US4009959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exposure control unit
Assignee: American Seating Co
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Filing: 1975-06-26
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Granted: 1977-03-01
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Expires: 1995-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A programmable exposure control device for use on a photographic film printer for producing special effects in motion pictures such as a fade-in, fade-out, lap dissolve or other numerous special effects requiring variations in printing beam intensity. The exposure control device comprises a mechanical shutter capable of progressively varying the intensity of the printing beam at any predetermined rate. A control system is provided for operating the shutter and includes a memory portion for storing preselected operating curves for a plurality of film exposure characteristics. The control unit is connected to a tape reader for supplying information to the control unit, for example, relating to the length of the particular fade desired. The tape reader also may provide information for controlling the position at which a fade or other special effect is to begin or end. The control unit also includes a multiple feedback servoloop portion including both position and velocity feedback of the shutter to correct for any deviation from the programmed values. An auxiliary manual control is provided for opening and closing of the shutter, and the entire control unit is optically isolated from the film printer.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J. Watson
- 👤 Larry L. Langrehr
- 👤 John H. Steiner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:25
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; and programmable means for said control means including storage means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined film exposure characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; and programmable means for said control means including storage means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined film exposure characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The exposure control device of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter means to effect operation thereof in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The exposure control device of claim 2 wherein said feedback means includes a position indicating means for said shutter means to adjust said control means in response to deviations from position dictates of said programmable means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The exposure control device of claim 2 including signal means responsive to the position of said shutter means for indicating whether said shutter means is in its first or second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The exposure control device of claim 1 wherein said shutter means includes a pair of reciprocally mounted vanes, said vanes being adapted to move between said first position toward one another to said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions at a non-linear rate; and programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
123 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions at a non-linear rate; and programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
157 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means; and feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter means to effect the operation thereof, said feedback means including a velocity indicating means for said shutter means to adjust said control means in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of the light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means; and feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter means to effect the operation thereof, said feedback means including a velocity indicating means for said shutter means to adjust said control means in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
168 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film, said shutter means including a pair of shutter vanes reciprocally mounted by a pair of spaced, parallel guide rails, said guide rails being pivotally connected at their ends to a pair of rotatable connecting arms for reciprocal movement of the vanes in response to rotation of the connecting arms; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; and programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
168 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having a light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a first position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity of said light beam is substantially cut off, to thereby vary the intensity of the light beam for exposing the film, said shutter means including a pair of shutter vanes reciprocally mounted by a pair of spaced, parallel guide rails, said guide rails being pivotally connected at their ends to a pair of rotatable connecting arms for reciprocal movement of the vanes in response to rotation of the connecting arms; control means for moving the shutter means between said positions; and programmable means for said control means to effect operation of said shutter means to vary the intensity of said light beam in accordance with a predetermined exposure curve dictated by said programmable means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The exposure control device of claim 8 wherein said connecting arms are rotatably mounted on a frame with one of the connecting arms connected to a drive means for rotation in response to energization of the drive means, said control means including position feedback means connected to the other of said connecting arms for position monitoring in response to movement of said vanes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The exposure control device of claim 9 including anti-backlash resilient means connected to at least one of said connecting arms to eliminate lost motion thereof to assure accurate position feedback to said control means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The exposure control device of claim 8 including velocity feedback means operatively associated with at least one of said guide rails for velocity monitoring in response to movement of said vanes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The exposure control device of claim 11 including presettable stop limit means associated with at least one of said connecting arms to prevent accidental damage to said shutter elements in the event of failure of said control means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
117 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having an exposure light beam, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position to progressively vary the intensity of said beam; control means for moving said shutter means between said positions in accordance with a predetermined rate; and programmable means for said control means to permit changing of said predetermined rate in accordance with a predetermined exposure characteristic for a particular film, said programmable means including storage means for storing fade scene length information, and memory means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates for controlling the movement of said shutter means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
An exposure control device for a photographic film printer having an exposure light beam, comprising: shutter means positioned in the path of said light beam and mounted for movement between a closed position and an open position to progressively vary the intensity of said beam; control means for moving said shutter means between said positions in accordance with a predetermined rate; and programmable means for said control means to permit changing of said predetermined rate in accordance with a predetermined exposure characteristic for a particular film, said programmable means including storage means for storing fade scene length information, and memory means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates for controlling the movement of said shutter means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The exposure control device of claim 13 wherein said programmable means includes reader means for intermittently sensing information bits from a control element for storage in said storage means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
138 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; and programmable means for said control means including storage means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with one of said predetermined rates to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
138 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; and programmable means for said control means including storage means for storing a plurality of preselected operating rates to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with one of said predetermined rates to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The programmable fader of claim 15 wherein said control means includes feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter vanes to effect operation thereof in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The programmable fader of claim 16 wherein said feedback means includes a position indicating means for said shutter vanes to adjust said control means in response to deviations from position dictates of said programmable means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The programmable fader of claim 15 including signal means responsive to the position of said shutter vanes for indicating whether said shutter vanes are in the first or second position.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
129 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions at a non-linear rate; and programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
129 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions at a non-linear rate; and programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
163 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film; and feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter means to effect the operation thereof, said feedback means including a velocity indicating means for said shutter means to adjust said control means in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
163 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film; and feedback means responsive to the movement of said shutter means to effect the operation thereof, said feedback means including a velocity indicating means for said shutter means to adjust said control means in accordance with said programmable means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
168 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film, said vanes being mounted on a pair of spaced, parallel guide rails, said guide rails being pivotally connected at their ends to a pair of rotatable connecting arms for reciprocal movement of the vanes in response to rotation of the connecting arms; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; and programmable means for said control means to effect the movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
168 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film, said vanes being mounted on a pair of spaced, parallel guide rails, said guide rails being pivotally connected at their ends to a pair of rotatable connecting arms for reciprocal movement of the vanes in response to rotation of the connecting arms; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; and programmable means for said control means to effect the movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The programmable fader of claim 21 wherein said feedback means includes a position indicator connected to at least one of said connecting arms to adjust said control means in response to deviations from a predetermined position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The programmable fader of claim 22 wherein said feedback means includes a velocity indicator to adjust said control means in response to deviations from a predetermined velocity.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The programmable fader of claim 22 wherein said connecting arms are rotatably mounted on the frame, with one of said connecting arms connected to a drive means for rotation in response to energization of the drive means by the control means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The programmable fader of claim 21 including anti-backlash resilient means connected to at least one of said connecting arms to eliminate lost motion thereof to assure accurate feedback to said control means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
206 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film; and programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film, said programmable means including reader means for intermittently sensing information bits from a control element relating to scene length information and selection means for choosing one of a plurality of memory means bearing information related to a particular film characteristic exposure curve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
206 words
A programmable fader for use in a photographic film printer having a printing light beam for exposure of the film, comprising: a frame; a pair of shutter vanes on the frame, movable between a first position wherein the intensity of said printing light beam is substantially unaffected and a second position wherein the intensity is substantially reduced to thereby permit varying of the intensity of the printing light beam for controlled exposure of the film; control means for moving the shutter vanes between said positions; programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film; and programmable means for said control means to effect movement of the shutter vanes in accordance with a predetermined rate to progressively vary the intensity of the printing light beam in accordance with the exposure characteristics of a particular film, said programmable means including reader means for intermittently sensing information bits from a control element relating to scene length information and selection means for choosing one of a plurality of memory means bearing information related to a particular film characteristic exposure curve.
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) | 1980-02-29 | 1980-08-30 | 1981-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-29 | 1984-08-30 | 1985-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-08-30 | 1989-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |