US5289229A — Full frame/panoramic photographic printing appara…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

A photographic printing apparatus for processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame or panoramic format, said apparatus comprising: (a) means defining a printing station for receiving a given negative; (b) means for electro-optically determining the density of said given negative at a number of sensing points on the negative when the latter is at said printing station; (c) format status determining means responsive to the density of said given negative at said sensing points for determining if negative contains a full frame image or a panoramic image, or is blank or entirely fogged and therefore contains no image, depending upon the density of said given negative at said sensing points, and (d) means for automatically (i) making a print from said negative in the full frame format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a panoramic image, or (ii) moving said given negative out of said print station without making a print if the negative is determined to be a blank or entirely fogged.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 215 words

A photographic printing apparatus for processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame or panoramic format, said apparatus comprising: (a) means defining a printing station for receiving a given negative; (b) means for electro-optically determining the density of said given negative at a number of sensing points on the negative when the latter is at said printing station; (c) format status determining means responsive to the density of said given negative at said sensing points for determining if negative contains a full frame image or a panoramic image, or is blank or entirely fogged and therefore contains no image, depending upon the density of said given negative at said sensing points, and (d) means for automatically (i) making a print from said negative in the full frame format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a panoramic image, or (ii) moving said given negative out of said print station without making a print if the negative is determined to be a blank or entirely fogged.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 110 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said given negative and all of the other negatives contained within said roll of film are generally rectangular and therefor each includes top and bottom edge segments extending entirely across the negative and central segment therebetween, and wherein said density determining means is configured such that, when a given negative is at said printing station, a first group of said sensing points is located along the top edge segment of the negative, a second group of said sensing points is located along the bottom edge segment of the negative, and a third group of said sensing points is located within said central segment.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 145 words

An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said format status determining means includes means for producing: (a) a first signal indicating that the given negative contains a full frame image if it is determined that there are significant differences in densities between sensing points within said first and second groups, (b) a second signal indicating that the given negative contains a panoramic image if it is determined that there are significant differences in densities between sensing points within said third group but no significant differences in densities between sensing points within said third group but no significant differences in densities between sensing points within said first and second groups, and (c) a third signal indicating that the given negative is a blank or entirely fogged if it is determined that there are no significant differences in densities between sensing points in any of said groups.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 49 words

An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said print making or negative moving means includes means responsive to one of said signals from said format status determining means for either making a print of a particular one of said formats or moving said given negative, depending upon said signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 71 words

An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said sensing points are discrete, spaced apart points and wherein said density determining means includes an electro-optical density sensing arrangement including discrete density sensing elements, one for each of said sensing points, each of said sensing elements generating at an output through a signal which is representative of one density of the given negative at the sensing point corresponding to that particular sensing element.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 69 words

An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first and second groups of sensing points include a first and second rows of spaced apart points extending entirely across the top and bottom edge segments of said given negative, respectively and wherein said third group of sensing points includes a plurality of rows of spaced apart points, each last-mentioned row extending entirely across the control segment of said given negative.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 208 words

A method of processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame or panoramic format, said method comprising the steps of: (a) defining a printing station for receiving a given negative; (b) electro-optically determining the density of said given negative at a number of sensing points on the negative when the latter is at said printing station; (c) by responding to the density of said given negative at said sensing points, determining if negative contains a full frame image or a panoramic image, or is blank or entirely fogged and therefore contains no image, depending upon the density of said given negative at said sensing points, and (d) thereafter automatically (i) making a print from said negative in the full frame format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a panoramic image, or (ii) moving said given negative out of said print station without making a print if the negative is determined to be a blank or entirely fogged.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 208 words

A method of processing both full frame and panoramic prints from a roll of film containing negatives which have been selectively exposed in either full frame or panoramic format, said method comprising the steps of: (a) defining a printing station for receiving a given negative; (b) electro-optically determining the density of said given negative at a number of sensing points on the negative when the latter is at said printing station; (c) by responding to the density of said given negative at said sensing points, determining if negative contains a full frame image or a panoramic image, or is blank or entirely fogged and therefore contains no image, depending upon the density of said given negative at said sensing points, and (d) thereafter automatically (i) making a print from said negative in the full frame format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a full frame image or in the panoramic format if the given negative is determined to contain a panoramic image, or (ii) moving said given negative out of said print station without making a print if the negative is determined to be a blank or entirely fogged.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 109 words

A method according to claim 7 wherein said given negative and all of the other negatives contained within said roll of film are generally rectangular and therefor each includes top and bottom edge segments extending entirely across the negative and central segment therebetween, and wherein as part of said density determining step, when a given negative is at said printing station, a first group of said sensing points is located along the top edge segment of the negative, a second group of said sensing points is located along the bottom edge segment of the negative, and a third group of said sensing points is located within said central segment.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 142 words

A method according to claim 8 wherein said image determining step includes producing: (a) a first signal indicating that the given negative contains a full frame image if it is determined that there are significant differences in densities between sensing points within said first and second groups, (b) a second signal indicating that the given negative contains a panoramic image if it is determined that there are significant differences in densities between sensing points within said third group but no significant differences in densities between sensing points within said third group but no significant differences in densities between sensing points within said first and second groups, and (c) a third signal indicating that the given negative is a blank or entirely fogged if it is determined that there are no significant differences in densities between sensing points in any of said groups.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

A method according to claim 9 wherein said print making or negative moving step includes responding to one of said signals from said image determining step for either making a print of a particular one of said formats or moving said given negative, depending upon said signal.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-02-21	1997-08-23	1998-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-02-21	2001-08-23	2002-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-02-21	2005-08-23	2006-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Full frame/panoramic photographic printing apparatus and method

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag