JP3976283B2 - Film search device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a film search apparatus, and more particularly to a film search apparatus that searches for a specific film cartridge or frame from a plurality of film cartridges.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A system has been proposed in which a photographic film capable of recording magnetic information after development is accommodated in a cartridge. In this photographic film, it has been proposed to record information on the photographic film and information on the frames imprinted on the photographic film on the magnetic recording layer. Furthermore, it has been studied to record the frame number, title, shooting date / time, shooting location, shooting conditions, etc. corresponding to each frame in this magnetic recording layer, and use these information as search information for frame search.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, if you have a large number of films, and you try to find a film in which the target frame image is copied, you must refer to the frame image and magnetic information of many films until the target frame is found. Must not. Performing this operation for each search is very time-consuming and inconvenient.
[0004]
Also, since only a small amount of information can be recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the film, only the minimum necessary information can be recorded.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and immediately from among a number of film cartridges, a target film cartridge or a film cartridge storing a photographic film on which a target frame is imprinted is immediately provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a film search apparatus that can perform a search.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a developed photographic film for storing a film in which image information and search information are recorded and for a plurality of film cartridges each having unique cartridge identification information. In the film search device, it is necessary for image reading means for reading image information of each frame of the film in the film cartridge, search information reading means for reading search information of the film in the film cartridge, and searching for the film cartridge or the frame. Input means for inputting search information, recording means for recording the image information and search information read by the image reading means and search information reading means in correspondence with cartridge identification information of the film cartridge on a recording medium, and Search information input by input means Based on the image information of the film cartridge or frame searched by the search means, the search means for searching the corresponding film cartridge or frame by collating the search information with the search information stored in the recording medium. Display means for displaying image information and character information including cartridge identification information.
[0006]
[Action]
According to the present invention, the image information of each frame of a film in a plurality of film cartridges owned in advance is read by the image reading means, and the read image information and the retrieval information such as the shooting date and time, the title, etc. are identified by the cartridge cartridge. Corresponding to the information, it is recorded and stored in a recording medium. Then, when searching for a specific film cartridge or a film in which a specific frame is recorded, when the search information is input from the input means, the search information is compared with the search information recorded on the recording medium, A frame corresponding to the search information is detected. Then, the character information including the corresponding frame image and cartridge identification information is displayed on the display means. If there are a plurality of corresponding frames, the user finds the target frame while viewing this monitor image, or further inputs search information to reduce the number of candidate frames. This makes it possible to detect the cartridge identification information, frame number, etc. of the film cartridge containing the photo film in which is recorded.
[0007]
【Example】
A preferred embodiment of a film search apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a film cartridge applied to a film search apparatus according to the present invention.
[0008]
The film cartridge 20 has a single spool (not shown), and the film 10 is wound around and stored in this spool. Further, cartridge identification information (hereinafter referred to as an ID number) unique to the cartridge is attached to the surface of the film cartridge 20, and the user can manage the film cartridge 20 by this ID number.
[0009]
In the film 10, a transparent magnetic material is coated on the entire surface on the opposite side of the emulsion layer to form a magnetic recording layer. As areas for actual magnetic recording, magnetic tracks 14 are secured at the upper and lower ends of the image area 12 of each frame, and magnetic tracks 16 are secured at the upper and lower ends of the film leading end.
The magnetic track 14 shows information about each frame, for example, frame number, title, print format (high-definition image, panoramic image, normal image), shooting date and time, number of prints ordered from the laboratory, and brightness of each shooting frame. Information on photographing conditions such as AE data is recorded.
[0010]
The magnetic track 16 at the leading end of the film includes information on the entire film, for example, an ID number for distinguishing it from other films, a film material, a normal wind and a prewind indicating a film winding direction at the time of shooting with a camera. Is recorded.
The perforation 18 is a hole drilled in a rectangular shape, and by detecting the perforation 18, the conveyance of the film is controlled, and the image and magnetic information of each frame are read.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the film search apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing its internal configuration.
As shown in FIG. 2, the film search device is composed of three devices: a film scanner 30, a search unit 32, and a monitor 38. The search unit 32 further includes a keyboard 34 and a liquid crystal monitor as shown in FIG. 36, a non-volatile memory 50, and a central processing unit (CPU) 60. The film scanner 30 and the monitor 38 are connected to the search unit 32 by a removable cable.
[0012]
The film scanner 30 is a device that reads image information and magnetic information of a film. At the time of reading information relating to the film, the film 10 is wound around the take-up reel 52 of the film take-up portion while being speed-controlled by the capstan 54 from the film cartridge 20 loaded in the film supply portion. Then, the optical sensor 56 irradiates the film 10 being transported with light, detects the reflected light, and detects the perforations 18. Based on the position of the perforation 18, the positions of the image area 12 and the magnetic tracks 14, 16 are detected, and information is read from these areas.
[0013]
Magnetic information recorded on the magnetic tracks 14 and 16 is read from the magnetic head 58 and output to the CPU 60 in the search unit 32. The frame image is irradiated with light by the light source 62, and the transmitted image light is imaged by the lens 64 and converted into an image signal by the CCD line sensor 66. This image signal is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 68 and recorded in the image memory 72 via the image processing circuit 70. Image information recorded in the image memory 72 is output to the CPU 60 together with optical information (AE, AWB, etc.) detected by the image processing circuit 70. Note that the image information is recorded after being thinned to such an extent that the image can be recognized in order to save the storage capacity.
[0014]
The search unit 32 stores information (ID number, image information, optical information, magnetic information, search information) relating to the film read from the film scanner 30 as described above in a predetermined manner in the nonvolatile memory 50 in association with the ID number. When searching for a film recorded in a format, a device that detects the corresponding frame and the film in which the frame is recorded by referring to the information recorded in the nonvolatile memory 50 from the search information input from the keyboard 34. is there. When recording information about the film, the information output from the film scanner 30 to the CPU 60 is recorded in a predetermined format in a nonvolatile memory 50 provided in the search unit 32. At the time of search, the search information regarding the target frame input from the keyboard 34 is compared with the information stored in the nonvolatile raw memory 50 to search for the corresponding frame. When a corresponding frame is detected, image information indicating this frame is read, and one or more frames (hereinafter referred to as an index image) are displayed on the monitor 38 based on this image information.
[0015]
The liquid crystal monitor 36 displays search information or a message for instructing the user to perform a key input operation necessary for performing various processes. The keyboard 34 includes command keys for instructing various processes, character keys for inputting search information, and the like. The monitor 38 displays the frame image corresponding to the search information input by the user as a result of the search as described above.
[0016]
Next, the processing procedure of the film search apparatus in the above embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, information about the film used for the search is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 50. For this purpose, the film scanner 30 is connected to the search unit 32, and information about the film is recorded in the nonvolatile memory 50 from the film set in the film scanner 30. This operation is performed for all the film cartridges used for the search. However, since the data stored in the non-volatile memory 50 is saved once it is recorded, it is sufficient to record information about the film in the non-volatile memory 50 when a new film is developed. There is no need to do this again.
[0017]
As described above, on the assumption that information on a large number of film cartridges to be searched is already stored in the nonvolatile memory 50, a specific film cartridge or a specific film cartridge is selected from among a large number of film cartridges. When it is desired to search for a film cartridge in which frames are recorded, the monitor 38 is connected to the search unit 32 and the search is started.
[0018]
First, in step S10, whether or not to search for a film cartridge or a frame is selected based on the search information (S10). When a search by search information is desired, the search information is input from the keyboard 34 (S12). Based on the search information, candidate frames are narrowed down from the frame information recorded in the nonvolatile memory 50 (S14). The candidate frame images are displayed as index images on the monitor 38 (S16). If NO is selected in step S10, all frame images are regarded as search candidates, and all frame images are displayed as index images on the monitor 38. When there are a large number of candidates or when all frames are set as search candidates, they cannot be displayed on a single screen. Therefore, all candidate frame images can be displayed by switching the screen according to a screen switching instruction or the like. It is like that.
[0019]
The user looks at this index image and detects the target frame. However, if there are too many candidates or the search information is too strong and the target frame is not included, the search is performed. Information can be added or deleted (S18). If the addition or deletion of search information is selected, the process returns to step S12, the search information to be added or deleted is input, and candidates are narrowed down again based on the new search information (S14).
[0020]
As described above, the candidate frame images are narrowed down, and when the target frame image is detected from these frame images, the identification number displayed near the frame image displayed as the index image is displayed on the keyboard. The target frame image is selected using the input device 34 or an input device such as a mouse (S20). When the target frame image is selected, a search is made for the ID number and frame number of the film in which this frame image is recorded (S22). Then, the film ID number, frame number, and the like, which are the search results, are displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 36 (S24).
[0021]
In the above embodiment, a non-volatile memory installed in the search operation unit is used as a recording medium for recording film information. However, any recording medium can be used as long as it is not erased unless the user intends to do so. Such a medium may be used. For example, a magneto-optical disk recording medium or the like can be used. In this case, the disk can be removed and stored without being fixedly installed inside the search unit. It can also be organized into a plurality of discs according to the contents of the film.
[0022]
Further, if the capacity of the recording medium is increased, in addition to the information recorded on the film, other information can be recorded on the recording medium, and this information can be used as search information. For example, if the user himself / herself freely sets the items of the information content to be recorded and records the information for each item, the search can be performed by inputting the search information for each item.
[0023]
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the ID number of the film as a search result is displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 36 to notify the user of the target film. However, a film storage box provided with a pop-up function as shown in FIG. 5 is used. It is also possible to inform this. The film storage box shown in FIG. When the film is searched, the pop-up solenoid of the storage unit in which the corresponding film is stored is energized, and the film is pushed out. As a result, the user does not have to search for a film that matches the ID number of the search result film, and can easily find the target film. When this film storage box is used, it is recorded in advance in the non-volatile memory together with information about the film, in which storage section of the film storage box the film having the ID number is stored.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the film search device of the present invention, since information about a plurality of films is recorded and stored in an external recording medium at a time, a film or frame in which a specific frame is recorded is searched. Sometimes, it is possible to easily search for a target film based on search information input by a user and information recorded on an external recording medium, and it is not necessary to read information directly from each film at the time of search. The search time can be shortened and the operability can be improved, and the deterioration of the film due to the reduction in the number of scans can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a film cartridge applied to a film search apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a film search apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the film search apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an overall flow of the film search apparatus shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is an external view showing a film storage box for storing the film cartridge shown in FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Film 12 ... Image area 14, 16 ... Magnetic track 20 ... Film cartridge 30 ... Film scanner 32 ... Search operation part 34 ... Keyboard 36 ... Liquid crystal monitor 38 ... Monitor 50 ... Non-volatile memory 58 ... Magnetic head 60 ... CPU
66 ... CCD

Claims (2)

In a film retrieval apparatus for a plurality of film cartridges , which is a developed photographic film , storing a film in which image information and retrieval information are recorded, and each having unique cartridge identification information.
Image reading means for reading image information of each frame of the film in the film cartridge;
Search information reading means for reading search information for the film in the film cartridge;
Input means for inputting search information necessary for searching for the film cartridge or frame;
Recording means for recording the image information and search information read by the image reading means and search information reading means in correspondence with cartridge identification information of the film cartridge on a recording medium;
Search means for searching for the corresponding film cartridge or frame by comparing the search information with the search information stored in the recording medium based on the search information input by the input means;
Display means for displaying an image based on image information of a film cartridge or a frame searched by the search means and displaying character information including cartridge identification information;
A film search apparatus comprising:   Magnetic recording / reproducing means for writing magnetic information on the magnetic recording layer of the film and reading magnetic information from the magnetic recording layer, wherein the recording means uses the magnetic information read by the magnetic recording / reproducing means as the search information. The film search device according to claim 1, wherein the film search device records information on the recording medium.

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