Data-retainable photographic film cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention relates to a photographic film cartridge, and in particular such a cartridge which can record various kinds of data therein at suitable times.

RELATED ART STATEMENT

0002Hitherto, for the purpose of improving the image quality of photographsl optical, magnetic or electrical means have been used to input various kinds of data to a photographic film, such as data about the taking of the photographs including the presence of electronic flash, color temperature, LV value, object distance, focal length, contrast of objects, date and time of photographing, site of photographing, and so on, data about the photographic film used including the kind of photographic film, date film was produced, conditions required when making prints, and so on, and data about the laboratory including the name of the laboratory, date film was developed, conditions required when performing simultaneous printing, and so on.

0003For exmaple, Japanese Patent Public Disclosure Nos. 62-50743 and 62-­209430 and U.S. Patent No. 4,864,332 disclose means for inputting such data to photographic films.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0004However, conventional means for inputting data use only one of the above mentioned means: optical means, magnetic means or electrical means. Thus, it is quite difficult for the conventional means to easily and definitely input various kinds of data as aforementioned to a photographic film at the time a flim is being producedl photographing is taking place, the film is being developed, and prints or second prints are being made.

0005It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a photographic film cartridge which can input various kinds of data thereto at suitable times as aforementioned.

0006According to the present invention, the above object can be accomplished by a photographic film cartridge comprising a cartridge; a spool carried in the cartridge for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the spool; a film wound into a roll around the spool, the film having frames each of which has an area to be exposed larger than 350 mm² but smaller than 1200 mm² ; an optical data-input region formed in the film having an area larger than 15% of the area of the frame; and at least one of electrical data-input means and magnetic data-input means formed in the film or the cartridge.

0007In a preferred embodiment, the optical data-input region is formed outside the area to be exposed at both edges of the film.

0008In another preferred embodiment, the electrical data-input means formed in the cartridge is a semiconductor element.

0009In still another preferred embodiment, the cartridge is provided with magnetic data-input means.

0010In another preferred embodiment, the film is provided with magnetic data-input means.

0011In this specificationl the optical data-input region means the region to which data is input by means of LED, for instance, utilizing the photosensitivity of the film. Since all area of a film has the photosensitivity, the area except frames can be used as the optical data-­input region. The area of the optical data-input region can be increased by reducing the number of perforations formed in 135 format film. The amount of data to be input to a film can be increased in the case that the film is a color film by inputting data to the film using more than two light sources emitting ligths of different colors. Data can be input to both front and reverse surfaces of the film. Preferably, data is input to the front surface of the film. In addtion, data can be input to the film at any time before the film is develpoed. Preferably, data is input to the film in the process of making the film or in a camera. Preferably, the amount of light used to input data to the film is adjusted in accordance with the degree of the photosensitivity.

0012It is necessary for the frame to have an area larger than 350 mm² so as to keep the image quality of the prints good. Preferably, the frame should have an area larger than 350 mm² but smaller than 1200 mm² since the area of the optical data-input region decreases if the area of the frame is over 1200 mm² . Preferably, the film should have a width of 35mm in compliance with the present laboratory system.

0013Conventionally, data about the production of the film has often input to the film in the form of a bar code on the area outside either of the perforations formed at both edges of the film. However, in the case that various kinds of data as well as the production data are intended to be input in the form of the bar code on the film, in the conventional method where data is input only in one row on both edges of the film, enough space for inputting all the data cannot be provided. Two rows are necessary for data-input space on at least one edge of the film. For this end, it is necessary to increase the ratio of the area of the optical data-input region relative to the area of the frame from 11% to 15%. The ratio of the area of the optical data-input region relative to the area of the frame is now 11%. When other data-input methods than the bar code are adaptedl there is little difference in data density between the bar code and the other methods, so that a similar ratio of the optical data-­input region relative to the area of the frame is required.

0014On the other hand, since it is desired that the area of the frame is larger, the preferable upper limit of the ratio of the area of the optical data-input region relative to the area of the frame is determined in due consideration of the above. The upper limit is preferably 30%, and more preferably, 20%.

0015Alternatively, the area of the optical data-input region can be increased without decreasing the area of the frame by deleting or decreasing the number of perforations of the film having a width of 35mm. In this alternative arrangement, it is preferable to form one to four perforations or notches per frame only for locating a film instead of the conventional perforations. It is more preferable to form one perforation or notch per frame. The intervals between the perforations or notches are preferably longer than 20 mm but shorter than 42 mm.

0016In this specification, the ratio of the area of the optical data-­input region relative to the area of the frame is defined as follows. As shown in Fig. 1, assuming that the longitudinal length of the frame is "a" the vertical length of the frame is "b" and the width of the film is "c" the area A of the frame, the area B of the region to be exposed and the area C of the optical data-input region are defined as follows. A = a × c B = a × b C = A - B = a × ( c - b ) Accordingly, the ratio R of the optical data-input region relative to the frame is defined as follows. R = C / A = ( A - B )/ A = ( c - b )/ c

0017In the photographic film cartridge in accordance with the present invenion, the optical data-input region is preferably formed outside the area to be exposed at the edges of the film. This is because that forming the optical data-input region between the areas to be exposed results in the elongation of the length of the film, which is not advantageous for manufacturing a thinner camera. Furthermore, if the optical data-input regions are formed between the perforations, a quite complex camera structure is required when inputting data to the optical data-input regions and reading data from the same. For these reasons, the optical data-input regions are not formed between the areas to be exposed or between the perforations, but formed outside the areas to be exposed.

0018Data in the form of letters is preferably input to the film in the form of letters or bar codes.

0019Preferably, optical data-input means utilizing photographic sensitivity is used to input various kinds of data which are to be input when producing films or taking photographs to simplify the process of manufacturing films, miniaturize the camera and reduce costs. However, magnetic data-input means or electrical data-input means are preferably used when inputting or reading data representing the state of a film, such as whether it is not being used or is already being used, the number of frames used and so on, since it is then unnecessary to develop the film.

0020In addition, magnetic data-input means or electrical data-input means are preferably used when various kinds of data are input in a laboratory since additional data can be input after developing the film.

0021In general, the optical data-input means is suitable for inputting data when taking photographs and the magnetic data-input means is suitable for doing the same after developing the film. For instance, it is necessary to keep the relative speeds between a film and a magnetic head constant in order to magnetically input data received from a camera to a film when taking photographs. Furthermore, it requires a circuit or a contact for the semiconductor element to input data electrically to a seminconductor element. The camera is required to have a complex structure for accomplishing the above. Accordingly, the optical data-input means utilizing photographic sensitivity is suitable for inputting data when taking photographs because of its reliability and simplicity.

0022On the other hand, magnetic data-input means or electrical data-­input means are necessarily used after developing the film since optical data-input means utilizing photographic sensitivity cannot be used any more.

0023For instance, such data are input to the film at a laboratory before developing the film as the name of the laboratory, the date of developing the film and the number of prints, and such data are input to the film at a laboratory after developing the film as the conditions required when prints are made, printer, the number of prints and the conditions for trimming.

0024A semiconductor element used as electrical means is preferably EEPROM, for instance. Though such a semicoductor element is preferably attached to the body of a cartridge, the cartridge and the semiconductor element may be separately mounted in a camera. An IC card including a microprocessor and EEPROM may be used as electrical data-input means.

0025A transparent magnetic base disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,302,523, 3,782,947 and 4,279,945 is preferably used as magnetic data-­input means. The transparent magnetic base has two advantages; one is that data concerning a specific frame can be input at the position adjacent to the frame, the other is that the optical data-input region can be used as the magnetic data-input region. The magnetic data-input region may be formed only outside the area to be exposed. In this arrangement the magnetic data-input region may be opaque.

0026In a cartridge provided with magnetic data-input means, data concerning the DX code and the state of a film can be input to or output from the magnetic data-input means. Data concerning the consumption state of a film which is input in a cartridge can be advantageously confirmed without taking the film out of the camera. There are many ways to form magnetic data-input means with a cartridge, such as attaching magnetic tape to a cartridge, using a cartridge made of polymer with magnetic material distributed therein to provide a cartridge with a magnetically data-input function, and printing a cartridge with an ink in which magnetic material is distributed.

0027A light-tight type cartridge such as disclosed in Japanese Utility blodel Application No. 1-17253 is preferably used to prevent data input by means of optical data-input means from being eliminated because of light leakage.

0028The above object and advantageous features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following explanation made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0029<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a plain view illustrating areas of optical data-input region and area to be exposed.</li><li>Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the film in accordance with the invention.</li><li>Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge in accordance with the invention.</li><li>Figure 4 is a perspective view of another type of cartridge in accordance with the invention.</li></ul>

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0030Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a film to be housed in a cartridge according to the invention. As shown in Fig. 2, a base 2 of a film 1 is 122 µ in thickness. The base 2 is a cellulose triacetate base, the reverse surface of wiiich is coated with a magnetic material( γ - Fe₂O₃ ) 3 at the rate of 0.1 gram per square meter ( Refer to Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-6576 ).

0031A sensitive layer 4 is formed for the use of nega color film having 400 value of sensitivity on the upper surface of the base 2, which layer contains silver at the rate of approximately 7 gram per square meter Refer to Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 63-236035 ).

0032Fig. 3 shows the film 1 housed in a photographic film cartridge 5. The film cartridge 5 includes a spool 6 and a cartridge case 7. The spool 6 is carried at its one end 6a in the cartridge case 7 for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the spool 6 and at its opposite end 6b so that the spool 6 can be rotated from the outside of the cartridge case 7. The film 1 is wound into a roll around the spool 6. The cartridge case 7 is provided with an outlet opening 8 for pulling the film 1 out of the cartridge case 7. The film 1 includes an area 9 to be exposed, an optical data-input region 10, an optical and magnetic data-input region 11 and perforations 12 for locating a frame of the film 1. The optical data-­input region 10 is the region to which data is input by means of optical data-input means utilizing the sensitivity of the film 1.

0033Using the film 1 housed in the cartridge 5, the inputting of various kinds of data and the making of prints on the basis of the data are accomplished as follows: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none"><li>1. Such data as the DX code and the date of producing a film are input to the optical and magnetic data-input region 11 when processing the films. The data is input in the form of letters or bar codes.</li><li>2. Such data as the date of photographing, presence of electronic flash and trimming information for alike-zooming are input to the optical data-input region 10 in the form of a bar code using LED provided with a camera.</li><li>3. Conditions for making prints are automatically set which adjust a change in the film after the passage of some time on the basis of data such as the date of producing the film, the date of photographing and the date of developing the film. Such setting conditions are automatically accomplished by means of a program set in advance within an automatic printer. This reduces deterioration in the quality of the printing to a minimum due to a change in the film after the passage of some time.</li><li>4. In the case of using an electronic flash, adjustment is automatically made to add yellow color to prints in accordance with the program set in the automatic printer. This causes adjustment of color, which is conventionally manually done, to be done automatically wit]i the result that there is a decrease in color scattering in photographs taken with an electronic flash.</li><li>5. The automatic printer automatically accomplishes trimming when making prints in accordance with alike-zooming data. Even if trimming is accomplished, the date of photographing is printed on the lower corners of the prints. Thus, alike-zooming prints can be made automatically instead of manually and the date can be printed in the alike-Zooming prints.</li><li>6. In a laboratory, conditions for making prints set forth in No. 3 and those adjusted in each frame are input magnetically to the optical and magnetic data-input region 11. This reduces the change in color in th' case of developing as well as printing or in the case of second printing.</li><li>7. At an film developing shop, such data as the number of prints in a second printing and conditions for trimming are input to the optical and magnetic data-input region 11. This increases the efficiency of second printing at a laboratory.</li></ul>

0034As described above, the provision of the optical data-input means and the magnetic data-input means makes it possible to input various kinds of data not only when photographing but also after developing, so thli quality of prints can be improved.

0035Another embodiment of a photographic film cartridge according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 4. A cartridge 20 includes a cartridge case 21, a flexible wall portion 22 secured at its one edge to the cartridge case 21 and a spool 23 carried in the cartridge case 21 for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof. The flexible wall portion 22 is provided at opposite ends with a pair of projections 24a, 24b which engage a cover-opening mechanism of a camera. A film 25 is tightly wound into a roll around the spool 23 and housed in the cartridge case 21. The film 25 is the same as the one shown in Fig. 3 ( Refer to Japanese Patent Application No. 63-57785 ).

0036When the cartridge 20 is loaded into a camera, the cover-opening mechanism of the camera engage the pair of projections 24a, 24b to lift them up. Since the cartridge 20 is fixedly loaded in the camera, as shown in Fig. 4, the flexible wall portion 22 is deformed upwardly to form an inlet opening 26 when the projections 24a, 24b are lifted up. Then, as the spool 23 is made to rotate in the film-feeding direction, that is the couterclockwise direction in the case of Fig. 4, the film 25 is fed out through the inlet opening 26 since the film 25 is tightly wound around the spool 23. Thus, the film 25 is led to a position to be exposed in the camera.

0037A magnetic tape 27 is attached as the magnetic data-input means to an outer surface of the cartridge case 21. For instance, a commercially available magnetic tape may be used as the tape 27.

0038The data concerning sensitivity of the film is input in advance to the magnetic tape 27 and is read out by suitable an input-output mechanism ( not shown ) of a camera when the cartridge 20 is loaded into the camera. In addition, data concerning the number of the exposed frames of the film is input to the tape 27 by the input-output mechanism of the camera when the cartridge 20 is taken out from the camera. This data enables the exposed frames of the film not to be fed when the cartridge provided with this data is loaded into the camera. Furthermore, this data enables the unexposed frames of the film to be fed to the position to be exposed when the film loaded in the cartridge contains several exposed frames.

0039The magnetic tape 27 may be replaced with EEPROM as the magnetic data-input means ( Refer to Japanese Patent Public Disclosure No. 62-­116932 ). The EEPROM is provided with data such as the DX code, the consumption state of the film, photographing spot and so on. If data such as the conditions for making prints is input to the EEPROM at a laboratory, the data is available when second prints are made. In addition, such data as the number of second prints and conditions for trimming may be input to the EEPROM.

0040In this embodiment, a film may be used in which cellulose triacetate containing a magnetic material is used as a film base. In this arrangement, conditions of each frame for making prints are input to the EEPROM.

0041As described above with respect to the preferred embodiment, according to the film cartridge of the invention which is provided with magnetic data-input means and/or electrical data-input means, various kinds of data can be input easily and definitely during the appropriate period.

0042While the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended that the present invention cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.