Photography – With data recording – Optical
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-02-13
Gray, David M. (Department: 2851)
Photography
With data recording
Optical
C396S410000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06188848
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera provided with data imprinting device for imprinting photographic data such as a date, time, shutter speed, aperture value, etc., on film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A camera provided with a data imprinting device which stores photographic data such as a date, time, shutter speed, aperture value, etc., in a memory each time the shutter is released and subsequently reads out the stored data to imprint the same on film in predetermined areas thereof at the time of rewinding the film, is known in the art. In such a camera, it is necessary to detect the trailing edge of the last frame in order to imprint photographic data on each frame precisely in a predetermined area thereof. A method of detecting the trailing edge of the last frame is disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No.63-177120 in which two pulses of different phases are generated by a mechanism composed of a gear, a printed circuit board, and a brush which slidably contacts the printed circuit board. The gear rotates in accordance with the movement of the film to rotate the brush relative to the printed circuit board so that the levels of the two pulses become high simultaneously only at each moment the border between two adjacent frames passes a predetermined position. The trailing edge of the last frame is detected at the time of rewinding the film by monitoring the levels of the two pulses. However, since there is a certain period of time required for the levels of the two pulses to become high simultaneously, the trailing edge of the last frame cannot be detected precisely. Accordingly, such a conventional method of detecting the trailing edge of the last frame is not suitable for the case where photographic data is imprinted on film in a narrow area between two adjacent sprocket holes thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a data imprinting device which can imprint photographic data on each frame precisely and accurately in a predetermined area between two adjacent sprocket holes thereof at the time of rewinding the film.
To achieve the object mentioned above, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera having a data imprinting function, including: a motorized film transport device for winding and rewinding a film having consecutive sprocket holes; a sprocket-hole detecting device which detects that each of the sprocket holes passes a predetermined position; a memory in which photographic data of a frame of the film is stored at a shutter release; a data imprinting device which reads out one of the photographic data stored in the memory therefrom to imprint one character of the photographic data on a corresponding frame of the film between two adjacent sprocket holes of the corresponding frame; a film moving amount detector for detecting an amount of movement of part of the film which extends from the trailing edge of the last frame of the film to the end of the film, in accordance with detection of the sprocket-hole detector, wherein the amount of movement, which is detected by the film moving amount detector, is stored in the memory; a frame edge detector which detects the trailing edge of the last frame when the film is rewound by the motorized film transport device in accordance with the amount of movement stored in the memory. The data imprinting device starts imprinting each of the photographic data stored in the memory on a corresponding frame of the film with reference to the trailing edge of the last frame detected by the frame edge detector, in accordance with detection of the sprocket-hole detector.
Preferably, the sprocket-hole detector detects that each of the sprocket holes passes the predetermined position by detecting the consecutive edges of the sprocket holes.
Preferably, the data imprinting device determines a position of commencement of imprinting each of the photographic data with reference to the trailing edge of the last frame detected by the frame edge detector, in accordance with the amount of movement stored in the memory.
Preferably, there is further included a counter for counting the sprocket holes detected by the sprocket-hole detector; wherein the film moving amount detector detects the amount of movement of the part of the film in accordance with the number of the sprocket holes counted by the counter.
Preferably, the memory includes a non-volatile memory.
Preferably, the film moving amount detector determines that the film is fully wound up to the end of the film when the film is rewound by the motorized film transport device after the shutter release if the sprocket-hole detector only detects a number of the sprocket holes which is fewer than a predetermined number of the sprocket holes provided on each frame of the film within a predetermined period of time.
Preferably, there is further provided a film speed detecting device which detects the speed of the film; wherein the data imprinting device determines a position of commencement of imprinting the each of the photographic data in accordance with the time of detection of the sprocket-hole detector and the film speed detected by the film speed detecting device.
Preferably, the sprocket-hole detector includes a sprocket having a plurality of projections engageable with the sprocket holes.
Preferably, the data imprinting device includes an LED light emitter having an array of multiple-dots.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No.10-285347 (filed on Oct. 7, 1998) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5543872 (1996-08-01), Gotot et al.
patent: 5862421 (1999-01-01), Suzuki et al.
patent: 63-177120 (1988-07-01), None
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Gray David M.
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
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