US4474441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for controlling exposure by selective use of blocking visible filter
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
•
Filing: 1980-11-04
•
Granted: 1984-10-02
•
Expires: 2000-11-04
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for automatically controlling exposure of a photographic film by evaluating non-visible spectral scene light frequencies. Particularly for artificially lit scenes, an evaluation of predominantly infrared frequencies is preferred. In one embodiment, the IR scene lighting is evaluated under control of the shutter aperture system while in another embodiment, the strobe itself is controlled by its own photodetector responsive to IR scene light.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Millard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B7/00; G03B7/08; G03B7/081; G03B7/089; G03B7/16; G03B7/087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Image recording apparatus comprising: means for mounting image recordable material at a given focal plane; means for directing image forming light rays from the scene along a given path to the focal plane; an exposure control mechanism for defining an exposure interval; sensing means for evaluating radiation from said scene during the exposure interval, said sensing means including means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies to the evaluation during at least a portion of the exposure interval so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling non-illuminating functions of the image recording apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Image recording apparatus comprising: means for mounting image recordable material at a given focal plane; means for directing image forming light rays from the scene along a given path to the focal plane; an exposure control mechanism for defining an exposure interval; sensing means for evaluating radiation from said scene during the exposure interval, said sensing means including means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies to the evaluation during at least a portion of the exposure interval so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling non-illuminating functions of the image recording apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for producing a pulse of illumination directed at the scene, and wherein said means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies is operative during the pulse of illumination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the other frequencies are infrared frequencies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for providing a significant reduction in visible frequencies relative to other frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for substantially excluding all contribution from visible frequencies during at least the one portion of the exposure interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for blocking visible frequencies while evaluating infrared frequencies.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for producing a pulse of illumination directed at the scene during a selected portion of the exposure interval, and wherein the relative reduction in evaluation of the visible spectral frequencies is during at least a significant portion of the time of the pulse of illumination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
121 words
Image recording apparatus comprising: means for mounting image recordable material at a given focal plane; means for directing image forming light rays from the scene along a given path to the focal plane; an exposure control mechanism for defining an exposure aperture and an exposure interval; sensing means for evaluating radiation from said scene during the exposure interval, said sensing means including means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies to the evaluation during at least one portion of the exposure interval so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling the exposure control mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
Image recording apparatus comprising: means for mounting image recordable material at a given focal plane; means for directing image forming light rays from the scene along a given path to the focal plane; an exposure control mechanism for defining an exposure aperture and an exposure interval; sensing means for evaluating radiation from said scene during the exposure interval, said sensing means including means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies to the evaluation during at least one portion of the exposure interval so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and means responsive to the sensing means for controlling the exposure control mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for producing a pulse of illumination directed at the scene, and wherein said means for reducing the contribution of visible frequencies is operative during the pulse of illumination.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the other frequencies are infrared frequencies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for providing a significant reduction in visible frequencies relative to other frequencies.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for substantially excluding all contribution from visible frequencies during at least the one portion of the evaluation period.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for providing a reduction in contribution of visible frequencies includes means for blocking visible frequencies while evaluating infrared frequencies.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of recording scene light on image recordable material comprising the steps of: providing an exposure of the material by directing image forming light rays from a scene to the material during a given exposure interval; evaluating radiation from the scene during said given exposure interval with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies during at least a portion of said evaluation so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between scene objects; and controlling the exposure step substantially exclusive of direct control of scene illumination in accordance with such evaluation.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of recording scene light on image recordable material comprising the steps of: providing an exposure of the material by directing image forming light rays from a scene to the material during a given exposure interval; evaluating radiation from the scene during said given exposure interval with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible frequencies relative to other spectral frequencies during at least a portion of said evaluation so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between scene objects; and controlling the exposure step substantially exclusive of direct control of scene illumination in accordance with such evaluation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the other frequencies are infrared frequencies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said step of reducing the visible frequencies provides a significant reduction in visible frequencies relative to other frequencies during said portion of said evaluation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of reducing the visible contribution substantially excludes all visible frequencies.