DE10114830A1 - Film and camera that allow a film to be stopped and removed from a camera and then reloaded and re-used from the stop point with the film cartridge having a memory chip that records the number of exposures to allow reuse - Google Patents

Abstract

Film (100) with film material (102) that can be exposed by area and a memory arrangement (124) that contains data about the number of exposed film areas. The invention provides a film that stores the number of exposures made and allows a film to be repositioned so that the remainder of a film can be shot off after removal and re-insertion in the camera. An Independent claim is made for a corresponding camera for use with such a film that can be used to unwind or reposition the film such that it is at the beginning of the unexposed part of the film.

Description

The present invention relates to a film with egg on a camera for such a film and on a camera for exposure film material that can be exposed in certain areas. In particular The present invention relates to a film or on a camera, the information on the number of be provide exposed areas of a footage.

In the prior art, cameras are for non-professionals and known for professional users.

In the area of non-professional users are cameras with film cassettes (e.g. pocket cameras) and cameras into which to insert a film is known. Here the film includes a footage that is contained in a film can. In The film box contains the film material protected and a short section of the footage protrudes, so the one laying the film material and transporting the film material through the camera.

After the film is loaded and the first one to be exposed Area in the exposure area is the footage after exposure of an area moves so that a new area of the exposure device is supplied. The exposed area is on a shot during this time mespule collected inside the camera.

If all areas of the footage are exposed, it will same rewound completely in the film can. Subsequently  the film can be removed and entered for development be sent.

This conventional arrangement is for those cases where the film is fully exposed, quite practical. On Problem arises, however, if the user wishes, under to use different films. In this situation the Users of a conventional camera only have the option of just rewind the film being used completely, what about this leads to any unexposed areas that may still be present of the footage is no longer available to the user in the film can are included, so these areas are not can be used more. Reusing this Areas are therefore not possible, rather a new one Film can be used.

Another known camera moves an inserted film first completely from the film can to a take-up spool inside the camera. While the camera is operating Areas of the film are exposed and these areas are at this camera into the film can. This will make sure asked that in the event of a malfunction, e.g. B. Batteries case or an accidental opening of the camera that already exposed areas are protected. Also with this camera is in a film change, regardless of how many Be of the film are exposed, the film completely in the Film can rewound, so that no renewed Ver possible use of areas not yet exposed a new film has to be used.

In other words, users of modern cameras are standing out today the problem that they don't have any after loading a movie Have the opportunity to exchange this film for another and the remaining unexposed areas to use later on this film. There is, as be wrote, only the opportunity to return the film as a whole wind and replace with another. Another groove  It is not possible to remove the film material that has not yet been used Lich.

A user who wants to avoid the above problems te, must turn to professional solutions. Cameras for enable the professional area z. B. the complete Exchange of the film along with the assigned transportation Facility. However, such professional equipments are extremely expensive and complex to use for the Hobby photographers too cumbersome and also lead to one considerable increase in the volume of the camera.

Based on the above-mentioned prior art, the The present invention therefore has the object of making a film and to create a camera after inserting one Films open up the possibility that the film is against you whose are interchangeable, and the remaining, do not use areas (unexposed) on the film material remain usable for the user.

This object is achieved by a film according to claim 1 as well solved by a camera according to claim 11.

The present invention provides a film that be has richly exposed film material and also with is provided with a facility that provides information about the Number of exposed areas of the footage ready provides.

The present invention also provides a camera for loading exposure of a film material that can be exposed in certain areas, the an exposure device and a transport device around holds to feed the film to the exposure device ren. Furthermore, a detection device is provided, the exposed areas of the film material detected.  

The present invention is based on the finding that by storing information about the number of already exposed areas (images) on the footage the mecha If a camera does not rewind the footage early can stop so that the film can be inserted again can. If the film is inserted again, the ge information saved the footage to the correct location le spooled and the camera exposes the Rest of the unused footage.

The advantage of the present invention is that it is made possible for the first time with both a camera Black and white, slide and color photos of one and the same Make object by simply switching films.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present Invention is the information on a memory chip in or placed on the film can, either contactless or can be read in and / or read out with contact. the Preference is given to the contactless solution, since the memory cherchip are better protected here from environmental influences can. In addition to the information on the number of be cleared areas (images) can be stored in this way specifies that any other information concerns also fend the film can be saved, such as. B. the date the recording, certain image content by entering text in the camera, film information such as B. the type of film, and similar.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the memory element can also be applied directly to the film material.

Another advantage of the present invention is in that the memory or the information that can be extracted from it be used in the development of the film material can, and the information in a suitable form on the Ne  gative can be applied, so that further information can also be saved.

Preferred developments of the embodiments of the lying application are defined in the subclaims.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are referred to below with reference to the attached drawing nations explained in more detail. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a film with a memory chip on a film can according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a film having a plurality of memory elements on the film material according to a second embodiment of the present invention. and

Fig. 3 is a film with markings on the film according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The following figures each show a schematic Representation of a camera, with only those for the present relevant invention are shown schematically relevant elements.

In Fig. 1 is referred to a film by the reference numeral 100, which comprises a film material 102nd The film material 102 comprises a plurality of exposed areas B and an Endab section 104 , which is not provided for exposure, but for loading the film material into the camera. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the film 100 comprises a film can 106 in which the film material 102 is accommodated. In the case of a new, unexposed film, the film material 102 is located in the opaque film can 106 . Initially, end portion 104 protrudes from the film can to allow a user to insert the film into the camera.

Via a transport device 108 , such as a motor or a manual conveyor, the film inserted into the camera is moved so that areas B to be exposed are exposed to the exposure device 110 of the camera. In the film can 106 there is a spool which can be rotated about the axis 112 , onto which the film material 102 can be wound or from which the film material can be unwound. Furthermore, a take-up spool (not shown in FIG. 1) is provided in the camera, on which, starting with the end area 104 , exposed areas of the film material 102 are wound. The transport device 108 interacts with the film can 106 as well as with the take-up reel in order to effect the transport of the film material as through the camera.

A controller 114 is connected via a first connecting line 116 to the transport device 108 and via a second connecting line 118 to the exposure device 110 , which comprises an aperture and a lens. The controller 114 is also connected via a third connecting line 120 to an input / output unit 122 , which can comprise a display and a keyboard. Via the input / output unit 122 , a user of the camera can set various parameters which are stored in the controller 114 . Such parameters include, for example, the type of film and certain preselectable programs for operating the camera, which are stored in the controller 114 . Depending on the selected parameters, the control activates the exposure device 114 and the transport device 108 in order to on the one hand bring about the exposure of the exposable area B when the trigger is actuated and on the other hand, after the exposure has been carried out, to transport the film further.

An end of the film material is also recognized. When the end is reached, the automatic rewinding of the film material as 102 is effected from the take-up reel into the film can 106 .

Conventionally, rewinding is done so that the film 102 is completely received in the film can 106 , which leads to the disadvantages described above in connection with the reuse of an incompletely exposed film material and when using different films to record the same object.

To solve these problems, a storage element 124 is provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which is arranged on the film can 106 . Furthermore, an input / output unit 126 is provided, via which information can be read into the memory element 124 or can be read out from the same. The input / output unit 126 is connected to the controller 114 via a fourth connecting line 126 .

When the film 100 is inserted for the first time, information relating to the type of film and the number of areas already exposed (images) are stored in the storage element 124, for example. If the film is new, it is indicated that no area has yet been exposed. When the film is inserted, the information relating to the film 100 is passed on to the control so that the camera can carry out the required preliminary settings for operation with the inserted film.

During the use of the camera, that is to say during the exposure of the film, the controller detects when areas have been exposed and outputs a corresponding value which is stored in the storage element 124 via the input / output unit 126 , so that a count value is stored there is, which shows the number of areas already exposed.

If a user decides to change the film before it is fully exposed, it is transferred via the input / output unit 122 , e.g. B. pressing a key or calling a program stored in the controller, start a corresponding routine that is stored in the controller 114 . The controller 114 controls the transport device 108 in order to rewind the film material 102 into the film can 106 in such a way that the end region 104 is not accommodated in the film can but remains outside the same. This can be done, for example, in that the controller reads out the number of already exposed areas (images) from the memory element 124 and in conjunction with further information relating to the film material, such as, for. B. length of the exposed areas, the distance ima ended spaces and the like, the transport device 108 drives to the film material 102 to move as long as back into the film canister 106 until only the end portion 104 remains outside the film canister.

Now the exposed areas and the unexposed areas are protected in the film can, so that the film can be removed. Because the film has been rewound only so far that the end region 104 has remained outside the film can, it is possible to reinsert this film into the camera and to expose the areas which have not yet been exposed.

If a user now inserts another film 100 into the camera, the controller 114 acquires the necessary information from the storage element 124 via the input / output unit 126 , and here in particular the number of areas already exposed. If it is a "new" film, the corresponding count in the memory element 124 is z. B. preset to zero, so that the control recognizes that only a corresponding transport of the film material 102 to the first exposed area is neces sary.

If the newly inserted film is already one partially exposed film, so the controller recognizes this that the count in the storage element is the number of areas already exposed, and the number so  how the further information mentioned above takes place a control of the transport device so that the first not yet exposed area of the footage of the Belich device is supplied.

The interface between the input / output unit 126 and the memory element 124 can either be contactless or con tact. The contactless interface is to be preferred in the re gel case, as this z. B. an embedded arrangement of the storage element 124 within the film can and thus protection of the same from environmental influences is made possible. The reading out or reading in of information can e.g. B. done by means of transponder technology.

In addition to the information already contained in the memory, it can contain a memory area in which the user of the camera can either enter information about individual images he has created himself or the corresponding information can be stored by the controller. The corresponding memory areas are then assigned to the corresponding numbers of the exposed areas. The user can enter the information, for example, via the input / output unit 122 , in order to define an image description or the like. Furthermore, the date of the recording can be saved, for example.

The information stored in the storage element will then the corresponding Negati when developing the film assigned to ven so that the information regarding the one individual images can also be called up.

With reference to FIG. 2, a further execution of the present invention will be explained below, for example, with those elements that have been written already shown in Fig. 1 and be, are provided with the same reference numerals in Fig. 2. These elements will not be described again.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1, no storage element is arranged on the film can 106 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, but a plurality of storage elements 130 is arranged on the film material 102 , each of which is assigned to the individual exposed areas B. are, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, input / output units 132 and 134 are provided, which are connected to the controller 114 via connecting lines 136 and 138 . Optionally, a further storage element 140 can be provided, which is arranged in the end section 104 of the film material 102 . This Speicherele element 140 is e.g. B. provided to store information about the film, such as the type of film, the number of exposed areas (images) and the like. If the film is inserted, the end region 104 is located outside the film can 106 and the storage element 140 can be read by the input / output unit 134 , so that the information required for controlling the individual elements of the camera can be fed to the control. Similar to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to FIG. 1.

The memory elements 130 assigned to the individual, exposable areas are, for example, blank, so that blank memory indicates that the area has not yet been exposed. If an area of the exposure is supplied, a corresponding marking is introduced into the memory element 130 of the assigned area via the input / output unit 132 , so that it can be distinguished from unexposed areas. Furthermore, similar to FIG. 1, further information relating to the recording that has just been made can be written in, again automatically by the controller or via an input by the user via the input / output unit 122 .

If the controller 114 detects an end of the exposable material, e.g. B. by reading another mark on the film material, which indicates an end of the film material (not shown in Fig. 2), it is determined that the film has been fully exposed and the film material is completely rewound into the film can 106 .

If such an end state is not detected and the user wishes to exchange the film, for example by entering an appropriate command word, the film material is rewound into the film can such that the end region 104 remains outside of it. This takes place e.g. B. by the fact that the input / output unit 134 detects the memory element 140 and the control ends the return transport in response to this. Furthermore, the controller can temporarily store the number of areas already exposed during the exposure of the film material and record the exposed areas via a further counter and via the input / output unit 134 during rewinding and thus stop the return transport in good time.

A further exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 3, elements also already described in the previous figures having the same reference numerals and not being described again.

In contrast to the previous figures, no storage element is provided in FIG. 3. Instead, already exposed areas on the film material are marked by a special marking 142 , e.g. B. marked by a punched hole or similar. To mark the film material 102 , a marking device 144 , e.g. B. a punch or the like is provided. A first sensor 146 and a second sensor 148 are also provided, which detect the presence of markings on the film material. The marking device 144 , the first sensor 146 and the second sensor 148 are connected to the controller 114 via connecting lines 150 , 152 , 154 .

During operation of the camera, when a completely unexposed film is inserted, none of the sensors 146 or 148 detects a marking 142 , so that the film material is moved via the control in such a way that a first exposed area is fed to the exposure device. If this area is now exposed, the controller 114 controls the marking device 144 in order, for example, to make a hole 142 in the edge area of the film material and thus to mark the area just exposed as being exposed.

If the controller 114 detects that the film material is fully exposed, the transport device 108 is actuated in order to rewind the film material 102 into the film can 106 . If a user specifies, by entering an appropriate command word, that the film is to be replaced, the control causes the film material to be rewound, where either by detecting the last marking by the sensor 148 or by counting the areas already exposed, the , as similarly described with reference to FIG. 2, are temporarily stored in the controller, the film is rewound so that the end portion 104 remains outside the film canister 106th

If a new film or the same film is now reinserted in the camera, the transport device 108 is activated in order to transport the film material, with the sensor 146 detecting whether there is an exposed area or not. Sensor 146 detects the presence or absence of a marker. As soon as no more exposed areas are found, the transport is stopped and the first exposed area is fed to the exposure device.

Another embodiment of the present invention will now also be described with reference to FIG. 3, which embodiment relates to a camera which is operated with conventional films. Compared to the previous exemplary embodiments, this differs in that no storage elements or markings are provided, but only the two sensors 146 and 148 , which in this exemplary embodiment are not used for detecting a marking but for detecting whether one of the regions B of the film material is exposed or is not exposed.

In this embodiment, the sensors 146 and 148 detect how many areas have been exposed, and when the film material is rewound into the can 106 , depending on whether all or not all areas are exposed, the end area is also wound into the film can or Not.

If a new film or this film is inserted again, the film material is conveyed over the transport device until it is determined via sensors 146 , 148 that an unexposed area has been fed to the exposure device. Now the transport is stopped and the areas not yet exposed can be exposed.

Although the above embodiments are all based on films and cameras where the footage in a film can is included, it should be noted that the present invention does not apply to this embodiment is limited. Rather, the present invention relates to in its most general form a film that is a footage has a corresponding device, for example using the memory elements or markie described above stations, is assigned, the information on the number of provides previously exposed areas of the film material. Alternatively, the corresponding recording of the number of Images also via appropriate sensors in a camera  follow the exposed and unexposed areas of the Capture footage.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, it was demonstrated that, in the case of a fully exposed film, the film material is completely rewound, that is to say including the initial region 104, into the film container 106 . Alternatively, according to the present invention, a complete rewinding of the film material 102 can also be dispensed with when the film is fully exposed, so that the end region 104 remains outside the film container 106 in this case as well.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

Movie

102

footage

104

end

106

Filmdose

108

transport means

110

exposure means

112

axis

114

control

116

first connecting line

118

second connecting line

120

third connecting line

122

Input / output unit

124

storage element

126

Input / output unit

128

fourth connecting line

130

storage element

132

Input / output unit

134

Input / output unit

138

sixth connecting line

140

storage element

142

masking

144

masking device

146

first sensor

148

second sensor

150

seventh connecting line

152

eighth connecting line

154

ninth connecting line

Claims (13)

1. Film ( 100 ) with
a regionally exposed film material ( 102 ); and
means ( 124 , 130 , 142 ) providing information about the number of exposed areas of the film material ( 102 ). 2. Film ( 100 ) according to claim 1, in which the device ( 124 , 130 ) contains additional information associated with the exposed areas, which can be read into and read from the device ( 124 , 130 ). 3. The film ( 100 ) according to claim 1, wherein the device is formed by a marking ( 142 ) which is formed on or in the film material ( 102 ) after the exposure of an area (B). 4. Film ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Einrich device comprises a memory ( 124 ) on a container ( 106 ) which receives the film material ( 102 ). 5. The film ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device comprises a plurality of storage elements ( 130 ) which are arranged on the film material ( 102 ), the individual storage elements ( 130 ) representing the exposed areas (B) assigned. 6. The film ( 100 ) of claim 5 including a container ( 106 ) that receives the film material ( 102 ). 7. A camera for a film ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6 with a transport device ( 108 ) which moves the film material ( 102 ) in response to the information provided by the device ( 124 , 130 , 142 ) by one to supply exposed area of the film material ( 102 ) to a lighting device ( 110 ). 8. A camera for a film ( 100 ) according to claim 4 or 6 with a transport device ( 108 ) responsive to the information provided by the device ( 124 , 130 , 142 )
the film material ( 102 ) is completely moved into the film container ( 106 ) when the film material ( 102 ) is fully exposed; or
the film material ( 102 ) is partially moved into the film container ( 106 ) so that a predetermined initial portion ( 104 ) of the film material ( 102 ) remains outside the film container ( 106 ) when the film material ( 102 ) is not fully exposed. 9. The camera of claim 8, wherein the transport device ( 108 ), after inserting a film container ( 106 ) with the starting portion ( 104 ), the film material ( 102 ) in response to the th by the device ( 124 , 130 , 142 ) provided Information is moved to feed an unexposed area of the film material ( 102 ) to an exposure device ( 110 ). 10. A camera for a film ( 100 ) according to claim 3 or 7 with a device ( 144 ) for applying the marking ( 142 ) and with a detection device ( 146 , 148 ) for detecting markings ( 142 ) on the film material ( 102 ). 11. Camera for exposing a film material ( 102 ) that can be exposed in certain areas
an exposure device ( 110 );
a transport device ( 108 ) which feeds the film material ( 102 ) to the exposure device ( 110 ); and
a detection device ( 146 , 148 ) which detects exposed areas of the film material ( 102 ). 12. The camera of claim 10, wherein the transport device ( 108 )
the film material ( 102 ) is completely moved into a film container ( 106 ) when the film material ( 102 ) is fully exposed; or
the film material ( 102 ) is partially moved into the film container ( 106 ) so that a predetermined initial portion ( 104 ) of the film material ( 102 ) remains outside the film container ( 106 ) when the film material ( 102 ) is not fully exposed. 13. The camera of claim 12, wherein the transport device ( 108 ), in response to output signals of the detection device ( 146 , 148 ), moves the film material ( 102 ) around a first unexposed area after inserting the film container ( 106 ) of the film material ( 102 ) of the exposure device ( 110 ).