Patent US3797933A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3797933A
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Apparatus for making color enlargements
Assignee: Sable Photo Works Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-03
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-02-03
Abstract
Abstract This invention involves a system for making color enlargements from a transparency, either positive or negative, wherein a color analyzer light beneath a transparent window in the base is used to compare the relative intensities of the red, blue and green light contained in a diffused image transmitted by an unknown transparency with the predetermined intensities of these same colors of light transmitted by a preselected reference transparency in order to determine the relative color balance therebetween. The overall exposure time found necessary to produce an acceptable print at the chosen aperture and degree of image magnification is then determined through further comparison with the preselected yellow transparency and this information is coupled with the ratio of relative intensities to arrive at red, blue and green exposure intervals which are separately though simultaneously timed. Two filters are mounted for independent movement into the path of the projected image, the first being of a hue selected to block the color of light selected from the above group already known to require the shortest exposure time, and the second being of a hue selected from the remaining two colors adapted to block that color previously found to require the next shortest exposure time. Control circuitry operatively interconnects the timing and filter actuating mechanisms so as to automatically time the exposures in accordance with the predetermined and preset schedule. In doing so, the circuit functions upon actuation to turn on the enlarger lamp and initiate all three time intervals. Next, it automatically extends the first filter into its extended operative position when the shortest of the three color exposure intervals times out and then it extends the second filter into operative position when the next shortest predetermined color exposure interval times out. Finally, the control circuit becomes operative to shut off the enlarger lamp when the predetermined overall exposure time expires thus terminating the last and longest of the three exposures. The unique combination of subassemblies which cooperate with one another to carry out the foregoing novel procedure together with the procedure itself constitute the subject matter hereof.
Inventors
- 👤 A Sable
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:51
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/72; G03B27/73; G03B27/735
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
357 words
Apparatus for making color enlargements from a color transparency which comprises: a lamp housing containing a source of illumination mounted for relative movement toward and away from an upwardly-facing supporting surface; lens means mounted on the underside of the lamp housing for movement therewith, said means being adapted to transmit a focused full-color reproduction of the image on a transparency placed thereabove on a supporting surface therebeneath; first and second filter means mounted for independent movement from a retracted inoperative position to an extended operative position either above or below the lens means, said first filter means being of a hue effective to block whichever color of red, blue or green light known to require the shortest exposure time of the three in accordance with a predetermined analysis of the transparency, and said second filter means being of a hue effective to block whichever one of the remaining two colors of the aforesaid three colors that was predetermined to require the second shortest exposure; first, second and third adjustable timing means adapted to separately and simultaneously time one of the red, blue or green exposures; first and second filter actuating means connected to the first and second filter means operative upon actuation to extend same indepedently of one another; a first timing circuit interconnecting the first timing means and first filter actuating means operative upon actuation to extend the first filter means and terminate the shortest of the three exposures following the lapse of the preset exposure time therefor; a second timing circuit interconnecting the second timing means and the second filter actuating means operative upon actuating to extend the second filter means and terminate the second shortest exposure of the three upon the lapse of the preset exposure time therefor; a third timing circuit interconnecting the third timing Means and the source of illumination operative upon actuation to extinguish the latter upon the lapse of the preset exposure time corresponding to the longest of the three exposures; and, control means connected to the source of illumination and to the first, second and third timing circuits operative upon actuation in a first position to simultaneously actuate same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
357 words
Apparatus for making color enlargements from a color transparency which comprises: a lamp housing containing a source of illumination mounted for relative movement toward and away from an upwardly-facing supporting surface; lens means mounted on the underside of the lamp housing for movement therewith, said means being adapted to transmit a focused full-color reproduction of the image on a transparency placed thereabove on a supporting surface therebeneath; first and second filter means mounted for independent movement from a retracted inoperative position to an extended operative position either above or below the lens means, said first filter means being of a hue effective to block whichever color of red, blue or green light known to require the shortest exposure time of the three in accordance with a predetermined analysis of the transparency, and said second filter means being of a hue effective to block whichever one of the remaining two colors of the aforesaid three colors that was predetermined to require the second shortest exposure; first, second and third adjustable timing means adapted to separately and simultaneously time one of the red, blue or green exposures; first and second filter actuating means connected to the first and second filter means operative upon actuation to extend same indepedently of one another; a first timing circuit interconnecting the first timing means and first filter actuating means operative upon actuation to extend the first filter means and terminate the shortest of the three exposures following the lapse of the preset exposure time therefor; a second timing circuit interconnecting the second timing means and the second filter actuating means operative upon actuating to extend the second filter means and terminate the second shortest exposure of the three upon the lapse of the preset exposure time therefor; a third timing circuit interconnecting the third timing Means and the source of illumination operative upon actuation to extinguish the latter upon the lapse of the preset exposure time corresponding to the longest of the three exposures; and, control means connected to the source of illumination and to the first, second and third timing circuits operative upon actuation in a first position to simultaneously actuate same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: the lens means includes an adjustable diaphragm operative upon actuation to vary the intensity of the light transmitted thereby; and, in which color analysis means of the type adapted to compare the relative intensities of the red, blue and green light transmitted by an unknown transparency with that transmitted by a preselected reference transparency is positioned in the path of the light transmitted by the lens means, said analysis means and lens means cooperating with one another upon adjustment of the diaphragm in the latter to define a ratio of exposure times for the unknown transparency corresponding to those of the preselected reference transparency known to reproduce the color balance found therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: the lens includes an adjustable diaphragm operative upon actuation to vary the intensity of the light transmitted thereby; and, in which an exposure analysis means for the type adapted to compare the intensity of the light transmitted by an unknown transparency at a selected degree of image magnification with that transmitted by a preselected reference transparency when making an acceptable print in a known exposure time is placed in the path of the light transmitted by the lens means, said analysis means and lens means cooperating with one another upon adjustment of the diaphragm in the latter to define an equivalent set of conditions for producing an acceptable print from the unknown transparency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: a transparent filter of a hue effective to attenuate red or green or blue light is interposed in the light path, said filter being of a density adapted to insure that the exposure time of the colored light it attenuates will be the longest of the three.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: the control means includes a second position operative to actuate the source of illumination while leaving the first, second and third timing means deactuated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: the first, second and third timing circuits are connected in parallel with one another; and, in which switch means operative in open position to disconnect the second and third timing circuits from the first is interposed therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 1 in which: the first and second filter means are mounted one above the other in superimposed relation for independent movement between their extended and retracted positions; first and second latch means operative to releasably hold the first and second filters in retracted position are located adjacent thereto; and, in which the first and second filter actuating means operate upon actuation to release the filters associated therewith from the latch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 2 in which: a base with an upwardly-facing supporting surface is positioned beneath the lamp housing, said supporting surface having a transparent window therein and a cavity beneath said window; and, in which the color analysis means is located in the cavity beneath the window.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 2 in which: a diffusion filter is mounted for movement from a retracted inoperative position into an extended operative position adapted to diffuse the pro-jected image falling on the color analysis means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatuS for making color enlargements as set forth in claim 3 in which: the exposure analysis means is movable relative to the projected image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
The apparatus for making enlargements as set forth in claim 7 in which; spring means are connected to the first and second filter means normally biasing same into extended position; the latch means comprises permanent magnets adapted to hold the first and second filter means in retracted position in opposition to the bias exerted thereon by the spring means; and, in which the first and second filter actuating means comprise solenoids connected to the first and second filter means operative upon actuation to relrease same from the pull exerted thereon by the magnets to a degree where the spring means will overcome the latter and bias them into extended position.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
The apparatus for determining the red, green and blue light exposure intervals effective to reproduce the same color balance in a color print made from an unknown transparency as are present in a color print made from a preselected reference transparency which comprises: a lamp housing containing a source of illumination; lens means carried by said lamp housing having an adjustable diaphragm and a scale associated therewith calibrated to indicate the intensity of the light passing therethrough; and, color analysis means of the type capable of matching the intensities of red, blue and green light transmitted by an unknown transparency with that transmitted by a preselected reference transparency in accordance with a predetermined relationship, said color analyzer means cooperating with said lens means upon adjustment of the diaphragm in the latter to define a ratio of exposure values capable of reproducing the color valance in said reference transparency.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
The apparatus for determining the red, green and blue light exposure intervals effective to reproduce the same color balance in a color print made from an unknown transparency as are present in a color print made from a preselected reference transparency which comprises: a lamp housing containing a source of illumination; lens means carried by said lamp housing having an adjustable diaphragm and a scale associated therewith calibrated to indicate the intensity of the light passing therethrough; and, color analysis means of the type capable of matching the intensities of red, blue and green light transmitted by an unknown transparency with that transmitted by a preselected reference transparency in accordance with a predetermined relationship, said color analyzer means cooperating with said lens means upon adjustment of the diaphragm in the latter to define a ratio of exposure values capable of reproducing the color valance in said reference transparency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 12 which includes: diffusion means positionable between the color analysis means and transparency adapted to diffuse the image reproduced of the latter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
331 words
The method of producing a color print from an unknown transparency so as to substantially reproduce same which comprises the steps of: passing white light through the unknown transparency to produce a full-color projected image thereof; diffusing the full-color image to produce a full-color diffused image, selectively filtering the diffused image so as to separate same into its red, blue and green components; adjusting the intensities of each component so as to match those of a preselected reference transparency in accordance with a predetermined relationship; establishing a ratio of component intensities for the known transparency that matches those of the reference transparency and converting same to a ratio of component exposure values; adjusting the degree of magnification of the undiffused full-color image to that of the final print; comparing the intensity of the full-color image thus magnified with the total exposure time for the reference transparency and determining a total exposure time for the unknown transparency corresponding thereto; equating the exposure time of the color component requiring the longest exposure to said predetermined total exposure time for the magnified full-color image of the unknown transparency; selecting exposure times for the two remaining color components that bear the same relationship to one another and to the time chosen for the third as exists in the predetermined ratio of their exposure values; exposing the print to the magnified undiffused image projected in full color through the unknown transparency for a time interval corresponding to the shortest of the predetermined exposure times for the three colors; selectively filtering out the color component requiring the shortest exposure time for the balance of the total exposure time commencing at the conclusion of the shortest of the predetermined exposure times; selectively filtering out the color component requiring the next shortest exposure time for the balance of the total exposure time commencing at the conclusion of the next longer of the predeterMined exposure times; and, extinguishing the white light at the conclusion of the total predetermined exposure time.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
331 words
The method of producing a color print from an unknown transparency so as to substantially reproduce same which comprises the steps of: passing white light through the unknown transparency to produce a full-color projected image thereof; diffusing the full-color image to produce a full-color diffused image, selectively filtering the diffused image so as to separate same into its red, blue and green components; adjusting the intensities of each component so as to match those of a preselected reference transparency in accordance with a predetermined relationship; establishing a ratio of component intensities for the known transparency that matches those of the reference transparency and converting same to a ratio of component exposure values; adjusting the degree of magnification of the undiffused full-color image to that of the final print; comparing the intensity of the full-color image thus magnified with the total exposure time for the reference transparency and determining a total exposure time for the unknown transparency corresponding thereto; equating the exposure time of the color component requiring the longest exposure to said predetermined total exposure time for the magnified full-color image of the unknown transparency; selecting exposure times for the two remaining color components that bear the same relationship to one another and to the time chosen for the third as exists in the predetermined ratio of their exposure values; exposing the print to the magnified undiffused image projected in full color through the unknown transparency for a time interval corresponding to the shortest of the predetermined exposure times for the three colors; selectively filtering out the color component requiring the shortest exposure time for the balance of the total exposure time commencing at the conclusion of the shortest of the predetermined exposure times; selectively filtering out the color component requiring the next shortest exposure time for the balance of the total exposure time commencing at the conclusion of the next longer of the predeterMined exposure times; and, extinguishing the white light at the conclusion of the total predetermined exposure time.
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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) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |