Nikon Corporation

Hisashi Okutsu

Kazuyuki Kazami

Norikazu Yokonuma

Hideo Hibino

Tetsuya Takano

A film image reading apparatus and method which more quickly reads images from a cartridge of developed film for production of thumbnail images which are displayed on a monitor. The apparatus reads a first image from the film cartridge using imaging condition values associated with each frame image. These imaging condition values include photographic information such as, exposure value, white balance value and focus adjustment. In the event that the first or current image being read by the apparatus is the start of a series of photographic images, the film image reading apparatus will set the exposure value, the white balance value and the focus adjustment only once for the entire series. The remaining images of the series are then read using the imaging condition values of the first image of the series. In this manner, these imaging condition values are not reset for each image and time is saved in reading the series of images from the film.

Film image reading apparatus and method

A film picture image viewing apparatus minimizes the effects of noise by prohibiting operation of an illumination device whenever a reading or a playback device is operated. The film picture image viewing apparatus includes a support substrate. The illumination device includes a discharge tube and a reflector. The discharge tube provides light when energized. The reflector is anchored to the support substrate and has a pair of oppositely-disposed ends with a receiving hole formed in each end. Each of the receiving holes is sized to receive the discharge tube in a manner to minimize thermal conduction from the discharge tube to the reflector after the discharge tube becomes energized.

Film picture image viewing apparatus

A film image signal generation apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film, which is first in a film cartridge, to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame, which is opposed to the image area, into a first image signal; a control information storage circuit which stores control information which specifies at least an order for film frame display; a display information storage circuit which stores display information related to the film frame display as a second image signal; and a control circuit which controls the film displacement device, the image signal conversion device, and the display information storage circuit so as selectively to output either the first image signal or the second image signal according to the control information stored in the control information storage circuit.

Film scanner comprising a display information storage means which stores

The thumbnail image signal output apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image input device which inputs an image; a storage device which stores a plurality of images each of which has been input via the image input device; an image processing device which processes the image which has been input; an update device which updates one of a plurality of images stored in the storage device which corresponds to the image processed by the image processing device to the image after such processing; an image conversion device which converts a plurality of images stored in the storage device into thumbnail images; and an output device which outputs an image signal for displaying converted thumbnail images upon a display device.

Thumbnail image signal output apparatus

A film image signal generation apparatus, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film which has a magnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame which is opposed to the image area into a first image signal; a magnetic writing device which rewrites old data written in the magnetic recording layer of the film into new data; a data storage circuit which stores the old data and the new data; an image signal generation circuit which generates a second image signal which shows data change information, based upon the old data and the new data which are stored by the data storage circuit; and a control circuit which controls the magnetic writing device, the data storage circuit, and the film displacement device so as to rewrite the old data which is recorded upon the magnetic recording layer into the new data which is stored in the storage circuit, and controls the image signal conversion device and the image signal generation circuit so as to output the second image signal at a predetermined time.

Film image signal generation apparatus

A film image signal generation apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film, which is first in a film cartridge, to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame, which is currently opposed to the image area, into a first image signal; an image signal generation circuit which generates a second image signal for displaying a display which is not a film frame which is currently opposed to the image area; and a control circuit which controls the image signal conversion device and the image signal generation circuit so as to output the second image signal without outputting the first image signal, when a predetermined film frame is not opposed to the image area.

The film image signal outputting apparatus of the present invention includes: an imaging section which forms an image of a developed film; a display condition setting section which sets a display condition for a film image which is displayed; and an image display signal output section which outputs a signal for displaying the image of the film which is formed by the imaging section, according to the display condition, wherein the display condition setting section cancels a display condition which was set for a film frame before outputting a signal to display an image of a next film frame.

Film image signal outputting apparatus

A film image processing apparatus that is capable of displaying a correct screen image at all times by taking into consideration aspect ratios of a print and the monitor screen is provided. In order to achieve this, the film image processing apparatus comprises a CCD that picks up a photographic image formed on developed film, a screen image signal output circuit that outputs a screen image signal so that an image thus picked up can be displayed as a screen image on a monitor screen, a zoom lens that changes the magnification of a screen image to be displayed on the monitor screen, a read magnetic head that reads information related to the aspect ratio of a print when a photographic image is printed and a control circuit that controls the zoom lens to change the magnification of the screen image of the photographic frame in correspondence to the aspect ratio of the print that has been read.

Film image processing apparatus

The film feed control apparatus performs frame feed operation in which a photographic film is fed in a specific direction when a given photographic frame of the photographic film is being set at a specific position, and the photographic film is stopped when a next photographic frame is set at the specific position. The film feed control apparatus is provided with a feed device that feeds the film, and a control device that controls the feed device in such a manner that, when an unfinished film, which includes exposed frames and unexposed frames, is loaded, stops the film if an unexposed frame is set at the specific position while the unfinished film is being fed in the specific direction, which is the same as the direction of film feed during the frame feed operation.

Film feed control apparatus

A film image reproduction signal output apparatus is provided which picks up an image on a developed film by a CCD, and produces an image reproduction signal by an image pickup circuit so that the image is displayed on a monitor. The present output apparatus detects whether the film contained in a cartridge loaded in the apparatus is a negative film or a positive film. If the negative film is detected, the image pickup circuit produces the image reproduction signal by reversing an image signal received from the CCD, for display on the monitor.

Film image reproduction signal output apparatus

A film image processing apparatus comprises an image pickup device that picks up a photographic image formed on developed film, a screen image signal output device that outputs a screen image signal to display the image that has been picked up on a monitor screen as a screen image, a reading device that reads information related to the photographic image from an information recording area provided on the film, an input device that inputs external information from an external device connected to the film image processing apparatus, a display device that outputs a display signal to display text information related to the photographic image on the monitor screen and a control device that controls the display device so that at least either the read information read by the reading device or the external information input from the external device is displayed on the monitor screen as text information together with a screen image of the photographic image corresponding to the information.

An information processing device, such as a camera, capable of magnetically recording information on film, controls magnetic recording and film feeding using a single position detector that detects film position information, such as perforations in the film. After a frame of the film has been photographically exposed, the information processing device first feeds the film in a reverse direction opposite to the direction of advancement, before accelerating the film forward in the advancement direction to a stable advancement velocity. The usable length of the magnetic recording area of the film is thus increased because recording does not take place while film velocity is changing.

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Yokohama, Japan

Hisashi Okutsu