System and method for digital film simulation

• US 7,801,440 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 54 Essential Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Mediapod LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Mowry, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ROCHELLE ANN J
• Application Number:
  US11/473,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20070002478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 396/311, 396/315, 348/97, 348/104, 358/527, 359/885, 353/122, 430/495.1
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/223 containing organic substances, e.g. dyes, inks or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/00 Film strip handling
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/20 Lamp housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/04 Photo-taking processes
• CPC Class Codes: G03C 5/08 Photoprinting G03C5/18 takes precedence; Processes and means for preventing photoprinting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/253 Picture signal generating by scanning motion picture films or slide opaques, e.g. for telecine scanning details therefor H04N3/36 ; standard conversion therefor H04N7/0112

Abstract

The invention includes a system for imparting at least one characteristic of photographic emulsion to an image. The system includes a light transmissible medium at least partially provided with photographic film emulsion, wherein the photographic film emulsion is capable of being exposed and chemically processed. Furthermore, light that is related to an image is projected through a selected portion of the photographic film emulsion. Moreover, a containment is included for providing the light transmissible medium in a position relative to the projected light, wherein the image is imparted with the at least one quality related to the photographic film emulsion.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an imaging unit configured to project light indicative of images through a circular light transmissible medium at least partially provided with photographic film emulsion including a grain pattern, wherein the circular light transmissible medium is configured to impart a portion of the grain pattern on the light indicative of the images as it passes through the circular light transmissible medium; and

a component configured to rotate the circular light transmissible medium to change the portion of the grain pattern the light indicative of the images passes through.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the light transmissible medium is celluloid.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an imaging device that selectively recaptures aspects of the projected light after it passes through the light transmissible medium.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the light transmissible medium includes zones of distinct emulsion including different grain patterns.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the light transmissible medium is photographic film having a predetermined length and width.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the component is operable to rotate the light transmissible medium in more than one direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is a projector.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the projected light is projected through a variable amount of the photographic film emulsion.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the light is projected such that the images are resized.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the images are resized via at least one of a camera optical setting, an imaging unit generating the light, and the light transmissible medium.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the images are resized by configuring an optical zoom setting.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the circular light transmissible medium is positioned relative to a projector lens.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the circular light transmissible medium is positioned within the imaging unit.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the circular light transmissible medium is positioned relative to the projected light that includes at least continual or intermittent transport of the light transmissible medium relative to the projected light.

15. A method, comprising:

rotating a circular light transmissible medium that includes photographic film emulsion having a grain pattern; and

projecting light indicative of images through at least a portion of the circular light transmissible medium.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the light indicative of the images is projected through at least the portion of the circular light transmissible medium toward a screen.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the light indicative of the images is projected through at least the portion of the circular light transmissible medium toward a charged coupled device array.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the light indicative of the images is projected through the entire circular light transmissible medium.

19. A system, comprising:

a charged couple device array configured to receive light indicative of digital images that were projected through at least a portion of a rotating circular light transmissible medium including photographic film emulsion having a grain pattern; and

a tangible computer readable storage medium configured to store the light received by the charged couple device array.

20. A system comprising:

means for projecting light indicative of a digital image through a circular transparent medium including photographic film emulsion having a grain pattern;

means for rotating the circular transparent medium; and

means for storing at least a portion of the light indicative of the digital image after it passes through the circular transparent medium.