Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for locating an unexposed region of film. The method includes the step of illuminating film with a light source while the film has developing chemical applied thereto, the film comprising at least two edges along an x direction perpendicular to a y direction parallel to a surface of the film. The method also includes the step of identifying an unexposed region of the film as a region containing ones of a first plurality of columns of the film, the columns disposed generally in the y direction and captured using at least one sensor operable to capture light reflected from the film, and wherein a representative value for each of the ones of first plurality of columns exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for signal modulation adjustment. The method comprises illuminating a reference target and a region of film with a first light source for a first time interval. The method further comprises capturing image data from the film in response to a first amount of light reflected from the film with a first sensor for a first integration time. The method also comprises approximately simultaneously producing a first reference output in response to a first amount of light reflected from the reference target in a field of view of a reference sensor. More particularly, the method further comprises adjusting the data in response to the reference output. In a further embodiment, the method comprises adjusting an output illumination level of the first light source in response to the first reference output before a next time interval.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a system for estimating sensor and illumination non-uniformities. The system comprises a first light source, and a first sensor operable to capture light reflected from a first side of film illuminated by the light source while the film has a developer chemical applied thereto and processing circuitry coupled to the first sensor. The processing circuitry is operable to capture a first plurality of readings from the sensor responsive to light reflected from an unexposed region of film to determine a first set of non-uniformity data and adjust image data obtained from the film in response to the first set of non-uniformity data. In a further embodiment, the processing circuitry is further operable to dim the first light source for at least a portion of the time that the sensor is being used to sense the unexposed region of the film.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a digital film processing system having a first light source operable to illuminate film. The digital film processing system also includes a first sensor operable to produce a first output in response to a first amount of light reflected from the film for a first time interval and a second sensor operable to produce a second output in response to a second amount of light passed through the film for the first time interval. The digital film processing system further includes processing circuitry coupled to the first light source and operable to adjust the output of the first light source in response to the first and second outputs so that the first sensor and the second sensor do not saturate. More particularly, the processing circuitry is further operable to adjust image data obtained from the film in response to the first and second outputs.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for improving the quality of image data. The method comprises the step of identifying a reference feature whose characteristics are invariant as the film develops. The method also comprises the step of adjusting image data in response to the reference feature, where the image data and the reference feature captured from the film while the film has developing chemical applied thereto.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for locating an unexposed region of film. The method includes the step of illuminating film with a light source while the film has developing chemical applied thereto, the film comprising at least two edges along an x direction perpendicular to a y direction parallel to a surface of the film. The method also includes the step of identifying an unexposed region of the film as a region containing ones of a first plurality of columns of the film, the columns disposed generally in the y direction and captured using at least one sensor operable to capture light reflected from the film, and wherein a representative value for each of the ones of first plurality of columns exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a system for estimating sensor and illumination non-uniformities. The system comprises a first light source, and a first sensor operable to capture light reflected from a first side of film illuminated by the light source while the film has a developer chemical applied thereto and processing circuitry coupled to the first sensor. The processing circuitry is operable to capture a first plurality of readings from the sensor responsive to light reflected from an unexposed region of film to determine a first set of non-uniformity data and adjust image data obtained from the film in response to the first set of non-uniformity data. In a further embodiment, the processing circuitry is further operable to dim the first light source for at least a portion of the time that the sensor is being used to sense the unexposed region of the film.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for signal modulation adjustment. The method comprises illuminating a reference target and a region of film with a first light source for a first time interval. The method further comprises capturing image data from the film in response to a first amount of light reflected from the film with a first sensor for a first integration time. The method also comprises approximately simultaneously producing a first reference output in response to a first amount of light reflected from the reference target in a field of view of a reference sensor. More particularly, the method further comprises adjusting the data in response to the reference output. In a further embodiment, the method comprises adjusting an output illumination level of the first light source in response to the first reference output before a next time interval.