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of recording an image of a scene illuminated at least in part with artificial light, the method comprising the steps of: providing an exposure of image recording material by directing image forming light rays from a scene along a given exposure path to the image recordable material; directing artificial illumination at said scene during the exposure; evaluating radiation of selected spectral frequencies from said scene essentially excluding frequencies in the visible range during at least a portion of said illumination directing step so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and controlling the exposure step exclusive of said artificial illumination step in accordance with said evaluation to provide a suitable exposure.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of recording an image of a scene illuminated at least in part with artificial light, the method comprising the steps of: providing an exposure of image recording material by directing image forming light rays from a scene along a given exposure path to the image recordable material; directing artificial illumination at said scene during the exposure; evaluating radiation of selected spectral frequencies from said scene essentially excluding frequencies in the visible range during at least a portion of said illumination directing step so as to reduce the effect on such evaluation of differences in reflectivity values between objects in the scene being evaluated; and controlling the exposure step exclusive of said artificial illumination step in accordance with said evaluation to provide a suitable exposure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
122 words
A light system for use in recording an image of a scene, said system comprising: means for illuminating a scene with transient illumination providing visible and non-visible illumination; evaluating means for determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of the operation of said illuminating means, said evaluating means evaluating scene illumination, at least during said portion of the operation of said illuminating means, with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation value of differences in reflectivity of objects in the scene; and control means for controlling said illuminating means in accordance with said evaluation value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
122 words
A light system for use in recording an image of a scene, said system comprising: means for illuminating a scene with transient illumination providing visible and non-visible illumination; evaluating means for determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of the operation of said illuminating means, said evaluating means evaluating scene illumination, at least during said portion of the operation of said illuminating means, with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation value of differences in reflectivity of objects in the scene; and control means for controlling said illuminating means in accordance with said evaluation value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said evaluating means includes means for evaluating amounts of illumination in the scene during said portion with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination, and for summing said evaluated amounts of illumination to determine said evaluation value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said non-visible illumination is infrared.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said reduction in contribution of visible illumination relative to infrared illumination is significant.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said illuminating means includes at least one given lamp unit for artificially illuminating a scene with transient illumination containing both said visible and non-visible illumination, and said control means includes means for controlling at least said one given lamp unit in accordance with said evaluation value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 23 wherein said non-visible illumination is infrared.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for recording an image of a scene, said apparatus comprising: means for directing image-forming light rays from a scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene; means for illuminating the scene during said exposure interval with transient illumination providing visible and non-visible illumination; and evaluating means for determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said interval for controlling said apparatus, said evaluating means evaluating scene illumination, at least during said portion of said interval, with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation value of differences in reflectivity of objects in the scene.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for recording an image of a scene, said apparatus comprising: means for directing image-forming light rays from a scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene; means for illuminating the scene during said exposure interval with transient illumination providing visible and non-visible illumination; and evaluating means for determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said interval for controlling said apparatus, said evaluating means evaluating scene illumination, at least during said portion of said interval, with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said evaluation value of differences in reflectivity of objects in the scene.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said evaluating means includes means for evaluating amounts of illumination in said scene with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible illumination relative to said non-visible illumination and for summing the evaluated amounts of illumination to determine said evaluation value.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said non-visible illumination is infrared.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said reduction in contribution of visible illumination relative to said infrared is significant.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 28 wherein said reduction is such that said evaluation value is more dependent upon infrared than visible illumination.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said illuminating means includes at least one given lamp unit for artificially illuminating a scene with transient illumination containing both visible illumination and non-visible illumination, and said apparatus includes control means for controlling at least said one given lamp unit in acordance with said evaluation value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said reduction is such that said evaluation value is more dependent upon infrared illumination than visible.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for recording an image of a scene, said apparatus comprising: means for illuminating the scene with transient illumination providing at least non-visible illumination; means for directing image-forming light rays from a scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene; and evaluating means for determining an evaluation value related to the illumination in said scene for controlling said apparatus, said evaluating means evaluating illumination in said scene during at least a portion of the operation of said illuminating means with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination and summing said evaluated amounts of illumination to determine said evaluation value.