Multistage system for processing photographic film
First Claim
1. A multistage system for processing photographic film comprising:
- (a) a first film processing subsystem wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing subsystem;
(b) a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder coupled with a memory having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
(c) a second film processing subsystem wherein film processed in the second film processing subsystem is wound on a second film spool;
(d) a second transponder associated with the second film spool, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory; and
(e) at least one transceiver for transmitting said first electromagnetic field and for sensing said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read from the memory coupled with the first transponder, and for transmitting data read from the first transponder to the second transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for photographic film processing adapted to access stored information that is related to film processing. An electrically programmable read/write memory contained in a transponder is integrally attached to the film container used at each stage in the film processing chain. The transponder is capable of receiving a first RF frequency electromagnetic field and deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generating a second RF frequency electromagnetic field in response, where the second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data stored in memory. A transceiver is disposed within the processing apparatus, connected with an antenna and support components for polling each transponder. As instructed by a control logic processor, the transceiver communicates with the transponder to both read stored data from the transponder, such as manufacturing data for the film, and store usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in memory.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multistage system for processing photographic film comprising:
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(a) a first film processing subsystem wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing subsystem;
(b) a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder coupled with a memory having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
(c) a second film processing subsystem wherein film processed in the second film processing subsystem is wound on a second film spool;
(d) a second transponder associated with the second film spool, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory; and
(e) at least one transceiver for transmitting said first electromagnetic field and for sensing said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read from the memory coupled with the first transponder, and for transmitting data read from the first transponder to the second transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for recording, accessing, and transmitting information during multiple stages of a photographic film processing system comprising the steps of:
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(a) performing a first film processing step wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing step;
(b) recording data indicative of film processing information in a memory coupled with a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
(c) performing a second film processing step wherein film processed in the second film processing step is wound on a second film spool, where the second film spool has a second transponder associated therewith, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory;
(d) reading data from the memory coupled with the first transponder with a transceiver which transmits said first electromagnetic field and which senses said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read; and
(e) writing data received from said first transponder to said second transponder.
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20. A method for recording, accessing, and transmitting information concerning motion picture film processing, whereby said information can be used to alter the operation of a motion picture film processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
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(a) performing a first film processing step wherein photographic film is wound on a first film spool, which first film spool with wound photographic film is used as a supply spool for a subsequent film processing step;
(b) recording data indicative of film processing information in a memory coupled with a first transponder associated with the first film spool, said first transponder capable of receiving a first electromagnetic field and generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the memory;
(c) performing a second film processing step wherein film processed in the second film processing step is wound on a second film spool, where the second film spool has a second transponder associated therewith, said second transponder coupled with a second memory capable of having data stored therein indicative of film processing information, said second transponder capable of receiving a third electromagnetic field and generating a fourth electromagnetic field in response to the third electromagnetic field received thereby, the fourth electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second memory;
(d) reading data from the memory coupled with the first transponder with a transceiver which transmits said first electromagnetic field and which senses said second electromagnetic field, thereby allowing data to be read;
(e) writing data received from said first transponder to said second transponder; and
(f) performing a subsequent film processing step wherein data written in the second transponder is used to control the subsequent step.
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Specification