US6205296B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film information writing device, film information reading device and film information handling device
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1998-12-09
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2018-12-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a device and method for enabling the writing of a print format and a trimming magnification onto a film surface using a simple construction. Film information comprising a print format set using a format setting switch 10 and a trimming magnification set using a trimming setting switch 11 is converted into three-bit data by a data conversion circuit 26 inside a controller 25 . This information is input to an LED light emission controller 27 . Photoemitter elements 17 and 18 are located in the feeding path for the top and bottom edge areas of the film F, and a LED light emission controller 27 causes the photoemitter elements 17 and 18 to emit light during a series of image recording operations, whereby the film information is written onto the top and bottom edge areas of the film F. By optically writing the print format information and the trimming information onto the film F, both items of information can be easily written onto the film surface without making the device complex.
Inventors
- 👤 Masataka Hamada
- 👤 Yasuaki Serita
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:21
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03B2206/00; G03B2206/004; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A film information writing device that writes film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image onto the film, said film information writing device including: a format information setting device configured to selectively set print format information from among multiple preset print formats with different aspect ratios; a trimming information setting device configured to selectively set trimming information from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently from the format information setting device; a data converter configured to convert the film information set using the format information setting device and the trimming information setting device into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern; and a data writing device configured to write onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information and trimming information output from the data converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A film information writing device that writes film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image onto the film, said film information writing device including: a format information setting device configured to selectively set print format information from among multiple preset print formats with different aspect ratios; a trimming information setting device configured to selectively set trimming information from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently from the format information setting device; a data converter configured to convert the film information set using the format information setting device and the trimming information setting device into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern; and a data writing device configured to write onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information and trimming information output from the data converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print format information and trimming information are set independently of each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the print format information and trimming information are set in tandem with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 3 , wherein a number of trimming information items that can be set using the trimming information setting device varies depending on the print format information set using the format information setting device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein multiple trimming magnifications that can be set using the trimming information setting device are preset such that the trimming magnifications comprise a geometrical progression in which the component trimming magnifications change at a prescribed rate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A film information writing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said trimming magnification belongs to a group of multiple trimming magnifications that can be set in advance in tandem with a particular print format set using the format information setting device; wherein a maximum trimming magnification that can be set in tandem with at least one print format differs from maximum trimming magnifications that can be set in tandem with the other print formats.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , (i) wherein said data converter is configured to convert the format information and trimming information into said bit pattern by assigning said format information and trimming information to respective bit pattern combinations using a prescribed bit assignment rule; and (ii) wherein at least one bit pattern combination, when interpreted according to said prescribed bit assignment rule, is not usable by said film information writing device; and (iii) wherein said data converter is configured to redefine said at least one bit pattern in a manner inconsistent with said prescribed bit assignment rule, so as to define a combination which is usable by said film information writing device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
160 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 7 , (i) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the print format information data is larger than the number of print formats that can be set using the format information setting device; and (ii) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the trimming information data is smaller than the number of trimming magnifications that can be set using the trimming information setting device; and (iii) wherein the data converter is configured to convert some of the trimming information items set using the trimming information setting device into data comprising a bit pattern that comprises a combination of a bit pattern that was originally assigned to indicate a print format according to said prescribed bit assignment rule but is not used for that original purpose and a bit pattern assigned to indicate trimming information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A film information writing device claim in claim 7 , wherein said at least one unusable bit pattern combination is redefined to specify information regarding a trimming area which is not centered in a middle of a frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the film comprises rolled film that has, along its one edge, pairs of perforations that respectively correspond to each frame and that control the frame-by-frame feeding of the film, and the film information is written for each frame onto the non-image area of each frame of the rolled film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 10 , wherein the data corresponding to the print format information is written onto the non-image area in one edge area along the length of the rolled film and the data corresponding to the trimming information is written onto the non-image area in both edge areas along the length of the rolled film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 10 , wherein the data corresponding to the print format information is written onto the non-image area in one edge area along the length of the rolled film and the data corresponding to the trimming information is written onto the non-image area in the other edge area along the length of the rolled film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 10 , wherein the data corresponding to the trimming information is written between a pair of perforations for each frame on the edge area of the rolled film at which the perforations are located.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 10 , wherein the data corresponding to the print format information is written onto the non-image area on one edge area along the length of the rolled film and the data corresponding to the trimming information is written near the area onto which the print format information data is written.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A film information writing device claimed in claim 1 , wherein the data writing device comprises first and second data writing devices which are configured to expose the film based on the data output from the data converter, in order to optically write the film information onto the film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A film information writing device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the writing device is used in a camera, and is configured to write film information that is set for each shot of the camera onto the film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
167 words
A film information writing method that writes film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image onto the film, said film information writing method including the steps of: selectively setting print format information using a format information setting device, the print format information being set from among multiple preset print formats with different aspect ratios; selectively setting trimming information using a trimming information setting device, the trimming information being set from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently from the format information setting device; converting the film information set in the format information setting step and the trimming information setting step into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern; and writing onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information and trimming information output from the converting step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
167 words