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for recording an image of a scene, said apparatus comprising: means for illuminating the scene with transient illumination providing at least non-visible illumination; means for directing image-forming light rays from a scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene; and evaluating means for determining an evaluation value related to the illumination in said scene for controlling said apparatus, said evaluating means evaluating illumination in said scene during at least a portion of the operation of said illuminating means with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination and summing said evaluated amounts of illumination to determine said evaluation value.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said non-visible ilumination is infrared.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said reduction in contribution of visible illumination relative to infrared illumination is significant.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said control means controls said illuminating means to direct a given amount of visible illumination at said scene during said exposure interval in accordance with said summed evaluation value, said summed evaluation value is a time period determined in accordance with said summing of said evaluated amounts of illumination, and said apparatus includes control means for maintaining operation of said illuminating means for a given time proportional to said time period.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of defining an amount of transient visible illumination to be directed at a scene for image recording, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the scene by directing transient illumination containing at least non-visible illumination at the scene; determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said illumination step, said determining step evaluating scene illumination during said portion with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said value of differences in reflectivity of objects in said scene; and controlling the amount of transient visible illumination to be directed at said scene during image recording in accordance with said value.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of defining an amount of transient visible illumination to be directed at a scene for image recording, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the scene by directing transient illumination containing at least non-visible illumination at the scene; determining an evaluation value proportional to the illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said illumination step, said determining step evaluating scene illumination during said portion with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said value of differences in reflectivity of objects in said scene; and controlling the amount of transient visible illumination to be directed at said scene during image recording in accordance with said value.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said non-visible illumination is infrared.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said illumination step includes operating a given lamp unit to illuminate the scene with transient illumination containing both visible illumination and infrared illumination, and said controlling step controls said illumination step to provide a select amount of illumination from said given lamp during image recording in accordance with said determined evaluation value.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 37 wherein said determining step includes evaluating illumination in said scene with a significant reduction in the contribution of visible illumination relative to infrared illumination.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said determining step essentially excludes evaluation of visible illumination.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said determining step includes summing each evaluated amount of illumination to determine said evaluation value.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said summed value is determined as a time period and said control means maintains said directing step for a time proportional to said time period.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of recording an image of a scene illuminated at least in part by transient visible illumination, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the scene by directing transient illumination containing at least non-visible illumination at the scene; determining an evaluation value proportional to at least non-visible illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said illumination step for control of said recording, said determining step including the steps of evaluating amounts of scene illumination during said portion with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said value of differences in reflectivity of objects in said scene, and summing said evaluated amounts to determine said evaluation value; and directing image-forming light rays from the scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of recording an image of a scene illuminated at least in part by transient visible illumination, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating the scene by directing transient illumination containing at least non-visible illumination at the scene; determining an evaluation value proportional to at least non-visible illumination in the scene during at least a portion of said illumination step for control of said recording, said determining step including the steps of evaluating amounts of scene illumination during said portion with a reduction in contribution to said evaluation value of visible illumination relative to non-visible illumination so as to reduce the effect on said value of differences in reflectivity of objects in said scene, and summing said evaluated amounts to determine said evaluation value; and directing image-forming light rays from the scene to a focal plane during an exposure interval for recording an image of said scene.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said non-visible illumination is infrared.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said determining step includes evaluating illumination in said scene with a significant reduction in the contribution of visible illumination relative to infrared illumination.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said determining step essentially excludes evaluation of visible illumination.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 45 wherein said determining step includes summing each evaluated amount of illumination to determine said evaluation value in accordance with the resulting summed value.
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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) | 1987-10-02 | 1988-04-02 | 1988-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-02 | 1992-04-02 | 1992-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-02 | 1996-04-02 | 1996-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |