Electromechanical light valve system

Claim 2

The combination of: a light source, a light valve receiving light from said source and adapted to modulate in minute increments light output therethrough, an electromechanical device embodying light intensity programming coupled with said light valve to control and actuate the latter, an electronic memory storage system containing light intensity settings in code, means electrically coupling the memory storage system to the electromechanical device to transmit to the memory storage system in corresponding code the light intensity programming of the electromechanical device, and to transmit a readout from the memory storage system back to the electromechanical device any correction necessary to comply with the readout, said electromechanical device embodying means responsive to said readout of the memory storage system for coordinating actuation of the light valve by the electromechanical device in exact accordance with the readout.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the electromechanical device includes code plate means mounted for incremental arcuate rotation, and a stepping motor linked to said code plate means to rotate said code plate means when energized to comply with said readout.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein mechanical linkage means are provided between said code plate means and said light valve whereby said light valve may be adjusted to modulate light output therethrough.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said light valve includes a shutter formed by a pair of reciprocating vanes, a shutter shaft means adapted to move said vanes independent of said code plate means.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said electromechanical device includes actuator means to engage and align said shutter shaft means to the preselected light intensity readout and will disengage upon alignment whereby said electromechanical device can be reactivated to another light intensity setting upon command.

Claim 7

An automatic light control as a component in a motion picture film additive color printer comprising: an electronic memory storage system and tape readout programmed with a code representing preselected light intensity settings, a light valve adapted to be sequentially adjusted in accordance with the intensity settings of the program, and correlation means adapted to electromechanically translate the said programming into corresponding light intensity settings of the light valve, the correlation means including a sensor responding to signals from the system accepting the correlation means setting or signaling the system that correction of the setting is required, the system including a correction signal means actuating the correlation means to change the setting of the latter to correspond with the readout program.

Claim 8

An automatic light control as a component in a motion picture film additive color printer comprising: an electronic memory storage system and tape readout programmed with a code representing preselected light intensity settings, a light valve adapted to be sequentially adjusted in accordance with the intensity settings of the program, and correlation means adapted to electromechanically translate the said programming into corresponding light intensity settings of the light valve, the correlation means including a sensor responding to signals from the system accepting the correlation means setting or signaling the system that correction of the setting is required, the system including a correction signal means actuating the correlation means to change the setting of the latter to correspond with the readout program.

Claim 9

An automatic light control as a component in a motion picture film additive printer comprising: an electronic memory storage system and tape readout programmed with a code representing preselected light intensity settings, a light valve adapted to be sequentially adjusted in accordance with the intensity settings of the program, and correlation means adapted to electromechanically translate the said programming into corresponding light intensity settings of the light valve, including code means, a rotatable correlation shaft adapted to be rotated by said code means, a correlation hub means axially aligned with said correlation shaft and proportionally rotatable relative to the rotation of said cOrrelation shaft; linkage means interconnecting said code means and said correlation hub means and adapted to maintain said hub means against rotation when said hub means is rotationally set; a stepping motor connected to said correlation means adapted to be actuated and change the setting of said correlation means to correspond with the readout program; a rotatable light valve shaft axially aligned with said correlation hub means and independent thereof, said light valve shaft being connected to said light valve, and actuator means interposed between said correlation hub means and said light valve shaft activatable through said system to rotationally align said light valve shaft with said correlation hub means to achieve a preselected light intensity setting.

Claim 10

An automatic light control as a component in a motion picture film additive printer comprising: an electronic memory storage system and tape readout programmed with a code representing preselected light intensity settings, a light valve adapted to be sequentially adjusted in accordance with the intensity settings of the program, and correlation means adapted to electromechanically translate the said programming into corresponding light intensity settings of the light valve, including code means, a rotatable correlation shaft adapted to be rotated by said code means, a correlation hub means axially aligned with said correlation shaft and proportionally rotatable relative to the rotation of said cOrrelation shaft; linkage means interconnecting said code means and said correlation hub means and adapted to maintain said hub means against rotation when said hub means is rotationally set; a stepping motor connected to said correlation means adapted to be actuated and change the setting of said correlation means to correspond with the readout program; a rotatable light valve shaft axially aligned with said correlation hub means and independent thereof, said light valve shaft being connected to said light valve, and actuator means interposed between said correlation hub means and said light valve shaft activatable through said system to rotationally align said light valve shaft with said correlation hub means to achieve a preselected light intensity setting.

Claim 11

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein said code means includes a code plate having code openings therein and journaled on said correlation shaft for movement through an arc, and light impulse means associated with said code plate openings adapted to respond to signals from said system.

Claim 12

An automatic light control as defined in claim 8 wherein said code means includes a sector gear imposed between said code plate and said correlation shaft adapted to be driven by said stepping motor.

Claim 13

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein said light valve includes shutter means.

Claim 14

An automatic light control as defined in claim 10 wherein said shutter means include a pair of reciprocally arcuately rotatable vanes, a pair of sector gears in meshing relationship having one of said pair of vanes mounted on each sector gear, and one of said gears being journaled on said light valve shaft.

Claim 15

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator means includes a solenoid and plunger activatable by said system wherein said plunger will strike and rotationally align said light valve shaft with said fixedly positioned correlation hub means.

Claim 16

An automatic light control as defined in claim 12 wherein said light valve shaft includes a shaft hub means axially aligned with and spaced from said correlation hub means and each of said hub means include opposed pivotally mounted palls engageable by said plunger to create rotational alignment of said light valve shaft with said fixedly positioned correlation hub means.

Claim 17

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein said linkage means includes a plurality of interconnected pivotal link arms and cam follower rollers; a plurality of cam surfaces spaced longitudinally axially from each other and engaged by said cam follower rollers whereby angular rotation of said correlation means will impart a reduced proportional angle of rotation to said correction hub means.

Claim 18

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein there is included a zero-cut actuator means activatable through said system and adjacent said light valve shaft adapted to engage said light valve shaft and rotationally move said shaft whereby said light valve is closed.

Claim 19

An automatic light control as defined in claim 13 wherein a damper assembly is provided which is adapted to exert a force in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said light valve shaft hub means and prevent overrotation of said hub.

Claim 20

An automatic light control as defined in claim 7 wherein breaking means are provided to engage said light valve shaft hub means to retain said latter means in a fixed position upon rotational alignment with said correlation hub means.