Tricolor additive system for a color head

Claim 2

illuminating a negative to be printed by connecting the illuminating apparatus of the lamphouse to a suitable power source to establish sufficient illumination for each primary color;

Claim 3

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 4

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 5

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens wherein the lamphouse is optically coupled with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of: supplying said component light with an electrically powered illuminating apparatus for each primary color; selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary cOlors; establishing an electrical reference signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said electrical reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color; connecting the last said illuminating apparatus in series with a control means, so that electrical current flowing through the illuminating apparatus can be controlled; controlling the color intensity of a color component of the component light in proportion to the magnitude of said electrical reference signal; transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color; measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color; providing an electrical intensity signal which is proportional to said measured intensity; amplifying said electrical intensity signal, conditioning said amplified signal, and connecting the amplified signal to cause the average power applied to the illuminating apparatus to produce the desired light intensity measured for each different primary color; electronically comparing the electrical intensity signal to said electrical reference signal; changing said electrical reference signal to a value to cause said electrical intensity signal to attain the selected color intensity; using a Triac as the control means, and connecting said amplified signal to said Triac by a programmable unijunction transistor by interposing a transformer between the transistor and the Triac and arranging the circuitry whereby a reduction in light intensity will result in triggering the Triac earlier in its cycle to thereby provide a higher power to the illuminating means.

Claim 6

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens wherein the lamphouse is optically coupled with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of: supplying said component light with an electrically powered illuminating apparatus for each primary color; selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary cOlors; establishing an electrical reference signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said electrical reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color; connecting the last said illuminating apparatus in series with a control means, so that electrical current flowing through the illuminating apparatus can be controlled; controlling the color intensity of a color component of the component light in proportion to the magnitude of said electrical reference signal; transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color; measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color; providing an electrical intensity signal which is proportional to said measured intensity; amplifying said electrical intensity signal, conditioning said amplified signal, and connecting the amplified signal to cause the average power applied to the illuminating apparatus to produce the desired light intensity measured for each different primary color; electronically comparing the electrical intensity signal to said electrical reference signal; changing said electrical reference signal to a value to cause said electrical intensity signal to attain the selected color intensity; using a Triac as the control means, and connecting said amplified signal to said Triac by a programmable unijunction transistor by interposing a transformer between the transistor and the Triac and arranging the circuitry whereby a reduction in light intensity will result in triggering the Triac earlier in its cycle to thereby provide a higher power to the illuminating means.

Claim 7

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens wherein the lamphouse is optically coupled with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of: supplying said component light with an electrically powered illuminating apparatus for each primary color; selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary cOlors; establishing an electrical reference signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said electrical reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color; connecting the last said illuminating apparatus in series with a control means, so that electrical current flowing through the illuminating apparatus can be controlled; controlling the color intensity of a color component of the component light in proportion to the magnitude of said electrical reference signal; transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color; measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color; providing an electrical intensity signal which is proportional to said measured intensity; amplifying said electrical intensity signal, conditioning said amplified signal, and connecting the amplified signal to cause the average power applied to the illuminating apparatus to produce the desired light intensity measured for each different primary color; electronically comparing the electrical intensity signal to said electrical reference signal; changing said electrical reference signal to a value to cause said electrical intensity signal to attain the selected color intensity; using a Triac as the control means, and connecting said amplified signal to said Triac by a programmable unijunction transistor by interposing a transformer between the transistor and the Triac and arranging the circuitry whereby a reduction in light intensity will result in triggering the Triac earlier in its cycle to thereby provide a higher power to the illuminating means.

Claim 8

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens wherein the lamphouse is optically coupled with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of: supplying said component light with an electrically powered illuminating apparatus for each primary color; selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary cOlors; establishing an electrical reference signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said electrical reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color; connecting the last said illuminating apparatus in series with a control means, so that electrical current flowing through the illuminating apparatus can be controlled; controlling the color intensity of a color component of the component light in proportion to the magnitude of said electrical reference signal; transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color; measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color; providing an electrical intensity signal which is proportional to said measured intensity; amplifying said electrical intensity signal, conditioning said amplified signal, and connecting the amplified signal to cause the average power applied to the illuminating apparatus to produce the desired light intensity measured for each different primary color; electronically comparing the electrical intensity signal to said electrical reference signal; changing said electrical reference signal to a value to cause said electrical intensity signal to attain the selected color intensity; using a Triac as the control means, and connecting said amplified signal to said Triac by a programmable unijunction transistor by interposing a transformer between the transistor and the Triac and arranging the circuitry whereby a reduction in light intensity will result in triggering the Triac earlier in its cycle to thereby provide a higher power to the illuminating means.

Claim 9

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 10

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 11

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 12

dichroic mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green;

Claim 13

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 14

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 15

The method of claim 1 and further including the steps of: carrying out the steps of transmitting said sample of light by interposing a beam splitter in the path of the projected light stream and diverting the sample to a light sensor; and arranging the distance between said lens and light sensor to be equal to the distance between said lens and the print to be made.

Claim 16

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 17

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 18

selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary colors;

Claim 19

selecting a color intensity for each of the different primary colors;

Claim 20

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 21

dichroic mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red;

Claim 22

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue.

Claim 23

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue.

Claim 24

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue; arranging said pair of mirrors so that a first light component passing therethrough to provide a first primary color; and, a second light component passes through one mirror and is reflected by the remaining mirror to provide a second primary color; and, a third light component passes through one mirror aNd is reflected by the remaining mirror to provide a third primary color.

Claim 25

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue; arranging said pair of mirrors so that a first light component passing therethrough to provide a first primary color; and, a second light component passes through one mirror and is reflected by the remaining mirror to provide a second primary color; and, a third light component passes through one mirror aNd is reflected by the remaining mirror to provide a third primary color.

Claim 26

The method of claim 1 and further including the steps of: arranging three component light sources in the lamphouse with each of the light sources being directed towards a dichroic mirror arrangement wherein: arranging one dichroic mirror of the arrangement to pass red and blue light from one light source to a second dichroic mirror which passes red and green light so that a red light component passes through the dichroic mirror arrangement; selecting said one dichroic mirror whereby it reflects green light; and selecting said second dichroic mirror so that it reflects blue light; arranging said dichroic mirrors whereby the red and blue components of a second light source passes through one mirror and the green component thereof is reflected; passing the third light source through said arrangement of said dichroic mirrors so that red and blue light passes through the first mirror and blue light is reflected by said second mirror; whereby said red, blue, and green light jointly provides the single source of composite light.

Claim 27

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue.

Claim 28

dichroic mirror transmits green and red while reflects blue.

Claim 29

establishing a reference electrical signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color;

Claim 30

establishing a reference electrical signal for each primary color, with the magnitude of each said reference signal being representative of the color intensity selected for a primary color;

Claim 31

controlling the power source connected to the illuminating apparatus so that the color intensity of a color component of the component light is proportional to the magnitude of said reference signal;

Claim 32

controlling the power source connected to the illuminating apparatus so that the color intensity of a color component of the component light is proportional to the magnitude of said reference signal;

Claim 33

The method of claim 1 and further including the steps of: arranging three spaced composite light sources in spaced relation respective to a pair of dichroic mirrors; selecting said pair of mirrors from a group of dichroic mirrors having the following light passing characteristics:

Claim 34

The method of claim 4 and further including the step of selecting said pair of mirrors so that one said mirror transmits blue and red while reflects green; and another said mirror transmits blue and green while reflects red.

Claim 35

interposing a beam splitter in the projected light stream and transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color;

Claim 36

interposing a beam splitter in the projected light stream and transmitting a sample of the component light through a filter means which establishes a light source for each different primary color;

Claim 37

measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color by diverting the sample of filtered component light onto a light sensor;

Claim 38

measuring the intensity of the transmitted light for each different primary color by diverting the sample of filtered component light onto a light sensor;

Claim 39

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens by optically coupling the lamphouse with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of:

Claim 40

Method of making color prints from a color negative spaced between a lamphouse and an image producing lens by optically coupling the lamphouse with an enlarger to provide a single source of component light comprised of a plurality of different primary colors, comprising the steps of:

Claim 41

The method of claim 6 and further including the following additional steps: controlling the magnitude of the power source by connecting the intensity signal to circuitry which causes increasing current to flow to the illuminating apparatus whenever a decrease in light intensity is received by the light sensor, and which causes decreasing current to flow to the illuminating apparatus whenever an increase in light intensity is received by the light sensor.

