Sensitometry Patents (Class 396/563)
  • Patent number: 7106964
    Abstract: A light amount adjustment method for use in an image exposure apparatus records an image by scanning a photosensitive material with a light beam modulated in accordance with image signal. The light beam has a first light amount level and a second light amount level that is higher than the first light amount level to perform exposure of one dot. The method sets the first light amount level based on the image signal, exposes test patches by displacing a focus position of the light beam on the photosensitive material and changing the second light amount level that is outputted in accordance with changing of the image signal and adjusts the second light amount level such that halftone dot percent fluctuations of the exposed test patches are minimized to set the adjusted second light amount level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yokota, Katsuto Sumi
  • Patent number: 6917758
    Abstract: A method for obtaining an adjusted digital image which is compensated for a watermark exposure is described comprising: determining a first sensitometric response of a photographic media without a watermark exposure; determining a second sensitometric response of the photographic media with a watermark exposure; generating a look-up table (LUT) from the first and second sensitometric responses; and modifying a digital representation of an image which is to be printed onto the photographic media in accordance with the look-up table to produce an adjusted digital image. The adjusted digital image may be printed directly onto a final print photographic film that receives a watermark exposure, or may be printed onto a printing negative photographic film to produce a printing negative with an adjusted image, which adjusted image is then printed onto a final print photographic film that receives a watermark exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Zolla, Paul W. Jones
  • Patent number: 6901219
    Abstract: The present invention is in the technical field of image digitizers or scanners. It relates to a method and device that enables the automatic calibration of digitizing equipment. The method and device of the invention enable the auto-calibration of a digitizing device by taking into account sensitometric data specific to a film strip to be digitized, to automatically adjust the digitizing parameters of the digitizing device, according to these sensitometric data and without operator intervention. The application field of the invention more especially relates to the users of digitizing equipment dedicated to motion picture films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thierry Prigent
  • Patent number: 6853438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test apparatus for the checking of the exposure quality of an exposed film, in particular of a motion film. A test pattern holder serves for the holding of a test pattern of the exposed film. A reference pattern with at least one reference mark is provided in superimposition with respect to the test pattern held by the test pattern holder. A light transmitter serves for the illumination of the test pattern held by the test pattern holder and of the reference pattern superimposed herewith. A light receiver is provided for the reception of the light transmitted through the reference pattern and through the test pattern and for the generation of corresponding electrical received signals. An evaluation device evaluates these received signals with respect to at least one quality parameter. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding test method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Hans Kiening
  • Patent number: 6849366
    Abstract: A photographic film with a row of sprocket holes formed on each side thereof includes a sensitometric step wedge of different light intensity values exposed along one side of the film, preferably located between the sprocket holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Ujwal Narayan Nirgudkar
  • Patent number: 6833235
    Abstract: A processing method has been provided for an exposed silver halide black-and-white negative working sound recording film element, said processing method comprising the steps of processing said sound recording film element in a processing apparatus providing processing ability in a daylight environment, said processing method comprising the steps of developing in a time of less than 20 seconds; fixing in a fixer; rinsing and drying; making use of an automatic processing machine, the mentioned processing steps being followed by a step of controlling black-and-white densitometry, therefor providing the processing machine with a densitometer; further recording in a motion picture color print film and processing therein image area frames originating from an exposed and processed color negative recording film and from (an) optical soundtrack(s) originating from a silver halide black-and-white negative working sound recording film element, wherein said film element has been processed, after having been exposed, by t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert
    Inventor: Jean Burtin
  • Patent number: 6829435
    Abstract: The present invention is in the field of photography and is used to measure the sensitometric characteristics of a photographic element, such as a photographic film strip. The present invention relates more particularly to an exposure system that enables the production of a sensitometric control patch and the measurement of the sensitometric characteristics of the photographic element. The exposure system comprises a light energy source servo connected to a management module of the exposure parameters. The exposure system enables the production on the exposed film strip of the unique sensitometric control patch, so that this sensitometric control patch includes gradient of exposure areas that enables all the sensitometric characteristics of the photographic film to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thierry Prigent, Michel M. Lemoine
  • Patent number: 6810209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to establish a sensitometry curve for a photographic medium, including the following steps: the formation on the medium of at least one sensitometry control by exposing many ranges of the medium with various exposure energies; the capture of the optical density values of the sensitometry control in each range; the formation from the captured values of sensitometry curve sections; and the energy offset of the curve section to obtain a partial overlap of sections corresponding to neighboring exposure energies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thierry Prigent
  • Publication number: 20040086272
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to establish a sensitometry curve for a photographic medium, including the following steps: the formation on the medium of at least one sensitometry control by exposing many ranges of the medium with various exposure energies; the capture of the optical density values of the sensitometry control in each range; the formation from the captured values of sensitometry curve sections; and the energy offset of the curve section to obtain a partial overlap of sections corresponding to neighboring exposure energies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Thierry Prigent
  • Publication number: 20040067055
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test apparatus for the checking of the exposure quality of an exposed film, in particular of a motion film. A test pattern holder serves for the holding of a test pattern of the exposed film. A reference pattern with at least one reference mark is provided in superimposition with respect to the test pattern held by the test pattern holder. A light transmitter serves for the illumination of the test pattern held by the test pattern holder and of the reference pattern superimposed herewith. A light receiver is provided for the reception of the light transmitted through the reference pattern and through the test pattern and for the generation of corresponding electrical received signals. An evaluation device evaluates these received signals with respect to at least one quality parameter. The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding test method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventor: Hans Kiening
  • Publication number: 20030052991
    Abstract: A digital camera simulates the use of fill flash. The camera takes a series of photographs of a scene at various focus distances. The photographs are stored, along with their corresponding focus distances. The photographs are analyzed to determine the distance to objects at various locations of the scene. Regions of a final photograph are selectively adjusted in brightness based on the distance information to simulate the effect that would have resulted had fill flash been used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Donald J. Stavely, K. Douglas Gennetten, David K. Campbell, Paul M. Hubel
  • Patent number: 6222995
    Abstract: A lens-fitted photo film unit can take indoor- and night-photographs at adequate tone- and color-reproductions, by satisfying the condition: −6≦2log2(A)+log2(1/T)−log2(0.3·S)≦5 wherein T, A and S represents the shutter speed, the aperture size, and the ISO film speed. The film speed is determined to be not less than ISO640, and more preferably not less than ISO1000. The guide number (ISO100·m) of a flash device of the film unit is set to be in a range from 0.1 to 8, more preferably from 1 to 6, and most preferably from 3 to 5, and satisfies the condition: 8.0≦log2 (G2)+log2 (1/T)≦12.0, in combination with the shutter speed T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Uchida
  • Patent number: 6154272
    Abstract: A control tool and method for calibrating a photographic printer and a photographic processor. The tool comprises an exposed unprocessed photographic filmstrip having a first image section for use in calibrating a photographic printer and a second image section for use in calibrating a photographic processor with respect to a predetermined aim. The first image section comprises a plurality of exposures of the same image, each image having a different exposure level, and the second image section comprising a plurality of density patches, each having a different exposure level. The exposed tool is developed so to determine the exposure levels. The exposure levels are compared with predetermined aims. The tool is printed if the measured data is within prescribed limits, or the film processor is adjusted in accordance with corrective measures if the measured data is outside said prescribed limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Peter Vanderbrook
  • Patent number: 6035148
    Abstract: A shuttering system for a sensitometer is taught which can be used both conventional and high speed exposures. The shuttering system includes a high speed rotating sector shutter, a rotating capping sector shutter, a mask and a sample transport all of which are precisely controlled relative to one another. Located closest to the sample of radiation sensitive material is the mask having three different width slits therein. The different width slits produce different and predictable exposure times when the sample is moved past at a constant velocity. Positioned behind the mask is the high speed sector shutter which is a thin disk having two different size exposing apertures therein located 180.degree. apart to thereby produce different exposure times depending on the rotational speed of the disk. The rotating capping shutter is positioned behind the high speed shutter and has one aperture therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Howard P. Jehan
  • Patent number: 5930546
    Abstract: A method for forming a test object containing a sinusoidal pattern corresponding to a specified exposure distribution function comprises: providing an exposed and processed intermediate photographic film containing a distorted sinusoidal pattern image having harmonics necessary to produce a substantially undistorted sinusoidal pattern in an exposed and processed test object photographic film; exposing the test object film using the intermediate film containing the distorted sinusoidal pattern image; and processing the exposed test object film, thereby forming a test object containing a substantially undistorted sinusoidal test pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Robert L. Lamberts
  • Patent number: 5664252
    Abstract: To provide a standard for determining an objective level of performance of photographic film developer processes, a production sensitometer, of the type commonly used in the field, is correlated with a high precision, master sensitometer, defined as a standard. Relative exposure values are computed for each step of a step wedge exposed by a production sensitometer with reference to a corresponding step of a step wedge exposed in the master sensitometer. The relative exposure values are recorded and stored in a read-only memory in the production sensitometer. In the field, the steps of a step wedge on a test film strip exposed by the production sensitometer and developed by the developer processor to be tested, are read by a densitometer which uses the stored relative exposure values to compute density values for the test strip correlated to the master sensitometer. The developer processor may then be adjusted such that the developed film will match quality control parameters, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: X-Rite, Incorporated
    Inventors: Bernard J. Berg, Patrick S. Rood
  • Patent number: 5612903
    Abstract: The color balance of color photographic printing paper is determined by making three successive exposures of separate portions of a sample sheet of printing paper through a neutral-color optical wedge of linear density gradient, each exposure consisting essentially of a different primary color of light of predetermined intensity and duration selectively to stimulate each of the three color-sensitive emulsion layers in the printing paper. The three images produced upon development provide a means for objective quantitative measurement of the relative absorptions for red, green, and blue light by each of the dye images. The relative absorptions are arrayed in the form of 3.times.3 mathematical matrices. Solving the matrices in several permutations allows the comparison of actual dye densities that form any one of a number of standard colors with the dye densities that form the image of a test print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Inventor: Bertram W. Miller