Hybrid image recording and reproduction system

• US 4,689,696 A
• Filed: 05/31/1985
• Issued: 08/25/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Polaroid Corporation (PLR IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Plummer, William T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US06/739,534
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 358/332, 358/333, 358/906, 358/244, 358/335, 358/310, 358/345, 358/111, 360/35.1, 360/2, 360/3
• US Class Current: 386/309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/646 Transmitting or storing colour television type signals, e.g. PAL, Lab; Their conversion into additive or subtractive colour signals or vice versa therefor H04N1/642, H04N1/644 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/84 using optical recording H04N5/80, H04N5/89, H04N5/91 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/82 the individual colour picture signal components being recorded simultaneously only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 358/906 Hand-held camera with recorder in a single unit

Abstract

A system utilizing aspects of both photography and electronic imaging is provided for recording and reproducing an image of scene in color. A camera component of the system photographically records the image on monochromatic film to provide a high resolution photograph from which electronic luminance signals are derived, and also utilizes an image sensor for providing lower resolution chrominance signals which are recorded on a medium, such as a magnetic stripe, that may be formed on the film unit. The photograph and chrominance signal recording are transferred to a reproduction component of the system which derives the luminance information signals from the photograph and combines it with the chrominance signals to provide three primary color signals which are utilized to drive a hard copy printer or an electronic image display device.

Claims

1. A compact hybrid image recording apparatus for recording an image of a scene, said apparatus comprising:

a housing for containing components of said apparatus, said housing being of a size configured for hand held operation or said apparatus;

means, contained by said housing, for photographically recording an image of the scene on a monochromatic film unit to provide a photograph, having a given resolution, from which electronic signals representative of the luminance component of the image can be derived by a separate image reproduction apparatus;

means, contained by said housing and including a solid state image sensor having a resolution capability lower than said given resolution, for providing electronic signals representative of the chrominance component of the image of the scene; and

means, contained by said housing, for recording said chrominance signal on a non-photographic recording medium for later use by said reproduction apparatus in combination with said derived luminance signals to provide a color reproduction of the image of the scene.

2. The recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for recording said chrominance signals is configured to record said chrominance signals on an optical recording medium.

3. The recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for recording said chrominance signals is configured to record said chrominance signals on a magnetic recording medium.

4. The recording apparatus of claim 3 wherein the magnetic recording medium is formed on the film unit.

5. The recording apparatus of claim 3 wherein the magnetic recording medium is configured to be attached to the photograph subsequent to the recording of said chrominance signals thereon.

6. The recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein said image sensor provide signals representative of three primary color components of the image, and said means for providing said chrominance signals includes a matrixing encoder which processes said primary color signals and provides two output signals that represent the chrominance component of the image in encoded form.

7. The recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the film unit is of the self-developing type and said apparatus further includes means for processing the film unit.

8. The recording apparatus of claim 1 having optical means, including an objective lens, for providing a focused image of the scene on the film unit and said image sensor.

9. An image reproduction apparatus for reproducing a color image of a scene from a monochromatic photographic image of the scene and a non-photographic record of electronic signals that represent the chrominance component of the image, said apparatus comprising:

means for deriving electronic signals from the photograph that are representative of the luminance component of the image of the scene;

means for reading the chrominance signals from the non-photographic record;

means for receiving said luminance and chrominance signals and deriving therefrom color signals that are representative of three primary color components of the image of the scene; and

means responsive to said color signals for reproducing a color image of the scene.

10. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for deriving said luminance signals from the photograph includes a video camera.

11. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for deriving said luminance signals includes an electro-optical sensing device that scans the photographic image to provide said luminance signals.

12. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means responsive to said color signals is a printer for providing a hard copy print of the image.

13. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means responsive to said color signals is an electronic image display device.

14. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means for deriving said color signals includes a signal processor which utilizes matrixing techniques to derive said color signals from said luminance and chrominance signals.

15. The reproduction apparatus of claim 9 wherein said luminance signals define a high resolution representation of the luminance component of the image and said chrominance signals define a lower resolution representation of the chrominance component of the image.

16. A system for recording and reproducing a color image of a scene, said system comprising:

a hand held image recording apparatus including;

(a) a housing for containing components of said apparatus said housing being of a size configured for hand held operation of said apparatus;

(b) means, contained by said housing, for photographically recording an image of the scene on a monochromatic film unit to provide a photograph, having a given resolution, from which electronic signals representative of the luminance component of the image can be derived by a separate image reproduction apparatus;

(c) means, contained by said housing and including a solid state image sensor having a resolution capability lower than said given resolution, for providing electronic signals representative of the chrominance component of the image of the scene; and

(d) means, contained by said housing, for recording said chrominance signals on a non-photographic recording medium for later use by said reproduction apparatus in combination with said derived luminance signals to provide a color reproduction of the image of the scene;

in combination with an image reproduction apparatus including;

(a) means for deriving electronic signals from the photograph that are representative of the luminance component of the image of the scene;

(b) means for reading the chrominance signals from the non-photographic record;

(c) means for receiving said luminance and chrominance signals and deriving therefrom color signals that are representative of three primary color components of the image of the scene; and

(d) means responsive to said color signals for reproducing a color image of the scene.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said means responsive to said color signals is a printer for providing a hard copy print of the image.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said means responsive to said color signals is an electronic image display device.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said means for deriving electronic signals from the photograph includes a video camera.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said means for deriving electronic signals from the photograph includes an electro-optical sensing device that scans the photographic image to provide said luminance signals

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the recording medium on which said chrominance signals are recorded is on the film unit.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said reproduction apparatus further includes means for modifying said color signals for image enhancement purposes.