Photography – With data recording – Magnetically on film or film cassette
Reexamination Certificate
1996-01-23
2001-01-09
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photography
With data recording
Magnetically on film or film cassette
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173125
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus, for example, a camera, an image-reading apparatus, and the like capable of operating in cooperation with a film cartridge accommodating a film having a magnetic-recording region formed thereon to read an information on the region.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, film cartridges accommodating a film having a magnetic-recording region formed thereon have been proposed. As apparatuses which use this kind of film, a camera, an image-reading apparatus, and the like having a magnetic head for reading and writing magnetic information have been proposed. In these apparatuses, no information is recorded on the magnetic-recording region of the film before frames of the film are exposed, but when a photographing operation is executed, information corresponding to the image of an object photographed on each frame is recorded on the magnetic-recording region. The information includes data of a photographed date, photographic conditions (aperture value and shutter speed), the number of sheets on which images are printed, comments, and the like. Film cartridges having a function of displaying the state of a roll of film, for example, “unexposed”, “partially exposed”, and “exposed” have been also proposed.
In the image-reading apparatus, the data of a necessary number of sheets on which images are printed and images and photographed dates are displayed thereon, based on the information read in reproducing images. In the camera, photographic conditions or the like are recorded when a photographic operation is performed, and it is determined whether a frame has been exposed or is unexposed when a film cartridge accommodating a partially exposed roll of film is loaded into the camera and then, the film is wound so that exposure can be started with the first unexposed frame. Whether the frame has been exposed or is unexposed is determined according to whether magnetic information has been recorded on a magnetic-recording region of each frame, namely, according to whether the level of a signal reproduced from the magnetic-recording region is higher than a predetermined reference level.
But there is a possibility that the magnetic information cannot be read correctly if a data signal, corresponding to the magnetic signal, reproduced by the magnetic head includes noise generated due to the influence of a magnetic field or an electric field present outside the camera. For example, in determining whether a frame has been exposed or is unexposed, there is a possibility that the level of the noise is higher than the predetermined reference level. In this case, it is erroneously determined that the frame has been exposed although magnetic information has not been recorded on the magnetic-recording region for that frame. On the contrary, if the reference level is set to a higher level, on the assumption that a noise having a high level is generated outside the camera, there is a possibility that an exposed frame is erroneously identified as an unexposed frame and that the exposed frame is exposed again.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus having a function of determining whether magnetic information can be correctly read before reading information recorded on a magnetic-recording region.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for reading magnetic information in which is avoidable an erroneous processing that may be excuted due to an error contained in a data signal reproduced from the magnetic-recording region.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved camera capable of using a film having a magnetic-recording region formed thereon and having a function of preventing an erroneous operation from being performed by checking whether magnetic information can be correctly read before reading the magnetic information.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a camera which uses a film having a magnetic-recording region formed thereon, comprising an information-reading device for reading information recorded on the magnetic-recording region of the film; a determiner for determining whether the information-reading device can read the information correctly before the information-reading device reads a data signal reproduced from the magnetic-recording region; and a controller for controlling an operation of the camera according to a determination made by the determiner.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus capable of reading magnetic information recorded on a magnetic-recording medium, comprising an information-reading device for reading information recorded on the magnetic-recording medium; a processor for executing a predetermined operation, based on information read by the information-reading device; a detector for detecting a noise contained in an output of the information-reading device; and a controller for comparing a level of the detected noise with a predetermined reference level, thus controlling an operation of the apparatus according to a result obtained by the comparison.
Still further, there is provided an apparatus capable of reading magnetic information recorded on a magnetic-recording medium, comprising an information-reading device for reading information recorded on the magnetic-recording medium; a processor for executing a predetermined operation, based on information read by the information-reading device; a determiner for determining whether or not the information-reading device can read magnetic information correctly, before the information-reading operation is executed to allow the processor to execute the predetermined operation; and a controller for controlling an operation of the apparatus according to a determination of the determiner.
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Hamada Satoshi
Kido Toshihito
Mizumoto Kenji
Adams Russell
Mahoney Christopher E.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
Sidley & Austin
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