EP0395216A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for controlling film density for an apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data
Assignee: Camtronics Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-03-21
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data, comprising a light source for exposing the film; apparatus for measuring exposure light intensity from the light source; apparatus for generating a light transmittance signal responsive to the light transmittance of developed film; and computer control apparatus having a plurality of instructions including first instructions for determining a transmittance signal level representing a standard film density, and for determining a reference exposure intensity for producing the standard film density, and second instructions for calibrating the intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry N. Stone
- 👤 Richard C. Rice
- 👤 John E. Lorbiecki
- 👤 Stanley Bernstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C5/00; G03C5/02; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4076; H04N1/4078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data, comprising a light source for exposing the film, means for measuring exposure light intensity from the light source, means for generating a light transmittance signal responsive to the light transmittance of developed film and a computer control coupled to the means for measuring, the means for generating and the light source for controlling the exposure light intensity therefrom, characterized in that the computer control has a plurality of instruction means including first instruction means for determining a transmittance signal level representing standard film density and for determining a reference exposure intensity for producing the standard film density and second instructions means for calibrating the intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data, comprising a light source for exposing the film, means for measuring exposure light intensity from the light source, means for generating a light transmittance signal responsive to the light transmittance of developed film and a computer control coupled to the means for measuring, the means for generating and the light source for controlling the exposure light intensity therefrom, characterized in that the computer control has a plurality of instruction means including first instruction means for determining a transmittance signal level representing standard film density and for determining a reference exposure intensity for producing the standard film density and second instructions means for calibrating the intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the first instruction means includes third instruction means for exposing portions of film using a gradation of predetermined exposure intensity levels around an exposure intensity level intended to produce an approximate standard film density and including an exposure intensity level for causing a portion of the film to have a substantially clear density, fourth instruction means for causing the means for generating to generate a transmittance signal responsive to the light transmittance of the film after it is exposed by the third instruction means and developed, the transmittance signal being responsive to the film portions exposed by the gradation of intensity levels including the clear density portion and fifth instruction means responsive to a portion of the transmittance signal corresponding to the clear density portion of the film for calculating a transmittance signal level representing a standard film density.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the first instruction means is responsive to the calculated transmittance signal level, the transmittance signal and the gradation of predetermined exposure intensity levels for determining the reference exposure intensity for producing the standard density.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the sixth instruction means are provided which are responsive to the intensity measuring means and the predetermined exposure intensity levels for calibrating the light source to produce the predetermined exposure intensity levels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the fifth instruction means includes seventh instruction means for calculating a second transmittance signal level representing a second standard transmittance, the first instruction means including eighth instruction means for determining a second reference exposure intensity level for producing the second standard density.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source includes a digital to analog converter for controlling the intensity of light produced thereby and a look-up table for storing and providing to the digital to analog converter, digital signals for controlling the light source intensity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the second instruction means determines a digital number for storage in the look-up table and for controlling the light source for producing the reference exposure intensity level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the light source for producing a selectable exposure format, the computer control also including ninth instruction means for determining a format for an image to be exposed onto the film, the second instruction means being responsive to the determined format for calibrating the intensity level produced by the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling the exposing of photographic film with electronic image data using a light source, characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining both a light transmittance signal level representative of a standard film density for an exposed and developed piece of film and a reference exposure intensity for the light source for producing the standard film density and calibrating the exposure intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling the exposing of photographic film with electronic image data using a light source, characterized in that it comprises the steps of determining both a light transmittance signal level representative of a standard film density for an exposed and developed piece of film and a reference exposure intensity for the light source for producing the standard film density and calibrating the exposure intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the step of determining both a light transmittance signal level and a reference exposure intensity includes exposing film using a first gradation of predetermined exposure light intensity levels around a level intended to produce an approximate standard film density including an intensity level for causing a portion of the film to have a substantially clear density, developing the exposed film, generating a transmittance signal responsive to the light transmittance of the developed film for each level of exposure intensity including the clear density portion of the film and determining a transmittance signal level corresponding to a standard film density based upon the transmittance signal for the clear density portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 10, characterized in that determining a reference exposure intensity for producing the determined standard density is based upon the transmittance signal, the determined transmittance signal level and the gradation of predetermined exposure intensity levels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the electronic image data may have a plurality of formats of lines of data, the step of calibrating the exposure intensity includes the steps of determining the format of image data to be used in exposing the film, determining an exposure format in response to the determined image data format and calibrating the exposure intensity in response to the determined exposure format.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the step of calibrating the exposure intensity in response to the determined exposure format includes generating a test pattern having the determined exposure format, measuring the intensity of the light source until the measured intensity of the test pattern substanitially equals the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data, characterized in that it comprises a light source for exposing the film, means for measuring exposure light intensity from the light source, means for generating a light transmittance signal responsive to the density of developed film and means for controlling the intensity of the light source for exposing the film including means for determining a transmittance signal level representative of a standard film density for an exposed and developed piece of film and for determining a reference exposure intensity for the light source for producing the standard film density and means for calibrating the exposure intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for exposing photographic film with image data, characterized in that it comprises a light source for exposing the film, means for measuring exposure light intensity from the light source, means for generating a light transmittance signal responsive to the density of developed film and means for controlling the intensity of the light source for exposing the film including means for determining a transmittance signal level representative of a standard film density for an exposed and developed piece of film and for determining a reference exposure intensity for the light source for producing the standard film density and means for calibrating the exposure intensity of the light source to the determined reference exposure intensity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the means for determining a transmittance signal level and a reference exposure intensity includes means for causing the exposing of film using a first gradation of predetermined exposure light intensity levels around a level intended to produce an approximated standard film density including an intensity level for causing a portion of the film to have a substantially clear density, means for causing the genrating of a transmittance signal responsive to the film densities of the developed film for each level of exposure intensity including the clear density portion of the film and means for determining a transmittance signal level corresponding to a standard density based upon the transmittance signal measure for the clear density portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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