Claim 42

establishing an intensity electrical signal which is proportional to said measured intensity;

Claim 43

establishing an intensity electrical signal which is proportional to said measured intensity;

Claim 44

electronically comparing the intensity electrical signal to said reference electrical signal;

Claim 45

electronically comparing the intensity electrical signal to said reference electrical signal;

Claim 46

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of controlling the power source is carried out by: amplifying said intensity signal; connecting the amplified signal to a Triac by circuitry which includes a programable transistor; and, arranging the last said circuitry so that an increase in the intensity electrical signal will result in triggering the Triac later in its cycle to thereby provide a decreased power to the illuminating means.

Claim 47

electronically changing the reference signal so that the ratio between said reference signal and the intensity signal is of a value which provides the illumination required to provide the selected color intensity of step (2).

Claim 48

electronically changing the reference signal so that the ratio between said reference signal and the intensity signal is of a value which provides the illumination required to provide the selected color intensity of step (2).

Claim 49

In a photographic printer apparatus for color printing having a holder for an image bearing support, means for supporting multiple sensitized photographic material in spaced relation to said holder, illuminating means forming a composite light stream containing a plurality of light components of different wave lengths for illuminating said support, an objective lens system gathering light from said holder and focusing it to form a printing beam which is transmitted to the means for supporting the sensitized material to form a projected image on any sensitized material supported thereon, a light sensor means, means extracting a representative sample of said composite light stream, and a filter means for separating said sample of composite light into different ones of its light components; the improvement comprising: said light sensor means having circuit means which provides an intensity signal which is proportional to the intensity of one of the different ones of the light components of said sample; controller meaNs connected to provide a variable source of power for said illuminating means; means including circuitry for providing a reference signal to said controller means thereby enabling the power range for said illuminating means to be selected; circuitry including error detecting means for detecting and correcting the ratio between said intensity signal and said reference signals so that the magnitude of the light intensity of the light component of the sample of light is maintained at constant value; means by which a beam splitter is interposed between said lens and said means for supporting photographic material, with light from said beam splitter being directed to said light sensor means; means by which the distance between said lens and said light sensor means is arranged to be equal to the distance between said lens and said means for supporting photographic paper; means by which a Fresnel lens is interposed between said beam splitter and said light sensor means; means by which a dichroic mirror arrangement is interposed between said Fresnel lens and said light sensor means; means by which said dichroic mirrors are arranged respective to one another, to said Fresnel lens, and to said light sensor means whereby red light is directed into a first light sensor, green light is directed into a second light sensor, and blue light is directed onto a third light sensor.

Claim 50

In a photographic printer apparatus for color printing having a holder for an image bearing support, means for supporting multiple sensitized photographic material in spaced relation to said holder, illuminating means forming a composite light stream containing a plurality of light components of different wave lengths for illuminating said support, an objective lens system gathering light from said holder and focusing it to form a printing beam which is transmitted to the means for supporting the sensitized material to form a projected image on any sensitized material supported thereon, a light sensor means, means extracting a representative sample of said composite light stream, and a filter means for separating said sample of composite light into different ones of its light components; the improvement comprising: said light sensor means having circuit means which provides an intensity signal which is proportional to the intensity of one of the different ones of the light components of said sample; controller meaNs connected to provide a variable source of power for said illuminating means; means including circuitry for providing a reference signal to said controller means thereby enabling the power range for said illuminating means to be selected; circuitry including error detecting means for detecting and correcting the ratio between said intensity signal and said reference signals so that the magnitude of the light intensity of the light component of the sample of light is maintained at constant value; means by which a beam splitter is interposed between said lens and said means for supporting photographic material, with light from said beam splitter being directed to said light sensor means; means by which the distance between said lens and said light sensor means is arranged to be equal to the distance between said lens and said means for supporting photographic paper; means by which a Fresnel lens is interposed between said beam splitter and said light sensor means; means by which a dichroic mirror arrangement is interposed between said Fresnel lens and said light sensor means; means by which said dichroic mirrors are arranged respective to one another, to said Fresnel lens, and to said light sensor means whereby red light is directed into a first light sensor, green light is directed into a second light sensor, and blue light is directed onto a third light sensor.