A film information writing method that writes film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image onto the film, said film information writing method including the steps of: selectively setting print format information using a format information setting device, the print format information being set from among multiple preset print formats with different aspect ratios; selectively setting trimming information using a trimming information setting device, the trimming information being set from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently from the format information setting device; converting the film information set in the format information setting step and the trimming information setting step into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern; and writing onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information and trimming information output from the converting step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 17 , wherein the print format information and trimming information are set independently of each other.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 17 , wherein the print format information and trimming information are set in tandem with each other.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 19 , wherein a number of trimming information items that can be set varies depending on the print format information which is set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 17 , wherein multiple trimming magnifications that can be set are preset such that the trimming magnifications comprise a geometrical progression in which the component trimming magnifications change at a prescribed rate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
70 words
A film information writing method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said trimming magnification belongs to a group of multiple trimming magnifications that can be set in advance in tandem with a particular set print format; wherein a maximum trimming magnification that can be set in tandem with at least one print format differs from maximum trimming magnifications that can be set in tandem with the other print formats.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 17 , (i) wherein said converting step converts the format information and trimming information into said bit pattern by assigning said format information and trimming information to respective bit pattern combinations using a prescribed bit assignment rule; and (ii) wherein at least one bit pattern combination, when interpreted according to said prescribed bit assignment rule, is not usable by said film information writing device; and (iii) wherein said converting step redefines said at least one bit pattern in a manner inconsistent with said prescribed bit assignment rule, so as to define a combination which is usable by said film information writing device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
139 words
A film information writing method claimed in claim 23 , (i) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the print format information data is larger than the number of print formats that can be set; and (ii) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the trimming information data is smaller than the number of trimming magnifications that can be set; and (iii) wherein the converting step converts some of the set trimming information items into data comprising a bit pattern that comprises a combination of a bit pattern that was originally assigned to indicate a print format according to said prescribed bit assignment rule but is not used for that original purpose and a bit pattern assigned to indicate trimming information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
A film information writing method claim in claim 23 , wherein said at least one unusable bit pattern combination is redefined to specify information regarding a trimming area which is not centered in a middle of a frame.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
135 words
A film information setting device that sets film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image, comprising: a format information setting device configured to selectively set print format information from among multiple at least three preset print formats with different aspect ratios; a trimming information setting device configured to selectively set trimming information from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently the format information setting device; wherein a number of trimming information items that can be set using the trimming information setting device varies depending on the print format information set using the format information setting device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
135 words
A film information setting device that sets film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image, comprising: a format information setting device configured to selectively set print format information from among multiple at least three preset print formats with different aspect ratios; a trimming information setting device configured to selectively set trimming information from among preset multiple trimming information items wherein the trimming information comprises a trimming magnification that defines a trimming area of the original image and wherein the trimming information setting device is operable independently the format information setting device; wherein a number of trimming information items that can be set using the trimming information setting device varies depending on the print format information set using the format information setting device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
A film information setting device claimed in claim 26 , further comprising: a data converter configured to convert the film information set using the format information setting device and the trimming information setting device into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A film information setting device claimed in claim 26 , wherein the print format information and trimming information are set either independently of each other or in tandem with each other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A film information setting device claimed in claim 26 , wherein multiple trimming magnifications that can be set using the trimming information setting device are preset such that the trimming magnifications comprise a geometrical progression in which the component trimming magnifications change at a prescribed rate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
115 words
A film information setting device claimed in claim 27 , (i) wherein said data converter is configured to convert the format information and trimming information into said bit pattern by assigning said format information and trimming information to respective bit pattern combinations using a prescribed bit assignment rule; and (ii) wherein at least one bit pattern combination, when interpreted according to said prescribed bit assignment rule, is not usable by said film information writing device; and (iii) wherein said data converter is configured to redefine said at least one bit pattern in a manner inconsistent with said prescribed bit assignment rule, so as define a combination which is usable by said film information writing device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
160 words
A film information setting device claimed in claim 30 , (i) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the print format information data is larger than the number of print formats that can be set using the format information setting device; and (ii) wherein the number of information items that can be identified based on the bit pattern comprising the trimming information data is smaller than the number of trimming magnifications that can be set using the trimming information setting device; and (iii) wherein the data converter is configured to convert some of the trimming information items set using the trimming information setting device into data comprising a bit pattern that comprises a combination of a bit pattern that was originally assigned to indicate a print format according to said prescribed bit assignment rule but is not used for that original purpose and a bit pattern assigned to indicate trimming information.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The film information setting device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said multiple print formats include a panoramic format, and the number of trimming information items that can be set for said panoramic format is less than for other formats.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The film information setting device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said multiple print formats include: a “C” format defining a standard format; an “H” format defining a high vision format; and a “P” format defining a panoramic format.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
40 words
The film information setting device claimed in claim 33 , wherein the maximum trimming magnifications NC, NH and NP that may be set in tandem with each of the C, H and P print formats, respectively, meet the condition NC≧NH>NP.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
The film information setting device claimed in claim 33 , wherein the maximum magnifications NC, NH and NP that may be set in tandem with each of the C, H and P print formats, respectively, meet the condition NC:NH:NP=1.7:1.7:1.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
46 words
The film information setting device claimed in claim 26 , further comprising: a data writing device configured to write onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information and trimming information set by said format information setting device and said trimming information setting device.
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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) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |