JP2004046270A - Data imprinting device for camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To imprint data patterns and the background thereof without requiring intricate mechanisms such as photometric mechanisms. <P>SOLUTION: A data imprinting device 6 for cameras is provided with: a data imprinting module 5 existing on the rear surface side of a photographic film 3; and a filter plate 4 existing on the front side thereof. Since a filter transmitting light other than red light is employed for the filter plate 4, data patterns imprinted by the reddish color tone can be made clearer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

The present invention relates to a camera data imprinting apparatus for imprinting a data pattern formed by a liquid crystal panel on a photographic film. More specifically, the present invention relates to a camera data imprinting device having a mechanism for imprinting a data pattern clearly without being affected by the level of luminance of a subject.

(4) In a data imprinting apparatus for a camera, a data pattern may not be clearly imprinted when the brightness of a subject is high. In order to prevent this adverse effect, there has been proposed a method in which a data imprint area of a photographic film on which a data pattern is imprinted is shielded from photographing light by a light shielding plate. With this method, the data pattern can be clearly printed, but since the area of the photographic film on which the data pattern is printed is completely shielded from photographic light, there is a new problem that the subject image is not captured at all. Occurs.

For this purpose, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-261257, the brightness of a subject projected on a data projection area of a photographic film is measured, and only when the brightness is high, the data projection area is measured. Is masked by a light-shielding plate so that the data pattern can be clearly projected. A data imprinting device having a similar structure is also disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 1-222245 and 56-74233.

However, even with the method disclosed in the above-mentioned patent publication, when the brightness of the subject is high, the data imprinting area is shielded, so the disadvantage that the subject in that portion is not reflected on the photographic film still remains. I have.

Further, in order to adopt the above method, it is necessary to provide a photometric function for measuring the luminance of the subject. Therefore, this method cannot be generally adopted for a camera which is not equipped with a photometric function, an exposure correction function, and the like, such as an inexpensive camera such as a film with a lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to propose a data recording device for a camera capable of recording a clear data pattern on a data recording region of a photographic film without being affected by the level of luminance of a subject.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera data printing apparatus capable of always printing a subject image together with a data pattern on a data printing area of a photographic film, and capable of printing a clear data pattern. It is to propose.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to propose a camera data imprinting device capable of imprinting a clear data pattern even when mounted on an inexpensive camera that does not have a photometry function, an exposure compensation function, and the like. is there.

The present invention relates to a camera data imprinting device for imprinting a data pattern on a data imprinting area of a photographic film disposed in a camera body, wherein the data imprinting apparatus is located at a position where it can block photographing light incident on the data imprinting area. It has an arranged filter. Further, the light transmittance of the filter is set such that the reduction rate of the received light amount of the photographing light in the data imprinting area by the filter becomes a value within a range of 80% to 40%. It is desirable that the range of the light receiving amount reduction rate be a value within the range of 75% to 50%.

By setting the light transmittance of the filter in this way, it is possible to imprint the subject in a data imprinting area of the photographic film in a state where the subject can be sufficiently recognized regardless of the brightness of the subject. In addition, even when the brightness of the subject is high, the data pattern can be printed with a sharpness that can be sufficiently recognized.

Here, in the case where the filter is disposed close to the photographic film, the light transmittance of the filter should be in the range of 20% to 60%, preferably in order to obtain the reduction rate of the received light amount within the above range. , 25% to 50%.

Next, in order to prevent the contour of the filter from being clearly reflected on a photographic film, it is desirable to adopt the following configuration.

First, as the filter, a filter having a central portion large enough to block imaging light incident on the data imprinting region and a peripheral portion formed around the central portion is adopted. Then, the light transmittance of the filter is set so that the rate of decrease in the amount of received light of the photographing light in the data imprinting area due to the center portion falls within a range of 80% to 40%. Accordingly, the light transmittance of the peripheral portion is set to a value larger than the light transmittance of the central portion. If the transmittance of the peripheral portion is set to a large value in this way, the contour of the filter hardly appears on the photographic film.

In this case, it is preferable to set the light transmittance of the central portion and the peripheral portion so as to gradually increase from the center of the central portion toward the peripheral portion, since the contour of the filter can be further unclear.

Instead of changing the transmittance of the filter as described above, the filter is arranged at a position away from the photographic film arrangement portion so that the contour of the filter is not clearly printed on the photographic film. A configuration may be adopted.

Next, as the filter, a filter formed on a part of a transparent sheet having a size corresponding to at least one photosensitive surface of a photographic film can be used. When such a transparent sheet is used, by positioning the transparent sheet with respect to the photographic film, the portion of the film formed on the transparent sheet can be matched with the data imprint area on the photographic film. Therefore, the work of mounting and positioning the film is simplified.

Even when such a transparent sheet is used, if the transmittance of the filter formed thereon is set so as to gradually increase from the central portion to the peripheral portion of the filter, the outline of the filter is clearly defined in the photographic film. This is desirable because it can be prevented from being reflected on the image.

Next, a sheet filter can be used as the filter. In this case, in order to prevent the contour of the filter from being clearly printed on the photographic film, the following is desirable. That is, it is desirable to form an anti-reflection means on the end face of the sheet filter so that the incident photographic light is not reflected on the end face and directed toward the photographic film disposing portion.

On the other hand, in the present invention, instead of changing the light transmittance of the filter, a filter having a light transmission characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength other than red light is employed as the filter. Generally, when a data pattern is printed from the back side of a photographic film, the data pattern is printed with high sensitivity on the red side. Therefore, if the red light is removed from the photographing light, the data pattern can be clearly printed.

As described above, the camera data imprinting apparatus of the present invention has a filter arranged at a position capable of blocking photographing light incident on the data imprinting area of the photographic film, and the data imprinting by the filter is performed. The light transmittance of the filter is set so that the reduction rate of the amount of received light of the imaging light in the region is a value within the range of 80% to 40%. By setting the light transmittance of the filter in this way, it is possible to imprint the object in a data imprinting region of the photographic film in a state where the object can be sufficiently recognized regardless of the brightness of the object. In addition, even when the brightness of the subject is high, the data pattern can be captured with a sharpness that can be sufficiently recognized. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to clearly print a data pattern in a state where a subject is always captured as a background in a data projection area. Further, the data pattern and the subject image as its background can always be imprinted in a good state without the need for a photometric mechanism, a light shielding mask moving mechanism, and the like.

Next, in the present invention, when the light transmittance of the filter is set to be larger on the peripheral side than on the center side, it is possible to prevent the contour of the filter from being clearly displayed on the photographic film. .

Further, in the present invention, when the filter is arranged at a position distant from the photographic film arrangement portion, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the contour of the filter from appearing clearly on the photographic film.

Further, in the present invention, when a filter formed on a part of a transparent sheet having a size corresponding to at least one photosensitive surface of a photographic film is used as the filter, the transparent sheet is applied to the photographic film. By positioning the transparent sheet, the portion of the film formed on the transparent sheet can be made to coincide with the data imprinting area on the photographic film, so that the film mounting operation and the positioning operation are simplified.

Next, in the present invention, when an anti-reflection means is formed on the end face of the filter so that the incident photographing light is not reflected on the end face and directed toward the photographic film arrangement portion, the contour of the filter is Can be prevented from being clearly printed on a photographic film.

On the other hand, in the present invention, when a filter having a light transmission characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength other than red light is employed as a filter, a data pattern to be captured in a red color tone is sharpened. It has the effect of being able to do it.

Hereinafter, a data imprinting device for a camera to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship between a photographing lens, a photographic film, and a camera data imprinting device in a camera incorporating a camera data imprinting device to which the present invention is applied. In this figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a camera body, and a photographing lens 12 is attached to a front surface of a housing 11 of the camera body 1. Photographing light (indicated by two imaginary lines L1 and L2 in the figure) from an external subject is incident through the photographing lens 12, and a photographic film arrangement formed inside the camera body 1 is arranged. An image is formed on the photographic film 3 arranged at the portion 13 (the position indicated by the imaginary line in the figure).

Within the angle of view in the photographic film arrangement unit 13 (within the range of the two imaginary lines L1 and L2)
The data imprint area 3b of the photographic film 3 for one frame which is located at a position indicated by hatching in the figure. A filter plate 4 having a predetermined light transmittance is arranged on the photographing light incident side of the photographic film arrangement section 13 where the data imprint area 3b is located. On the opposite side, a data imprinting module 5 is arranged. The filter plate 4 and the data imprinting module 5 constitute a data imprinting device 6 for a camera.

The data imprinting module 5 includes a data imprinting liquid crystal display 51 arranged at a position facing the data imprinting area 3b of one frame of the photographic film 3 arranged in the photographic film arrangement section 2. . An optical image corresponding to the data pattern for imprinting obtained through the liquid crystal display 51 for imprinting data is radiated from the back side of the photographic film 3 to the data imprinting area 3b of the photographic film 3, whereby The data pattern is imprinted on the data imprint area 3b of the photographic film.

The filter plate 4 is disposed so as to be parallel to the photographic film placement unit 2 at a predetermined distance from the photographic film placement unit 2. Further, the photographic film is arranged at a position where all of the photographic light incident on the data imprint area 3b of the photographic film arranged on the film arrangement surface 2 can be blocked, and all of the photographic light incident on the data imprint area 3b is It is set to a size that can be shut off. The filter plate 4 is, for example, a rectangular plate. The configuration of the filter plate 4 will be described later in detail.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of the data imprinting module 5, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the data imprinting camera module 5 includes a frame 52, a circuit board 53 is mounted on the frame 52, a crystal unit 54, a liquid crystal cell driving IC 55, Components such as a light source lamp 56 for data imprinting, a liquid crystal display 51 for data imprinting, and a liquid crystal display 57 for monitoring are mounted. Further, an optical path 58 of the light emitted from the light source lamp 56 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light path 58 is arranged to guide the light emitted from the lamp 56 along the bottom surface of the frame plate 52. A reflecting mirror 59 that is inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the lamp 56 is disposed on the tip side of the optical path 58. A light shielding plate 60 having a window 60a through which light from the reflection mirror 59 passes is disposed immediately below the reflection mirror 59. The above-described data imprinting liquid crystal display 51 is disposed below the light shielding plate 60 so as to face the light shielding plate 60. The light emission side of the data imprinting liquid crystal display 51 is the photographic film arrangement surface 2 through which the photographic film 3 passes. Note that an electrical conduction connector 60b is arranged on the side of the light shielding plate 60.

The data imprinting liquid crystal display 51 includes a liquid crystal cell 513 in which a liquid crystal agent (not shown) is sealed between a pair of transparent electrode substrates 511 and 512, and an incident light disposed on the light incident side of the liquid crystal cell 513. It is basically composed of a side polarizing plate 514 and an emission side polarizing plate 515 arranged on the light emission side of the liquid crystal cell 513. The liquid crystal cell 513 forms a data pattern to be printed on the photographic film 3 as a light-transmitting portion depending on the orientation state of the liquid crystal agent. A light-shielding mask 516 is stacked and arranged on the emission-side surface of the emission-side polarizing plate 515 as necessary. The light shielding mask 516 can be omitted.

Next, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the filter plate 4. The filter plate 4 is a plate having a constant thickness in a range of about 1 millimeter to about 1 micron and has a rectangular contour. In the figure, a rectangular area 41 surrounded by a broken line is an area having a size corresponding to the data imprint area 3b on the photographic film 3. The filter plate 4 of the present example has a central region 42 having the first light transmittance. The central area 42 is an oval area including the rectangular area 41. The periphery of the central region 42 is a peripheral region 43 having a second light transmittance higher than the first light transmittance.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the filter plate 4 of this example has a peripheral edge 4c.
Has an arcuate cross-sectional shape with a corner.

Here, the present inventors use the first transmittance of the central region 42 of the filter plate 4 and the distance of the filter plate 4 from the data imprinting region on the photographic film as variables to determine whether the brightness of the subject is high or low. Instead, a range in which the subject image was always identifiably printed in the data printing area 3b of the photographic film 3 and the data pattern was also clearly printed was determined.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing this result. In this graph, the range A in which good imprint was obtained is indicated by a halftone dot. An area on the left side of the area A on which the filter transmittance is lower is an area B which is “NG because the background is not visible”. That is, this area B is an area where the data pattern is clearly printed on the data printing area 3b, but the subject image is not clearly printed on the data printing area 3b. Conversely, an area on the right side of the area A on which the filter transmittance is higher is an area C that is "NG because the imprinted characters are thin". That is, the area C is an area in which the subject image is imprinted on the data imprint area 3b in an identifiable state, but is not imprinted so clearly that the data pattern is identifiable.

As can be seen from this graph, the first region A that defines the area A where good imprint is possible is provided.
Varies depending on the distance from the filter plate 4 to the photographic film. However, when the distance where the filter plate 4 is attached to the data imprinting area 3b is zero, good image transfer can be achieved by setting the first light transmittance of the filter plate within the range of 20% to 60%. Can be included.

Focusing on the amount of light received in the data imprinting area 3b, this indicates that the reduction rate of the amount of light received by the filter plate 4 in the data imprinting area 3b is smaller than when the filter plate 4 is not disposed. If it is within the range of 80% to 40%, it indicates that good imprinting is possible. Therefore, if the first transmittance in the area 42 of the filter plate 4 is determined so that the light receiving amount reduction rate falls within this range, a good image is always obtained regardless of the mounting position of the filter plate 4. Can be

In this graph, the distances a, b, and c indicate the positions of the filter plates 4, 4 ', and 4 "indicated by solid lines, broken lines, and imaginary lines in FIG. For example, the width of the central region 42 can be the width indicated by the numeral 42 ′ at the position of the distance b, and the width 42 ′ at the position of the distance c. The width shown can be reduced and can be reduced according to the distance. As can be seen from the graph of FIG. 6, as the distance increases, the allowable range of the light transmittance of the filter plate capable of imprinting appropriate data becomes narrower, and the allowable range of the filter plate as a whole decreases. Move to the rate side. Further, as the distance from the photographic film arrangement surface 13 increases, the possibility that the contour of the filter plate is clearly projected on the photographic film side decreases. In other words, if the filter plate is separated, the contour of the filter plate can be blurred.

In the camera data imprinting apparatus of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the filter plate 4 is arranged at a distance a indicated by a solid line, that is, at a position close to the photographic film arrangement surface 13. Therefore, as shown in the graph of FIG. 6, if the filter plate 4 is formed with the central region 42 having the first light transmittance having a value in the range of about 20% to about 60%, the usual condition is obtained. Good imprinting can be performed.

That is, the photographing light of the subject from the photographing lens 12 passes through the central area 42 having the first light transmittance of a value within this range, and then irradiates the data imprinting area 3b on the photographic film 3. As a result, the following operation and effect can be obtained. When the luminance of the subject portion projected on the data imprinting area 3b is high, the photographing light passes through the central area 42 of the filter plate 4, so that the subject is imprinted on the photographic film 3 with the luminance lowered. It is imprinted on the area 3b. As a result, even when the luminance of the subject is high, in other words, even when the background of the portion where the data pattern is imprinted is bright, the data pattern is clearly imprinted on the data imprint area 3b.

Conversely, when the brightness of the subject portion projected in the data imprinting area 3b is low, the image is similarly captured in a state where the brightness is reduced. However, in this example, since the light transmittance of the area 42 of the filter plate 4 is set in the range of about 20% to about 60%, even in such a case, the subject image is clear in the data imprint area 3b. It is reflected on. For this reason, even when the brightness of the subject is low, the background portion of the data pattern projected on the data projection region 3b is projected in a suitable state.

As described above, when the camera data imprinting device 6 of this embodiment is used, the brightness of the subject is measured as in the conventional case, and when the brightness is high, the light-shielding mask is moved to the light-shielding position and the clear data pattern is copied. Unlike the case where the data is projected, a photometric mechanism and a light-shielding mask moving mechanism are not required, the structure can be simplified, the background can always be projected on the data projection area, and the data pattern can always be clearly defined. You can imprint in the state.

Further, in the present example, a peripheral region 43 having a second transmittance higher than this is formed around the first light transmittance region 42 of the filter plate 4. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the contour shape of the filter plate 4 from clearly appearing on the photographic film 3 side. In addition, the peripheral edge of the filter plate 4 has an arc-shaped cross section. When the edge of the filter plate 4 is kept in a rectangular cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 5C, a part of the photographing light is reflected by the end face 4a and goes to the photographic film 3 side. The adverse effect that the contour shape of the filter plate 4 is imprinted on the photographic film due to the reflected light, or the quality of the imprinted image is reduced due to such reflected light. However, in this example, such an adverse effect can be avoided.

The shape of the edge of the filter plate 4 may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B, with the incident side of the filter plate 4 of the photographing light as the inclined surface 4b. Also in this case, it is possible to prevent the light reflected at the edge 4b of the filter plate 4 from going to the photographic film 3 side. Instead of changing the shape of the edge of the filter plate 4, the rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 5C may be left, and the end surface 4a may be subjected to a surface treatment for preventing reflection.

Here, the present inventors use a filter plate 4 arranged at a distance a, using the first transmittance and the exposure amount as variables, and the data pattern to be transferred to the photographic film 3 and the background. A certain subject image was observed.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the transmittance of the filter plate and the exposure amount. In this graph, a shaded area A1 is an area where a good image is obtained. In other words, in this area A1, the imprinted character which is the imprinted data pattern can be clearly recognized, and the background can be well recognized. On the other hand, the region B1 is a region in which the background is dark enough to be hardly recognizable because the transmittance of the filter plate is too low. In addition, the area C1 is an area in which the imprinted characters are thin and hardly recognized because the background is too bright. In the range of the amount of exposure in a general camera, a good imprinting state can be obtained regardless of the level of the amount of exposure, in general, when the light transmittance of the filter plate 4 is about 20% to about 20%. It is determined that it is within the range of 60%.

FIG. 8 shows an experimental result using a commercially available filter. The filters used were generally commercially available filters having a transmittance of 50% and an exposure value of -1 EV, filters having a transmittance of 25% and an exposure value of -2EV, and filters having a transmittance of 13% and an exposure value of 13%. A -3 EV filter was used. As a result, as shown in the figure, good results were obtained when a 50% filter and a 25% filter were used as the filter plate 4. Particularly good results are obtained with a filter having a transmittance in the range of 50 percent (-1 EV) to 25 percent (-2 EV).

As described above, the use of the camera data imprinting device 6 of the present embodiment makes it possible to always imprint a data pattern in a good state.

(Other embodiments)
FIG. 9A shows a modification of the filter plate. This example is different from the first embodiment in that a filter plate 400 large enough to cover one frame of the photographic film 3 is used instead of the filter plate 4. The other points are the same as those in the above example, and the description of the corresponding parts will be omitted. As shown in FIG. 9B, the filter plate 400 has an oblong shape including a region (a rectangular portion surrounded by a broken line in the figure) facing the data imprinting region 3b of the photographic film 3. An area 401 is provided. This region is a region having the first light transmittance. A region 402 having a second light transmittance is formed so as to surround the region 401 having the first light transmittance. The outer portion 403 other than the region 402 having the second light transmittance is a region where the transmittance is almost 100%.

Even when the filter plate 400 configured as described above is used, the same effect as in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. When this filter plate 400 is used, its attachment can be performed easily.

In the above-described filter plate 4 and filter plate 400, a region having the first light transmittance is formed at the center of the data imprinting region, and a region having the second light transmittance is formed around the region. The light transmittance is switched at these boundary portions. Instead, the light transmittance may be set so as to gradually increase toward the periphery of the filter plate in a portion around the region having the first light transmittance. With this configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent the contour of the filter plate from being imprinted on the photographic film.

Furthermore, even in the central region having the first light transmittance, the light transmittance may gradually decrease from the peripheral portion toward the central portion.

On the other hand, instead of changing the light transmittance of the filter plate, a filter having a light transmission characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength other than red light may be employed as the filter. Generally, when an image is imprinted from the back side of the photographic film, the sensitivity of the photographic film becomes higher on the red side, and the imprinted data pattern has a red color. Therefore, if the red light is removed from the photographing light, the data pattern captured in the red system can be sharpened.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement relationship of a photographing lens, a photographic film, and a camera data imprinting device inside a camera to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a data imprinting camera module which is a component of the camera data imprinting apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion cut along a line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a filter plate as a component of the camera data imprinting device of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a cross-sectional shape of an edge of the filter plate of FIG. 4. 9 is a graph showing a data pattern and a determination result of a state of imprinting a background of the data pattern based on a light transmittance of the filter plate and a distance from the filter plate to a photographic film disposition portion. 9 is a graph showing an example of a determination result of a data pattern and its imprinting state of a background based on the light transmittance and the exposure amount of a filter plate. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data pattern and a determination result of a state of imprinting a background of the data pattern when a commercially available filter is used. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification of a filter plate.

Explanation of reference numerals

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 camera body 11 camera housing 12 photographic lens 13 photographic film placement unit 3 photographic film 3 b data imprinting area 4 filter plate 41 area corresponding to data imprinting area 42 central area 43 having first light transmittance 43 second Peripheral area 5 having light transmittance of 5 Data imprinting module 6 Data imprinting device for camera 51 Data imprinting liquid crystal display 56 Light source lamp 400 for imprinting data Filter plate 401 Equipped with first light transmissivity Central region 402 peripheral region with second light transmittance

Claims (2)

A camera data transfer device that has a filter disposed at a position capable of blocking photographing light incident on a data transfer region of a photographic film disposed in the camera body, and transfers a data pattern to the data transfer region; In the embedding device, the filter has a filter characteristic of transmitting light having a wavelength other than red light. 2. The filter according to claim 1, wherein the light transmittance of the filter is set such that a reduction rate of a received light amount of the photographing light in the data imprinting region is a value in a range of 80% to 40%. A data imprinting device for a camera, comprising:

Images