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US3883243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Light color regulating apparatus
Assignee: Berkey Photo Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-25
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-09-25
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed apparatus forms part of the lamp house in a photographic enlarger. Three dichroic filters partially intercept a white light beam emerging from a light source. The filters divide the beam into a white portion and an intensely colored portion. A mixing chamber receives the beam to mix the white and intensely colored light which is used to illuminate a color slide or negative having a color image. Suitable controls coupled to the filters move the filters into and out of the beam along a continuous path between predetermined limits that define the maximum and minimum color densities of the light emerging from the chamber. A number of readouts coupled to the controls display the extent to which the filters have been moved between the limits and represent the colored density of the position of the filters. The readouts exhibit a given reading for a predetermined color and density. When the character of the beam is changed by changing the source, it is necessary for the controls to readjust the filters to different positions in order to obtain the predetermined color and density. A coupler decouples the readouts from the controls so that the readouts can be set to the same readings for the predetermined color and density when the controls cause the filters to produce the predetermined color and density. The controls and readouts are then recoupled.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis L Weisglass
- 👤 Robert A Flieder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/72; G03B27/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
A color control apparatus, comprising a housing; light source means replaceably mounted in said housing for forming a light beam; color filter means movable at least partially into the path of the beam for coloring at least a portion of the beam and leaving the remainder of the beam uncolored when only a portion of the beam is colored; chamber means in the path of the beam beyond the filter means for mixing the colored portion of the beam with the remainder of the beam so as to produce a light whose color and density vary in response to the color of the filter means and the extent to which the filter means intercepts the beam; control means coupled to the filter means for moving the filter means into and out of the beam along a continuous path between limits which define the maximum and minimum color densities of the colored light produced by the chamber means so as to control the color density of the color produced by the chamber means; readout means coupled to said control means for displaying a reading indicating the extent to which filter means has been moved between the limits and hence the color density of the light which the chamber means produces; said source means being replaceable so as to result in change in the character of the beam relative to said filter means; said control means being settable to a first position for one source means creating one beam and to a second position for another source means changing the character of the beam; decoupling means engaging said readout means for decoupling the readout means from said control means to permit matching of a given reading for a predetermined color and density set by the control means and for recoupling said control means and said readout means thereafter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
A color control apparatus, comprising a housing; light source means replaceably mounted in said housing for forming a light beam; color filter means movable at least partially into the path of the beam for coloring at least a portion of the beam and leaving the remainder of the beam uncolored when only a portion of the beam is colored; chamber means in the path of the beam beyond the filter means for mixing the colored portion of the beam with the remainder of the beam so as to produce a light whose color and density vary in response to the color of the filter means and the extent to which the filter means intercepts the beam; control means coupled to the filter means for moving the filter means into and out of the beam along a continuous path between limits which define the maximum and minimum color densities of the colored light produced by the chamber means so as to control the color density of the color produced by the chamber means; readout means coupled to said control means for displaying a reading indicating the extent to which filter means has been moved between the limits and hence the color density of the light which the chamber means produces; said source means being replaceable so as to result in change in the character of the beam relative to said filter means; said control means being settable to a first position for one source means creating one beam and to a second position for another source means changing the character of the beam; decoupling means engaging said readout means for decoupling the readout means from said control means to permit matching of a given reading for a predetermined color and density set by the control means and for recoupling said control means and said readout means thereafter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said color filter means include a plurality of filters and said control means include a plurality of controls coupled to said filters, said readout means including a plurality of displays each display being coupled to one of said controls, said decoupling means disengaging and reengaging each of the controls with each of said displays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said controls produce a linear relationship between the movement of said filters and said displays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said controls each includes a cam coupled to one of said displays and a cam follower for moving one of the filters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein each of said controls includes a gear, said displays each including a spur engageable with a respective one of the gears, said decoupling means decoupling each of the spurs from the gears and recoupling them.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said controls each includes a cam coupled to one of said displays and a cam follower for moving one of the filters, said gears being coupled to said cams for movement of said cams.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said decoupling means includes bearing means for mounting the spurs and resilient means for allowing movement of said bearing means relative to said gears so as to disengage the spurs from the gears.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said controls each includes a cam coupled to one of said displays and a cam follower for moving one of the filters, said gears being coupled to said cams for movement of said cams.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said resilient means includes a post resiliently mounting said bearing means and said decoupling means further including an operator movable key for moving said bearing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said key is movable within said bearing means for allowing withdrawal from said bearing means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said displays are digital.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
An apparatus as in cLaim 5, wherein said displays are digital.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said control means move said filter means to produce a linear relationship between the display of said readout means and the density of the color.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said control means includes cam means coupled to said readout means and cam follower means holding said filter means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said control means includes gear means engaging said readout means and movable by an operator, said readout means including spur means, said decoupling means decoupling and recoupling said gear means and spur means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said control means includes cam means coupled to said readout means and cam follower means holding said filter means, said gear means being coupled to said cam means for movement of said cam means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said decoupling means includes bearing means for mounting said spur means, said decoupling means having resilient means for allowing movement of said bearing means relative to said gear means so that said bearing means can disengage said spur means from said gear means in response to movement of said bearing means by an operator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said control means includes cam means coupled to said readout means and cam follower means holding said filter means, said gear means being coupled to said cam means for movement of said cam means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said resilient means includes a post resiliently mounting said bearing means and said decoupling means further including an operator movable key for moving said bearing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 19, wherein said key is movable within said bearing means for allowing withdrawal from said bearing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein said readout means is digital.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said readout means is digital.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
337 words
An enlarger, comprising a color control apparatus, comprising a housing; light source means replaceably mounted in said housing for forming a light beam; color filter means movable at least partially into the path of the beam for coloring at least a portion of the beam and leaving the remainder of the beam uncolored when only a portion of the beam is colored; objective means for holding a film in the path of light from said chamber means and for producing an image on the film on a predetermined plane; chamber means in the path of the beam beyond the filter means for mixing the colored portion of the beam with the remainder of the beam so as to produce a light whose color and density vary in response to the color of the filter means and the extent to which the filter means intercepts the beam; control means coupled to the filter means for moving the filter means into and out of the beam along a continuous path between limits which define the maximum and minimum color densities of the colored light produced by the chamber means so as to control the color density of the colored light produced by the chamber means. readout means coupled to said control means for displaying a reading indicating the extent to which filter means has been moved between the limits and hence the color density of the light which the chamber means produces; said source means being replaceable so as to result in change in the character of the beam relative to said filter means; said control means being settable to a first position for one source means creating one beam and to a second position for another source means changing the character of the beam; decoupling means engaging said readout means for decoupling the readout means from said control means to permit matching of a given reading for the predetermined color and density set by the control means and for recoupling said controls means and said readout means thereafter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
337 words
An enlarger, comprising a color control apparatus, comprising a housing; light source means replaceably mounted in said housing for forming a light beam; color filter means movable at least partially into the path of the beam for coloring at least a portion of the beam and leaving the remainder of the beam uncolored when only a portion of the beam is colored; objective means for holding a film in the path of light from said chamber means and for producing an image on the film on a predetermined plane; chamber means in the path of the beam beyond the filter means for mixing the colored portion of the beam with the remainder of the beam so as to produce a light whose color and density vary in response to the color of the filter means and the extent to which the filter means intercepts the beam; control means coupled to the filter means for moving the filter means into and out of the beam along a continuous path between limits which define the maximum and minimum color densities of the