David W. Crain

Last updated
David W. Crain
David Crain in 2018.jpg
Crain in 2018
Born (1946-11-24) November 24, 1946 (age 79)
Monterey Park, California
Education University of Southern California (BS, MS, PhD)
SpouseSheila Crain (m. 1967)
Children2

David W. Crain (born 1946) is an American engineer who is known for conceiving and patenting the "1st and Ten" graphical overlay system used in sports television broadcasts. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Crain was born in 1946 in California. [1] He graduated from Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, California. [3] He earned a Bachelor of Science in physics (1968), a Master of Science in materials science (1971), and a Ph.D. in materials science (1976) from the University of Southern California (USC). [1] His doctoral dissertation, titled "Charge Motion in the Variable Threshold Memory Transistor," focused on the development of flash memory transistors. [4] His 1976 paper, titled "Charge Centroid and Trapping Model for MNOS Structures" builds a physical model that explains how and where electrons get trapped inside metal nitride oxide silicon (MNOS) non‑volatile memory devices. [5]

Career

Crain began his career by joining the United States Naval Oceans System Command in 1968 in San Diego, California, where he worked on the development of microelectronics for anti-submarine warfare systems. [1] [4] During his tenure, he patented the technology that later evolved into the "1st and Ten" system commonly referred to as the football "yellow first-down line". Crain was awarded US Patent 4084184 "TV Object Locator and Image Identifier" on April 11, 1978. [2] The patent was conceived as a calibration method for two-dimensional depiction of three-dimensional space, inspired by well-established downrange targeting techniques like sonar and radar. [2] The invention, described below, was not utilized in broadcasts until ESPN and SportVision implemented it years later. [6] [7]

Crain transitioned to Sempra in 1976 where he rose to Director of Corporate Strategy and later joined Fluor Corporation in 1996 as Director of Markets and Strategies. [4] He was active in MESA, a California organization supporting underserved and underrepresented students pursuing calculus-based Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and served as Statewide Industry Advisory Board Chairman from 1987 to 1989. [8] In 1999, he co-founded the Association for Strategic Planning and served as its president. [4] He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the reincorporated International Association for Strategic Professionals in 2009. [9]

Crain has served as a professor at Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, Cal Poly Pomona, and the University of Southern California. [4]

"1st and Ten" Invention

Crain in front of a 2012 implementation of the system envisioned in his original patent. 19 01 11 LA Coliseum David w Yellow Line -2.jpg
Crain in front of a 2012 implementation of the system envisioned in his original patent.

Crain was awarded US Patent 4084184 "TV Object Locator and Image Identifier" on April 11, 1978. [2] One use of the technology was to create on-field markings to allow TV viewers to identify the distance needed to achieve a first down in televised football games. It did so by inserting graphical elements on the field of play as if they were physically present. He presented the concept to Roone Arledge [10] and Roger Goodman of ABC News and Sports and to Robert T. McKinley of the CBS Technology Center. [1] [11] [10] At the time, the broadcast industry was not ready to use Crain's invention. ABC producers told Crain, “To superimpose graphics over a live play is taboo at ABC and probably in the broadcast industry. Have you ever been in an NFL sound truck during a live telecast? It is sheer chaos in there and we don’t need some computer brought in to add confusion. Too much cost, too much equipment, too many cameras, for something that may be only used 4 times a game." [10] The invention was brought to market 20 years later and was introduced on ESPN football telecasts in 1998 when signal processing technology had the speed to keep up with insertion of dynamic objects in the field of view. [6] [7] [12] It is now widely used in network sports broadcasts of all types and is considered the foundation technology for augmented reality (AR) video applications. [13] Table 1 below lists the top 31 patents issued between 1978 and 2019 that reference Crain’s original invention.

Table 1. Top Inventions Citing Crain's Patent
Patent NumberDate AwardedPatent NameInventor
US 4084184 A [2] 4/11/1978TV Object locator and image identifierCrain; David W.
US 4490742 A [14] 12/25/1984Encoding apparatus for a closed-circuit television systemWurtzinger; Richard E.
US 4855820 A [15] 8/8/1989Down hole video tool apparatus and method for visual well bore recordingBarbour; Joel
US 4928175 A [16] 5/22/1990Method for the three-dimensional surveillance of the object spaceHaggren; Henrik
US 4963984 A [17] 10/16/1990Optical projection camera alignment system and methodWomack; Kenneth H.
US 4985779 A [18] 1/15/1991Improved method and apparatus for generating halftone imagesGall; Winrich
US 5892554 A [19] 4/6/1999System and method for inserting static and dynamic images into a live video broadcastDiCicco; Darrell S. et al.
US 5808695 A [20] 9/15/1998Method of tracking scene motion for live video insertion systemsRosser; Roy J. et al.
US 5912700 A [21] 6/15/1999System for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting eventHoney; Stanley K. et al.
US 5672820 A [22] 9/30/1997Object location identification system for providing location data of an object being pointed at by a pointing deviceRossi; John H. et al.
US 5917553 A [23] 6/29/1999Method and apparatus for enhancing the broadcast of a live eventHoney; Stanley K. et al.
US 6252632 B1 [24] 6/26/2001System for enhancing a video presentationCavallaro; Richard H.
US 5953077 A [25] 9/14/1999System for displaying an object that is not visible to a cameraHoney; Stanley K. et al.
US 6195122 B1 [26] 2/27/2001Spatial referenced photographyVincent; Robert
US 6266100 B1 [27] 7/24/2001System for enhancing a video presentation of a live eventGloudemans; James R. et al.
US 6229550 B1 [28] 5/8/2001Blending a graphicGloudemans; James R. et al.
US 6100925 A [29] 8/8/2000Image insertion in video streams using a combination of physical sensors and pattern recognitionRosser; Roy J. et al.
US 6466275 B1 [30] 10/15/2002Enhancing a video of an event at a remote location using data acquired at the eventHoney; Stanley K. et al.
US 7075556 B1 [31] 7/11/2006Telestrator systemMeier; Kevin R. et al.
US 6965397 B1 [32] 11/15/2005Measuring camera attitudeHoney; Stanley K. et al.
US 7230653 B1 [33] 6/12/2007Method and apparatus for real time insertion of images into videoOverton; Kenneth J. et al.
US 6909438 B1 [34] 6/21/2005Video compositorWhite; Marvin S. et al.
US 7206434 B2 [35] 4/17/2007Method and system for measurement of the duration an area is included in an image streamOverton; Kenneth J. et al.
US 7341530 B2 [36] 3/11/2008Virtual strike zoneCavallaro; Richard H. et al.
US 20050001852 A1 [37] 1/6/2005System and method for inserting content into an image sequenceDengler, John D.  et al.
US 8335345 B2 [38] 12/18/2012Tracking an object with multiple asynchronous camerasWhite; Marvin S. et al.
US 8218002 B2 [39] 7/10/2012Method and apparatus providing computer generated images over a network with a point of view corresponding to images acquired during navigation of an imaging deviceMaguire, Jr.; Francis J.
US 8330812 B2 [40] 12/11/2012Method and apparatus for producing and storing, on a resultant non-transitory storage medium, computer generated (CG) video in correspondence with images acquired by an image acquisition device tracked in motion with respect to a 3D reference frameMaguire, Jr.; Francis J.
US 8786415 B2 [41] 7/22/2014Tracking system using proximity and/or presenceCavallaro; Richard H. et al.
US 9215383 B2 [42] 12/15/2015System for enhancing video from a mobile cameraMilnes; Kenneth A. et al.
US RE45062 E [43] 8/5/2014Apparatus for inducing attitudinal head movements for passive virtual realityMaguire, Jr.; Francis J.
US 10290119 B2 [44] 5/14/2019Multi view camera registrationWhite; Marvin S. et al.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Swanson: David Crain's 1st-and-10 line measures up as his 'best idea'". Orange County Register. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 US4084184A,Crain, David W.,"Tv object locator and image identifier",issued 1978-04-11
  3. ↑ e-yearbook.com. "Don Bosco Technical Institute - Techman Yearbook (Rosemead, CA), Class of 1962, Page 57 of 160". e-yearbook.com. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "CE 559 SYLABUS STRATEGIC PLANNING IN CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING". web-app.usc.edu.
  5. ↑ Lehovec, Kurt; Crain, D. W. (1976-06-01). "Charge centroid and trapping model for MNOS structures". Journal of Applied Physics. 47 (6): 2763–2764. doi:10.1063/1.322940. ISSN   0021-8979.
  6. 1 2 Staff, The Lamp Online. "The story behind the yellow line". The Lamp. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  7. 1 2 Bennett, Corey Nachman , Dashiell. "14 Innovations That Changed Sports Broadcasting Forever". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-12-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "David W. Crain". www.linkedin.com.
  9. ↑ "Hall of Fame - Association for Strategic Planning". www.strategyassociation.org. Archived from the original on 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  10. 1 2 3 "The History of the Yellow Line". The History of the Yellow Line. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  11. ↑ CBS Television Network Letter from Robert McKinley to Dr. David Crain, June 29, 1979
