Photographic device with screen for controlling gradation of photographed image

Claim 2

A photographic device for photographing an image of an object on a photosensitive material, comprising: measuring means for measuring a luminous intensity distribution on the object to be photographed; and screen means including a screen member for controlling gradation of an image to be formed on a photosensitive material in accordance with the measured luminous intensity distribution on the object to be photographed; said screen member comprising an optical screen having an optically heterogeneous pattern consisting of relatively higher and lower transmission density portions for transmission of light therethrough, and said screen member being disposed in the proximate front of said photosensitive material so that said screen member is in the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material so that said pattern of said optical screen is photographed on the image of the object on said photosensitive material.

Claim 3

The photographic device of claim 1, wherein said optically heterogeneous pattern is arranged irregularly on said optical screen.

Claim 4

The photographic device of claim 1, wherein said optically heterogeneous pattern is variable, and said screen means includes means responsive to said measured luminous intensity distribution for varying said optically heterogeneous pattern as a function of said measured luminous intensity distribution.

Claim 5

The photographic device of claim 3, wherein said screen member comprises an electrochromic display device provided on a transparent substrate, said electrochromic display device including an electrochromic film sandwiched between two transparent electrode layers, each electrode layer having a number of electrodes and forming variable selected pairs of counter-electrodes whereat higher transmission density portions are to be formed and controlled to be varied in density by passage of the current therethrough.

Claim 6

The photographic device of claim 4, wherein said screen means includes means responsive to said measured luminous intensity distribution for generating an electrical signal corresponding to said measured luminous intensity distribution and means for coupling said electrical signal to said transparent electrode layers of said electrochromic display device for controlling the light transmission characteristics of said higher transmission density portions as a function of said measured luminous intensity distribution.

Claim 7

The photographic device of claim 1, wherein said screen means includes means responsive to said measured luminous intensity distribution for selectively moving said screen member between a first position in the proximate front of said photosensitive material and a second position out of the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material.

Claim 8

The photographic device of claim 6, wherein said means for moving said screen member comprises circuit means responsive to said measured luminous intensity distribution for generating a control signal; and motor means responsive to said control signal and coupled to said screen member for selectively moving said screen member between said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 9

The photographic device of claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprises a plurality of sensors.

Claim 10

The photographic device of claim 1, wherein said measuring means comprises a scanning spot photometric means.

Claim 11

A photographic device for photographing an image of an object on a photosensitive material, comprising: measuring means for measuring at least a maximum luminous intensity and a minimum luminous intensity on the object to be photographed; and screen means including a screen member for controlling gradation of an image to be formed on a photosensitive material in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities on the object to be photographed; said screen member comprising an optical screen having an optically heterogeneous pattern consisting of a relatively higher and lower transmission density portions for transmission of light therethrough, and said screen member being disposed in the proximate front of said photosensitive material so that said screen member is in the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material so that said pattern of said optical screen is photographed on the image of the object on said photosensitive material.

Claim 12

A photographic device for photographing an image of an object on a photosensitive material, comprising: measuring means for measuring at least a maximum luminous intensity and a minimum luminous intensity on the object to be photographed; and screen means including a screen member for controlling gradation of an image to be formed on a photosensitive material in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities on the object to be photographed; said screen member comprising an optical screen having an optically heterogeneous pattern consisting of a relatively higher and lower transmission density portions for transmission of light therethrough, and said screen member being disposed in the proximate front of said photosensitive material so that said screen member is in the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material so that said pattern of said optical screen is photographed on the image of the object on said photosensitive material.

Claim 13

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said optically heterogeneous pattern is arranged irregularly on said optical screen.

Claim 14

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said optically heterogeneous pattern is variable, and said screen means includes means responsive to said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities for varying said optically heterogeneous pattern as a function of said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities.

Claim 15

The photographic device of claim 12, wherein said means for varying varies said optically heterogeneous pattern as a function of the difference between said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities.

Claim 16

The photographic device of claim 12, wherein said screen member comprises an electrochromic display device provided on a transparent substrate, said electrochromic display device including an electrochromic film sandwiched between two transparent electrode layers, each electrode layer having a number of electrodes and forming variable selected pairs of counter-electrodes whereat higher transmission density portions are to be formed and controlled to be varied in density by passage of the current therethrough.

Claim 17

The photographic device of claim 14, wherein said screen means includes means responsive to said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the difference between said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities and means for coupling said electrical signal to said transparent electrode layers of said electrochromic display device for controlling the light transmission characteristics of said higher transmission density portions as a function of said electrical signal.

Claim 18

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said screen means includes means responsive to said predetermined relationship of said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities for selectively moving said screen member between a first position in the proximate front of said photosensitive material and a second position out of the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material.

Claim 19

The photographic device of claim 16, wherein said means for moving said screen member comprises circuit means for generating a control signal representative of said predetermined relationship between said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities; and motor means responsive to said control signal and coupled to said screen member for selectively moving said screen member between said first and second positions thereof.

Claim 20

The photographic device of claim 16, wherein said means for selectively moving said screen member is responsive to the difference between said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities.

Claim 21

The photographic device of claim 17, wherein said circuit means generates said control signal which is representative of the difference between said maximum and minimum luminous intensities.

Claim 22

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said predetermined relationship is the difference between said measured maximum and minimum luminous intensities.

Claim 23

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said measuring means comprises a plurality of sensors.

Claim 24

The photographic device of claim 10, wherein said measuring means comprises a scanning spot photometric means.

Claim 27

The method of claim 23, wherein said step of controlling said screen member comprises selectively moving said screen member between a first position disposed in said proximate front of said photosensitive material and a second position out of the optical path between said object and said photosensitive material.

Claim 28

The method of claim 23, wherein said optically heterogeneous pattern is variable and said controlling step includes varying said optically heterogeneous pattern as a function of said measured luminous intensity distribution.

Claim 29

The method of claim 23, wherein said controlling step comprises controlling said screen member as a function of a relationship between a measured maximum and measured minimum luminous intensity on said object.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26, wherein said relationship is the difference between said measured maximum and measured minimum luminous intensity on said object.