Eastman-kodak Company

Michael L Wash

Arthur A Whitfield

Gary L Robison

Robert P Cloutier

Fernando G Silva

William C Atkinson

David C Smart

Douglas H Pearson

Craig A Baker

Paul L Taillie

Christopher T Mattson

Thomas J Quattrini

Conrad Diehl

Richard R Kelbe

An interface control assembly for a one-time-use camera having a recording device includes a controller for receiving and storing photofinishing information and a communication device that transfers the information from the controller to the recording device of the camera to cause the information to be written on a filmstrip. The photography arrangement includes a one-time-use camera as well as the interface control arrangement. This permits the one-time-use camera to be customized with a magnetic recording on the film while providing the expensive components involved in magnetic recording on the film outside of the camera.

Interface control assembly for a one-time-use camera having a recording head

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a photographic film strip. Information exchange between various users of the film such as, for example, the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher, is facilitated by plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end within individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame, for easy access by a particular one of the various users. Each user has the capability to read and/or write information in self-identifying data fields in the corresponding tracks.

Film information exchange system using dedicated magnetic tracks on film

The reliability of data transfer between stages of photographic filmstrip use and processing is enhanced by magnetically recording a limited data set repetitively along a wide track in a frame of the filmstrip. Plural laterally offset magnetic read heads monitor the data in the magnetic track and provide output data signals on parallel independently operating channels. The data content of the output data signals is examined to determine whether the data of an individual data signal contains corruption error. The combined linear and parallel redundancy of the system tends to ensure successful data transfer despite a less than perfect head-to-film interface and other data corrupting influences.

Method and apparatus for magnetically communicating via a photographic

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a photographic film strip. Information exchange between various users of the film such as, for example, the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher, is facilitated by plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end within individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame, for easy access by a particular one of the various users. Each user has the capability to read and/or write informaton in self-identifying data fields in the corresponding tracks.

A magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a photographic film. Information exchange between various uses of the film, such as the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher, is facilitated by recording data in dedicated frame-limited longitudinal track(s) in said film. All data is recorded on the film using a self-clocking three-part code in order to provide automatic data synchronization between the various users without requiring film transport at the same speed or even a uniform speed when reading and writing data. Three-part encoded binary characters uniquely representing start and stop sentinels respectively, are recorded at the beginning and end of the track respectively and facilitate automatic detection of the direction of film strip transport.

Film information exchange system using self-clocking encoded start and

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as (for example) the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried vai plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that being and end within each individual frame. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters relating to the corresponding frame. The photofinisher-dedicated tracks fill the image-bearing area of each frame. The film has only a single film perforation along one edge for each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations. Each track begins and ends within a single frame, and is divided into a plurality of fields. The spatial relationship between the start location of the tracks associated with each film frame and the corresponding perforation determines the spatial relationship between the magnetic heads and the perforation sensor in the photofinishing apparatus.

Photofinishing apparatus with film information exchange system using

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The photofinisher13 dedicated track locations fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the perforations being widely spaced for this purpose. The order entry process of the invention responds to data on the dedicated magnetic tracks on the film to govern the process and to store data governing order entry and photofinishing.

Order entry process for magnetically encodable film with dedicated

Data is recorded on the film by the manufacturer prior to exposure at a first magnetic head azimuth angle. The camera magnetically records information on the film frame-by-frame at a second head azimuth angle with each exposure or shortly thereafter. Before exposure of any frame, the camera determines whether the frame has already been exposed by sensing the recorded signal amplitude at one of the two magnetic head azimuth angles. In order to prevent a double exposure, the camera transports the film past any frame having data magnetically recorded therein corresponding to the second azimuth angle.

Film mid roll interrupt protection for a camera using magnetic azimuth

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as (for example) the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end in individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters related to the corresponding frame. All data is recorded as N-bit character where N is preferably six. Each track is preceeded by certain six-bit character called an ID sentinel. On-film magnetic data recording by the film manufacturer uses an ID sentinel different from that employed in the camera. The camera automatically prevents exposure of any frame bearing a camera ID sentinel, thus providing protection from double exposures.

Implicit mid roll interrupt protection code for camera using dedicated

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as (for example) the film manufacturer, the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film that begin and end in individual frames. Each track is dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of parameters related to the corresponding frame. The photofinisher-dedicated tracts fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the perforations being widely spaced for this purpose. All data is recorded on the film using a novel self-clocking code which is completely self-clocking, in order to provide automatic data synchronization between the various users without requiring that any of them to transport the film at the same speed or even at a uniform speed when reading and writing. A start sentinel character and stop sentinel character, each having a predetermined self-clocking encoded binary bit sequence, are placed at the beginning and end of each track respectively, and facilitate automatic detection of film transport direction.

Self-clocking encoding/decoding film information exchange system using

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The photofinisher-dedicated track locations fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera-dedicated tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the perforations being widely spaced for this purpose. The film finishing process of the invention responds to data on the dedicated magnetic track on the film to govern the film finishing process.

Finishing process for magnetically encodable film with dedicated

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as the camera user, the dealer, and the photofinishers film-to-video printer--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The photofinisher-dedicated track locations fill the exposed image area of each frame. The camera tracks lie along the edges of the film between the film perforations, the preforations being widely spaced for this purpose. All data, such as cropping, zooming, rotating or character superposition instructions, is recorded as individual pieces of information identified by virtual data identifiers to enable the film-to-video printer to quickly access and execute such instructions by altering the video signal produced from each frame of the developed film.

Photofinishing process with film-to-video printer using dedicated

A self-clocking three-part encoded data stream is recorded on a magnetic media during a velocity varying period of time. The recording device encodes clock and data pulses. The polarity of the clock and data pulses are requried to be known in order to correctly decode the encoded information. Without this polarity information, the equipment manufacturer will be tightly constrained to maintain the proper coil wiring convention to ensure the correct pulse polarity for the decode process. The Data Alignment scheme provides a reliable method for detecting the encoded data and clock pulse polarity.

Data alignment circuit and method for self-clocking encoded data

A virtually transparent magnetic layer is included as an additional layer in a color negative film. Information exchange between various users of the film--such as the camera user, the dealer and photofinisher--is carried via plural longitudinal magnetic tracks on the film, each track being dedicated to the writing and reading of a predetermined set of related parameters. The printing and makeover process of the invention responds to data on the dedicated magnetic tracks on the film to govern the process and uses these tracks as a memory to write and retrieve data governing later steps in the process. The contents of a makeover/reorder instruction track on an initial frame of the film is determined and used, in conjunction with classification and makeover correction data contained in subsequent film tracks, in the printing and makeover process.

Printing and makeover process for magnetically encodable film with

Electrical circuits suitable for decoding binary information, in accordance with either of two novel modulation methods. The novel modulation methods are referenced in the instant case, and it is explained that the methods may be used when an encoding or decoding information transfer rate may be dependent on unpredictable and variable transfer rate velocities and accelerations. The present electrical circuits provide a novel means to realize the utility of either of the modulation methods.

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Pittsford, NY, United States of America

Michael L Wash