  12. ↑ "An Explanation of the Football 1st & Ten Line". Symmetry Electronics. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  13. ↑ "Sports and Training - Augmented Reality : Where We Will All Live". Ebrary. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  14. ↑ US4490742A,Wurtzinger, Richard E.,"Encoding apparatus for a closed circuit television system",issued 1984-12-25
  15. ↑ US4855820A,Barbour, Joel,"Down hole video tool apparatus and method for visual well bore recording",issued 1989-08-08
  16. ↑ US4928175A,Haggren, Henrik,"Method for the three-dimensional surveillance of the object space",issued 1990-05-22
  17. ↑ US4963984A,Womack, Kenneth H.,"Optical projection camera alignment system and method",issued 1990-10-16
  18. ↑ US4985779A,Gall, Winrich,"Improved method and apparatus for generating halftone images",issued 1991-01-15
  19. ↑ US5892554A,DiCicco, Darrell S.&Fant, Karl,"System and method for inserting static and dynamic images into a live video broadcast",issued 1999-04-06
  20. ↑ US5808695A,Rosser, Roy J.; Das, Subhodev& Tan, Yi,"Method of tracking scene motion for live video insertion systems",issued 1998-09-15
  21. ↑ US5912700A,Honey, Stanley K.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& Hill, David Blythet al.,"System for enhancing the television presentation of an object at a sporting event",issued 1999-06-15
  22. ↑ US5672820A,Rossi, John H.; Innocenzi, Mark E.& Goodfriend, Steven L.et al.,"Object location identification system for providing location data of an object being pointed at by a pointing device",issued 1997-09-30
  23. ↑ US5917553A,Honey, Stanley K.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& Gepner, Jerry Neilet al.,"Method and apparatus for enhancing the broadcast of a live event",issued 1999-06-29
  24. ↑ US6252632B1,Cavallaro, Richard H.,"System for enhancing a video presentation",issued 2001-06-26
  25. ↑ US5953077A,Honey, Stanley K.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& O'Brien, Terence J.et al.,"System for displaying an object that is not visible to a camera",issued 1999-09-14
  26. ↑ US6195122B1,Vincent, Robert,"Spatial referenced photography",issued 2001-02-27
  27. ↑ US6266100B1,Gloudemans, James R.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& Gepner, Jerry N.et al.,"System for enhancing a video presentation of a live event",issued 2001-07-24
  28. ↑ US6229550B1,Gloudemans, James R.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& Honey, Stanley K.et al.,"Blending a graphic",issued 2001-05-08
  29. ↑ US6100925A,Rosser, Roy J.; Tan, Yi& Jr, Howard J. Kennedyet al.,"Image insertion in video streams using a combination of physical sensors and pattern recognition",issued 2000-08-08
  30. ↑ US6466275B1,Honey, Stanley K.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& Gepner, Jerry N.et al.,"Enhancing a video of an event at a remote location using data acquired at the event",issued 2002-10-15
  31. ↑ US7075556B1,Meier, Kevin R.; Hsiao, Walter& Gloudemans, James R.et al.,"Telestrator system",issued 2006-07-11
  32. ↑ US6965397B1,Honey, Stanley K.; Cavallaro, Richard H.& White, Marvin S.et al.,"Measuring camera attitude",issued 2005-11-15
  33. ↑ US7230653B1,Overton, Kenneth J.; Muench, Mark S.& JR, Charles H. Haydenet al.,"Method and apparatus for real time insertion of images into video",issued 2007-06-12
  34. ↑ US6909438B1,White, Marvin S.; Honey, Stanley K.& Hsiao, Walteret al.,"Video compositor",issued 2005-06-21
  35. ↑ US7206434B2,Overton, Kenneth J.; Muench, Mark S.& JR, Charles H. Haydenet al.,"Method and system for measurement of the duration an area is included in an image stream",issued 2007-04-17
  36. ↑ US7341530B2,Cavallaro, Richard H.; Steinberg, Eric& Gueziec, Andreet al.,"Virtual strike zone",issued 2008-03-11
  37. ↑ US20050001852A1,Dengler, John; Garci, Erik& Cox, Brianet al.,"System and method for inserting content into an image sequence",issued 2005-01-06
  38. ↑ US8335345B2,White, Marvin S.&Alt, Alina,"Tracking an object with multiple asynchronous cameras",issued 2012-12-18
  39. ↑ US8218002B2,Jr, Francis J. Maguire,"Method and apparatus providing computer generated images over a network with a point of view corresponding to images acquired during navigation of an imaging device",issued 2012-07-10
  40. ↑ US8330812B2,Jr, Francis J. Maguire,"Method and apparatus for producing and storing, on a resultant non-transitory storage medium, computer generated (CG) video in correspondence with images acquired by an image acquisition device tracked in motion with respect to a 3D reference frame",issued 2012-12-11
  41. ↑ US8786415B2,Cavallaro, Richard H.; McGuffin, James Orville& Borton, John Roy,"Tracking system using proximity and/or presence",issued 2014-07-22
  42. ↑ US9215383B2,Milnes, Kenneth A.; Honey, Stanley K.& McGuffin, James O.et al.,"System for enhancing video from a mobile camera",issued 2015-12-15
  43. ↑ USRE45062E1,Jr, Francis J. Maguire,"Apparatus for inducing attitudinal head movements for passive virtual reality",issued 2014-08-05
  44. ↑ US10290119B2,White, Marvin S.; Parker, Radford& Ramakrishnan, Divyaet al.,"Multi view camera registration",issued 2019-05-14
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