JPH0882863A - Method for recording magnetic information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide the recording method of magnetic information by which instruction for printing a frame picture photographed by optional size on the photographic paper of the other size whose aspect ratio is different is easily executed and the magnetic information recorded by a household film player is prevented from being inadvertently rewritten by the other equipment as for a photographic film provided with a magnetic recording layer. CONSTITUTION: The print format information showing the aspect ratio of a picture effective area which should be printed is optically or magnetically recorded on the photographic film. Besides, the paper information for printing showing the aspect ratio of the photographic paper which is printed is recorded on a magnetic track. Thus, the instruction for printing the frame picture on the photographic paper whose aspect ratio is different is easily executed. Besides, when the magnetic information is recorded on the magnetic track, the rewrite inhibition information showing whether the magnetic information can be written by the other equipment or not is recorded on a leader track. Thus, the magnetic information is prevented from being inadvertently rewritten by the equipment used in a DPE agent or a laboratory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic information recording method, and more particularly to a magnetic information recording method which can realize an inexpensive print service and can perform write protection by software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, there has been proposed a camera which uses a photographic film having a magnetic recording layer and can write the date and time of photographing, photographing information, etc. at the time of photographing with a magnetic head or read out information therefrom. 4-89934, JP-A-4-11237, WO90 / 430.
1).

After the photographic film is developed, the information recorded on the magnetic recording layer of the photographic film is used as information when a film image is taken by an image sensor and reproduced on a monitor TV (WO98 / 4301). ,
Alternatively, it is used as information for simultaneous printing.

[0004]

By the way, the magnetic information recorded on the film is used not only by the household film player but also by various devices such as DPE agents and laboratories. Therefore, the magnetic information recorded by the home-use film player may be inadvertently rewritten by another device or without the user's consent.

Also, although panoramic photography is now frequently performed, panoramic size (P size)
Prints are more expensive than large size (L size) prints. Therefore, it is conceivable to print a frame image photographed in P size on L size photographic paper in order to print at low cost, but there is a problem that such print designation becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to easily specify that a frame image photographed in an arbitrary size is printed on a photographic paper of another size having a different aspect ratio, and is used for home use. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic information recording method capable of preventing the magnetic information recorded by the film player from being inadvertently rewritten by another device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a magnetic information recording method for recording magnetic information on a magnetic track on a roll of photographic film. First showing the aspect ratio of the image effective area to be printed with respect to the frame image
Information is recorded optically or magnetically, the second information indicating the aspect ratio of the photographic paper on which each frame image is printed is recorded on the magnetic track, and the frame image of the aspect ratio indicated by the first information is recorded. It is characterized in that it is possible to designate printing on photographic printing paper having an aspect ratio indicated by the second information.

Further, in a magnetic information recording method for recording magnetic information on a magnetic track on a roll of photographic film, the magnetic track is formed on a leader track at the leader portion of the film and at each frame behind the leader portion. It is divided into corresponding frame tracks, magnetic information necessary for printing or automatic reproduction of individual frames is recorded on the frame tracks, and rewrite prohibition information indicating whether or not the magnetic information can be rewritten is recorded on the leader track. It is characterized by being recorded.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the first information indicating the aspect ratio of the image effective area to be printed is optically or magnetically recorded for each frame image taken on the photographic film, and the first information is recorded on the magnetic track. The second information indicating the aspect ratio of the printing paper on which the frame image is printed is recorded. This makes it easy to specify that a frame image taken in any size is printed on photographic paper of another size having a different aspect ratio.

Further, when recording magnetic information on a magnetic track of a film in a general-purpose film player owned by an individual, rewriting prohibition information indicating whether or not this magnetic information can be rewritten by another device is also magnetic. Record on track. As a result, it is possible to prevent the magnetic information from being inadvertently rewritten by a device used in a DPE agent store, a laboratory, or the like.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a magnetic information recording method according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a film player to which the magnetic information recording method according to the present invention is applied. As shown in the figure, the film player 100 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a film cartridge tray 102 and a power switch 104 are provided on the front surface thereof.
Is provided. Film cartridge tray 102
Is driven back and forth in the forward / backward direction when the film cartridge 110 is loaded / unloaded, and the film cartridge 110 is stored or taken out therefrom.

The mouse 12 is attached to the film player 100.
0, monitor TV109 is connected, mouse 120
From the film player 1 via the signal cable 106.
Various operation signals for controlling 00 are output to the film player 100, and a video signal is output from the film player 100 via the signal cable 108 to the monitor TV 109.
Is output to

The film cartridge 110 has a single spool 112 as shown in FIG.
A photo film 114 is wound around the film 12. The photo film 114 is provided with perforations 114A that indicate the positions of the frames. Further, the photographic film 114 is provided with a transparent magnetic recording layer, and the magnetic tracks 114B and 114C are formed at the edges thereof. The magnetic track 114B is used in the lab and D
The magnetic track 114C is a track used by a PE agency, and the magnetic track 114C is a track used by a user.

Here, of the film of one roll, the first
The leading end side of the film relative to the perforation 114A indicating the position of the frame is called a leader portion, and the magnetic track 1
The magnetic tracks of the leader portion of 14C are referred to as leader tracks L1 and L2, the rear end side of the perforation 114A indicating the position of the first frame is referred to as a frame portion, and the magnetic track of the frame portion is referred to as a frame track. Then, the magnetic information of the entire roll is recorded on the leader track, and the magnetic information of each frame is recorded on the frame track.

Magnetic information is recorded on these tracks by a camera having a magnetic head, a film player 100, or the like. The magnetic information recorded by the camera may be, for example, shooting conditions, pseudo zoom information, frame numbers, print formats indicating any of high-definition images, panoramic images and normal images, shooting date / time, etc. Many kinds of information can be recorded by the camera. Also, the photo film 114
Includes a bar code indicating the film type, frame number, etc. in addition to the frame area exposed by the subject light,
Data indicating a print format and the like can be optically recorded by a light source built in the camera at the time of shooting. Further, the developed photographic film 114 is wound around the film cartridge 110 so that it can be stored.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the film player 100. The film player 100 mainly includes a light source 130 for illumination, a taking lens 132, a CCD line sensor 134, a signal processing circuit 136, an image memory 138, and a central processing unit (CPU).
140, an optical data reading device 142, a magnetic recording / reproducing device 144, and the like.

In the figure, a film cartridge 110 is loaded in a film supply section, and a film 114 sent from the film cartridge 110 is wound around a winding shaft 125 of the film winding section. When the frame image of the film is read and the magnetic information is read from or written to the magnetic track 114C of the film 114, the film 11 is moved by the capstan 126.
4, the index image is displayed (all frame images of the film 114 are thinned out and read, and a plurality of frame images are simultaneously monitored on the TV monitor.
(Displayed at 109), the pre-scan of the magnetic information and the writing of the magnetic information are controlled so that the conveyance speed becomes a constant speed.

The perforation sensor 142A included in the optical data reader 142 detects the position of the perforations formed in the film 114 to identify the position of each frame image and each magnetic track. This makes it possible to read a frame image and read and write magnetic information at a predetermined position on the film 114.

The reading of the frame image is performed by illuminating the frame image of the film 114 conveyed in the sending direction by the light source 130 and reading the image light transmitted through the film 114 by the CCD line sensor 134. The light source 130 is, for example, a fluorescent lamp long in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the film 114, and illuminates the film 114 via an infrared cut filter (not shown). The image light transmitted through the film 114 is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 134 via the single-focus photographing lens 132.

The CCD line sensor 134 is arranged in the direction orthogonal to the film feeding direction. And CCD
The image light formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor 134 is
Charges are accumulated in each sensor having R, G, B filters for a predetermined time, and converted into R, G, B signal charges of a certain amount according to the intensity of light. The signal charges thus accumulated are sequentially read by the signal processing circuit 136.

The signal charges read from the CCD line sensor 134 are subjected to various kinds of signal processing such as white balance adjustment and γ correction by the signal processing circuit 136, and converted into video signals. This video signal is output to the monitor TV 109, and the frame image is displayed on the screen. When displaying the index image, the video signal output from the signal processing circuit 136 is stored in the image memory 138, and all the frame images recorded in the film 114 are recorded in the image memory 138. There are 40 frames in total in the film 114. For example, 20 frame images are read from the frame images recorded in the image memory 138, and these frame images are displayed on the monitor TV 1.
09 screen is divided and displayed simultaneously. The remaining 20 frames are displayed on the screen if a scroll instruction is given by an input means such as a mouse and the screen is appropriately moved up and down.

It should be noted that print order information and the like can be set on the index screen. Information is set by an input device such as the mouse 120 in an on-screen interactive method, and the set information is stored in the RA of the CPU 140.
Recorded in M140A. The information recorded in the RAM 140A is recorded as magnetic information at a predetermined position on the magnetic track of the film 114 when the film cartridge 110 is taken out.

The magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is used for reading and writing magnetic information on the magnetic tracks of the film 114.
44. The magnetic recording / reproducing device 144 includes a magnetic head 144A, reads the magnetic data recorded on the magnetic track 114C of the film 114 via the magnetic head 144A, processes the magnetic data, and processes the CP.
Output to U140 and record to RAM140A, and C
The data recorded in the RAM 140A of the PU 140 is read out, converted into a signal suitable for magnetic recording, output to the magnetic head 144A, and recorded on the magnetic track 114C of the film 114.

The optical data such as a bar code indicating the ID number of the film cartridge 110 is read by an optical sensor 142B included in the optical data reading device 142, and the optical data reading device 142 is read by the optical sensor 142.
CPU 160 processes the optical data detected via B
Output to. Next, a method of recording magnetic information will be described. The film player can set various magnetic information on the index screen. For example, it is possible to set print order information regarding print printing.

There are the following types of print order information, and the set print order information is recorded separately in the leader track and the frame track. <Contents recorded on the leader track> -Roll title information :: Title information for the entire film-Roll title print information: Whether or not to print, print color, print position (front and back ...), font (white, half, no background processing ...) ) Designation information-Special print order information: Index print,
Information on the presence or absence of postcard prints, information on the number of sheets, etc.-Surface type information: Designated information such as silk and gloss-Print size information: EC, L, KG, 4 cut
Half-cut, full-cut specification information ・ Various order print quantity information: Total number of prints, print quantity for each size Close-up print quantity, title / date-specified print quantity information ・ Order frame designation information: Each frame (For example 1 to
Information for specifying whether or not reprinting is performed for 40 frames <Contents recorded in frame track> -Reprint number information: Reprint number information for each frame-Frame title information: Title information for each frame-Frame title printing information: Printing Presence / absence, print color, print position, font designation information ・ Printing information of shooting date / time: Print presence / absence, print color, print position, font designation information ・ Close-up information: Magnification, center position ・ Shooting date / time information: Year / month Date-Print format information: L, H, P format specification information-Print paper information: L, H, P print paper specification information-Top / bottom left / right information: Top / bottom left / right information during printing (printing of title and date / time) Direction) ・ Color correction information: Color correction specification information from the user when reprinting (red, dark ...) The statement information set in the index screen and print order the film which records the print order information DPE agency like, extra printing is performed based on the print order information recorded on the film.

Next, the print format information and print sheet information will be described. The print format information is information for designating an image effective area that becomes effective at the time of printing from the shooting area actually imprinted on the film as shown in FIG. 4, and for example, large size (L size), high definition size (H size), A panorama size (P size) is prepared. Note that the L, H, and P sizes define the aspect ratio of the image effective area, not the size. However, the L, H, and P sizes in the print format represent the sizes of images that can be cut out to the maximum extent from the shooting area at their respective aspect ratios.

On the other hand, the print paper information is information for specifying the L, H, and P sizes (aspect ratio) of the print paper, and is usually specified when low-cost printing is desired. When the print paper information is not designated, the print paper is printed on the photographic paper having the same aspect ratio as the print format information. That is, if the print format information specifies P size, P
Printed on photographic paper with aspect ratio of size. still,
The size of the printing paper is designated by the print size information.

When the print format information is not specified by the camera or the film player at all, printing is performed in the L size print format. Next, a case where the aspect ratio of the printing paper to be printed is changed using the printing paper information will be described.

If nothing is specified in the print paper information as described above, the aspect ratio of the printing paper to be printed is uniquely determined by the image size specified by the print format information. For example, if a P-size print format is designated, it is printed on photographic paper having a P-size aspect ratio. However, there is a case in which it is desired to print a P size image reduced in size on a photographic paper having an L size aspect ratio for reasons of price.

Therefore, by designating the desired aspect ratio of the photographic paper in the print paper information, it is possible to print on the photographic paper having an aspect ratio different from the aspect ratio in the print format information. For example, if the print format information specifies the P size, the lab can reduce the size of the P size image to L size photographic paper and print it if the print paper information specifies the L size. Become.

FIG. 4 shows a print state when the print format is designated by P size and the print paper is designated by L size. The upper diagram in the figure is effective for the frame image (indicated by a thin line in the figure) printed on the film when L, H, and P sizes are specified in the print format information. The image area (indicated by a thick line in the figure) is shown. The effective image area represents the range of the image printed based on the designation of L, H, and P sizes.

Each frame of the film has L, H, P
An H-size frame image is imprinted regardless of the size designation, and the L, H, and P sizes can be arbitrarily selected by designating the print format information. The figure in the middle of the figure shows the aspect ratio of the photographic paper when printing is performed with the image size specified by the print format information (that is, the aspect ratio of the photographic paper when the print paper information is not set. Represents). The aspect ratio of the printing paper differs depending on the image size of each print format.

On the other hand, in the lower part of the figure, the printing state is shown when the photographic paper having an aspect ratio different from the print format information is designated by the print paper information. The figure at the bottom is print format information
The state of printing when the size is designated, the L size is designated by the print paper information, and the L size is designated by the print size information is shown. According to the figure, the P size image shown in the upper diagram is reduced and printed in the frame shown by the thick line on the photographic paper shown by the thin line in the following figure. The part where the image is not printed is printed in black.

There are five possible combinations of print format and print paper (3 * 3 = 9 in total) other than those shown in the figure, but the cost-effective combination is P → L, H → There are three possible ways of L, P → H. In any case, the image in the image effective area shown in the upper part of the figure is printed so that it fits within the range of the printing paper with the maximum size, and the part where the image is not printed is painted black or white. It has become so.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a procedure for setting the above print information in a general-purpose film player (household film player owned by an individual), a printing machine such as a laboratory, or an automatic printing machine provided in a DPE agency or the like. Is. When the film cartridge is loaded in the cartridge loading section of the film player (step S1
0), first, the film is conveyed in the feeding direction from the film cartridge to reproduce the optical information and the magnetic information (steps S12 and S14). At this time, by reproducing the optical information, the print format information at the time of photographing by the camera (this print format information is referred to as LHP1) is read, and by reproducing the magnetic information, the print format information previously set in the film player (this print format information Is referred to as LHP2).

Subsequently, the film is rewound and the operation of reading each frame image is performed while the film is conveyed again in the feeding direction (step S16). Next, the read frame image is displayed as an index on the monitor TV. At this time, first, it is determined whether or not the print format information LHP2 is recorded in the magnetic information of the magnetic track (step S18). If it is recorded, an index is displayed based on the print format information LHP2 (step S20). That is, each frame image is displayed in the image size designated by the print format information.

On the other hand, if it is not recorded, then it is determined whether or not the print format information LHP1 is recorded in the optical information (step S22). At this time,
If recorded, this print format information LHP
Index display based on 1 (step S2
4). If the print format information LHP1 is not recorded, that is, if the print format is not specified at the time of photographing with the camera or in the film player, the print format of all frames is forcibly regarded as L size, The L size image is displayed as an index (step S26).

When the index screen is displayed on the monitor TV screen, the user sets various magnetic information using the mouse. At this time, as described above, the print format information and print paper information are set (step S28). After that, various operations are executed (step S30), and when the film cartridge is finally taken out (step S32), the magnetic information including the set print format information and print paper information is recorded on the magnetic track of the film. At this time, it is determined whether or not the magnetic information can be rewritten (step S34). The processing for determining whether or not the magnetic information can be rewritten is not performed in the general-purpose film player, and the magnetic information is always recorded in the film. However, in other devices, this determination processing is performed. The result determines whether or not recording of magnetic information is executed. The determination process as to whether or not the magnetic information can be rewritten will be described later.

If the magnetic information can be rewritten, the magnetic information set as described above is recorded while the film is rewound (step S36). On the other hand, if the magnetic information cannot be rewritten, the film is rewound without recording the magnetic information (step S38). When the above magnetic information recording processing is completed, the film cartridge can be taken out, and all the processing is completed.

Next, the rewrite prohibition information used for determining whether or not the magnetic information can be rewritten will be described. The rewrite prohibition information is, for example, 1-bit flag information of 0 or 1 and is recorded in the leader portion of the film. If the rewrite prohibition information is 0, it is possible to rewrite the magnetic information and 1
If so, rewriting is not possible.

However, since this rewriting prohibition information prevents the magnetic information recorded in the general-purpose film player owned by the user from being inadvertently rewritten by another device, in the general-purpose film player, Even if the rewrite prohibition information indicates that rewriting is prohibited, the magnetic information is recorded regardless of this. When rewriting the magnetic information on the film in a device other than a general-purpose film player (lab machine, automatic printing machine installed in a DPE agency, etc.), first read the rewriting prohibition information, and if it is 0, rewrite it. If it is 1, rewrite is not performed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the procedure for setting the rewrite prohibition flag in the film player.
When the setting of various magnetic information is completed on the index screen (step S50) and the recording of magnetic information is instructed by the removal of the film cartridge or an instruction from the user (step S52), the film player causes the monitor TV to "rewrite prohibited". Display a comment such as "Set flag?" Then, it waits for the user to instruct whether to set the rewrite prohibition flag from an input device such as a mouse (step S54).

At this time, if there is an instruction to set the rewrite prohibition flag, the rewrite prohibition flag is set (step S56), and if there is an instruction not to set the rewrite prohibition flag, the rewrite prohibition flag is cleared (step S58). ). When the above various magnetic information settings are completed, the magnetic information including the rewrite prohibition flag is recorded on the film (step S60).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure for recording / reproducing magnetic information in a device other than a general-purpose film player (laboratory machine, automatic printing machine installed in a DPE agency, etc.). When the film cartridge is loaded in the cartridge loading section of the device (step S70), the film is conveyed in the delivery direction from the film cartridge, and the magnetic information including the rewrite prohibition information recorded in the reader section is read (step S72).

After the reproduction of the magnetic information, the reading of the frame image, the execution of recording the magnetic information (step S74),
Various types of processing are performed according to the type of device, such as printing of frame images and setting of magnetic information (step S76). When various processes are completed and magnetic information is recorded, it is determined whether or not the rewrite prohibition flag read in step S72 is set (step S78). if,
If the rewrite prohibition flag is set, the magnetic information is not recorded and the user is warned to that effect (step S).
80). On the other hand, if the rewrite prohibition flag is not set, the magnetic information is recorded (step S82).

[0046]

As described above, according to the magnetic information recording method of the present invention, the print format information indicating the image effective area of each frame image of each frame on the magnetic track and the printing paper for printing. By recording the print paper information indicating the aspect ratio, it is possible to print on photographic paper different from the aspect ratio based on the print format information. Further, by recording the rewrite prohibition information on the leader track, it becomes possible to prevent the careless rewriting of the magnetic information which is not desired by the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a film player to which a magnetic information recording method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a film cartridge applied to the film player shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the internal structure of the film player shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of printing performed by designating different print formats and print sheets.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting print order information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a rewrite prohibition flag in the film player.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure of recording / reproducing magnetic information in a device other than a general-purpose film player (laboratory machine, automatic printing machine arranged in DPE agency, etc.).

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 ... Film player 109 ... Monitor TV 110 ... Film cartridge 114 ... Photo film 114B, 114C ... Magnetic track 130 ... Light source 132 ... Photographing lens 134 ... CCD line sensor 136 ... Signal processing circuit 140 ... Central processing unit (CPU) 142 ... Optical Data reading device 144 ... Magnetic recording / reproducing device L1, L2 ... Leader track

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic information recording method for recording magnetic information on a magnetic track on a roll of photographic film, wherein the aspect ratio of an image effective area to be printed is set for each frame image taken on the photographic film. The first information shown is recorded optically or magnetically, the second information indicating the aspect ratio of the photographic paper on which each frame image is printed is recorded on the magnetic track, and the second information indicating the aspect ratio indicated by the first information is recorded. A method for recording magnetic information, wherein a frame image can be designated to be printed on a photographic printing paper having an aspect ratio indicated by the second information. 2. A magnetic information recording method for recording magnetic information on a magnetic track on a one-roll photographic film, wherein the magnetic track is provided on a leader track at a leader portion at the leading end of the film and at each frame behind the leader portion. It is divided into corresponding frame tracks, magnetic information necessary for printing or automatic reproduction of individual frames is recorded on the frame tracks, and the magnetic information can be rewritten on the leader track.
A method of recording magnetic information, characterized by recording rewrite prohibition information indicating that it is impossible.