Patent · US Expired

Photographic film type sensor

US4341453A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
4References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 7, 1981
Grant dateJul 27, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 7, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03D3/065
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An automatic replenisher control system for a photographic cine processor includes a film type sensor which identifies, by film type, the unprocessed film entering the processor. Replenishment of processor fluids is controlled as a function of the identified film type. The film type sensor includes an array of reflective infrared (IR) sensors which are positioned across a path of the film. Each infrared sensor provides a sensor signal indicative of whether the film is adjacent the infrared sensor. Signal processing circuitry, including a digital computer, first determines the width of the film by sampling the signals from the infrared sensors a series of times, and totalling the number of sensor signals indicating the film is adjacent the sensor. 110 format film and large format films (such as 46 mm, 120/220 and 70 mm format films), are identified solely on the basis of width. A perforation sensing routine is performed to distinguish between leader, 126 format film and 135 format film. The perforation sensing is performed by reading the output signals of selected IR sensors and determining the presence of perforations along each edge of the film.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.