Photographic and video image system

• US 5,950,024 A
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Akira, Toshikage, Hideki, Saito, Takahiko, Obayashi, Shunzi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,477
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 396/310, 396/311, 396/319, 396/429, 355/39, 355/40, 355/50, 355/55, 348/96, 348/97, 348/105, 348/106, 348/110, 348/111, 348/112, 348/107
• US Class Current: 396/311
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 1/50 adjustable or interchangeable, e.g. for different film widths
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/24 with means for separately producing marks on the film, e.g. title, time of exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/245 Optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/004 using markings on the photographic material, e.g. to indicate pseudo-panoramic exposure
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2206/006 of the bar-code type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/243 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/244 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/246 Details of the markings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/247 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/248 with means for masking
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/462 in enlargers, e.g. roll film printers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/52 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/6285 Handling strips G03B1/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00143 Ordering
• 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 1/00265 with a photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00267 with a viewing or projecting apparatus, e.g. for reading image information from a film H04N1/00262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0027 : Reading or writing of non-image information from or to a photographic material, e.g. processing data stored in a magnetic track
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 : with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 : Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0402 : Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards H04N1/00283 takes precedence; picture signal circuits for modification of image resolution H04N1/3935, H04N1/40068
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0405 : Different formats, e.g. A3 and A4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0432 : Varying the magnification of a single lens group
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0458 : using different portions of the scanning elements for different formats or densities of dots
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1017 : the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 : using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 : the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 : attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 : on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 : by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0404 : Scanning transparent media, e.g. photographic film
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0408 : Scanning film strips or rolls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3226 : of identification information or the like, e.g. ID code, index, title, part of an image, reduced-size image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 : of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3243 : of type information, e.g. handwritten or text document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3254 : Orientation, e.g. landscape or portrait; Location or order of the image data, e.g. in memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3277 : The additional information being stored in the same storage device as the image data

Abstract

A photographic and video image system for transforming an image on a frame of a photographic film includes a structure in the overall form of a photographic printer having an image transformation element that transforms an optical image from the film into a video signal, a frame position indicator, which can be a hole or an optical or magnetic signal, is recorded on the film along with aspect information relating to the size of the frame exposed on the film. The frame position indicator and aspect information are detected and used to control a film feeding operation and the optical image to video signal transformation operation. The user of the system can record order information on the film that is used to specify the aspect of the resultant photographic print, as well as the quantity of prints to be made. Such order information can be superimposed as a menu on a displayed video signal at the time the video signal is reviewed prior to producing a photographic print.

Claims

1. A photographic image apparatus for transforming a picture on a frame of a photographic film into an electrical image signal and outputting said electrical image signal, said apparatus comprising:

a body;

film position means disposed in said body for positioning a photographic film and generating a frame number signal;

detecting means disposed in said body for detecting aspect information recorded along a marginal edge of said photographic film and generating an aspect information signal, said aspect information indicating an aspect of an area on said photographic film to be printed on photographic print paper;

image transforming means disposed in said body for transforming a picture on a frame of said photographic film into an electrical picture signal;

control means disposed in said body for controlling said film position means and said image transforming means, for receiving said aspect information signal, and for generating a print information signal; and

image processing means for combining said electrical picture signal with said frame number signal, said aspect information signal, and said print information signal to form said electrical image signal such that said electrical image signal produces one of an image with a picture positioned adjacent to at least print information corresponding to said print information signal and said aspect information corresponding to said aspect information signal and an image with a picture superimposed with at least said aspect information, wherein said image processing means changes an aspect of said electrical image signal based on said aspect information.

2. A photographic image apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an interface for receiving a printing order signal; and

magnetic recording means for recording said printing order signal with said electrical image signal.

3. A photographic image apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for outputting said electrical image signal.

4. A photographic image apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said detecting means detects film information recorded along a marginal edge of said photographic film, and

said image processing means corrects said electrical image signal according to said detected film information.

5. A method of transforming a picture formed on a frame of a photographic film into an electrical image signal and outputting said electrical image signal, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a photographic film on a film positioning base;

detecting aspect information non-mechanically recorded in a marginal area along an edge of said photographic film, said aspect information indicating an aspect of an area on said photographic film to be printed on photographic print paper;

generating an aspect information signal based said detected aspect information;

transforming a picture recorded on said photographic film into an electrical picture signal;

generating a frame number signal for said transformed picture;

generating a picture information signal based on said aspect information signal;

combining into an electrical image signal said electrical picture signal, said picture information signal for indicating picture information, said aspect information signal for indicating said aspect information, and said frame number signal for indicating a frame number such that said electrical image signal produces one of an image of a picture with said print information corresponding to said print information signal, said aspect information corresponding to said aspect information signal, and said frame number corresponding to said frame number signal positioned adjacent to said picture and an image of a picture superimposed with said aspect information;

changing an aspect of said electrical image signal based on said aspect information; and

outputting said electrical image signal.

6. A method of transforming a picture according to claim 5, further comprising the step of correcting said electrical picture signal before combining said electrical picture signal with said picture information signal and said frame number signal into said electrical image signal.