Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Multicolor picture
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-25
2001-07-24
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Multicolor picture
C355S040000, C355S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a filing system in which digital image data obtained from an input medium such as photographic film, printed matter or a memory card are recorded on an output recording medium such as a floppy disk or optical disk. The invention further relates to a reproduction apparatus for displaying an image represented by the digital image data that have been recorded on the recording medium created by filing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of information is being put into digital form and preserved by being recorded on various recording medium, as computers and equipments using computers are disseminated. Image information is no exception. In systems contemplated thus far, images that appear on photographic film, photographs and printing matter are read by a scanner, converted to digital image data and recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk or optical disk.
Meanwhile, new types of photographic film that take use in computerized equipment into account are being studied. Such photographic film is provided with an information recording portion along both sides for the purpose of magnetically recording data. Film and frame information relating to photography is recorded in the information recording portion.
One form of exploiting the information recording portion is pseudo-aspect-ratio photography (pseudo-panoramic photography, etc.). For example, in pseudo-panoramic photography, the field of view of the camera viewfinder is set to the aspect ratio of panoramic photography but the image recording portion of the new type of photographic film is exposed at the specified (high-definition) aspect ratio. Data indicative of the fact that panoramic photography has been performed are recorded in the information recording portion of the new-type photographic film.
Accordingly, when a photograph (after development, of course) is printed using the new-type film, the photograph printing apparatus reads the data in the information recording portion and, when the type of photography is identified as being pseudo-panoramic, the apparatus prints the photograph on photographic paper at the panoramic aspect ratio (while finely longitudinally masking the upper and lower parts of the image recording portion of the film).
There are occasions where it is desired to change the aspect ratio at a future date. For instance, this is when a photograph has been taken that does not satisfactorily reflect what the photographer intended at the time of photography, or when it has become necessary to change the purpose of the photograph. When a photograph has been taken by panoramic photography, for example, there are occasions where one realizes, after looking at the finished photograph, that the masked upper and lower portions are needed. Since photographic film of the new type is such that an image appears over the entire area of the image recording portion of the film, it is desirable to make possible the utilization of this fact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which an image appearing on the above-mentioned new-type photographic film and information that has been recorded in the information recording portion are digitized and recorded on a recording medium in a form that allows the image and information to be fully exploited, as well as an apparatus for reproducing the image from the recording medium.
Another object of the invention is to provide a filing system and reproduction apparatus capable of dealing with images that appear not only on new-type photographic film but also on conventional film, photographs or printed matter.
A further object of the invention is to arranged it so that information relating to the aspect ratio of an image can be changed at will in the above-described system and apparatus.
A filing system according to the present invention comprises film reading means for reading, from a developed film having an information recording portion relating to at least a frame, an image of the frame appearing on the film to generate original digital image data representing the image and reading data relating to information that has been recorded in the information recording portion, size-data creating means for creating data representing size of an original image and data representing size of an effective image on the basis of the original digital image data and data representing the information obtained from the film reading means, recording means for recording, in mutually correlated form on a portable recording medium, the original digital image data and data representing the information obtained from the film reading means, and the data representing the size of the original image and the data representing the size of the effective image created by the size-data creating means, and aspect altering means responsive to an entered aspect alteration command for rewriting the data representing the size of the effective image, which data have been recorded on the recording medium, by new data representing a commanded size for the effective image.
An image appearing on new-type photographic film and information containing information relating to the aspect ratio that has been recorded in the information recording portion are read. The information relating to the aspect ratio, which information serves as data representing the size of the effective image, and the digital image data representing the image are correlated and recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk or optical disk. The data representing the size of the effective image can be altered at will by the operator or user.
The image data recorded on the recording medium can be exploited in several ways. For example, the image represented by the image data can be enjoyed by being displayed on a monitor, or the image represented by the image data can be printed to create a photograph using a photograph printer. The aspect ratio of an image displayed or printed can be decided based upon the data representing the size of the effective image, which represents the information related to the aspect ratio. When it is necessary to change the aspect ratio, or when it is desired to do so, this can be achieved by rewriting the data relating to the size of the effective image recorded on the recording medium.
With the filing system according to the present invention, the image input medium is not limited to new-type photographic film but also includes conventional film, printed matter on which an image or other visible information appears, or a memory card on which image data have been stored.
A filing system of wider scope according to the invention applicable to an input medium comprises image reading means for reading an image represented on the input medium and generating original digital image data representing the image, size-data creating means for creating data representing size of an original image and data representing size of an effective image using at least the original digital image data obtained from the image reading means, recording means for recording, in mutually correlated form on a portable recording medium, the original digital image data obtained from the image reading means and the data representing the size of the original image and the data representing the size of the effective image created by the size-data creating means, and aspect altering means responsive to an entered aspect alteration command for rewriting the data representing the size of the effective image, which data have been recorded on the recording medium, by new data representing a commanded size for the effective image.
If the input medium is new-type photographic film, then data relating to the size of the effective image can be created based upon the information read from the information recording portion. If data relating to the size of the effective image (namely data relating to the aspect ratio of the image) do not exist on the input medium, the operator or user may enter the data relating to
Adams Russell
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Nguyen Hung Henry
LandOfFree
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