Polaroid Corporation

Presentation Technologies, Inc.

Philip G Baker

Gerald L Matthews

Bruce K Johnson

William T Plummer

Edwin H Land

James Yurchenco

Aleksey Novicov

Myron A Seiden

Paul N Barsley

John K Fitch

Henry T Vance, Jr

Herbert A Bing

Walter Conti

Apparatus for generating color slides or other photographic media containing character fonts and graphics images contains one or more character font sets on a transparent drum or disk carrier. Lines of text are entered by keyboard or the like into a data processor which stores them as character and position information. This information is then used to position and expose images of the selected characters from the carrier onto photographic media by use of a moveable lens and a shutter. An additional moveable drum or disk may be used to provide different background color as well as character color. By holding the shutter open while a character or arbitrary shape is illuminated, two-dimensional graphics image can be recorded on the photographic media by controlling the movement of the lens in two dimensions. A method is also provided for providing a continuously variable transmission of light through a liquid crystal shutter to control exposure of the photographic media.

Apparatus for generating color text and graphics on photographic media

The present invention provides an alignment method and cartridge apparatus for an apparatus for generating color text and graphics on photographic media. The cartridge has flanges which project therefrom and which interact with projections on the apparatus to guide the cartridge into secure and consistent alignment. A driving means and locking means for maintaining the driving means in the disengaged position upon withdrawal of the cartridge is also provided. The driving means is preferably a motor connected to a pivoting bracket which has an engagement pin extending therefrom. Biasing means act to urge the driving means into the engaged position. The locking means is preferably a pivoting locking bar having a notch at one end which interacts with the engagement pin extending from the driving means bracket. An actuation pin extends from the pivoting locking bar and bias means act to urge the pivoting locking bar into engagement with the driving means. The cartridge has a first and second shoulder formed thereon and a guide groove formed therein. Upon insertion of the cartridge, the second shoulder engages with the engagement pin of the driving means thereby releasing it from the locking bar. The guide groove simultaneously engages the actuation pin of the locking bar. As the cartridge is further inserted into the apparatus, the guide groove acts to pivot the locking bar away while the shoulder acts to guide the driving means into driving engagement with the rotatable font wheel. Bearing shafts are provided to support the rotatable font wheel against the force of the driving means. Upon withdrawal of the cartridge, the locking bar pivots into engagement with the driving means which is moved into the disengaged position through interaction between the engagement pin and the second shoulder.

Alignment method and cartridge apparatus for apparatus for generating

A photosensor arrangement for providing an exposure influencing control signal in a photographic camera apparatus includes a photosensor array wherein the exposure influencing control signal comprises an average of the output signals from all the photosensors in the array excepting the output signals from those photosensors in the array which detect the highest and lowest scene light intensities.

Selective photoresponsive sensing circuit

A copy camera, preferably configured to make enlarged prints from 35mm slides, operates in at least two different magnification modes for providing either a full frame or cropped reproduction of the slide on a film unit having an image area format that differs from that of the slide. Magnification change is accomplished by locating the slide and film unit at alternative corresponding object and film planes that are located at different predetermined image and object distances from a projection lens. An electromechanical logic system provides an indication to the operator of which magnification mode has been selected and automatically inhibits initiation of an exposure cycle if the slide and film unit are not in the corrected corresponding positions to provide a focused image of the slide on the film unit.

Variable magnification slide copy camera

A self-developing slide copier or printer configured to be supported on a support surface and operable for effecting distribution of a fluid processing composition between sheets of a self-developing film unit in response to manually withdrawing or pulling the film unit along a preferred exit path has its film receiving housing set at a predetermined angle on a support frame so that the preferred exit path will fall within a range of natural pull paths along which an operator most likely will pull the film unit to withdraw it from the housing. The printer is also provided with multiple timers for separately timing a predetermined imbibition period for each of a plurality of sequentially processed film units.

Self-developing photographic apparatus with multiple timers

Self-developing photographic apparatus with inclined film exit path

An adapter for coupling a camera having automatic exposure control to an optical instrument, such as a microscope, for measuring the intensity level of image forming light emanating from the instrument and storing the measurement data, for evaluating the measured light intensity to see if it is in a predetermined range of exposure values, for automatically actuating the camera if the light intensity level is suitable for proper film exposure and thereafter terminating exposure in accordance with the stored data and for inhibiting camera actuation if the measure intensity level is too high or too low for proper exposure.

Adapter for coupling a camera to an optical instrument

An identification camera system for producing an identification type card having a composite image of both a subject and a data bearing card and for producing an encoded film record of the identification card includes a first lens for photographing the subject and a second lens for photographing the data card. The light from the subject and the data card is polarized in orthogonal planes and directed by a beam splitter through image analyzers onto mutually exclusive areas of first and second image planes. Self-developing film of the type marketed by Polaroid Corporation, for example, is located at the first image plane and, after exposure to the optically resolved subject and data card images, is developed to form the identification card, and strip film, e.g., a super 8 mm movie-type film contained within a movie camera, is located at the second image plane and receives an optically resolved subject and data card exposure identical to that received by the self-developing film to provide a permanent record of the identification card. Encoding means are provided to uniquely encode each frame of the strip film record with information, e.g. the serial number, frame number, and like information, to enable convenient retrieval of the identification card record.

Identification card camera system

A unicell radiation measuring device having a single electrical output signal that can be correlated with film sensitometric characteristics and scene object luminance patterns to either predict photographic exposures directly, or alternatively, used as an input function for controlling a camera exposure control system. The device consists of an optical system having a single optical element for collecting and directing radiation from a scene onto the surface of a photoelectric transducer element having a spectral sensitivity substantially identical to the photopic visual response curve of the standard photometric observer according to the CIE thereby qualifying it as a photometer. The optical element consists of a central circular planar portion of uniform thickness surrounded by an annular positive lens portion having radially decreasing thickness. Both portions are integrally molded to provide the optical element with a unitary construction that is rotationally symmetric. The optical element functions to provide the device with a preferred directional response pattern that selectively weights the radiation received from objects distributed throughout a scene and also optimizes the transfer function of the device.

Unicell photometer device

The invention is a focusing screen with an integral split image rangefinder located substantially away from the geometric center of the focusing screen. Such an arrangement improves photographic image acuity and it encourages better photographic composition.

Focusing screen

A compact folding camera and viewing device and an apertured flexible mask removably attachable to the viewing device over the eye lens thereof. The mask folds flat within the viewing device in a storage position and when the viewing device is erected to a viewing position the aperture is positioned proximate the exit pupil of the viewing device and is oriented to cause a user to place his eye proximate the exit pupil and sight along the optical axis of the viewing device. The mask is provided with an antireflective face and the aperture is larger than the exit pupil so as not to restrict the field of view through the viewing device.

Growing community of inventors

Peabody, MA, United States of America

Philip G Baker