Claim 51

Photographic printer apparatus for color printing having a holder for an image bearing support, means for supporting multiple sensitized photographic material in spaced relation to said holder; a color head having illuminating means forming a composite light stream containing a plurality of light components of different wave lengths for illuminating said support, an objective lens system gathering light from said holder and focusing it to form a printing beam which is transmitted to the means for supporting the sensitized material to form a projected image on any sensitized material supported thereon; in combination; a tricolor additive system for said color head comprising a light sensor means, means including a beam splitter for extracting a representative sample of said composite light stream, means separating said sample of composite light into different ones of its light components; means by which said light sensor means is arranged to receive the separated light from said beam splitter, circuit means connected to said light sensor means for providing an intensity signal which is proportional to the intensity of one of the different ones of the light components of said sample; controller means including circuitry connected to provide a variable source of power for operating said illuminating means; means including circuitry for providing a reference signal to said controller means, which selects a power for said illuminating means; error detecting means for detecting and correcting the ratio between said intensity and said reference signals so that the magnitude of the light intensity of the light component of the sample of light is maintained at constant value.

Claim 52

Photographic printer apparatus for color printing having a holder for an image bearing support, means for supporting multiple sensitized photographic material in spaced relation to said holder; a color head having illuminating means forming a composite light stream containing a plurality of light components of different wave lengths for illuminating said support, an objective lens system gathering light from said holder and focusing it to form a printing beam which is transmitted to the means for supporting the sensitized material to form a projected image on any sensitized material supported thereon; in combination; a tricolor additive system for said color head comprising a light sensor means, means including a beam splitter for extracting a representative sample of said composite light stream, means separating said sample of composite light into different ones of its light components; means by which said light sensor means is arranged to receive the separated light from said beam splitter, circuit means connected to said light sensor means for providing an intensity signal which is proportional to the intensity of one of the different ones of the light components of said sample; controller means including circuitry connected to provide a variable source of power for operating said illuminating means; means including circuitry for providing a reference signal to said controller means, which selects a power for said illuminating means; error detecting means for detecting and correcting the ratio between said intensity and said reference signals so that the magnitude of the light intensity of the light component of the sample of light is maintained at constant value.

Claim 53

The printer apparatus of claim 10 wherein said beam splitter is interposed between said lens and said means for supporting photographic material; the distance between said lens and said light sensor means being equal to the distance between said lens and said means for supporting photographic paper; a Fresnel lens interposed between said beam splitter and said light sensor means; a dichroic mirror arrangement interposed between said Fresnel lens and said light sensor means; means by which said dichroic mirrors are arranged respective to one another, to said Fresnel lens, and to said light sensor means whereby red light is directed into a first light sensor, green light is directed onto a second light sensor, and blue light is directed onto a third light sensor.

Claim 54

The printer apparatus of claim 10 wherein said light sensor is a photocell; and, said illuminating means includes a plurality of lamps each having a filter through which the light must pass so that each lamp provides a light source comprised essentially of a light component which is a primary color.

Claim 55

The printer apparatus of claim 12 wherein said photocell and said means for supporting are spaced equal distances from said lens system.

Claim 56

The printer apparatus of claim 12 wherein said illuminating means for illuminating said support comprises a first and a second dichroic mirror arranged perpendicular respective to one another, and a first, second, and third lamp arranged 90* to one another with each lamp arranged so that some of the light therefrom passes through one said mirror and some of the remaining light is reflected by the second mirror; said mirrors having characteristics selected from two of the following three mirrors:

Claim 57

The printer apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first mirror is selected to transmit red and blue while reflecting green; and, the second mirror is selected to transmit red and green while reflecting blue.

Claim 58

The printer apparatus of claim 12 wherein a first and second dichroic mirror are arranged normally respective to one another so that light must contact both mirrors before impinging upon its corresponding light sensor, said mirrors being selected from a group of mirrors having the following characteristics:

Claim 59

The printer apparatus of claim 10, wherein said color head includes a lamp house concentrically mounted in spaced relation within a housing, a downwardly opening skirt member which forms a chamber between said housing and the lamp house; said illuminating means includes first radially spaced light inlet ports formed in said lamp house, a lamp for each port, means by which said lamp forms at least one component of the composite light stream, means mounting said lamp externally of the lamphouse and within the housing so that the light therefrom is directed through a port and into the lamphouse; said beam splitter includes a second radially spaced light outlet ports formed in said lamp house in vertical spaced relationship respective to said first radially spaced light inlet ports, one said light sensor means for each port, there being at least one port for each component of the composite light stream; and means mounting said light sensor means externally of the lamphouse and within the housing so that a sample of the light therefrom is directed through the last said port and onto the light sensor means.