Photography – With data recording – Data for control of subsequent processing of film
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-04
2001-11-20
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
With data recording
Data for control of subsequent processing of film
C396S319000, C348S064000, C348S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321040
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of scanning, viewing and writing information on a magnetic layer of photosensitive film. The present invention further relates to a camera/player which is capable of reading digital image data that is magnetically encoded on photosensitive film at the time of film processing, as well as a system and method of providing photofinishing services.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Digital cameras permit a user to obtain digital images that can be stored and manipulated on personal computers. The digital images can be loaded into the computer directly from a digital camera which has been connected to a computer. The images obtained from the digital camera can be used for on-line publishing, presentations and other applications related to digitally captured images.
Conventional photography does not permit a user to provide digital images to a computer without the aid of an additional device such as a film scanner, which is a dedicated device that tends to be expensive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,201 discloses a film image input system which utilizes a film cartridge in which an image signal of each frame image is recorded on an EEPROM. However, this provides for an expensive and complicated system and cartridge structure since the image is stored on a chip which is provided on a cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,635 teaches a dual still video/film portrait system which utilizes a camera and a video imager. In this document, data pertaining to the film frame as well as a video frame number are recorded on a magnetic layer of the film and utilized for subsequent modifications. With the arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,635, a complex camera and video imager arrangement is utilized in which two imaging paths with respect to a dual still video and a film portrait system are necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a system and method which enables a user to obtain digital image data from a conventional photographic system without needing an additional personal optical scanner, and at a reduced cost to the user. As is known, Advanced Photo System film such as IX film contains a magnetic coating on which digital information can be stored. Typically, the digital information that is stored on the magnetic coating includes a print aspect ratio, cartridge hand of load, artificial illuminant flag, date, time, aperture setting, and other data related to the images captured on the film, including frame titles or roll titles. However, the data stored is not limited to this type of information. It is noted that image data can also be stored on the film in a digital format.
In a feature of the present invention, image data is stored on the film by using magnetic encoding that can be easily recalled and displayed on a monitor for purposes such as indexing, presentation, retouching and publishing. By way of a magnetic reader in an enabled camera such as an enabled KODAK ADVANTIX Camera, this can be accomplished without the aid of additional equipment other than the original camera which captured the images.
The present invention relates to a method of placing information on photosensitive film, such as Advanced Photo System film, having a magnetic layer. The method comprises the steps of processing the photosensitive film; scanning the processed photosensitive film so as to obtain a digital record of captured images on the photosensitive film; converting the digital record to a digital informational format of the captured images on the photosensitive film for writing on the magnetic layer of the processed photosensitive film; and writing the digital informational format of the captured images on the magnetic layer of the processed photosensitive film.
The present invention further relates to a method of providing photofinishing services which comprises the steps of scanning a processed photosensitive film so as to obtain a digital record of captured images on the photosensitive film; compressing the digital record of the captured images; and writing the compressed digital record of the captured images on a magnetic layer of the photosensitive film.
The present invention also relates to a method of manipulating digital information on photosensitive film which comprises the steps of inserting a photosensitive film having a compressed digital record of captured images thereon into an enabled camera/player; connecting the enabled camera/player having the photosensitive film inserted therein to a computer; reading the compressed digital record on the photosensitive film; transferring the compressed digital record of the captured images to the computer; and decompressing the compressed digital record of the captured images.
The present invention further relates to a camera/player which comprises a receiving section adapted to receive a thrust film cartridge having a roll of processed photosensitive film therein, so as to permit a movement of the processed photosensitive film out of and back into the thrust film cartridge; and a magnetic read head for reading information on a magnetic layer of the processed photosensitive film as the processed photosensitive film is moved out of or into the thrust film cartridge.
The present invention also relates to a camera which comprises a receiving section for receiving a cartridge having a roll of photosensitive film therein; an exposure section for exposing the photosensitive film; a reading device for reading information on a magnetic layer of the photosensitive film; and a control device which is operable to place the camera in a first mode when the photosensitive film in the cartridge received at the receiving section is a processed roll of photosensitive film, and a second mode when the photosensitive film in the cartridge received at the receiving section is an unprocessed roll of photosensitive film, such that in said first mode said reading device reads information on a magnetic layer of said processed photosensitive film, and in said second mode the control device checks for other conditions.
The present invention also relates to a photofinishing service arrangement that comprises a processing assembly for processing photosensitive film having captured images thereon; a scanning assembly for scanning the processed photosensitive film to obtain a digital record of the captured images on the photosensitive film; a compressing assembly for compressing the digital record of the captured images; and a writing assembly for writing the digitally compressed record of the captured images on a magnetic layer of the processed photosensitive film.
The present invention also relates to a photosensitive film having a magnetic layer for receiving information which comprises a predetermined length L
1
, and a length L for capturing images which is less than the predetermined length L
1
. The predetermined length L
1
permits a writing of digital information on the magnetic layer of the film past the length L.
The present invention also relates to a camera which comprises a receiving section for receiving a cartridge having a roll of photosensitive film therein; an exposure section for exposing the photosensitive film; a reading device for reading information on a magnetic layer of the photosensitive film; and a control device which is operable to place the camera in a reading mode when the photosensitive film in the cartridge received at said receiving section is a processed roll of photosensitive film, such that in the reading mode the reading device reads information on a magnetic layer of said processed photosensitive film.
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patent: 4972213 (1990-11-01), Stoneham et al.
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patent: 4987439 (1991-01-01), Cloutier
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patent: 5006873 (1991-04-01), Wash
patent: 5016030 (1991-05-01), Dwyer et al.
patent: 5021820 (1991-06-01), Robison
patent: 5023635 (1991-06-01), Nealon
patent: 5122821 (1992-06-01), Nealon
Cloutier Robert P.
Fredlund John R.
Wess Raymond E.
Eastman Kodak Company
Gray David M.
Pincelli Frank
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