Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Image transferred from individual documents to film strip
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-07-31
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Image transferred from individual documents to film strip
C355S040000, C355S041000, C355S071000, C355S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268905
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for exposing image information which is recorded on a photographic original onto a light sensitive medium with exposure means for outputting optical radiation, wherein a beam path is defined through which the light passes to the light sensitive medium, and a capture means for capturing a format of a copy region of the photographic original containing to the image information to be copied.
2. Description of the Related Art
The quality of an optical image is, among others, significantly impacted by the appearance of stray light. This applies to both conventional and digital scanning and copying devices for photographic applications. Stray light may be significantly reduced with complex and expensive imaging optics and a complex optical imaging path.
Typically, however, the imaging optics, the optical path and the format of the light sensitive medium which is to be exposed with the image information, is adjusted to a predetermined format of the photographic original on which the image information is recorded.
Today's devices for photographic applications, however, should be able to process photographic original's having different formats. Such processable formats may, for example, include originals in miniature (35 mm) format (24×36 mm
2
) as well as APS originals including panorama, high and classic formats. As a result, if an imaging optical path for exposing of image information is adapted to image information recorded in 35 mm format, then stray light is produced when image information recorded in, for example, a panorama format is exposed.
A solution for this problem was proposed in the published European patent application EP 0 590 383 A1. A paper mask was inserted between the imaging objective and the light sensitive photographic paper during the exposure of image information that is recorded on a photographic original in panorama format. The paper mask covers in the imaging path the upper and lower regions of the photographic original of the panorama format which do not contain image information, so that the photographic paper is not exposed (blackened) in these covered regions. The imaging optical path and, in particular, the film holder of the conventional exposure device are adjusted to match the full standard format of the photographic original.
The published European patent application EP 0 516 055 A2 discloses a different solution for the aforedescribed problem. Also in this case, the photographic copy device should be capable of exposing photographic originals in the full standard format as well as in the panorama format. As disclosed in this patent application, the format of the copy aperture in the holder are adjusted to correspond to the format of the photographic original to be exposed (standard or panorama). First, all photographic originals on the film which are in full format, are copied. The film is then repositioned so that in a second copying path all originals on the film are copied that are in the panorama format. For copying the originals in panorama format, a masking cover is inserted in the holder, wherein that masking cover has a copy aperture adapted to the panorama format of the originals.
The aforedescribed two devices require insertion of special mechanical copy masks into the optical imaging path in order to convert the imaging path from originals in full format to originals in panorama format. Such mechanical insertion processes are complex and subject to wear. Moreover, the process can only be adapted to one other format (panorama) through insertion of a conventional mask into the imaging path adapted for the full format.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention, to provide a versatile device for exposing image information recorded on a photographic original which can be easily implemented and which images the image information on a light sensitive medium with high quality. This object is solved by utilizing exposure means comprising a plurality of adjustable area segments for adjusting the intensity of the light in certain areas. The exposure means is arranged at a fixed location in the beam path. The device further includes a control means for defining an area segment to be adjusted depending on the format of the copy region and for controlling the exposure means, so that the exposure means adjusts the intensity of the light to be supplied in the defined area section.
Accordingly, the exposure means is designed so as to provide an illumination with an intensity that depends on a previously captured format of a region of the original containing the image information to be exposed, and which can be adjusted over local adjustment regions. The exposure means is permanently installed in the imaging path which transmits the illumination to the light sensitive medium. A large number of a different spatial regions can then be easily adjusted independent from each other, so that the device of the invention can be used with photographic originals in many different formats. Such originals may be, for example, APS-P, H and C formats, standard 35 mm format, panorama and half-frames, enlargements of image sections from originals of varying formats or cropped photographic originals submitted for reprinting.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the exposure means includes an electro-optic element for adjusting the produced light intensity in predetermined local adjustment regions. In this way, a light source included in the exposure means and producing the optical radiation, can be dimensioned independent of the electro-optic element. In particular, the light source can be strong.
Such an electro-optic element may be liquid crystal display (LCD) or a so-called digital micro-mirror device (DMD).
It is also possible to employ as an exposure means a light source which already produces the emitted optical radiation in predetermined local adjustment regions. Such light source does not produce optical radiation in a local area where the intensity of optical radiation is to be turned off. Such light source may be, for example, a cathode ray tube (CRT). Alternatively, a light source of this type may include a plurality of light emitting diodes which can be independently spatially addressed.
In yet another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device includes holding means for holding the photographic original. The holding means has an aperture with an aperture format. The control format determines the local region in which the intensity of the optical radiation is to be adjusted in response to the aperture format. Taking the aperture format into account is particularly advantageous for exposing cropped photographic originals which may be submitted for reprints, or with half frame formats where two originals are located in one conventional 35 mm frame.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment of invention, the control means generates control signals for the exposure means in order to reduce the large-area contrast of the image information to be exposed. The large-area contrast can be reduced easily with the help of the electrooptic elements included in the exposure means. An additional out-of-focus mask is a defined on the electro-optic element which readily reduces the large-area contrast.
Advantageously, the exposure means are arranged so as to emit the light in direct proximity of the photographic original that contains the image information to be exposed. In this way, the local region over which the intensity of the emitted optical radiation is to be adjusted, can be matched very precisely to the format of the original area containing the image information to be exposed. This approach reduces the stray light even more.
The invention and its advantages will be described hereinafter with respect to certain embodiments.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. I
Adams Russell
Agfa-Gevaert AG
Darby & Darby
Fuller Rodney
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