Photography – With data recording – Data for control of subsequent processing of film
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-09
2001-03-20
Lee, Eddie C. (Department: 2851)
Photography
With data recording
Data for control of subsequent processing of film
C396S315000, C396S435000, C396S436000, C396S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205296
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to (a) a film information writing device that writes film information and that is used in a photographic system in which (i) predetermined film information comprising print format information and trimming information is recorded onto the film surface of rolled film during image recording, and (ii) the images captured on each frame of the rolled film are printed on photographic paper or displayed on a display device in accordance with the film information, as well as (b) a camera equipped with said device.
2. Related Art
In related technology, print format information that represents a print format (aspect ratio) for the exposed frame is optically or magnetically recorded onto the film surface. A system has also been proposed in which the trimming information representing the magnification for printing a part of the image in the exposed frame in enlargement is written onto the film surface. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Sho 54-26721 discloses a system wherein a finder view-field size may be optically changed and the trimming information is optically written onto the film surface in tandem with the finder view-field size.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,111 discloses a system in which a code that indicates a pseudo-panorama or pseudo-telephoto format is optically recorded next to the frames of the film.
However, in these conventional examples, both the print format information and the trimming information cannot be set. That is, a desired print format and a desired trimming magnification cannot be set together.
Further, even if it is possible to set format information and trimming information together, there are combinations of format information and trimming information in which useful prints cannot be obtained. In other words, where the trimming magnification is too large, the image becomes excessively enlarged during printing, which leads to a deterioration in image quality. There is a limit (upper limit) to the trimming magnification that may be effectively set, and this limit varies depending on the print format.
SUMMARY
The present invention resolves at least the above-identified problems. An exemplary object of the invention is to provide an image recording device in which print format information and trimming information may both be set. Another object of the invention is to provide an information writing device having a simple construction that can perform writing onto the film.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an information reading device that can read the print format information and the trimming information from the film onto which these information items are recorded.
According to exemplary embodiments, the invention comprises a film information writing device that writes film information comprising print format information regarding a print format and trimming information regarding a trimming area of an original image onto the film. The film information writing device includes: a format information setting device for selectively setting print format information from among multiple preset print formats; a trimming information setting device for selectively setting trimming information from among preset multiple trimming information items; a data converter for converting the film information set by means of the format information setting device and the trimming information setting device into prescribed data comprising a bit pattern; a first data writing device for writing onto the film the data corresponding to the print format information output from the data converter; and a second data writing device for writing onto the film the data corresponding to the trimming information output from the data converter.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the invention comprises a film information reading device that reads film information written onto the film. The device includes: a first data reading device for reading data corresponding to print format information written onto the film; a second data reading device for reading data corresponding to trimming information written onto the film; and an information determining device that determines the print format information and the trimming information from the data read by the first and second data reading devices, respectively.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4583831 (1986-04-01), Harvey
patent: 4639111 (1987-01-01), Harvey
patent: 4928124 (1990-05-01), Taniguchi et al.
patent: 5021815 (1991-06-01), Harvey
patent: 5086311 (1992-02-01), Naka et al.
patent: 5389991 (1995-02-01), Naka et al.
patent: 5742854 (1998-04-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5895134 (1999-04-01), Freeman et al.
patent: 0 458 369 A2 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 54-26721 (1979-02-01), None
Hamada Masataka
Serita Yasuaki
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
Lee Eddie C.
Minolta Co. , Ltd.
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