Motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle

• US 20020071099A1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Repich, Kenneth J., Kurtz, Andrew F., Cobb, Joshua M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,501,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 352/166
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/00 Film strip handling

Abstract

A motion picture film projector illumination system (100) for minimizing film buckle comprises a light source (405) for producing a beam of light (416). Beam shaping optics (411) focus the light beam onto a film through an aperture (408) having an aperture opening (410) corresponding to a film frame (324). A secondary beam steering optics (465) directs stray light around edges of the aperture to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas (446).

Claims

1. A motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle comprising:

a light source for producing a beam of light;

beam shaping optics for focusing said light beam onto a film and illuminating a frame of said film;

an aperture having an aperture opening corresponding to said illuminated film frame;

secondary beam steering and concentrating optics for forming stray light into beams and directing said beams of stray light to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas.

2. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 1 wherein said beams of stray light are directed through secondary aperture openings corresponding to said film edge to frame edge areas.

3. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 2 wherein said secondary aperture openings are adjacent to said aperture opening corresponding to said illuminated film frame.

4. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 2 wherein said secondary aperture openings are adjacent to a film frame which precedes said illuminated film frame.

5. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 1 wherein said beam shaping optics comprises a fly'"'"'s eye integrator.

6. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 5 wherein said secondary beam steering and concentrating optics comprises a mirror and a lens.

7. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 6 wherein said mirror is a non-imaging optical concentrator.

8. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 1 wherein said secondary beam steering and concentrating optics comprises a mirror and a lens.

9. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 8 wherein said a mirror is a non-imaging optical concentrator.

10. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 1 wherein said beam shaping optics comprises an elliptical reflector.

11. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 10 wherein said secondary beam steering and concentrating optics comprises a mirror and a lens.

12. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 11 wherein said a mirror is a non-imaging optical concentrator.

13. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 11 wherein said secondary beam steering and concentrating optics comprises a light pipe and a focusing lens.

15. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 14 wherein said secondary light beams are directed through secondary aperture openings corresponding to said film edge to frame edge areas.

16. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 15 wherein said secondary aperture openings are adjacent to the aperture opening corresponding to said illuminated film frame.

17. A motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 15 wherein said secondary aperture openings are adjacent to a film frame which precedes said illuminated film frame.

19. A method for minimizing film buckle in a motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 18 wherein said directed stray light heats said film edge to frame edge areas thereby reducing film buckling.

20. A method for minimizing film buckle in a motion picture film projector illumination system as in claim 18 wherein said directed stray light pre-heats said film edge to frame edge areas prior to the illuminated film frame.

14. A motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle comprising:

a light source for producing a beam of light;

beam shaping optics for focusing said light beam onto a film;

an aperture having an aperture opening corresponding to a film frame which is illuminated by said light beam; and

secondary light sources and optics for forming secondary light beams and directing said secondary light beams to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas.

18. A method for minimizing film buckle in a motion picture film projector illumination system comprising the steps of:

producing a beam of light;

shaping said light beam;

directing said light beam through an aperture opening corresponding to a film frame so as to illuminate said film frame;

collecting stray light; and

directing said collected stray light to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas.

21. A motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle comprising:

a light source for producing a beam of light;

beam shaping optics for focusing said light beam onto a film and illuminating a frame of said film;

an aperture having a primary aperture opening corresponding to said illuminated film frame; and

secondary light sources and beam steering and concentrating optics for directing light from said secondary light sources to secondary openings in said aperture to illuminate film edge to frame edge areas.

22. A motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle as in claim 21 wherein said secondary openings in said aperture are offset from said primary aperture opening.

23. A motion picture film projector illumination system for minimizing film buckle as in claim 22 wherein said secondary openings in said aperture are offset from said primary aperture opening in a direction prior to illumination of said primary aperture opening.