Photographic element with reference calibration data

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6280914
  • Patent Number
    6,280,914
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, August 9, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 28, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A method of recording a reference calibration target on an APS format photographic element having a reserved area for use by photofinishing apparatus, and a perforation located relative to the reserved area, includes the steps of: generating a reference calibration target having a width no greater than 30.2 mm and a height no greater than 16.7 mm; locating the reserved area of the photographic element relative to the perforation; and recording the reference calibration target within the reserved area.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to photography, and more particularly to a photographic element having reference calibration data.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The use of reference calibration patches exposed on a roll of film to enable better exposure control during optical printing is known in the art. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,983 issued Jun. 16, 1998 to Terashita entitled Color Copying Apparatus for Determining Exposure Amount from Image Data of an Original Image and a Reference Image. The use of reference calibration patches has also been shown to be useful in determining correction values for scanned film data used in digital printing. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,944 issued Sept. 16, 1997 to Reem et al. entitled Digital Process Sensitivity Correction; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,260 issued Jul. 15, 1997 to Wheeler et al. entitled Automated Photofinishing Apparatus.




The film format known as the Advanced Photo System (APS) as designated in the System Specifications for the Advanced Photo System, referred to as the APS Redbook, reserves specific areas on an APS format film strip for use by photofinishing apparatus. These areas can be used for exposing reference calibration patches and other data used in the photofinishing process. Referring to

FIG. 4

, an APS format photographic element


10


with a geometry as specified in

FIGS. 200-1

,


200


-


2


,


210


-


1


,


400


and


600


of the APS Redbook is shown. The photographic element includes a first area


12


reserved for use in photofinishing apparatus, a first imaging frame


14




1


, a last imaging frame


14




1


, and a second area


16


reserved for use in photofinishing apparatus. Anticipation perforations


20




1


-


20




n


and metering perforations


22




1


-


22




n


are provided for each imaging frame on the photographic element


10


. One additional end of roll perforation


23


is provided in a position corresponding to an anticipation perforation. For film strips intended for use in one-time use cameras, an additional end of roll perforation (not shown) is provided in a position corresponding to a metering perforation after the end of roll perforation


23


.




The reserved areas


12


and


16


are wider (in the direction of the length of the photographic element


10


) than exposed image areas (not shown) and printed or projected image areas (also not shown) that are located within frames


14




1


-


14




n


. Dimensions of these areas are noted in Table 1.














TABLE 1









Frame




Width (mm)




Height (mm)

























Reserved area 12




37.7




16.7






Reserved area 16




32.45




16.7






Exposed image area of Frames 14




30.2




16.7






Printed or projected image area of Frames 14




27.4




15.6














Some problems are encountered when utilizing reference calibration data applied to the reserved areas


12


and/or


16


on APS format photographic elements. One problem occurs when scanning the extra width in the reserved areas


12


and/or


16


using conventional scanning devices developed for scanning APS imaging frames


14


. These devices are designed to scan images of size equal to or smaller than the exposed image area within the frames


14


. Extra scanning hardware and software is required to scan the full width of the reserved areas


12


and


16


. Also, additional memory may also be required to store the extra pixel information from the scanned reserved areas if the entire areas are scanned. Another problem occurs in locating the calibration data so that existing scanners can accurately and readily retrieve the data. A further problem exists with some existing scanners in that they are physically unable to access the second reserved area


16


. A still further problem exists in that variations in placement of the calibration data during recording or the location of the photographic element during scanning can result in the failure to read portions of the data.




There is a need therefore for an improved method of recording calibration data on an APS format photographic element that avoids the problems noted above.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The need is met according to the present invention by providing a method of recording a reference calibration target on an APS format photographic element having a reserved area for use by photofinishing apparatus, and a perforation located relative to the reserved area, that includes the steps of: generating a reference calibration target having a width no greater than 30.2 mm and a height no greater than 16.7 mm; locating the reserved area of the photographic element relative to the perforation; and recording the reference calibration target within the reserved area.




In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reference calibration target is recorded in the first reserved area.




ADVANTAGES




The present invention has the advantage that the reference calibration target placed on an APS format photographic element can be read by conventional film scanners used to scan image frames on APS format photographic elements in photofinishing operations. It has the further advantage that all of the data derived by scanning the target in a standard photofinishing apparatus can be stored in existing memory designed to hold scanned image data.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a diagram showing the first reserved area on an APS format photographic element and a region for recording reference calibration data according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a diagram showing the first reserved area on an APS format photographic element and the region for recording reference calibration data according to the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a diagram showing the second reserved area on an APS format photographic element and the region for recording reference calibration data according to the present invention; and





FIG. 4

is a diagram showing an APS format photographic element according to the prior art.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to

FIG. 1

, a portion of an APS format photographic element


10


according to the present invention is shown. The photographic element


10


includes at least a base with a photosensitive layer that is sensitive to light to produce a developable latent image. The photosensitive layer may contain conventional silver halide chemistry, or other photosensitive materials such as thermal or pressure developable chemistries. It can have a transparent base, a reflective base, or a base with a magnetically sensitive coating. The photographic element


10


can be processed through standard chemical processes, including but not limited to Kodak Processes C-41 and its variants, ECN-2, VNF-1, ECP-2 and its variants, D-96, D-97, E-4, E-6, K-14, R-3, and RA-2SM, or RA-4; Fuji Processes CN-16 and its variants, CR-6, CP-43FA, CP-47L, CP-48S, RP-305, RA-4RT; Agfa MSC 100/101/200 Film and Paper Processes, Agfacolor Processes 70, 71, 72 and 94, Agfachrome Processes 44NP and 63; and Konica Processes CNK-4, CPK-2-22, DP, and CRK-2, and Konica ECOJET HQA-N, HQA-F, and HQA-P Processes. The photographic element


10


can be processed using alternate processes such as apparently dry processes that may retain some or all of the developed silver or silver halide in the element or that may include lamination and an appropriate amount of water added to swell the photographic element. Depending upon the design of the photographic element


10


, the photographic element can also be processed using dry processes that may include thermal or high pressure treatment. The processing may also include a combination of apparently dry, dry, and traditional wet processes. Examples of suitable alternate and dry processes include the processes disclosed in: U.S. Ser. No. 60/211,058 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Levy et al.; Ser. No. 60/211,446 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.; Ser. No. 60/211,065 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.; Ser. No. 60/211,079 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.; EP Patent No. 0762201A1 published Mar. 12, 1997, by Ishikawa et al., entitled Method of Forming Images; EP Patent No. 0926550A1, published Dec. 12, 1998, by Iwai, et al., entitled Image Information Recording Method; U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,328 issued Nov. 3, 1998 to Ueda, entitled Aittomatic Processing Machinefor a Silver Halide Photographic Light-sensitive Material; U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,223 issued May 26, 1998 to Kobayashi, et al., entitled Automatic Processing Machine for Silver Halide Photographic Light-sensitive Material; U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,382 issued Dec. 16, 1997 to Nakahanada, et al., entitled Processing Method for Silver Halide Photographic LighIt-senisitive Material; U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,510 issued May 21, 1996 to Edgar, entitled Electronic Film Development; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,896 issued Nov. 23, 1999 to Edgar, entitled Method and Apparatus for Electronic Film Development.




A reference calibration target


30


which preferably includes an array


36


of reference calibration patches


38


and an array


32


of two-dimensional bar code symbols


34


as disclosed in copending application U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,600, entitled METHOD AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ELEMENT FOR CALIBRATING DIGITAL IMAGES is recorded as a developable latent image onto the photographic element


10


within a first area


12


reserved for use by photofinishing apparatus. According to the present invention, the reference calibration target


30


has a width no greater than 30.2 mm and a height no greater than 16.7 mm, which is the nominal size of an APS exposed image area as noted in Table 1, whereby a conventional scanner employed to scan APS images is able to scan the reference calibration target without physical modification of the hardware or memory of the scanner. All that is required to access and use the information in the reference calibration target is a modification of the software in the scanner to permit scanning the frame.




Referring to

FIG. 2

, a portion of the photographic element


10


according to the present invention is shown. Within the first reserved area


12


, a first zone


201


with a width of 30.2 mm and a height of 16.7 mm is centered at a distance


204


19.75±2.05 mm from the trailing edge


206


of the metering perforation


22




1


and a distance


205


11.98±0.5 mm from the edge


24


of the photographic element


10


closest to the perforation


22




1


. A second zone


202


with a width of 27.4 mm and a height of 15.6 mm is also centered at the distance


204


from the trailing edge


206


of the metering perforation


22




1


and the distance


205


from the edge


24


. A third zone


203


with a width of 23.4 mm and a height of 12.6 mm is also centered at the distance


204


from the trailing edge


206


of the metering perforation


22




1


and the distance


205


from the edge


24


. APS scanners in the photofinishing industry meter film placement location by detecting perforations and edges. The common specified center position of the zones


201


,


202


, and


203


relative to the trailing edge


206


of the metering perforation


22




1


and edge


24


places the zones in the same relative position to the first imaging frame


14




1


as occurs between each pair of imaging frames, thereby requiring minimal changes to scanner software. By restricting the reference calibration target


30


to lie within the first zone


201


, which is the same size as the APS exposed area of frames


14


indicated in Table 1, scanners designed to scan an area the size of an APS exposed image area may be employed. Preferably, the reference calibration target


30


is confined to lie within the second zone


202


, which is the same size as the APS printed or projected area of frames


14


indicated in Table 1, so that scanners designed to scan an area the size of the APS printed or projected area may be employed. More preferably, the reference calibration target


30


is confined to lie within the third zone


203


, so that variations in placement of the reference calibration target during recording or location of the film during scanning are accommodated, thereby guaranteeing that data in the reference calibration target


30


is not lost.




Referring to

FIG. 3

, a portion of the photographic element


10


according to the present invention is shown. Within the second reserved area


16


, a first zone


301


with a width of 30.2 mm and a height of 16.7 mm is centered at a distance


304


43.65±2.2 mm from the trailing edge


306


of the metering perforation


22




n


and a distance


305


11.98±0.5 mm from the edge


24


of the photographic element


10


closest to the perforation


22




n


. A second zone


302


with a width of 27.4 mm and a height of 15.6 mm is also centered at the distance


304


from the trailing edge


306


of the metering perforation


22


, and the distance


305


from the edge


24


. A third zone


303


with a width of 23.4 mm and a height of 12.6 mm is also centered at the distance


304


from the trailing edge


306


of the metering perforation


22




n


and the distance


305


from the edge


24


. The common specified center position of the zones


301


,


302


, and


303


relative to the trailing edge


306


of the metering perforation


22




n


and edge


24


places the zones in the same relative position to the last imaging frame


14




n


as occurs between each pair of imaging frames, thereby requiring minimal changes to scanner software. By restricting the reference calibration target


30


to lie within the first zone


301


, which is the same size as the APS exposed area of frames


14


indicated in Table 1, scanners designed to scan an area the size of an APS exposed image area may be employed. Preferably, the reference calibration target


30


is confined to lie within the second zone


302


, which is the same size as the APS printed or projected area of frames


14


indicated in Table 1, so that scanners designed to scan an area the size of the APS printed or projected area may be employed. More preferably, the reference calibration target


30


is confined to lie within the third zone


303


, so that variations in placement of the reference calibration target during recording or location of the film during scanning are accommodated, thereby guaranteeing that data in the reference calibration target


30


is not lost.




In some scanners using the thrust drive feature of an APS cartridge containing an APS format film strip, the second reserved area


16


is not accessible. When using these scanners, the APS format film is returned to its cartridge after processing and before scanning, and is not fully removed from its cartridge during scanning, thereby constraining access to the second reserved area during scanning. Therefore, it is preferred to use the first reserved area according to the present invention.




The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.
















PARTS LIST











10




APS format photographic element






12




first reserved area






14




imaging frame






16




second reserved area






20




anticipation perforation






22




metering perforation






23




end of roll perforation






24




edge of photographic element






30




reference calibration target






32




array of two-dimensional bar code symbols






34




two-dimensional bar code symbols






36




array of reference calibration patches






38




reference calibration patches






201




first zone






202




second zone






203




third zone






204




distance






205




distance






206




trailing egde






301




first zone






302




second zone






303




third zone






304




distance






305




distance






306




trailing edge













Claims
  • 1. An APS format photographic element, comprising:a) a base; b) a photosensitive layer on the base; c) a perforation in the base; d) a reserved area located on the photographic element with respect to the perforation; and e) a reference calibration target having a width no greater than 30.2 mm and a height no greater than 16.7 mm, recorded as a latent image in the photosensitive layer within the reserved area.
  • 2. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the perforation is a first metering perforation and the reference calibration target has a center located in the reserved area 19.75±2.05 mm from the trailing edge of the first metering perforation and 11.98±0.5 mm from the edge of the photographic element closest to the first metering perforation.
  • 3. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 2, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 27.4 mm wide and no greater than 15.6 mm high.
  • 4. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 3, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 23.4 mm wide and no greater than 12.6 mm high.
  • 5. The APS fonnat photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the perforation is a last metering perforation and the reference calibration target has a center located in the reserved area 43.65±2.2 mm from the trailing edge of the last metering perforation and 11.98±0.5 mm from the edge of the photographic element closest to the last metering perforation.
  • 6. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 5, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 27.4 mm wide and no greater than 15.6 mm high.
  • 7. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 6, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 23.4 mm wide and no greater than 12.6 mm high.
  • 8. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer contains conventional silver halide chemistry.
  • 9. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer contains thermal developable chemistry.
  • 10. The APS format photographic clement claimed in claim 1, wherein the photosensitive layer contains pressure developable chemistry.
  • 11. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference calibration target includes an array of reference calibration patches and an array of bar code symbols.
  • 12. The APS format photographic element claimed in claim 1, wherein the photographic element is a film strip.
  • 13. A method of recording a reference calibration target on an APS format photographic element having a reserved area for use by photofinishing apparatus, and a perforation located relative to the reserved area, comprising the steps of:a) generating a reference calibration target having a width no greater than 30.2 mm and a height no greater than 16.7 mm; b) locating the reserved area of the photographic element relative to the perforation; and c) recording the reference calibration target within the reserved area.
  • 14. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the perforation is a first metering perforation and further comprising the step of: locating the center of the reference calibration target in a reserved area 19.75±2.05 mm from the trailing edge of the first metering perforation and 11.98±0.5 mm from the edge of the photographic element closest to the first metering perforation.
  • 15. The method claimed in claim 14, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 27.4 mm wide and no greater than 15.6 mm high.
  • 16. The method claimed in claim 15, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 23.4 mm wide and no greater than 12.6 mm high.
  • 17. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the perforation is a last metering perforation and further comprising the step of: locating the center of the reference calibration target in a reserved area 43.65±2.2 mm from the trailing edge of the last metering perforation and 11.98±0.5 mm from the edge of the photographic element closest to the last metering perforation.
  • 18. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 27.4 mm wide and no greater than 15.6 mm high.
  • 19. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the reference calibration target is no greater than 23.4 mm wide and no greater than 12.6 mm high.
  • 20. The method claimed in claim 3, wherein the reference calibration target includes an array of reference calibration patches and an array of bar code symbols.
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (10)
Entry
U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,389 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Klees et al.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,257 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Keech et al.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,178 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Cahill et al.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,179 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Keech et al.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/636,058 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Keech et al.
U.S. Ser. No. 09/635,600 filed Aug. 9, 2000 by Keech et al.
U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/211,058 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Levy et al.
U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/211,446 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.
U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/211,065 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.
U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/211,079 filed Jun. 3, 2000 by Irving et al.