Image processing system

• US 5,274,418 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Kazami, Kazuyuki, Sosa, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutledge, D.
• Application Number:
  US07/980,442
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 355/40, 355/41, 355/54, 355/77, 355/68, 355/74, 355/244, 355/53, 354/21, 354/67, 354/105, 354/107, 354/109, 346/107 R, 346/110 R
• US Class Current: 355/40
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/004 using markings on the photographic material, e.g. to indicate pseudo-panoramic exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/46 for automatic sequential copying of different originals, e.g. enlargers, roll film printers G03B27/34, G03B27/50, G03B27/53 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/462 in enlargers, e.g. roll film printers

Abstract

An image processing system comprises a camera in which control information is recorded, as well as image information, and a reproducing apparatus that is controlled by the control information to determine the arrangement of an array of reproduced image frames on the same reproducing medium.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

a camera having image information recording means for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes and having control information recording means for generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said control information; and

a reproducing apparatus having reproducing means for reproducing said image information of said plurality of picture planes on a signal image reproducing medium and having control means for reading said control information and for controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said image reproducing medium on the basis of the control information.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control information which is recorded by said control information recording means includes upper/lower information indicative of an upper/lower direction of each of said picture planes, and said control means controls said reproducing means on the basis of said upper/lower information such that the upper and lower positions of each of the picture planes are aligned on said image reproducing medium.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control information which is recorded by said control information recording means includes identification information indicative of a group of said image information to be reproduced together on said image reproducing medium, and said control means controls said reproducing means on the basis of said identification information and reproduces said group together on said image reproducing medium.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein said identification information includes date information indicative of a date of recording of said image information, and said control means controls said reproducing means to reproduce together image information with the same date information.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control information which is recorded by said control information recording means includes size information indicating at which size each of said picture planes should be reproduced onto said image reproducing medium, and said control means controls said reproducing means on the basis of said size information and reproduces each of the picture planes onto the image reproducing medium at the size based on said size information.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein said reproducing apparatus determines whether there is room on said reproducing medium for the reproduction of a picture plane at a size indicated therefor by corresponding size information, and, if there is insufficient room on said reproducing medium, said reproducing apparatus changes the image reproducing medium.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said image reproducing medium includes a sheet.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said sheet includes a photographic paper.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein said image reproducing medium includes a visual display terminal.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein said image information recording means records said image information on a photosensitive film.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein said control information recording means records said control information on said photosensitive film, sad image information and said control information being recorded on different areas of said photosensitive film.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein said control information recording means records said control information on a medium different from said photosensitive film.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the last-mentioned medium comprises a semiconductor memory.

14. A camera used in an image processing system including a reproducing apparatus for reproducing image information of a plurality of picture planes on a single image reproducing medium characterized by having image information recording means for recording said image information and having control information recording means for generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said control information, said reproducing apparatus having reproducing means for reproducing said image information of sad plurality of picture planes on said single image reproducing medium and having control means for reading said control information and for controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said image reproducing medium on the basis of the control information.

15. A reproducing apparatus used in an image processing system including a camera for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes, characterized by having reproducing means for reproducing said image information of said plurality of picture planes on a single image reproducing medium, sad camera having image information recording means for recording said image information of said plurality of picture planes and having control information recording means for generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said control information, and by having control means for reading said control information and for controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said image reproducing medium on the bias of the control information.

16. A camera having image information recording means for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes and having upper/lower information recording means for generating upper/lower information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said upper/lower information, said upper/lower information being indicative of an upper/lower direction of each of said picture planes.

17. A camera according to claim 16, wherein said image information recording means records said image information on a photosensitive film.

18. A camera according to claim 17, wherein said upper/lower information recording means records said upper/lower information on said photosensitive film, said image information and said upper/lower information being recorded on different areas of said photosensitive film.

19. An image processing method comprising:

recording image information of a plurality of picture planes;

generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes;

recording said control information;

reproducing the recorded image information of said plurality of picture planes on a signal image reproducing medium;

reading the recorded control information;

and controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said single image reproducing medium on the basis of the read control information.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said image information is recorded on a photosensitive film.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control information is recorded on said photosensitive film, sad image information and said control information being recorded on different areas of said photosensitive film.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control information is recorded on a medium different from said photosensitive film.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said control information is recorded on a semiconductor memory.

24. A method according to claim 19, wherein said control information includes upper/lower information indicative of an upper/lower direction of each of said picture planes, and said reproducing is controlled on the basis of said upper/lower information such that the upper and lower positions of each of the picture planes are aligned on said image reproducing medium.

25. A method according to claim 19, wherein said control information includes identification information indicative of a group of said image information to be reproduced together on said image reproducing medium, and said reproducing is controlled on the basis of said identification information and reproduces said group together on said image reproducing medium.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said identification information includes data information indicative of a date of recording of said image information, and said reproducing is controlled to reproduce together image information with the same data information.

27. A method according to claim 19, wherein said control information includes size information indicating at which size each of said picture planes should be reproduced on said image reproducing medium, and said reproducing is controlled on the basis of said size information and reproduces each of the picture planes on the image reproducing medium at a size based on said size information.

28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said reproducing determines whether there is room on said reproducing medium for the reproduction of a picture plane at a size indicated therefor by corresponding size information, and, if there is insufficient room on said reproducing medium, changes the image reproducing medium.

29. A method according to claim 19, wherein said image reproducing medium includes a sheet.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein said sheet includes a photographic paper.

31. A method according to claim 19, wherein said image reproducing medium includes a visual display terminal.

32. A recording apparatus used in an image processing system including a reproducing apparatus for reproducing image information of a plurality of picture planes on a signal image reproducing medium, characterized by having control information recording means for generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said control information, said reproducing apparatus having reproducing means for reproducing said image information of said plurality of picture planes on said single image reproducing medium and having control means for reading said control information and for controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said image reproducing medium on the basis of the control information.

33. A reproducing apparatus used in an image processing system including image information recording means for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes and control information recording means for generating control information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording said control information, characterized by having reproducing means for reproducing said image information of said plurality of picture planes on a single image reproducing medium, and by having control means for reading said control information and for controlling said reproducing to form an array of said plurality of picture planes on said image reproducing medium on the basis of the control information.

34. A recording apparatus used for a photosensitive film on which image information of a plurality of picture planes is recorded having upper/lower information recording means for generating upper/lower information in correspondence to each of said picture planes and for recording sad upper/lower information, said upper/lower information being indicative of an upper/lower direction of each of said picture planes.

35. A camera comprising:

image information recording means for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes; and

discrimination information recording means for recording discrimination information to discriminate each picture plane, in the form of an automatically detectable signal.

36. A camera according to claim 35, wherein said discrimination information recording means automatically records the discrimination information in response to an operation of said image information recording means.

37. A camera according to claim 36, wherein said discrimination information recording means records information relating to a date when said image information recording means operates, as the discrimination information.

38. A camera according to claim 35, wherein said discrimination information recording means records the discrimination information in response to a manual operation.

39. An image reproducing apparatus used in an image processing system including a camera for recording image information of a plurality of picture planes and discrimination information for discriminating said picture planes, into recording medium means, characterized in that said image reproducing means comprises reading means for automatically detecting said discrimination information recorded into said recording medium means, and reproducing means for reproducing the image information recorded into said recording medium means, in accordance with the discrimination information.