Camera and film for recording overlapping images

• US 5,842,063 A
• Filed: 10/30/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Baloga, John D., Hawkins, Gilbert A., Muenter, Annabel A., Lau, Philip T.
• Primary Examiner(s): MALLEY, DANIEL PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US08/740,541
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 355/2, 355/39, 396/315, 396/317
• US Class Current: 396/315
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/02 Still-picture cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 1/127 the polymethine chain forming part of a carbocyclic ring
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/164 Infrared processes
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 7/30 Colour processes using colour-coupling substances; Materials therefor; Preparing or processing such materials

Abstract

A camera and film for recording overlapping visual images and digital data is disclosed. The camera includes a structure for recording the region of a film with visible light to record a visible image in one or more record layer(s) sensitized to visible light; and a structure for recording in the region of the film with non-visible light to record digital data in one or more record layer(s) sensitized to non-visible light, whereby overlapping visual and digital data images are recorded in the same region.

Claims

1. A camera for recording overlapping visible images and non-visible digital data, the camera comprising:

means for exposing a region of a film with visible light to record a visible image in at least one record layer sensitized to visible light; and

means for exposing in the region of the film with non-visible light to record non-visible digital data in at least one record layer sensitized to non-visible light, whereby overlapping visible images and non visible digital data are recorded in the region.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein when non-pictorial digital information is recorded in one or more photographic film record layer(s) of the region, pictorial information is recorded in the region in another photographic film record layer(s) not containing non-pictorial digital information.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including devices for producing non-visible light including GaAs, InP, AlGaInAs or GaInP material.

4. The invention of claim 2 further including means of synchronizing recording of digital data with motion of the film during the recording process.

5. The camera of claim 3 further including means for storing digital information and means responsive to such stored information for selectively activating the optical recording means, and means for buffering the digital information selectively recorded by the activated optical recording means prior to recording.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein the non-visible light is provided by infrared exposing means including a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices.

7. In a photographic camera for recording images of a subject on photographic film, the photographic film having one or more record layer(s) sensitized to non-visible light;

one or more record layer(s) sensitized to visible light and not exposable by the non-visible light exposing the record layer(s) sensitized to non-visible-light; and

the visible light sensitized record layer(s) being rendered, upon exposure and development so as to produce image dyes that are absorptive of light at visible wavelengths;

the non-visible light sensitized record layer(s) being rendered, upon exposure and development, so as to produce image dyes that are absorptive of light at non-visible wavelengths and substantially less absorptive of visible light than the image dyes produced in the exposed and developed record layer(s) sensitized to visible light, the camera comprising;

(a) means for advancing the photographic film; and

(b) optical recording means including for exposing the non-visible light sensitized record layer(s) with non-visible radiation in an area of the photographic film; and

for exposing the visible light sensitized record layer(s) with visible radiation in the area of the photographic film whereby in the photographic film, there are exposed record layer(s) sensitized to visible light overlapped with exposed record layers sensitized to non-visible light.

8. In a photographic camera for recording images of a subject on photographic film, the photographic film having one or more record layer(s) sensitized to infrared light;

one or more record layer(s) sensitized to visible light and not exposable by the infrared light exposing the record layer(s) sensitized to infrared light; and

the visible light sensitized record layer(s) being rendered, upon exposure and development, so as to produce image dyes that are absorptive of light at visible wavelengths;

the infrared light sensitized record layer(s) being rendered, upon exposure and development, so as to produce image dyes that are absorptive of light at infrared wavelengths and substantially less absorptive of visible light than the image dyes produced in the exposed and developed record layer(s) sensitized to visible light, the camera comprising;

(a) means for advancing the photographic film; and

(b) optical recording means including;

(i) semiconductor light emitting means for exposing the infrared sensitized record layer(s) in an area of the photographic film with infrared radiation representing digital data; and

(ii) means for focusing visible light from an image scene onto the area of the photographic film and exposing the visible light sensitized layer(s) in such area with scene information whereby in the photographic film, the digital information recorded in the infrared light sensitized layer(s) is overlapped with the scene information recorded in the visible light sensitized layer(s).