Photofinishing process with film-to-video printer using dedicated magnetic tracks on film
First Claim
1. A film-to-video converter for generating respective still video image signals corresponding to photographic images within successive frames of a film strip, said film strip having a magnetic layer in which is recorded at least one of a plurality of parallel longitudinal magnetic tracks containing data representing at least one video signal modification instruction, said film-to-video converter comprising:
- means for selecting one of said frames;
magnetic head means for reading from a location on said film strip corresponding to the location of said one selected frame said data representing said instruction; and
means responsive to said magnetic head means reading said data, for modifying said still video image signal in accordance with said one instruction, so as to produce a processed still video signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as the camera user, the dealer, and the photofinishers film-to-video printer--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The photofinisher-dedicated track locations fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the preforations being widely spaced for this purpose. All data, such as cropping, zooming, rotating or character superposition instructions, is recorded as individual pieces of information identified by virtual data identifiers to enable the film-to-video printer to quickly access and execute such instructions by altering the video signal produced from each frame of the developed film.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A film-to-video converter for generating respective still video image signals corresponding to photographic images within successive frames of a film strip, said film strip having a magnetic layer in which is recorded at least one of a plurality of parallel longitudinal magnetic tracks containing data representing at least one video signal modification instruction, said film-to-video converter comprising:
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means for selecting one of said frames; magnetic head means for reading from a location on said film strip corresponding to the location of said one selected frame said data representing said instruction; and means responsive to said magnetic head means reading said data, for modifying said still video image signal in accordance with said one instruction, so as to produce a processed still video signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A film-to-video printer which generates a still video image signal from an image previously recorded on an elongate film strip, said film strip being characterized by successive frames, wherein:
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said film strip comprises; a plurality of photosensitive layers, a virtually transparent magnetic layer, a plurality of longitudinal tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading data from said tracks, means for selecting one of said frames; means for selecting at least one of said tracks for reading by said magnetic head means of magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, so as to produce a processed still video signal, and means for generating a print from said processed video signal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A film-to-video printer adapted to generate a still video image signal from an image previously developed on film for printing thereof, said film being characterized by an elongate film strip adapted for exposure of successive frames therein and for developing, wherein:
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said film strip comprises; a thin planar base, a plurality of photosensitive layers over said base, a virtually transparent magnetic layer over said base, a plurality of perforations in said strip located sufficiently near one longitudinal edge thereof so as to be outside of said successive frames thereof, a plurality of longitudinal tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer, each of said peripheral tracks starting and ending within the length of a corresponding one of said frames with a longitudinal starting location having a predetermined spacing with respect to the location of a corresponding one of said perforations, whereby each track is generally adjacent a corresponding one of said frames so as to be rapidly accessable by indexing the corresponding one of said perforations; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading or writing data in a selected one or ones of said tracks, means for sensing individual ones of said perforations, means for selecting one of said frames; means for longitudinally transporting said film strip with respect to said magnetic head means until one of said perforations corresponding to said selected one frame is in registration with said perforation sensing means, wherein said perforation sensing means and said magnetic head means are characterized by a spatial and temporal relationship corresponding to said predetermined spatial relationship between said track starting location and said one perforation, means for selecting for reading by said magnetic head means within one of said frames at least a track location on said film containing magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, so as to produce a processed still video signal, and means for generating a print from said process video signal.
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10. A film-to-video printer adapted to generate a still video image signal from an image previously developed on film for printing thereof, said film being characterized by an elongate film strip adapted for exposure of successive frames therein and for developing, wherein:
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said film strip comprises; a thin planar base; a plurality of photosensitive layers over said base; a virtually transparent magnetic layer over said base; a plurality of perforations in said strip located sufficiently near one longitudinal edge thereof so as to be outside of said successive frames thereof, there being only one perforation along said one edge for each one of said successive frames; a plurality of longitudinal tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer, each of said peripheral tracks starting and ending within the length of a corresponding one of said frames with a common starting location having a predetermined spatial relationship with a corresponding one of said perforations, whereby each track is generally adjacent a corresponding one of said frames so as to be rapidly accessable by indexing the corresponding one of said perforations, different ones of said peripheral tracks containing magnetically recorded data relating to different data categories to which respective ones of said tracks have been dedicated, whereby each of said categories is addressable on said film strip in the manner of an X-Y addressable random access memory, individual ones of said perforations uniquely locating a particular one of said frames corresponding to an X address, and individual ones of said tracks within a frame corresponding to a Y address; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading or writing data in a selected one or ones said tracks, means for sensing individual ones of said perforations, means for selecting one of said frames; means for longitudinally transporting said film strip with respect to said magnetic head means until one of said perforations corresponding to said selected one frame is in registration with said perforation sensing means, wherein said perforation sensing means and said magnetic head means are characterized by a spatial and temporal relationship corresponding to said predetermined spatial relationship between said track starting location and said one perforation, means for selecting for reading by said magnetic head means within one of said frames at least a track location on said film containing magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, so as to produce a processed still video signal, and means for producing a print from said processed still video signal. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A film-to-video printer adapted to generate a still video image signal from an image previously developed on film for printing thereof, said film being characterized by an elongate film strip adapted for exposure of successive frames therein and for developing, wherein:
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said film strip comprises; a thin planar base; a plurality of photosensitive layers over said base; a virtually transparent magnetic layer over said base; a plurality of perforations in said strip located sufficiently near one longitudinal edge thereof so as to be outside of said successive frames thereof, there being only one perforation along said one edge for each one of said successive frames; a plurality of longitudinal peripheral tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and located sufficiently near one of the longitudinal edges of said film strip so as to be outside of said successive frames, each of said peripheral tracks starting and ending within the length of a corresponding one of said frames whereby each track is generally adjacent a corresponding one of said frames, different ones of said peripheral tracks containing magnetically recorded data relating to different data categories to which respective ones of said tracks have been dedicated; and a plurality of longitudinal interior tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and starting and ending within each one of said frames, whereby each of said interior tracks begins and ends within a corresponding one of said frames, different ones of said interior tracks containing magnetically recorded data relating to different data categories to which respective ones of said tracks have been dedicated, wherein said interior and peripheral tracks are characterized by a common starting location within each of said frames, said starting location having a predetermined spatial relationship with a corresponding one of said perforations; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading or writing data in a selected one or ones of said tracks, means for sensing individual ones of said perforations, means for selecting one of said frames; means for longitudinally transporting said film strip with respect to said magnetic head means until one of said perforations corresponding to said selected one frame is in registration with said perforation sensing means, wherein said perforation sensing means and said magnetic head means are characterized by a spatial and temporal relationship corresponding to said predetermined spatial relationship between said track starting location and said one perforation, means for selecting for reading by said magnetic head means within one of said frames at least a track location on said film containing magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, so as to generate a processed video signal, and means for producing a print from said processed video signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 24, 25)
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16. A film-to-video printer adapted to generate a still video image signal from an image previously developed on film for printing thereof, said film being characterized by an elongate film strip adapted for exposure of successive frames therein and for developing, wherein:
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said film strip comprises; a thin planar base; a plurality of photosensitive layers over said base; a virtually transparent magnetic layer over said base; a plurality of perforations in said strip located sufficiently near one longitudinal edge thereof so as to be outside of said successive frames thereof; a plurality of longitudinal peripheral tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and located sufficiently near one of the longitudinal edges of said film strip so as to be outside of said successive frames, each of said peripheral tracks starting and ending within the length of a corresponding one of said frames whereby each track is generally adjacent a corresponding one of said frames, said peripheral tracks being further dedicated to the reading and writing of such data therein with some destruction of said photosensitive layers in regions thereof in registration with said peripheral tracks; and a plurality of longitudinal interior tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and starting and ending within each one of said frames, whereby each of said interior tracks is contained within a corresponding one of said frames, said interior tracks being further dedicated to the reading and writing of such data therein with no destruction of said photosensitive layers within said frames, wherein said interior and peripheral tracks are characterized by a common starting location within each frame, said common starting location bearing a predetermined spatial relationship with a corresponding one of said perforations; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading or writing data in a selected one or ones said tracks, means for sensing individual ones of said perforations, means for selecting one of said frames; means for longitudinally transporting said film strip with respect to said magnetic head means until one of said perforations corresponding to said selected one frame is in registration with said perforation sensing means, wherein said perforation sensing means and said magnetic head means are characterized by a spatial and temporal relationship corresponding to said predetermined spatial relationship between said track starting location and said one perforation, means for selecting for reading by said magnetic head means within one of said frames at least a track location on said film containing magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, to generate a processed still video signal, and means for producing a print from said processed still video signal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A film-to-video printer adapted to generate a still video image signal from an image previously developed on film for printing thereof, said film being characterized by an elongate film strip adapted for exposure of successive frames therein and for developing, wherein:
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said film strip comprises a thin planar base; a plurality of photosensitive layers over said base; a virtually transparent magnetic layer over said base; a plurality of perforations in said strip located sufficiently near one longitudinal edge thereof so as to be outside of said successive frames thereof; a plurality of longitudinal peripheral tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and located sufficiently near one of the longitudinal edges of said film strip so as to be outside of said successive frames, each of said peripheral tracks starting and ending within the length of a corresponding one of said frames whereby each track is generally adjacent a corresponding one of said frames; and a plurality of longitudinal interior tracks magnetically recorded in said magnetic layer and starting and ending within each one of said frames, whereby each of said interior tracks is contained within a corresponding one of said frames, wherein said interior and peripheral tracks are characterized by a common starting location within each of said frames, said starting location having a predetermined spatial relationship with a corresponding one of said perforations; said film-to-video printer comprises; magnetic head means for reading or writing data in a selected one or ones said tracks, means for sensing individual ones of said perforations, means for selecting one of said frames; means for longitudinally transporting said film strip with respect to said magnetic head means until one of said perforations corresponding to said selected one frame is in registration with said perforation sensing means, wherein said perforation sensing means and said magnetic means are characterized by a spatial and temporal relationship corresponding to said predetermined spatial relationship between said track starting location and said one perforation, means for selecting for reading by said magnetic head means within one of said frames at least a track location on said film containing magnetically recorded data representing at least one of the following instructions for said one frame;
crop, zoom, rotation, character display, duration, fade,means for executing said at least one instruction by one of cropping, zooming, rotating, superimposing a character display, timing or fading said video signal, respectively, so as to generate a processed still video signal, and means for producing a print from said processed still video signal - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification