US3709613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining printing time of negatives
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert AG
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Filing: 1970-11-13
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1990-11-13
Abstract
Abstract The light transmitted through each negative is measured at N regions to obtain a transparency or density at each of these regions. The measured values are then compared with each other and, on the basis of this comparison, the negatives are grouped to obtain the correct printing time with density correction.
Inventors
- 👤 V Weinert
- 👤 W Zahn
- 👤 G Friedrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:01
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/26; B05B1/262; B05B1/265; F; F23; F23D; F23D11/00; F23D11/36; F23D11/40; G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/72; G03B27/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of automatically sorting negatives into a plurality of exposure-correction classification groups preliminary to the setting of exposure corrections for such negatives, comprising the first step of passing light through each of the negatives; the second step of sensing a plurality of first values corresponding to the light transmitted through each of N regions of each of the negatives, said plurality of first values including two extreme values; the third step of determining for each negative a second value corresponding to the average with respect to the total number of regions N of said first values; the fourth step of determining for each negative the number n2 of regions whose respective first value lies within a first range intermediate said second value and a preselected one of said extreme values; the fifth step of determining for each negative whether said number n2 lies within a preselected second range intermediate O and N; the sixth step of determining for each negative whether said second value lies within a preselected third range; the seventh step of establishing a plurality of classification groups respectively intended to contain negatives whose second value lies within said preselected third range, whose second value lies outside said preselected third range, whose number n2 lies within said preselected second range, whose number n2 lies outside said preselected second range; and the eighth step of assigning negatives to appropriate respective groups on the basis of the determinations made in said first to seventh steps.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
246 words
A method of automatically sorting negatives into a plurality of exposure-correction classification groups preliminary to the setting of exposure corrections for such negatives, comprising the first step of passing light through each of the negatives; the second step of sensing a plurality of first values corresponding to the light transmitted through each of N regions of each of the negatives, said plurality of first values including two extreme values; the third step of determining for each negative a second value corresponding to the average with respect to the total number of regions N of said first values; the fourth step of determining for each negative the number n2 of regions whose respective first value lies within a first range intermediate said second value and a preselected one of said extreme values; the fifth step of determining for each negative whether said number n2 lies within a preselected second range intermediate O and N; the sixth step of determining for each negative whether said second value lies within a preselected third range; the seventh step of establishing a plurality of classification groups respectively intended to contain negatives whose second value lies within said preselected third range, whose second value lies outside said preselected third range, whose number n2 lies within said preselected second range, whose number n2 lies outside said preselected second range; and the eighth step of assigning negatives to appropriate respective groups on the basis of the determinations made in said first to seventh steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first values are transparency values.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said second range is between N/2 and N.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said sixth step comprises determining whether said second value is greater than or equal to a preselected arbitrary value d.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1, said extreme values being first and second extreme values; and further comprising the eighth step of determining for each negative whether said first extreme value lies within a preselected fourth range, and wherein said seventh step comprises establishing classification groups respectively intended to contain negativEs whose first extreme value lies within said fourth range and whose first extreme value lies outside said fourth range.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said first extreme value is the lower of said extreme values, and wherein said eighth step comprises determining whether said first extreme value is greater than or equal to a preselected arbitrary value c.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said seventh step is performed prior to said sixth step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fifth step comprises determining whether said second value lies within the range between (N/2) + a and N, where a is a preselected arbitrary constant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fifth step comprises determining whether said second value lies within the range between O and (N/2) - b, where b is a preselected arbitrary constant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
An arrangement for automatically sorting negatives into a plurality of exposure-correction classification groups preliminary to the setting of exposure corrections for such negatives, comprising N photoelectric transducer means arranged in grid formation for determining a plurality of first values corresponding to the light transmitted through each of N regions of a photographic negative, said plurality of first values including two extreme values; first means for determining a second value corresponding to the average of said first values; second means for determining the number n2 of regions whose respective first value lies within a first range intermediate said second value and a preselected one of said extreme values; third means for determining whether said number n2 lies within a preselected second range intermediate O and N; fourth means for determining whether said second value lies within a preselected third range; and decoder means for automatically assigning negatives to appropriate classification groups respectively intended to contain negatives whose second value lies within said preselected third range, whose second value lies outside said preselected third range, whose number n2 lies within said preselected second range, and whose number n2 lies outside said preselected second range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
An arrangement for automatically sorting negatives into a plurality of exposure-correction classification groups preliminary to the setting of exposure corrections for such negatives, comprising N photoelectric transducer means arranged in grid formation for determining a plurality of first values corresponding to the light transmitted through each of N regions of a photographic negative, said plurality of first values including two extreme values; first means for determining a second value corresponding to the average of said first values; second means for determining the number n2 of regions whose respective first value lies within a first range intermediate said second value and a preselected one of said extreme values; third means for determining whether said number n2 lies within a preselected second range intermediate O and N; fourth means for determining whether said second value lies within a preselected third range; and decoder means for automatically assigning negatives to appropriate classification groups respectively intended to contain negatives whose second value lies within said preselected third range, whose second value lies outside said preselected third range, whose number n2 lies within said preselected second range, and whose number n2 lies outside said preselected second range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10 wherein said transducer means comprise operational amplifier means for providing amplified electrical signals corresponding to said first values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, said transducer means having respective outputs at which are produced electrical signals respectively corresponding to said first values, and wherein said first means comprises summing amplifier means having an input connected with said outputs of said transducer means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
184 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, said transducer means having output means at which are produced electrical signals respectively corresponding to said first values, and said first means having output means at which is produced an electrical signal corresponding to said second value, and wherein said second means comprises a plurality of comparator means each including input means comprising a first input connected with said output means of said first means and a second input connected with a respective output means of said transducer means, each of said purality of comparator means having output means at which is produced an electrical signal indicative of whether said second value is greater than the respective one of said first values, said second means further comprising summing amplifier means having an input connected with the output means of said comparator means and having an output at which is produced an electrical signal corresponding to the sum of the signals at said output means of said comparator means, and thereby corresponding to the number n2 of regions whose respective first value is less than said second value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, said second means having an output at which is produced an electrIcal signal corresponding to said second value, and wherein said third means comprises comparator means having a first input connected with said output of said second means and a second input connected with a reference source and furnished with an electrical input signal corresponding to a limit value of said second range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, said second means having an output at which is produced an electrical signal corresponding to said second value, and wherein said fourth means comprises comparator means having a first input connected with said output of said second means and a second input connected with a reference source and furnished with an electrical input signal corresponding to a preselected arbitrary value.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |