Automated photographic apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of storing, retrieving and utilizing data regarding the development of one or more photographic exposures of one or more photographic subjects, comprising:
- (A) entry of said data in a temporary storage register;
(B) simultaneously (1) transferring said data from said temporary storage register to self-contained, removable non-volatile storage media and (2) operating the shutter of a photographic camera, exposing photographic film contained therein;
(C) retaining said data in said non-volatile storage media for an indefinite period of time;
(D) developing said film;
(E) transferring said developed film to an automated photographic printer; and
(F) utilizing said data to operate said automated printer, thereby exposing a section of photographic paper.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for correlating development instructions with individual photographic exposures as disclosed. Also disclosed is an integrated method of viewing, editing, printing and cutting individual photographic exposures based on previously stored data. The apparatus and method includes a device for the manual entry of information regarding the ultimate development and exposure of a photographic image, a memory device for storing the information, a shutter operating circuit for operating a camera shutter during the information storage phase. Thereafter, the information stored during the photographic phase may be transferred to the commercial photographic studio where the data can be used for a variety of processes, including commercial printing, editing, sorting, accounting, reporting, correlating and physical storage. The stored information produced at the time the photographic exposure is made is used to control all of the foregoing steps in a variety of combinations.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of storing, retrieving and utilizing data regarding the development of one or more photographic exposures of one or more photographic subjects, comprising:
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(A) entry of said data in a temporary storage register; (B) simultaneously (1) transferring said data from said temporary storage register to self-contained, removable non-volatile storage media and (2) operating the shutter of a photographic camera, exposing photographic film contained therein; (C) retaining said data in said non-volatile storage media for an indefinite period of time; (D) developing said film; (E) transferring said developed film to an automated photographic printer; and (F) utilizing said data to operate said automated printer, thereby exposing a section of photographic paper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of storing and retrieving data regarding the parameters of exposure development of one or more photographic exposures of one or more photographic subjects comprising:
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(A) entry of said data in a temporary storage register; (B) simultaneously (1) transferring said data from said temporary storage register to self-contained, removable, non-volatile storage media and (2) operating the shutter of a photographic camera, exposing photographic film contained therein; (C) retaining said data in said non-volatile storage media for an indefinite period of time; (D) converting said data to RS232 compatible format; and (E) transferring said data in said RS232 compatible format to a visually readable medium. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for storing, retrieving and utilizing data regarding the development of one or more photographic exposures of one or more photographic subjects comprising:
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(A) a key pad for entry of said data; (B) a display; (C) a micro-controller electrically connected to said keypad and said display for the temporary storage of said data; (D) a read only memory contained within said micro-controller; (E) an RS 232 compatible interface connected to said micro-controller; (F) data transmitting means for transmitting said data to and from said micro-controller through said RS 232 interface; (G) a self-contained, removable, non-volatile memory electrically connected to said keyboard and display; (H) a circuit for simultaneously generating an electrical pulse connected to the shutter operating mechanism of photographic camera containing film and operating said data transmitting means to transfer said data from said micro-controller to said self-contained, removable, non-volatile memory; and (I) a power supply for supplying electrical current to said micro-controller, said memory, said keypad, said display and said circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of storing, retrieving and utilizing data regarding the development of one or more photographic exposures of one or more photographic subjects comprising:
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(A) entry of said data in a temporary storage register; (B) simultaneously (1) transferring said data from said temporary storage register to self-contained, removable, non-volatile storage media and (2) operating the shutter of a photographic camera, exposing photographic film contained therein; (C) retaining said data in said non-volatile storage media for an indefinite period of time; (D) developing said film; (E) transferring said developed film to a device for transporting said film before the lens of a video camera; (F) using said video camera to image said film, and transfer said image to a video display screen; (G) simultaneously converting said data to format suitable for display on said video display screen; (H) simultaneously displaying the image of said photographic negative and said data on said screen; (I) selective modification of said data based on the appearance of said photographic negative image displayed on said screen; (J) storing said modified data in said non-volatile storage media; and (K) imprinting on the each negative from said film a coded mark, correlating each exposure on said film to particular data stored in said non-volatile storage media. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification