US5655164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Still film sound photography method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-07-06
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2015-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for incorporating electronic signals representative of at least audio information into still film slides and photographs. A data storage medium capable of retaining electronic signals is provided in association with a photographic print or frame in which a slide is mounted. Audio information is stored in the data storage medium and may be aurally reproduced by an audio reproduction device as the slide or photograph is being displayed. The system affords bi-directional compatibility with the existing art.
Inventors
- 👤 Irving Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03B17/245; G03B31/00; G03B31/06; G03B2206/00; G03B2206/004; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243; G03B2217/244; G03B2217/246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A still film photographic system comprising: film transport means for transporting a film strip to a take-up reel following exposure of a portion of the film strip to an image; means for exposing a first portion of the film strip to a first photographic image; means for receiving a user control command indicating that audio information associated with said first image is to be written to said film strip; means for receiving audio information associated with said first photographic image in response to said user control command; a buffer memory for temporarily storing said audio information; optical write means for writing said audio information to a second portion of the film strip adjacent to and immediately following said first portion relative to the direction of travel of the film strip as the film strip is being transported to the take-up reel following exposure of said first portion of the film to said first image, said second portion comprising a variable number of frames, each said frame of a predetermined and fixed length; and means for exposing a first frames of said second portion of said film strip immediately adjacent said first photographic image to a second photographic image if said user control command is not received.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A still film photographic system comprising: film transport means for transporting a film strip to a take-up reel following exposure of a portion of the film strip to an image; means for exposing a first portion of the film strip to a first photographic image; means for receiving a user control command indicating that audio information associated with said first image is to be written to said film strip; means for receiving audio information associated with said first photographic image in response to said user control command; a buffer memory for temporarily storing said audio information; optical write means for writing said audio information to a second portion of the film strip adjacent to and immediately following said first portion relative to the direction of travel of the film strip as the film strip is being transported to the take-up reel following exposure of said first portion of the film to said first image, said second portion comprising a variable number of frames, each said frame of a predetermined and fixed length; and means for exposing a first frames of said second portion of said film strip immediately adjacent said first photographic image to a second photographic image if said user control command is not received.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said optical write means comprises a plurality of light emitting elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said optical write means comprises a semiconductor laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said audio information receiving means comprises a microphone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the audio information is received prior to exposing the film to the associated photographic image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the audio information is received concurrently with the exposure of the film to the associated photographic image.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the audio information is received subsequent to exposing the film to the associated photographic image.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising audio analyzer means for analyzing the received audio information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a still film photographic system comprising means for exposing a film strip to photographic images and film transport means for transporting the film strip to a take-up reel following exposure of a portion of the film strip to an image, a method for writing audio information to the film strip comprising: exposing a first portion of said film strip to a first photographic image, receiving a user control command indicating that audio information associated with said, first image is to be written to said film strip, receiving audio information associated with said first photographic image, temporarily storing said audio information in a buffer memory, writing said audio information to a second portion of the film strip adjacent to and immediately following said first portion relative to the direction of travel of the film strip as the film strip is being transported to the take-up reel following exposure of said first portion of the film to said first image, said second portion comprising a variable number of frames, each said frame of a predetermined and fixed length, and exposing a first frame of said second portion of said film strip immediately adjacent said first photographic image to a second photographic image if said user control command is not received.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a still film photographic system comprising means for exposing a film strip to photographic images and film transport means for transporting the film strip to a take-up reel following exposure of a portion of the film strip to an image, a method for writing audio information to the film strip comprising: exposing a first portion of said film strip to a first photographic image, receiving a user control command indicating that audio information associated with said, first image is to be written to said film strip, receiving audio information associated with said first photographic image, temporarily storing said audio information in a buffer memory, writing said audio information to a second portion of the film strip adjacent to and immediately following said first portion relative to the direction of travel of the film strip as the film strip is being transported to the take-up reel following exposure of said first portion of the film to said first image, said second portion comprising a variable number of frames, each said frame of a predetermined and fixed length, and exposing a first frame of said second portion of said film strip immediately adjacent said first photographic image to a second photographic image if said user control command is not received.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein a semiconductor laser is used to write the audio information to the film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the audio information is received subsequent to exposing the film to the associated photographic image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3046836A
Cited
US3001444A
Cited
US3230824A
Cited
US3379095A
Cited
US3691312A
Cited
US4461552A
Cited
US4600280A
Cited
US5245373A
Cited
US4983996A
Cited
US4905029A
Cited
US5006873A
Cited
US5128700A
Cited
US5363157A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |