Digital image processing system for the manufacture of photographic prints

• US 6,813,047 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1998
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IMIP LLC (Eastman Kodak Company)
• Original Assignee: Gretag Imaging AG
• Inventors: Murbach, Hans Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): WORKU, NEGUSSIE
• Application Number:
  US09/121,111
• Time in Patent Office: 2,294 Days
• Field of Search: 358/527, 358/537, 358/501, 348/96, 348/97, 396/311, 386/46, 386/95, 386/124
• US Class Current: 358/527
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00135 Scanning of a photographic original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00148 Storage information retrieval G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00188 Printing, e.g. prints or reprints H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00259 with an apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32512 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32529 of different type, e.g. internal and external devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32561 using a programmed control device, e.g. a microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0086 Image transceiver H04N2201/0093 and H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3216 of a job size, e.g. a number of images, pages or copies, size of file, length of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3221 of a job number or identification, e.g. communication number
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence

Abstract

A digital image processing system for the manufacture of copies of originals on photographic print material includes an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input medium which represent the prints to be produced, especially from a developed photographic film, as well as the accompanying data associated with the image data, a data storage for the temporary storage of the registered and possibly processed image data and the accompanying data, an output device for output of the image data onto an output medium, especially a photographic print material, and a control device, which controls and connects the input device, the data storage and the output device, and administers and controls the data flow between these devices according to the accompanying data associated with the image data.

Claims

1. Digital image processing system for outputting image data via output components, the system comprising:

an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input media and for the registration of order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data;

a data storage for temporary storage of the registered image data and the order-specific accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data; and

a control device for controlling and connecting the input device, the data storage, and the output device, the control device managing and controlling the flow of data between said devices according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data,

wherein the output device includes at least two different output components which cooperate with the control device, the control device selectively feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage to different output components according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data, said order-specific accompanying data specifying a desired output component for outputting the image data, and

wherein the input device comprises;

at least one reader device for reading image data and associated order-specific accompanying data recorded on a digital data carrier.

2. A system according in claim 1, comprising a digital processing device for processing registered image data, wherein the digital processing device is connected to the control device and co-operates therewith such that output image data is processed image data.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the digital processing device which cooperates with the control device processes the registered image data in preparation for further processing in at least one digital exposure device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises:

at least one input station for the registration of the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises:

at least one scanning device for the photoelectric scanning of each picture on the originals and for the generation of image data representing the originals.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises:

at least one interface to an electronic data network for the input of image data and the associated order-specific accompanying data made available on the data network.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two different output components of the output device comprises:

at least one colour printer or a digital exposure device for the picture-by-picture projection of the image data temporarily stored in the data storage onto a photographic printing material.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two different output components of the output device comprises:

at least one recording device for the recording on a digital data carrier of image data temporarily stored in the data storage and the accompany data associated therewith.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two different output components of the output device comprises:

at least one interface for outputting the image data to an electronic data network.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input device comprises:

at least one input module cooperating with the control device and including a developing device for photographic films as well as a scanning device combined therewith into a physical unit for the photoelectric inline scanning of each picture of the developed films and for the generation of image data representing the originals included on the films.

11. A system according to claim 10, comprising:

a collecting device associated with and controlled by the control device for sorting the output media exposed with image data by the output device according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the registered image data, and assigning them to the photographic films processed by at least one input module.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the input device comprises:

at least one input module for photographic films that have already been developed cooperating with the control device, and a scanning device for a photoelectric inline scanning of each picture of the developed films and for the generation of image data representing the originals included on the films.

13. A system according to claim 10, comprising:

a collecting device cooperating with and controlled by the control device for sorting the photographic copies generated by the output module or modules according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the registered image data and assigning them to the associated photographic films processed by at least one input module.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein the input device comprises:

at least two input modules cooperating with the control device processing different film types.

15. A system according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two different output components of the output device comprises:

at least one output module co-operating with the control device and including a development device for photographic print material as well as a digital exposure device integrated therewith into a physical unit for the in line projection of each picture of the image data temporarily stored in the data storage onto undeveloped photographic printing material.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the output device comprises:

at least two output modules cooperating with the control device for processing different printing material, the control device selectively feeding to the output modules the image data temporarily stored in the data storage according to their degree of use or availability and according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein the output modules include a common, multitrack developing device, wherein each track of the developing device is associated with a proper digital exposure device.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the collecting device sorts the output media exposed with the image data by the output device according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the registered image data and assigns them to the associated digital data carriers read by the reader device.

19. A system according to claim 1, comprising:

a collecting device cooperating with and controlled by the control device, for sorting the output media exposed with image data by the output device according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the registered image data.

20. A system according to claim 1, constructed as a mini-lab and combined into a physical unit comprising:

a film-loading station, a film-developing and drying device, a photoelectric scanning device, a digital output module, and a controller for control thereof, wherein the loading station, the developing and drying device, and the photoelectric scanning device cooperate in line.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the photoelectric scanning device is constructed for the processing of film types of different formats and comprises:

a movable platform constructed for the mechanical guiding and positioning of films of at least two different formats.

22. A system according to claim 1, wherein the order-specific accompanying data is at least one of order number, number of picture fields to be copied, number and format of the copies to be made, surface quality of the output medium, and desired output medium.

23. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input medium is developed photographic film.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the image data is processed before being stored in the data storage.

25. A system according to claim 1, wherein the output medium is a photographic print material.

26. Digital image processing system for outputting image data via output components, the system comprising:

an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input media and for the registration of order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data;

a data storage for temporary storage of the registered image data and the order-specific accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data; and

a control device for controlling and connecting the input device, the data storage, and the output device, the control device managing and controlling the flow of data between said devices according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data,

wherein the output device includes at least two different output components which cooperate with the control device, the control device selectively feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage to different output components according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data, said order-specific accompanying data specifying a desired output component for outputting the image data, and

wherein the input device comprises;

at least one scanning device for the photoelectric scanning of each picture on the originals and for the generation of image data representing the originals.

27. Digital image processing system for outputting image data via output components, the system comprising:

an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input media and for the registration of order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data;

a data storage for temporary storage of the registered image data and the order-specific accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data; and

a control device for controlling and connecting the input device, the data storage, and the output device, the control device managing and controlling the flow of data between said devices according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data,

wherein the output device includes at least two different output components which cooperate with the control device, the control device selectively feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage to different output components according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data, said order-specific accompanying data specifying a desired output component for outputting the image data, and

wherein the input device comprises;

at least one input module cooperating with the control device and including a developing device for photographic films as well as a scanning device for the photoelectric inline scanning of each picture of the developed films and for the generation of image data representing the originals included on the films.

28. Digital image processing system for outputting image data via output components, the system comprising:

an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input media and for the registration of order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data;

a data storage for temporary storage of the registered image data and the order-specific accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data; and

a control device for controlling and connecting the input device, the data storage, and the output device, the control device managing and controlling the flow of data between said devices according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data,

wherein the output device includes at least two different output components which cooperate with the control device, the control device selectively feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage to different output components according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data, said order-specific accompanying data specifying a desired output component for outputting the image data, and

wherein one of the at least two different output components of the output device comprises;

at least one output module co-operating with the control device and including a development device for photographic print material as well as a digital exposure device for the in line projection of each picture of the image data temporarily stored in the data storage onto undeveloped photographic printing material.

29. Digital image processing system for outputting image data via output components, the system comprising:

an input device for the registration of digital image data from an input media and for the registration of order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data;

a data storage for temporary storage of the registered image data and the order-specific accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data; and

a control device for controlling and connecting the input device, the data storage, and the output device, the control device managing and controlling the flow of data between said devices according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data,

wherein the output device includes at least two different output components which cooperate with the control device, the control device selectively feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage to different output components according to the order-specific accompanying data associated with the image data, said order-specific accompanying data specifying a desired output component for outputting the image data, and

wherein the digital image processing system is constructed as a large scale laboratory system comprising;

a film-loading station, a film-developing and drying device, a photoelectric scanning device, a digital output module, and a controller for control thereof, wherein the loading station, the developing and drying device, and the photoelectric scanning device cooperate in line.

30. A large scale digital image processing system for producing copies on photographic copying material, comprising the following features:

an input device for the registration of digital image data, representing images to be produced, from a number of input media, and for the registration of accompanying data associated with the image data;

data storage for temporary storage of the registered, and as appropriate prepared, image data and accompanying data;

an output device for outputting the image data in a number of permanent output media, in particular a photographic copying material, a storage medium, a data line or the like;

a control device which controls and connects the input device, the data storage and the output device, and manages and controls the flow of data between said devices in accordance with the accompanying data associated with the image data;

said input device comprises a number of interfaces to an electronic data network for reading-in image data provided in said data network by said number of input media and as appropriate for reading-in accompanying data associated with the image data;

said output device comprises at least one interface for feeding the image data temporarily stored in the data storage and the accompanying data associated with said image data into the electronic data network; and

a digital preparation device which is connected to said control device and cooperates with said control device for the registered image data, in order to convert said image data in view of the output on the number of permanent output media;

wherein

the converted image data are stored in the data storage, in order to output the converted image data, processed, on at least one of the number of image media in accordance with the accompanying data.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the number of input media comprises a developed photographic film, a data line, or a storage medium.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the number of permanent output media comprises a photographic copying material, a storage medium or a data line.