Variable color photographic lighting source

Claim 2

A variable color light source for illuminating negatives in a photographic printer, said variable color light source comprising: means for receiving a plurality of individual light sources, each providing light of a different color; means for independently varying the intensity of said different colored light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and means for receiving said different colored light from each of said plurality of light sources and for combining said different colored light to provide light for a composite color representing an additive mixture of independent intensities of said different colored light; said receiving and combining means including a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of said bundles being equal to the number of said light sources, each of said plurality of bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to one of said plurality of light sources for receiving said light of different colors for transmission through said plurality of bundles to their respective ends; said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said receiving and combining means, said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles being interwoven to form a systematically ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from said composite output end to form light of a substantially composite color for illuminating the negatives, said individual fibers of each of said plurality of bundles being randomly arranged such that light received at their respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 3

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of individual light sources includes a source of red light, a source of green light, and a source of blue light and said receiving and combining means include first, second, and third bundles of optic fibers having their respective input ends optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green, and blue light.

Claim 4

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles are systematically arranged at said composite output end of said receiving and combining means in substantially parallel, adjacent, interdigitated rows, each of said rows having a repeating sequence of fibers selected alternatively from said individual fibers of said plurality of bundles, and said adjacent rows being configured to provide a repeating array of clusters of fibers at said composite output end, each of said clusters including one fiber from each of said plurality of bundles.

Claim 5

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said light receiving and combining means includes a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array of fibers at said composite output end is configured to include a plurality of surfaces which are inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 6

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of independent light sources includes at least a first light source providing light of one color and a second light source providing light of a color different from said one color.

Claim 7

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said individual optic fibers includes an inner core having a first index of refraction and an outer sheath, covering said core, having a second index of refraction which is lower than said first index of refraction.

Claim 8

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 wherein said plurality of individual light sources includes at least a source of red light, a source of green light, a source of blue light, and a source of white light.

Claim 9

A variable color light source as defined in claim 1 where each of said plurality of individual light sources includes an electrically powered lamp and said means connected to each of said plurality of individual light sources includes means for independently varying the power input to each of said lamps.

Claim 10

A variable color light source as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for independently varying the power input to each of said lamps includes means for varying the voltage input to each of said lamps.

Claim 11

A variable color light source as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of independent light sources includes a filter for transmitting light of a different color, said filters being positioned between said lamps and the input end of said bundle associated with each lamp.

Claim 12

A variable color light source for illuminating negatives in a photographic printer, said variable color light source comprising: means for receiving sources of red, green, and blue light; means for independently varying the intensity of said red, green, and blue light; and means for receiving and combining said red, green, and blue light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of said independent intensities of said red, said green, and said blue light; said receiving and combining means including first, second, and third bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of said first, second, and third bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green, and blue light for receiving said red, said green, and said blue light for transmission through said first, second, and third bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said first, second, and third bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from said first, second and third bundles, such that said red, green, and blue light intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color for illuminating the negatives, said individual fibers of each of said first, second, and third bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at their respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 13

A variable color light source for illuminating negatives in a photographic printer, said variable color light source comprising: means for receiving sources of red, green, and blue light; means for independently varying the intensity of said red, green, and blue light; and means for receiving and combining said red, green, and blue light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of said independent intensities of said red, said green, and said blue light; said receiving and combining means including first, second, and third bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of said first, second, and third bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green, and blue light for receiving said red, said green, and said blue light for transmission through said first, second, and third bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said first, second, and third bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from said first, second and third bundles, such that said red, green, and blue light intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color for illuminating the negatives, said individual fibers of each of said first, second, and third bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at their respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 14

A variable color light source as defined in claim 11 wherein said individual fibers of said first, second and third bundles are systematically arranged at said composite output end of said receiving and combining means in substantially parallel, adjacent, interdigitated rows, each of said rows having therein a repeating sequence of fibers selected alternatively from said individual fibers of said first, second, and third bundles and said adjacent rows being configured to provide a repeating array of clusters of fibers at said composite output end, each of said clusters including three fibers, one of each being selected from said individual fibers of said first, second, and third bundles.

Claim 15

A variable color light source as defined in claim 11 wherein said receiving and combining means includes a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array at said composite output end is configured to include a plurality of surfaces which are inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 16

A variable color light source as defined in claim 11 when said sources of red, green, and blue light each include a lamp associated therewith and an electrical power supply for supplying electrical power to each of said lamps and said means for independently varying the intensity of each of said red, green, and blue light sources includes means associated with said power supply for independently varying the power input to each of said lamps.

Claim 17

A variable color light source as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for independently varying the power input to each of said lamps includes means for varying the voltage input to each of said lamps.

Claim 18

A variable color light source as defined in claim 14 wherein said source of red light further includes a red light transmitting filter positioned between said lamp of said red light source and said input end of said first bundle of optic fibers and said green and blue light sources include, respectively, a green light transmitting filter and a blue light transmitting filter positioned, respectively, between said lamp of said green light source and said input end of said second bundle of optic fibers and said lamp of said blue light source and said input end of said third bundle of optic fibers.

Claim 19

A variable color light source as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said individual optic fibers includes an inner core having a first index of refraction and an outer sheath, covering said inner core, having a second index of refractIon which is lower than said first index of refraction.

Claim 20

A variable color light source as defined in claim 11 wherein said composite output end of said receiving and combining means is configured to have facets thereon for dispersing the light of a composite color.

Claim 21

A fiber optic light-mixing device for receiving light from a plurality of independent light sources, each of the light sources being configured to provide light of a different color and also being configured to have the intensity of its light output varied independently from the light output of the other light sources, and for combining the different colored light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of said independent intensities of the different colored light, said fiber optic light-mixing device comprising: a plurality of incoherent bundles of individual optic fibers, the number of said incoherent bundles being equal to the number of the plurality of light sources, each of said incoherent bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of incoherent bundles being adapted to be optically coupled, respectively, to one of the plurality of light sources for receiving the different colored light for transmission through said plurality of incoherent bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of incoherent bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said fiber optic light mixing device by said individual optic fibers of said plurality of incoherent bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of incoherent bundles, such that the light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color, said individual fibers of each of said plurality of incoherent bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at the respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 22

A fiber optic light-mixing device for receiving light from a plurality of independent light sources, each of the light sources being configured to provide light of a different color and also being configured to have the intensity of its light output varied independently from the light output of the other light sources, and for combining the different colored light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of said independent intensities of the different colored light, said fiber optic light-mixing device comprising: a plurality of incoherent bundles of individual optic fibers, the number of said incoherent bundles being equal to the number of the plurality of light sources, each of said incoherent bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of incoherent bundles being adapted to be optically coupled, respectively, to one of the plurality of light sources for receiving the different colored light for transmission through said plurality of incoherent bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of incoherent bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said fiber optic light mixing device by said individual optic fibers of said plurality of incoherent bundles being systematically interwoven to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of incoherent bundles, such that the light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color, said individual fibers of each of said plurality of incoherent bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at the respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 23

A fiber optic light-mixing device as defined in claim 19 wherein there are at least first and second light sources each providing light of a different color and said light-mixing device includes a first incoherent bundle of optic fibers having its input end optically coupled to the first light source and a second incoherent bundle of optic fibers having its input end optically coupled to the second light source.

Claim 24

A fiber optic light-mixing device as defined in claim 20 wherein a plurality of independent light sources includes a source of red light, a source of green light, and a source of blue light and said light-mixing device includes first, second and third incoherent bundles of optic fibers having their respective input ends optically coupled, respectively, to the sources of red, green, and blue light.

Claim 25

A fiber optic light-mixing device as defined in claim 19 wherein said individual fibers of said plurality of incoherent bundles are systematically arranged at said composite output end of said light-mixing device in parallel, adjacent, interdigitated rows, each of said rows having a repeating sequence of fibers selected alternatively from said individual fibers of said plurality of incoherent bundles, said adjacent rows being configured to provide a repeating array of clusters of fibers at said composite output end, each of said clusters including one fiber from each of said plurality of incoherent bundles.

Claim 26

A color mixing device as defined in claim 19 wherein said light-mixing device includes a longitudinal light transmission axis and said ordered array at said composite output end is configured to include a plurality of surfaces which are inclined with respect to said light transmission axis for directing light of a composite color outwardly from said light transmission axis.

Claim 27

A fiber optic light-mixing device as defined in claim 19 wherein Said individual optic fibers include an inner core having a first index of refraction and an outer sheath, covering said inner core, having a second index of refraction which is lower than said first index of refraction.

Claim 28

A photographic printer for exposing photosensitive material to an image of an illuminated transparency, said photographic printer comprising: means for supporting photosensitive material; means for supporting a transparency in alignment with the photosensitive material; a projection lens positioned between said photosensitive material and transparency support means for projecting an image of a transparency supported by said transparency support means onto the photosensitive material supported by said photosensitive material support means; and a variable color light source for illuminating the transparency such that an image thereof may be projected onto the photosensitive material by said projection lens; said color variable light source comprising; means for receiving a plurality of individual light sources, each providing light of a different color; means connected to each of said plurality of light sources for independently varying the intensity of said different colored light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and means for receiving said different colored light from each of said plurality of light sources and for combining said different colored light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of various intensities of said different colored light; said receiving and combining means including a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of bundles being equal to the number of said plurality of independent light sources, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to one of said plurality of light sources for receiving said light of different colors for transmission through said plurality of bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said receiving and combining means by systematically interweaving said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that said light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color for illuminating the negative, said individual fibers of each of said plurality of bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at their respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 29

A photographic printer for exposing photosensitive material to an image of an illuminated transparency, said photographic printer comprising: means for supporting photosensitive material; means for supporting a transparency in alignment with the photosensitive material; a projection lens positioned between said photosensitive material and transparency support means for projecting an image of a transparency supported by said transparency support means onto the photosensitive material supported by said photosensitive material support means; and a variable color light source for illuminating the transparency such that an image thereof may be projected onto the photosensitive material by said projection lens; said color variable light source comprising; means for receiving a plurality of individual light sources, each providing light of a different color; means connected to each of said plurality of light sources for independently varying the intensity of said different colored light provided by each of said plurality of light sources; and means for receiving said different colored light from each of said plurality of light sources and for combining said different colored light to produce light of a composite color representing an additive mixture of various intensities of said different colored light; said receiving and combining means including a plurality of bundles of individual light transmitting optic fibers, the number of bundles being equal to the number of said plurality of independent light sources, each of said bundles having an input end and an output end, said input ends of each of said plurality of bundles being optically coupled, respectively, to one of said plurality of light sources for receiving said light of different colors for transmission through said plurality of bundles to their respective output ends; said output ends of said plurality of bundles being integrated with one another to form a composite output end of said receiving and combining means by systematically interweaving said individual optic fibers of said plurality of bundles to form an ordered array of fibers, selected alternatively from each of said plurality of bundles, such that said light of different colors intermixes when transmitted from said composite output end to form light of a composite color for illuminating the negative, said individual fibers of each of said plurality of bundles being randomly arranged therein such that light received at their respective input ends is transmitted to said ordered array at said composite output end in an incoherent manner.

Claim 30

The photographic printer as defined in claim 25 wherein said plurality of independent light sources includes sources of red, green, and blue light and said plurality of bundles of optic fibers includes first, second, and third bundles having their respective input ends optically coupled, respectively, to said sources of red, green, and blue light.

Claim 31

The printer of claim 25 further including at least one condensing lens positioned between said composite output end and said means for supporting a negative.

Claim 32

A printer of claim 27 where said composite output end has facets thereon for dispersing the light of a composite color such that it completely fills said condensing lens.

Claim 33

A printer of claim 27 further including a negative lens between said composite output end and said at least one condensing lens for further dispersing said light of a composite color.