System and apparatus for increasing quality and efficiency of film capture and methods of use thereof

• US 20070127909A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mowry, Craig
• Application Number:
  US11/510,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127909A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/00 Stereoscopic photography
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/23 Reproducing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio

Abstract

A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images is provided using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion and to expose a variable size and dimension of the emulsion.

Claims

1. A system for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

a camera operable to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within the camera to record visuals on said emulsion, said zone being of a variable size and dimension, and

an electronic imaging module in said camera operable to record aspects of said visuals recorded by said camera on said emulsion.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an image data modification program for generating final images from visual information recorded within said emulsion and from aspects of visual information captured and stored by said electronic imaging module.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said program generates data related to more than one final image from information related to a single visual recorded within said emulsion.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a single visual recorded within said emulsion contains more image information than any single image generated by said module.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the number of final images is at least equal to the number of visuals or aspects of visuals recorded originally by said module.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said aspects of visuals recorded by said module provide at least one type of image information for modifying information derived from visuals originally recorded within said emulsion.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said image information in said module relates to positioning information of at least a single selectively distinguished image zone.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said image data modification program provides at least two final images generated, said at least two final images with an equivalent amount of image information greater than any single image generated by said module though not greater than information derived from any single visual stored within said emulsion.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said emulsion is provided on a containment strip as photographic film.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said containment strip comprises celluloid.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said film is provided and exposed horizontally to a lens image, limiting the recorded image size on said emulsion by the image height as recorded on said film, said lens image parallel with the film edges and any existing sprocket hole row relative to the image horizon line or equivalent framing aspect indicating correct positioning of at least any one side of said lens image.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said film stock with emulsion is provided without sprocket holes providing an entire width of the film stock strip for vertical image information, said entire width of said film stock defining the maximum vertical image size recordable on said emulsion with the image width and ratio remaining selectable and unrestricted by any film stock perimeter.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein a selectable length of the film stock strip restricts image width recordable size.

14. The system of claim 2 wherein said entire recordable emulsion width is the width of the film gauge size, and the stock is provided without sprockets or other emulsion interruptions.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the entire recordable emulsion is the width of the uninterrupted vertical emulsion distance between interruptions in the recordable emulsion, including sprocket holes and the perimeter of the strip as determined by the stock gauge size.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising said unexposed photographic emulsion in an unfixed state wherein independent recordable media portions of said medium are repositionable relative to each other, said independent recordable media portions capable of storing image data pertaining to a single pixel of displayable image information;

a dispersal of said image recording medium intermittently over a selectively large image exposure area prior to exposure to a stimulus, secondary non image information recorded on said independent recordable media portions of said medium, a secondary stimulus applied to said medium affecting at least one aspect of said secondary non image information recorded on said media portions during a period of time said medium is stationary within said exposure area, and a containment area for storing said recordable media portions of said medium after exposure to light separate from a containment area for storing said unexposed image recording medium.

17. A method for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

delivering unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within a camera to record visuals on said emulsion, said zone being of a variable size and dimension, and

recording aspects of said visuals by an electronic imaging module working in tandem with aspects of said camera.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising generating final images with an image data modification program at least in part from information derived from visuals recorded by said emulsion and from information recorded in aspects of visuals by said electronic imaging module.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said program generates data related to more than one final image from at least information related to visuals recorded within said emulsion.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the number of final images is not less than the number of visuals or aspects of visuals recorded originally by said module.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said aspects of visuals recorded by said module provide at least one type of image information for modifying information in visuals originally recorded within said emulsion in creating final images.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said image information in said module relates to positioning information of at least one selectively distinguished image zone.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said image data modification program provides at least two final images, each generated with as much image information as available within a single image as recorded within said emulsion.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein said final image is generated without reference to image information other than related to images recorded within said emulsion.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein said image data modification program further comprises image inferring functionality to generate anticipated images of a selectable number that would potentially have occurred between available images recorded within said emulsion, said anticipated images having as much image information as any one image recorded within said emulsion.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein said emulsion is provided on a celluloid strip as photographic film.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said film is provided and exposed horizontally to a lens image, film edge perimeters and any sprocket hole rows being parallel with the top edge of the image as framed, limiting the recorded image size on said emulsion by the maximum image height as recordable without physical interruptions within said emulsion, including sprocket hole interruptions, as it occurs within said film parallel with the film edges and any existing sprocket hole row.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said film stock with emulsion is provided without sprocket holes providing the entire width of the film stock strip for vertical image information.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said exposure zone is offset relative to the lens image.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein said entire width is 35 mm when the gauge size of stock is 35 mm.

31. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing independent recordable media portions of an unexposed photographic emulsion in an unfixed state, repositioning said recordable media portions relative to each other, storing image data pertaining to a single pixel of displayable image information on said independent recordable media portions, dispersing said unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently over a selectively large image exposure area prior to exposure to a stimulus, recording secondary non-image information on said recordable media portions of said photographic emulsion, applying a secondary stimulus to said photographic emulsion to affect at least one aspect of said secondary non image information recorded on said media portions during a period of time said emulsion is stationary within said exposure area, and storing said recordable media portions of said photographic emulsion after exposure to light in a containment area separated from a containment area for storing said unexposed photographic emulsion.

32. An apparatus for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

a camera operable to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within the camera to record visuals, said zone being of a variable size and dimension, and

an electronic imaging module in said camera operable to record aspects of said visuals recorded by said camera within said emulsion.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said exposure zone receives photographic emulsion as a fixed aspect of recordable media, including film stock, wherein said zone positions said recordable media to receive image stimuli related to said visual for vertical or offset recording of said stimuli, relative to at least a horizontal image framing indicator, including a horizon line or top edge of the image.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 further comprising an image data modification program for generating final images from visual information recorded within said emulsion and from aspects of visual information captured and stored by said electronic imaging module.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said program generates data related to more than one final image from information related to a single visual recorded within said emulsion.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein a single visual recorded within said emulsion contains more image information than any single image generated by said module.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the number of final images is at least equal to the number of visuals or aspects of visuals recorded originally by said module.

38. A system for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

a camera operable to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within a camera, said zone being of a selectable size and dimension,

said exposure zone receiving said emulsion from the top or bottom of said zone with the emulsion existing through the top or bottom of said zone following exposure, or receiving said emulsion from any side of said zone to exit said zone from the other side, following exposure of said emulsion, and

an image data modification program for generating final images from information recorded within said emulsion, said program being operable to infer a selected number of images, of selectable equivalent total image information, between available images recorded within said emulsion.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said emulsion is provided as an aspect of media comprising emulsion and an information recording medium.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said media component comprises celluloid.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein said media includes a light transmissible material to which said emulsion is joined.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein said media includes an opaque aspect, said media fixing said emulsion into place for at least the emulsion to be exposed.

43. The system of claim 39 wherein said emulsion is exposed intermittently to a lens image that has been offset relative to the initial light entering said camera.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said offset is approximately 90 degrees, providing a horizontal visual relative to the camera for recording on a vertically positioned emulsion.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein said offset is effected by at least one optical component.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein said optical component comprises a mirror.

47. The system of claim 38 further comprising said unexposed photographic emulsion in an unfixed state wherein independent recordable media portions of said medium are repositionable relative to each other, said independent recordable media portions capable of storing image data pertaining to a single pixel of displayable image information;

a dispersal of said image recording medium intermittently over a selectively large image exposure area prior to exposure to a stimulus, secondary non image information recorded on said independent recordable media portions of said medium, a secondary stimulus applied to said medium affecting at least one aspect of said secondary non image information recorded on said media portions during a period of time said medium is stationary within said exposure area, and a containment area for storing said recordable media portions of said medium after exposure to light separate from a containment area for storing said unexposed image recording medium.

48. A method for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

delivering unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within a camera to record visuals, said zone being of a selectable size and dimension,

receiving said emulsion into said exposure zone from the top or bottom of said zone with the emulsion existing through the top or bottom of said zone following exposure, or receiving said emulsion from any side of said zone to exit said zone from the other side, following exposure of said emulsion, and

generating final images from information recorded within said emulsion using an image data modification program, said program being operable to infer a selected number of images, of selectable equivalent total image information, between available images recorded within said emulsion.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said emulsion is provided as an aspect of media comprising emulsion and an information recording medium.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said media component comprises celluloid.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said media includes a light transmissible material to which said emulsion is joined.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said media includes an opaque aspect, said media fixing said emulsion into place for at least the emulsion to be exposed.

53. The method of claim 50 further comprising exposing said emulsion intermittently to a lens image that has been offset relative to the initial light entering said camera.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein said offset is approximately 90 degrees, providing a horizontal visual relative to the camera for recording on a vertically positioned emulsion.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein said offset is effected by at least one optical component.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein said optical component comprises a mirror.

57. The method of claim 48 further comprising providing independent recordable media portions of an unexposed photographic emulsion in an unfixed state, repositioning said recordable media portions relative to each other, storing image data pertaining to a single pixel of displayable image information on said independent recordable media portions, dispersing said unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently over a selectively large image exposure area prior to exposure to a stimulus, recording secondary non-image information on said recordable media portions of said photographic emulsion, applying a secondary stimulus to said photographic emulsion to affect at least one aspect of said secondary non image information recorded on said media portions during a period of time said emulsion is stationary within said exposure area, storing said recordable media portions of said photographic emulsion after exposure to light in a containment area separated from a containment area for storing said unexposed photographic emulsion.

58. An apparatus for increasing resolution of subject images comprising,

a camera operable to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion intermittently to at least one exposure zone within a camera, said zone being of a selectable size and dimension,

said exposure zone receiving said emulsion from the top or bottom of said zone with the emulsion existing through the top or bottom of said zone following exposure, or receiving said emulsion from any side of said zone to exit said zone from the other side, following exposure of said emulsion, and

an image data modification program for generating final images from information recorded within said emulsion, said program being operable to infer a selected number of images, of selectable equivalent total image information, between available images recorded within said emulsion.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said emulsion is provided as an aspect of media comprising emulsion and an information recording medium.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said media component comprises celluloid.

61. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said media includes a light transmissible material to which said emulsion is joined.

62. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said media includes an opaque aspect, said media fixing said emulsion into place for at least the emulsion to be exposed.

63. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said emulsion is subjected intermittently to a lens image that has been offset relative to the initial light entering said camera.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said offset is approximately 90 degrees, providing a horizontal visual relative to the camera for recording on a vertically positioned emulsion.