colored light produced by the chamber means so as to control the color density of the colored light produced by the chamber means. readout means coupled to said control means for displaying a reading indicating the extent to which filter means has been moved between the limits and hence the color density of the light which the chamber means produces; said source means being replaceable so as to result in change in the character of the beam relative to said filter means; said control means being settable to a first position for one source means creating one beam and to a second position for another source means changing the character of the beam; decoupling means engaging said readout means for decoupling the readout means from said control means to permit matching of a given reading for the predetermined color and density set by the control means and for recoupling said controls means and said readout means thereafter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
An Enlarger as in claim 23, wherein said color filter means include a plurality of filters and said control means include a plurality of controls coupled to said filters, said readout means including a plurality of displays each display being coupled to one of said controls said decoupling means disengaging and reengaging each of the controls with each of said displays.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
197 words
An apparatus as in claim 24, wherein said controls produce a a linear relationship between the densities of the colors and the indications of said displays. wherein said controls each include a cam coupled to one of said displays and a cam follower for moving one of the filters; wherein each of said controls includes a gear, said displays each including a spur engageable with a respective one of the gears, said decoupling means decoupling each of the spurs from the gears and recoupling them; wherein said decoupling means includes bearing means for mounting the spurs and resilient means for allowing movement of said bearing means relative to said gears so as to disengage the spurs from the gears. wherein said controls each includes a cam coupled to one of said displays and a cam follower for moving one of the filters, said gears being coupled to said cam for movement of said cams; wherein said resilient means includes a post resiliently mounting said bearing means and said decoupling means further including an operator movable key for moving said bearing means; wherein said key is movable within said bearing means for allowing withdrawal from said bearing means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
184 words
An enlarger as in claim 23 wherein said control means move said filter means to produce a linear relationship between the density of the color and the indication of said readout means; wherein said control means includes cam means coupled to said readout means and cam follower means holding said filter means; wherein said control means include gear means engaging said readout means and movable by an operator, said readout means including spur means, said decoupling means decoupling and recoupling said gear means and spur means; wherein said decoupling means includes bearing means for mounting said spur means, said decoupling means having resilient means for allowing movement of said bearing means relative to said gear means so that said bearing means can disengage said spur means from said gear means in response to movement of said bearing means by an operator; wherein said resilient means includes a post resiliently mounting said bearing means and said decoupling means further including an operator movable key for moving said bearing means; wherein said key is movable within said bearing means for allowing withdrawal from said bearing means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
169 words
The method of producing color prints with an enlarger comprising analyzing a number of negatives to determine their color characteristics and assigning numbers to each negative on the basis of the analysis; for each negative setting an indicator to the assigned numbers and thereby simultaneously positioning a plurality of color filters to intercept a portion of a beam from a light source an amount corresponding to the numbers; mixing the unintercepted portion of the beam with the intercepted portion of the beam so as to produce colored compensating light; projecting the colored compensating light through the film onto a plane for enlargement; in response to changes in the nature of the beam readjusting the color compensating light by varying the amount that the filters intercept the beam; adjusting the portions which indicate the numbers to the numbers for the negative to which the filters were adjusted; and disengaging the portion for adjusting the numbers from the portion adjusting the filters during one of the last two mentioned adjusting steps.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
169 words
The method of producing color prints with an enlarger comprising analyzing a number of negatives to determine their color characteristics and assigning numbers to each negative on the basis of the analysis; for each negative setting an indicator to the assigned numbers and thereby simultaneously positioning a plurality of color filters to intercept a portion of a beam from a light source an amount corresponding to the numbers; mixing the unintercepted portion of the beam with the intercepted portion of the beam so as to produce colored compensating light; projecting the colored compensating light through the film onto a plane for enlargement; in response to changes in the nature of the beam readjusting the color compensating light by varying the amount that the filters intercept the beam; adjusting the portions which indicate the numbers to the numbers for the negative to which the filters were adjusted; and disengaging the portion for adjusting the numbers from the portion adjusting the filters during one of the last two mentioned adjusting steps.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 27, wherein the step of disengaging is done during the step of adjusting the filters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 27, whereIn the step of disengaging is accomplished during the step of adjusting the numbers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |