System and method for digital film development using visible light

(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL FILM DEVELOPMENT USING VISIBLE LIGHT

(75) Inventors: Douglas E. Corbin, Austin, TX (US);

Robert S. Young, Jr., Austin, TX (US);
Stacy S. Cook, Austin, TX (US);
Alexei L. Krasnoselsky, Austin, TX
(US)

(73) Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ol this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/226,673

(22) Filed: Aug. 23, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0002879 Al Jan. 2, 2003

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 09/751,378, filed on Dec.

29, 2000, now Pat. No. 6,461,061. (60) Provisional application No. 60/173,775, filed on Dec. 30,

1999.

(51) Int. CI.7 G03D 5/00; G03D 13/00

(52) U.S. CI 396/569; 396/571; 396/604;

355/27; 355/40

(58) Field of Search 396/564, 567-570,

396/571, 604-606, 617, 620, 626, 627;

355/27-29, 40, 41, 77

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

2,404,138 A 7/1946 Mayer

3.520.689 A 7/1970 Nagae et al.

3.520.690 A 7/1970 Nagae et al.

One aspect ol the invention is a system lor digital dye color film processing. In one embodiment, a developer station applies a processing solution to film to initiate development ol metallic silver grains and at least one dye image within the film. A scanning system illuminates the coated film with light having at least one frequency within the visible portion ol the electromagnetic spectrum. The light interacts with the silver and at least one dye image within the film. The scanning station measures the light from the film and produces sensor data that is communicated to a data processing system. The data processing system processes the sensor data to produce a digital image. The digital image can then be output to an output device, such as a printer, monitor, memory device, and the like.

23 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets

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* cited by examiner