheel.
The mechanism is arranged in a box the front and rear faces of which are
provided each with an aperture; the front aperture serves for looking either with
the naked eye or through a magnifying glass at the images upon a ground formed
by a glass or a tarnished surface illuminated by solar light or by artificial light.

page_text: I may also project the images by applying the apparatus to a magic‘lantern and
by adapting to it an ordinary lens.
For augmenting the intensity of the illumination it is expedient to uncover at the
same time a larger part of the, image which is presented before the eye; this
intensity is at its maximum if the entire image is uncovered at the same time. For
obtaining this result I provide two illuminating discs turning at the same velocity
but in opposite directions and regulated so that their apertures coincide exactly as
they are superposed before the image to be observed. With these discs I may cut
the light in the lens or at any, point of the crossing of the luminous rays, where the
divergent cone has the greatest contraction. I thus utilize all the light, which is
essential for the projection.
The discs which carry the positive images at their circumference are difficult to
make; as great care is required to obtain an exact register they would greatly
augment the cost of the apparatus. I obviate this difficulty by making a circular
negative which is used once for all and with which I obtain by contact in a frame
on sensitized discs positive proofs which are quite ready to be placed in the
apparatus.
Morcover, the apparatus is well adapted for the production of the negative disc
above referred to.
As this apparatus is constructed in such a manner that the time during which
cach image will be seen is sufficiently short for this image, although having a
circular movement imparted to it, to appear at rest, so on the other hand if the
image holding disc is replaced by a disc having a surface which is sensitive to light,
and the eye of the observer is replaced by a photographic lens. I can obtain
a crown of negative images of an object in motion when the crank is turned at a
suitable velocity.
7:
To make sure that, the turn of the disc being completed the images will cease to
be taken and will not be superposed I provide an obturator which closes when a
complete turn of the sensitive plate has been accomplished:
The circular disc is adapted only for a limited series of photographic images of a
man who speaks-or of any movement. In case it is desired to reproduce the
physiognomy of a discourse, which requires a movement of a certain duration, it is
preferable to arrange the positive proofs upon a cylinder and in the form of a helix.
The proofs are successively illuminated by concentrated light from any luminous
source. The illuminating disc provided with an aperture is connected with the
image holding cylinder similarly, as in the above described arrangement.
As this cylinder revolves it advances in each turn in the direction of its axis
"through a distance equal to the pitch of the screw, the illuminating disc preserves
the same relative velocity as in the disc apparatus, the only difference consists in
the greater number of images, which enables the experiment to be continued for a
longer time. The observer looks through the leus and sees the image illuminated
by reflexion from a mirror by the light of a lamp which has traversed the
illuminating disc.
It is
1
"
The apparatus thus arranged may be compared with the phonograph.
moreover extremely easy to join to the improved apparatus a phonograph which,
operating synchronously, gives to the ear. the impression of the voice at the same
time as the eye receives the sensation of the facial movement.
My improved apparatus, which I call a phonoscope, has more particularly been
devised with the object of reproducing facial movements, but it is also adapted for
the reproduction of all the most complicated movements, and this reproduction can
be effected, as above stated, either by direct vision or by projection.
Dated this First day of Sentember 1802
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: the illuminating disc B with apertures is twenty-four times greater than that of the
image-holding disc. The time of the passage of the illuminating aperture is so
short that the image holding disc has turned only an insignificant distance during
the illumination.
The operation of the apparatus may be effected by any suitable mechanism; for
example by means of a crank M attached to the axis which is provided with a bevel
wheel K.-
The mechanism is arranged in a box X, the front and rear faces of which are
provided with apertures, O and N respectively, the front aperture serving for
looking either with the naked eye or through a magnifying glass at the images upon
a ground formed by a glass or a tarnished suface illuminated by solar light or by
artificial light.
I may also project the images by applying the apparatus to a magic lantern and
by adapting to it an ordinary lens as shown to a small scale in Figure 6.
