Apparatus for controlling the color balance of a photographic image
First Claim
1. Photographic apparatus comprising:
- a film cassette for containing at least one frame of a photosensitive material and having indicia on an external surface thereof in which a characteristic of the photosensitive material is encoded in a binary format;
means for supporting the photosensitive material in position for exposure;
means for directing scene light along an optical path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure;
an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition;
means responsive to an encoded photosensitive material characteristic in said indicia and to a factor external of the photosensitive material for generating a composite signal representative of the extent such characteristic and factor may have on the color balance of a photographic image subsequently formed in such photographic material; and
means coupled to said optical filter assembly and responsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said signal, prior to the exposure of the photosensitive material.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A selected one of two or more variable density color filters is automatically positioned in the optical axis of a taking lens of a photographic camera, if necessary, prior to an exposure in order to automatically effect a color balanced exposure of a photosensitive material located within the camera. The color balance of a photographic image formed in a photosensitive material is dependent upon several factors. These factors include the color balance of the photosensitive material, the color temperature of scene illumination and the temperature of the photosensitive material processing fluid. In the present arrangement, the position of the variable density filter in the optical path of the taking lens is concurrently dependent upon one or more of these factors which, under certain conditions, may collectively offset one another such that movement of a variable density color filter for photographic image color balancing purposes does not occur.
24 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Photographic apparatus comprising:
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a film cassette for containing at least one frame of a photosensitive material and having indicia on an external surface thereof in which a characteristic of the photosensitive material is encoded in a binary format; means for supporting the photosensitive material in position for exposure; means for directing scene light along an optical path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure; an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition; means responsive to an encoded photosensitive material characteristic in said indicia and to a factor external of the photosensitive material for generating a composite signal representative of the extent such characteristic and factor may have on the color balance of a photographic image subsequently formed in such photographic material; and means coupled to said optical filter assembly and responsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said signal, prior to the exposure of the photosensitive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Photographic apparatus comprising:
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a film cassette for containing at least one frame of a photosensitive material and having indicia on an external surface thereof in which the color balance of the photosensitive material is encoded in a binary format; means for locating the film cassette in position for the subsequent exposure of the photosensitive material; means for directing scene light along an optical path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure cycle; an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein said one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition; means responsive to the color temperature of a scene to be photographed and to the color balance of the photosensitive material encoded in said indicia for generating a composite signal representative thereof; and means coupled to said optical filter assembly and responsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said composite signal, prior to the commencement of an exposure of the photosensitive material.
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9. Photographic apparatus for use with a film cassette containing at least one self-developing film unit having a layer of photosensitive material and a quantity of processing liquid enclosed in a portion thereof, comprising:
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means for locating the film cassette in position for the subsequent exposure of the photosensitive material; means for directing scene light along an optical path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure cycle; means for spreading the processing liquid across a layer of the film unit subsequent to its exposure to the scene light so as to initiate the formation of a visible image within the film unit; a chamber formed within said photographic apparatus for temporarily receiving the film unit after said spreading of the processing liquid across the layer of the film unit; an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein said one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition; means responsive to the temperature in said chamber and to the color balance of the photosensitive material for generating a composite signal representative thereof; and means coupled to said optical filter assembly and responsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said composite signal prior to the commencement of an exposure of the photosensitive material.
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10. Photographic apparatus for use with a film cassette containing at least one frame of a photosensitive material of the self-developing type including a quantity of processing liquid enclosed in a portion thereof, comprising:
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means for locating the film cassette in position for the subsequent exposure of the photosensitive material; means for directing scene light along an optical path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure cycle; means for spreading the processing liquid across a layer of the film unit after exposure to the scene light; a chamber formed within said photographic apparatus for temporarily receiving the frame of photosensitive material after said spreading; an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein said one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition; means responsive to the temperature in said chamber and to the color temperature of the scene to be photographed for generating a composite signal representative thereof; and means coupled to said optical filter assembly and responsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said composite signal, prior to the commencement of an exposure of the photosensitive material.
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11. Photographic apparatus for use with a film cassette containing at least one frame of a photosensitive material of the self-developing type including a quantity of processing liquid enclosed in a portion thereof, comprising:
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means for locating the film cassette in position for the subsequent exposure of the photosensitive material; means for directing scene light along a path and onto the photosensitive material during an exposure cycle; means for spreading the processing liquid across a layer of the film unit after exposure to the scene light; a chamber formed within said photographic apparatus for temporarily receiving the frame of photosensitive material after exposure to the scene light and after said spreading means has spread the processing liquid; an optical filter assembly having at least one filter, said optical filter assembly having a first mode of operation wherein said one filter is positioned within said optical path and filters the scene light before it strikes the photosensitive material, and a second mode of operation wherein said one filter is located out of the optical path and scene light is permitted to strike the photosensitive material in an unfiltered condition; means responsive to the temperature in said chamber, the color temperature of the scene to be photographed and to the color balance of the photosensitive material for generating a composite signal representative thereof; and means coupled to said optical filter assembly and reponsive to said composite signal for placing said optical filter assembly in either said first or second modes of operation in accordance with said composite signal, prior to the commencement of an exposure of the photosensitive material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification