Photographic film with recorded information, method of acquiring the information recorded on photographic film, image processing method using the acquired information, and print system using the same

• US 6,324,345 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1998
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Enomoto, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/208,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/311, 396/315, 396/317, 396/318, 430/496, 430/501, 235/375, 235/462.05, 355/40, 355/41
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure

Abstract

In addition to a standardized bar code, which contains optically or magnetically recorded film information such as the photographic film type, the manufacturer'"'"'s name and the frame number, a photographic film is imprinted with a bar code containing additional information not included in the standardized bar code. Specifically, this additional information includes data on the model of a film with lens, a film-characteristic identification number, the print type of the photographic film, and other information useful in specifying image printing and processing conditions. The information with the bar code is recorded in a different location on the photographic film than where the standardized bar code is recorded. This additional information is acquired by optically reading the bar code with an image reading device (i.e., sensor) of an image processing apparatus. Specified image processing steps are performed based on the acquired additional information. Subsequently, the results of the specified image processing steps are outputted as a finished print.

Claims

1. An image processing method, comprising:

reading a first bar code containing a first set of film information which is recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of a photographic film;

reading a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of said photographic film,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern which includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, as the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code, as the first bar code is read,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes are read with a single bar code reader having image reading elements arranged in areas therein which correspond to said first bar code and said second bar code;

acquiring said first set of film information read from said first bar code and said second set of film information read from said second bar code with a controller for directing said acquired information to an image processing apparatus;

using said acquired second set of film information; and

performing specified image processing steps which are set based on said acquired second set of film information.

2. The image processing method of claim 1,

wherein, when said photographic film is a film used with a lens that has information about its camera model, lens type or lens characteristics data recorded as said second set of film information,

acquiring, at the time of printing, said said second set of film information; and

correcting at least one defect selected from among lateral chromatic aberration, distortion, decrease in the brightness of the edge of image field and blurring using information about image'"'"'s pixel position and characteristics of a taking lens in accordance with said acquired second set of film information about said camera model, said lens type of said film or its lens characteristics data.

3. An image processing method of claim 1, wherein, when said second set of film information contains a film-characteristic identification number, acquiring, at the time of making a simultaneous print, said film-characteristic identification number as said second set of film information;

storing image data, image processing conditions or printing conditions employed at the time of making a simultaneous re-print in a photoprinter database, said storing based on said film-characteristic identification number;

acquiring, at said time of making a re-print, said film-characteristic identification number recorded in said second bar code;

downloading said image data, image processing conditions or printing conditions from said database that correspond to said acquired film-characteristic identification number; and

preparing a finished print based on said downloaded image data, image processing conditions or printing conditions.

4. The image processing method of claim 1, further including:

when said second set of film information recorded in said bar code contains a print type, acquiring, at said time of printing, said print type; and

creating a finished print from said acquired print type.

5. The image processing method of claim 1, wherein said second bar code is provided only at said top film edge of the film for each frame of said film, so as to be across from said first bar code that is at said bottom film edge.

6. The image processing method of claim 1,

wherein said data track is parallel to said clock track in each of said first and second bar codes,

wherein said clock track is closer to the film edge than said data track in said second bar code, and

wherein said data track is closer to the film edge than said clock track in said first bar code.

7. The image processing method of claim 6, wherein said orientation of said data and clock tracks enables existing bar code readers to be used without requiring substantial changes in an exposing pattern of the bar codes.

8. A photographic film, comprising:

a central image region;

a sequence of perforations formed at specified intervals outboard of said central image region at opposite sides thereto;

a first bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of the photographic film and containing a first set of film information; and

a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern that includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, as the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code as the first bar code is read.

9. The photographic film according to claim 8, wherein said second set of information is selected from the group including camera model information, a film-characteristic identification number, a date of film manufacture, a print type camera mode information, lens type of a camera the film was used in, and lens characteristics data of said lens type.

10. The photographic film according to claim 8,

wherein said first bar code is a DX or expanded DX bar code, and

wherein said first set of information contained in said first bar code is selected from the group including film manufacturer, film type, emulsion number and frame number.

11. The photographic film according to claim 8, wherein said second bar code is located in at least one recording site of each frame or on a photographic film cut to a piece, said second bar code located in a location different than said standardized bar code.

12. The photographic film according to claim 9, wherein said print type designates monotone as a condition for producing a finished print.

13. The photographic film according to claim 8, wherein said second bar code is provided only at said top film edge of the film for each frame of said film, so as to be across from said first bar code that is at said bottom film edge.

14. The photographic film according to claim 8,

wherein said data track is parallel to said clock track in each of said first and second bar codes,

wherein said clock track is closer to the film edge than said clock data track in said second bar code, and

wherein said data track is closer to the film edge than said clock track in said first bar code.

15. The photographic film according to claim 14, wherein said orientation of said data and clock tracks enables existing bar code readers to be used without requiring substantial changes in an exposing pattern of the bar codes.

16. A method of sending information recorded in bar codes imprinted on a photographic film to an image processing apparatus, comprising:

reading a first bar code containing a first set of film information which is recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of the photographic film;

reading a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern which includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, when the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code, as the first bar code is read,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes are read with a single bar code reader having image reading elements arranged in areas therein which correspond to said first bar code and said second bar code; and

acquiring said first set of film information read from said first bar code and said second set of film information read from said second bar code with a controller for directing said acquired information to the image processing apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first bar code and said second bar code are simultaneously read with an image carried on said film by said image reading sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said bar code reader includes bar code heads arranged in positions therein which correspond to said first bar code and said second bar code.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said second bar code is provided only at said top film edge of the film for each frame of said film, so as to be across from said first bar code that is at said bottom film edge.

20. The method according to claim 16,

wherein said data track is parallel to said clock track in each of said first and second bar codes,

wherein said clock track is closer to the film edge than said data track in said second bar code, and

wherein said data track is closer to the film edge than said clock track in said first bar code.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said orientation of said data and clock tracks enables existing bar code readers to be used without requiring substantial changes in an exposing pattern of the bar codes.

22. A print system, comprising:

an image reading device reading a first bar code containing a first set of film information which is recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of a photographic film, and reading a second bar code containing a second set of film information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, said second bar code recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,

wherein each of said first and second bar codes have a specified bar code pattern which includes a data track, a clock track, an entry pattern indicating a beginning of a bar code sequence and an exit pattern indicating an end of said bar code sequence, said second bar code oriented at said top edge of said photographic film so that a directional orientation of said data and clock tracks of said second bar code, as the second bar code is read, are reversed relative to the directional orientation of the data and clock tracks of said first bar code, as the first bar code is read;

an image processing apparatus receiving said first set of film information read from said first bar code and said second set of film information read from said second bar code by said image reading device, said image processing apparatus performing specified image processing steps based on said received second set of film information; and

a photoprinter that exposes an image carried on said photographic film in accordance with said specified image processing steps to output a finished print.

23. The print system of claim 22, said image reading device being a bar code reader including bar code heads arranged in positions therein which correspond to said first bar code and said second bar code.

24. The print system of claim 22, wherein said second bar code is provided only at said top film edge of the film for each frame of said film, so as to be across from said first bar code that is at said bottom film edge.

25. The print system according to claim 22,

wherein said data track is parallel to said clock track in each of said first and second bar codes,

wherein said clock track is closer to the film edge than said data track in said second bar code, and

wherein said data track is closer to the film edge than said clock track in said first bar code.

26. The print system according to claim 25, wherein said orientation of said data and clock tracks enables existing bar code readers to be used without requiring substantial changes in an exposing pattern of the bar codes.

27. A print system, comprising:

an image reading device reading a first bar code containing a first set of information defined by a first data track and a first clock track, said first set of information recorded as a latent image between a sequence of perforations and a bottom edge of a photographic film, and reading a second bar code containing a second set of information that is mutually exclusive from said first set of information, and which is defined by a second data track and a second clock track, said second set of information recorded as a latent image between said sequence of perforations and a top edge of the photographic film,

wherein said second bar code is arranged so that relative directional orientation of said second data and clock tracks, as the second bar code is read, are re versed as compared to the first data and clock tracks of said first bar code as the first bar code is read;

an image processor for receiving said first and second sets of information read from said first and second bar codes by said image reading device for performing specified image processing functions based on said received second set of information; and

a photoprinter for exposing an image from said photographic film in accordance with said specified image processing functions to output a finished print.

28. The print system of claim 27, wherein said second bar code is provided only at said top film edge of the film for each frame of said film, so as to be across from said first bar code that is at said bottom film edge.

29. The print system according to claim 27,

wherein said data track is parallel to said clock track in each of said first and second bar codes,

wherein said clock track is closer to the film edge than said data track in said second bar code, and

wherein said data track is closer to the film edge than said clock track in said first bar code.

30. The print system according to claim 29, wherein said orientation of said data and clock tracks enables existing bar code readers to be used without requiring substantial changes in an exposing pattern of the bar codes.