US5739897A — Method and system for creating index prints on an…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 125 words

Method for creating index prints on a photographic printer, comprising the steps of: scanning a number of successive photographic copies on a film strip photoelectrically to obtain density values; converting the density values into printer control values; storing the printer control values; and producing an index print which includes plural individual images produced using the printer control values, said step of producing further including steps of; grouping the individual images of the index print as a two-dimensional matrix with column elements and line elements; successively exposing the individual images of the matrix photographically, directly from photographic copies of the film strip, exposure data being derived from the stored printer control values; and providing the individual images of the index print with individual image field data.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 125 words

Method for creating index prints on a photographic printer, comprising the steps of: scanning a number of successive photographic copies on a film strip photoelectrically to obtain density values; converting the density values into printer control values; storing the printer control values; and producing an index print which includes plural individual images produced using the printer control values, said step of producing further including steps of; grouping the individual images of the index print as a two-dimensional matrix with column elements and line elements; successively exposing the individual images of the matrix photographically, directly from photographic copies of the film strip, exposure data being derived from the stored printer control values; and providing the individual images of the index print with individual image field data.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 34 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of scanning further includes a step of: scanning said photographic copies point-by-point to obtain said density values for three colors and to obtain image field numbers.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 58 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein said index print is exposed independently of standard individual prints, and wherein said step of scanning further including a step of: scanning said photographic copies on the film strip one after another, the scanned data being evaluated and used directly as exposure values for transferring the photographic copies onto the index print.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein index prints are created as a complement to standard individual prints obtained from the photographic copies of the film strip.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 78 words

Method according to claim 4, wherein the standard individual prints are created first, one or more scan values of each photographic copy on the film strip being evaluated for creating the standard individual prints, said scan values being stored for later use for creating the index print, the photographic copies on the film strip being reproduced on the index print by an index print lens on a reduced scale relative to a scale of the standard individual prints.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

Method according to claim 5, wherein the standard individual prints are created during a forward movement of the film strip and the index print is created during a reverse movement of the film strip.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

Method according to claim 5, wherein the scanning of the photographic copies and exposure of the index prints occur during a forward movement of the film strip, and the standard individual prints are created during a reverse movement of the film strip.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 66 words

Method according to claim 5, further comprising steps of: scanning the photographic copies during a first forward movement of the film strip, creating at least one of the standard individual prints and the index print during a reverse movement of the film strip, and creating at least one of the index print and the standard individual prints during a second forward movement of the film strip.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 79 words

Method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of: exposing the index print step-by-step using the photographic copies of the film strip, centers of column elements of the index print overlapping a plane running perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the photographic paper and through an optical axis of an image-forming lens, the photographic paper being fed by a paper conveyance system, with centers of line elements being controlled by step-by-step displacement of the image-forming lens on said plane.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

Method according to one of claim 1, further comprising steps of: exposing the index print step-by-step using the photographic copies of the film strip and, when the photographic paper is stationary, controlling centers of column elements and line elements by step-by-step displacements of the image-forming lens in a direction parallel and crosswise to a conveyance direction of the photographic paper.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

Method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of: protecting at least some elements of said matrix from incidental light during said step of producing said index print to reduce interfering scattered light from influencing exposure of individual matrix elements of the index print.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein the index print is formed as interlaced partial fields which include an image frame with at least one of predetermined text and graphics data, a data field with variable text data, and a field matrix with images of the photographic copies, the image frame having recessed surfaces for the data field and the image field data of the field matrix.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 40 words

Method according to claim 12, further including a step of: creating the image frame by photographic projection of a frame copy that is part of an index print film strip that is separate from said film strip of photographic copies.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 55 words

Method according to claim 13, wherein the index print film strip includes several frame copies having at least one of different numbers of matrix elements and graphic arrangement, the method further including a step of: selecting a respective frame copy from said index print film strip using properties of the film strip of photographic copies.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

Method according to claim 14, wherein the frame copies include image field data represented by said at least one of predetermined text and graphics data.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

Method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of: using a projection system for both normal printing procedures of the printer and for photographic transfer of the frame copy.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 37 words

Method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of: transferring the variable text data onto the photographic paper by at least one of contact exposure and optical projection of a self-luminous or illuminable digital display unit.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein the film strip is a negative strip.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein the film strip is a reversal film strip.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

Method according to claim 19, wherein individual frame slides of a reversal film strip are processed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein the individual images on the index print are represented upright and right-reading relative to an original image.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

Method according to claim 1, wherein the individual images of the index print are individually corrected with respect to density and color.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

Method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of: using corrections for both production of the individual images of the index print and for creation of the standard individual prints.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

Method according to claim 23, wherein individual corrections of an image are obtained partly by linking data associated with a first image with stored data of other photographic copies on the film strip.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

Method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined text and graphics data includes at least one of a name of a processing lab, an advertising text and a company logo.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

Method according to claim 12, wherein the variable text data includes at least one of a film identification number and a date.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 22 words

Method according to claim 12, wherein the variable text data includes at least one of a lab-internal processing number and a date.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

Method according to claim 15, wherein as image field data, image field numbers present on the film strip are scanned, stored, and reproduced onto the index print.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

Method according to claim 15, wherein as image field data, individually created or preset image field identification data are reproduced onto the index print.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 229 words

System for creating index prints comprising: a light-proof casing having a light source and a carrier for receiving and conveying a copy film strip; a paper carrier for positioning and conveying photographic paper; a projection lens for reproducing printing copies of the copy film strip onto the photographic paper in said light proof casing; a scanning station for scanning an image surface of the printing copies and image field data present on the copy film strip to provide scan values; a computer for determining exposure control values from the scan values determined by the scan station, for storing at least one of scan values and values determined from the scan values in a storage unit, and for coordinating and controlling functional sequences of the system; an index print lens movable into an image-forming ray path separately from said projection lens and controlled by the computer, said index print lens being sufficiently movable at least in one dimension that it can reproduce a number of individual printing copies of the copy film strip as an index print having a matrix arrangement on the photographic paper; and exposure means for exposing individual image field data obtained from at least one of a scanning of the copy film strip, individual creation and preset information, in spatial coordination with prints of the individual printing copies of the index print on the photographic paper.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 229 words

System for creating index prints comprising: a light-proof casing having a light source and a carrier for receiving and conveying a copy film strip; a paper carrier for positioning and conveying photographic paper; a projection lens for reproducing printing copies of the copy film strip onto the photographic paper in said light proof casing; a scanning station for scanning an image surface of the printing copies and image field data present on the copy film strip to provide scan values; a computer for determining exposure control values from the scan values determined by the scan station, for storing at least one of scan values and values determined from the scan values in a storage unit, and for coordinating and controlling functional sequences of the system; an index print lens movable into an image-forming ray path separately from said projection lens and controlled by the computer, said index print lens being sufficiently movable at least in one dimension that it can reproduce a number of individual printing copies of the copy film strip as an index print having a matrix arrangement on the photographic paper; and exposure means for exposing individual image field data obtained from at least one of a scanning of the copy film strip, individual creation and preset information, in spatial coordination with prints of the individual printing copies of the index print on the photographic paper.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

System according to claim 30, wherein the index print lens is movable step-by-step in a direction crosswise relative to a conveyance direction of the photographic paper.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 25 words

System according to claim 30, wherein the index print lens is movable step-by-step in a direction parallel to a conveyance direction of the photographic paper.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 25 words

System according to claim 30, wherein the exposure means further comprises: at least one of a self-luminous display unit and an illuminable digital display unit.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 20 words

System according to claim 30, further comprising: frame projection means for exposure of an image frame onto the photographic paper.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 50 words

System according to claim 34, wherein the frame projection means further comprises: an index print film strip with at least one image frame copy, said system further comprising: conveyance means, controlled by the computer, to insert the index print film strip into and remove it from said image-forming ray path.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 32 words

System according to claim 30, further comprising: scattered light shielding means for shielding exposed images of said index print from scattered light during exposure of the individual images of the index print.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 23 words

System according to claim 30, wherein images on the index print are reproduced with a slight enlargement relative to the copy film strip.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-04-13	2001-10-13	2002-04-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-04-13	2005-10-13	2006-04-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-04-13	2009-10-13	2010-04-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for creating index prints on and/or with a photographic printer

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