For augmenting the intensity of the illumination it is expedient to uncover at
the same time a larger part of the image which is presented before the eye; this
intensity is at its maximum if the entire image is uncovered at the same time. For
obtaining this result I provide two illuminating discs turning at the same velocity
but in opposite directions and regulated so that their apertures coincide exactly as
they are superposed before the image to be observed. With these discs I may cut
the light in the lens or at any point of the crossing of the luminous rays, where
the divergent cone has the greatest contraction. I thus utilize all the light, which
is essential for the projection.
The discs which carry the positive images at their circumference are difficult to
make, as great care is required to obtain an exact register they would greatly 2
augment the cost of the apparatus, but I obviate this difficulty by making a circular.
negative which is used once for all and with which I obtain by contact in a frame
on sensitized discs positive proofs which are quite ready to be placed in the
apparatus.
Moreover, the apparatus is well adapted for the production of the negative disc
above referred to.
As this apparatus is constructed in such a manner that the time during which
each image will be seen is sufficiently short for this image, although having a
circular movement imparted to it, to appear at rest, so on the other hand if the
image holding disc is replaced by a disc having a surface which is sensitive to
light, and the eye of the observer is replaced by a photographic lens I can obtain
a crown of negative images of an object in motion when the crank is turned at a
suitable velocity.
To make sure that, the turn of the disc being completed the images will cease
to be taken and will not be superposed I provide an obturator which closes when.n.
complete turn of the sensitive plate has been accomplished.
The disc is adapted only for a limited series of photographic images of a man
when speaking or of any movement. In case it is desired to reproduce the
physiognomy of a discourse, which requires a movement of a certain duration, it is
preferable to arrange the positive proofs upon a cylinder and in the form of a helix..
This arrangement is represented in Figures 7 and 8. The proofs are successively
illuminated by concentrated light from any luminous source. The illuminating
disc 13 provided with an aperture is connected with the image holding cylinder
similarly as in the above described arrangement. As this cylinder revolves it
advances in each turn in the direction of its axis through a distance equal to the
pitch of the screw, the illuminating disc preserves the same relative velocity as in
the disc apparatus, the only difference consists in the greater number of images,
which enables the experiment to be continued for a longer time. The observer
looks through the lens and sees the image illuminated by reflection from a mirror m
by the light of a lamp L which has traversed the illuminating disc B.
The apparatus thus arranged may be compared with the phonograph. It is
morcover extremely easy to join to the improved apparatus a phonograph which,

page_text: operating synchronously, gives to the ear the impression of the voice at the same
time as the eye receives the sensation of the facial movement.
My improved apparatus, which I call a phonoscope, has more particularly been
devised with the object of reproducing facial movements but it is also adapted for
the reproduction of all the most complicated movements, and this reproduction can
be effected, as above stated, either by direct vision or by projection.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The reproduction of the illusion of movements in general such as those of the
mouth in speaking, and physiognomy, either by direct vision or by projection of
photographic images taken at very short intervals of a person when speaking, this
observation being produced by the combination of an image holder moving at a
small velocity and an illuminating disc moving at a great velocity and provided
with one or more apertures, the relative movement of the two parts being such
that one turn of the illuminating disc with a single aperture corresponds to the
displacement of the images through the interval between two images, as herein-
before set forth.
2. The arrangement of positive images at the circumference of a disc turning
slowly, these discs being preferably obtained by photographic printing from a
negative disc.
3. The arrangement of images spirally on a cylinder which rotates and receives
a longitudinal displacement, the illumination of the successive images taking place
by the radiation of a light which the illuminating discs allow to pass.
4. The production of a maximum illumination by combining together two
illuminating discs turning in opposite directions at the same velocity so that their
apertures coincide in the passage of the luminous ray which lights the image.
5. The use of the phonoscope for obtaining the aforesaid negative disc.
6. The combination with the improved phonoscope of a phonograph for the
purpose of reproducing at the same time the acoustic and visual illusion of the
voice, gestures and physiognomy.
Dated this 1st day of June 1893
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.