Camera with dual mode exposure controlled data imprinting

• US 6,044,231 A
• Filed: 01/28/1994
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Hidenori, Nakamura, Toshiyuki, Soshi, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahoney, Christopher E.
• Application Number:
  US08/188,442
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 354/105, 354/106, 396/310, 396/315, 396/318, 396/435, 396/436
• US Class Current: 396/315
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/245 Optical means

Abstract

A camera has a data imprinting device having an optical system focussing light from an LED array on a photographic film at first and second positions corresponding to full-size and panorama-size picture formats. In a first embodiment the optical system has two lens elements, at differing distances from the LED array, each aligned to imprint data at one of the two positions. In a second embodiment the optical system has a single lens element which moves from a first lens position to a second lens position at differing distances from the LED array. Amounts of light emitted by the LED array are modulated by a control system to produce correctly exposed imprinted data at both position. The control system compensates for differing numerical apertures of associated with the first and second positions. The control system also compensates for film speed. One embodiment of the invention modulates the amount of emitted light by adjusting a current level driving the LED array. Another embodiment modulates by pulse width modulating the illumination period of the LED array.

Claims

1. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

first and second optical elements;

said first and second optical elements effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and responding to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

a modulator in said controller;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said controller further effective for varying a level of current applied to said light emitting elements to adjust said amounts of emitted light; and

said controller being responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

2. A camera according to claim 1 wherein said controller is further responsive to a film speed of said photosensitive film such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level related to said film speed.

3. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

first and second optical elements;

said first and second optical elements effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and being responsive to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

a modulator in said controller;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said modulator including a pulse modulator effective for pulse modulating said light emitting elements to vary said amounts of emitted light; and

said pulse modulator being responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

4. A camera according to claim 3 wherein said pulse modulator is further responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

5. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

an optical element which is movable between first and second lens positions;

said optical element effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at respective first and second positions;

said second lens position being further from said light emitting elements than said first lens position thereby resulting in a smaller numerical aperture with said optical element in said second lens position than with said optical element in said first lens position;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

movement of said optical element being responsive to said selector;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and being responsive to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

a modulator in said controller;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data; and

said controller being responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

6. A camera according to claim 5 wherein said controller is further responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

7. A camera according to claim 5 wherein said modulator includes a pulse modulator;

said pulse modulator being effective for pulse modulating said light emitting elements to vary said amounts of emitted light.

8. A camera according to claim 7 wherein said pulse modulator is responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

9. A camera according to claim 8 wherein said pulse modulator is further responsive to said film speed data such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

10. A camera according to claim 7 wherein said pulse modulator is responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

11. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising

light emitting elements;

first and second optical elements;

said first and second optical elements effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and responding to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

a modulator in said controller;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said first and second optical elements being at first and second lens positions effective for focusing light at respective ones of said first and second positions on said photosensitive film;

said second lens position being further from said light emitting elements than said first lens position thereby resulting in a smaller numerical aperture with said second optical element in said second lens position than with said first optical element in said first lens position;

a data shutter;

said data shutter effective for occluding imaging by one of said first and second optical elements, said data shutter being responsive to said selector; and

said modulator including a device;

said device being effective for varying a level of current applied to said light emitting elements to adjust said amounts of emitted light.

12. A camera according to claim 11 wherein said device is responsive to said selector dependent upon a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

13. A camera according to claim 12 wherein said device is further responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

14. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

first and second optical elements;

said first and second optical elements effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and responding to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

a modulator in said controller;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said first and second optical elements being at first and second lens positions effective for focusing light at respective ones of said first and second positions on said photosensitive film;

said second lens position being further from said light emitting elements than said first lens position thereby resulting in a smaller numerical aperture with said second optical element in said second lens position than with said first optical element in said first lens position;

a data shutter;

said data shutter effective for occluding imaging by one of said first and second optical elements, said data shutter being responsive to said selector;

said modulator including a pulse modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to vary said amounts of emitted light; and

said pulse modulator is responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level.

15. A camera according to claim 14 wherein said pulse modulator is further responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

16. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

at least one optical element effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes and responding to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

said controller including a modulator;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements controlling amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said modulator having a device effective for varying a level of current applied to said light emitting elements to adjust said amounts of emitted light;

said device being responsive to a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level;

said device being further responsive to a film speed such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.

17. A camera, having a data imprinting system, comprising:

light emitting elements;

at least one optical element;

said at least one optical element effective for focussing light from said light emitting elements on a surface of a photosensitive film at first and second positions;

a selector;

said selector effective for selecting one of a first frame size and a second frame size;

a masking member;

said masking member effective for framing images having said first and second frame sizes, responsive to said selector;

said first and second positions being associated with said first and second frame sizes respectively;

a controller;

said controller effective for imprinting data on said photosensitive film by selectively illuminating said light emitting elements;

said controller including a modulator;

said modulator effective for modulating said light emitting elements to control amounts of emitted light and thereby an exposure level of said data;

said modulator including a pulse modulator effective for pulse modulating said light emitting elements to vary said amounts of emitted light;

said pulse modulator being responsive to said selector dependent upon a selected frame size such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has a substantially equal exposure level;

an input data line;

said input data line effective for inputting film speed data of said photosensitive film into said controller; and

said pulse modulator being further responsive to said film speed data such that data imprinted at said first and second positions has an exposure level corresponding to said film speed.