Patent Description:
The present invention relates generally to printing of photographs from digital images and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for printing enlarged photographs from digital images using either existing photographic enlargement equipment or new enlargement equipment.

A current photographic enlarger (see <FIG>), also called projection printer, in photography, is a device for producing a photographic print or negative larger than the original negative or transparency in a dark room environment. The modern enlarger consists of a projection assembly attached to a vertical column that is mounted on a horizontal base. The projection assembly includes an enclosed illumination system, a film carrier or holder for positioning and flattening the film, a lens for projecting the image onto the base (which holds a photosensitive printing paper), and a mechanism for focusing the image onto the paper. The entire assembly can be raised or lowered in a track on the column to adjust the size of the print by manual controls. Once the enlarged image is captured on the photosensitive printing paper, that paper is then processed through a print development stage in the dark room.

With the advent of digital cameras and smartphones, there is no longer any actual "film" to be placed in the enlarger device. Instead, enlargements of digital photographs are achieved using liquid crystal displays (LCDs) installed in the enlarger devices that can configure the digital data under the enlarger's illumination/lens system. Examples of such enlargers, or other photograph development equipment, using LCDs are shown in the following: <CIT>); <CIT>); <CIT>); <CIT>); <CIT>); Chinese Patent No. <CIT>); <CIT>). Further, the manufacturer De Vere presented a digital enlarger with the model number 504DS. The presentation was retrieved from the Internet under: http://odyssey-sales. uk/wp-content/uploads/devere-504ds. pdf and cited by the EPO as XP002786195. The digital enlarger is similar to a film enlarger with a non-removable LCD panel used instead of a conventional film holder.

While the aforementioned devices may be generally suitable for their intended purposes, they suffer from several drawbacks, e.g., photograph enthusiasts do not want to forego the ability to enlarge film-based photographs as well as digital photographs. Thus, there remains a need for having a photograph enlarger device that has an interchangeable film carrier and LCD stage. Furthermore, these same photograph enthusiasts want to be able to reproduce the precise enlargement settings (e.g., the illumination/lens height, aperture settings, timing of exposure, etc.) without a lot of trial and error. Thus, there also remains a further need for automatically controlling the enlarger device settings and to be able to do so using wireless communication with the enlarger device.

Finally, there also remains a need to provide an alternative digital photograph enlarger which also comprises automatic and wireless adjustment but uses a laser projector which is more compact and consolidated than an interchangeable film carrier-LCD stage enlarger. The subject invention addresses the needs of the prior art.

A photograph enlarger for enlarging digital photographs onto a photosensitive material is disclosed. The photograph enlarger includes an enlarger stand from which an enlarger chassis projects and a carriage comprising a light source, a condenser, a focal lens, and a removable projector module. The carriage is connected to a support that is displaceable along the enlarger chassis for allowing the carriage to be positioned at a desired height above the enlarger stand to effect a desired enlargement size when a digital photograph is projected using the projector module and the light source is energized to form an enlarged photographic image for exposing a photo-sensitive material positioned on the enlarger stand under the focal lens and the enlarger comprises electronics and a non-contact sensor coupled to the electronics, the non-contact sensor being configured to detect a height of the carriage above the enlarger stand.

A method for enlarging digital photographs onto photosensitive material is disclosed. The method includes receiving a digital photograph at a photograph enlarger, the photograph enlarger comprising an enlarger stand from which an enlarger chassis projects, and a carriage comprising a light source, a condenser, a focal lens, and a removable projector module, wherein the carriage is connected to a support that is displaceable along the enlarger chassis for allowing the carriage to be positioned at a desired height above the enlarger chassis, illuminating a base of the enlarger with an image preview, adjusting height of the enlarger chassis to adjust size of the image preview, and exposing a photosensitive material through the removable projector module, wherein adjusting height of the enlarger chassis comprises detecting, via a non-contact sensor coupled to the electronics, a height of the carriage above the enlarger stand.

A photograph enlarging system is disclosed. The photograph enlarging system includes a photograph enlarger and a computing device configured to execute a software application configured to control the enlarger to generate an image on a photosensitive material by transmitting a digital photograph to a photograph enlarger, the photograph enlarger comprising an enlarger stand from which an enlarger chassis projects, and a carriage comprising a light source, a condenser, a focal lens, and a removable projector module, wherein the carriage is connected to a support that is displaceable along the enlarger chassis for allowing the carriage to be positioned at a desired height above the enlarger chassis, instructing the enlarger to illuminate a base of the enlarger with an image preview, instructing the enlarger to adjust height of the enlarger chassis to adjust size of the image preview, and instructing the enlarger to expose a photosensitive material through the removable projector module, wherein the photograph enlarging system further comprises electronics and a non-contact sensor coupled to the electronics, the non-contact sensor being configured to detect a height of the carriage above the enlarger stand.

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings.

Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. Throughout this description, various components may be identified having specific values, these values are provided as exemplary embodiments and should not be limiting of various concepts of the present invention as many comparable sizes and/or values may be implemented.

As shown most clearly in <FIG>, the enlarger <NUM> of the present application comprises, by way of example, a conventional photographic enlarger, the Beseler 23CIII-XL Condenser Enlarger with Baseboard, positioned in a dark room DR and wherein the film carrier has been removed and an interchangeable LCD (liquid crystal display) module 20A has been inserted between the enlarger's light source <NUM>/condenser stage <NUM> and the enlarger's focal lens <NUM>. It should be understood that the techniques of the present disclosure, including the use of an LCD module 20A to project an image on a photosensitive paper P, may be performed in any capable device, such as a conventional or non-conventional photograph enlarger.

The light source <NUM>, condenser stage <NUM>, LCD module 20A and focal lens <NUM> all form an assembly or carriage <NUM> that is connected to an enlarger chassis <NUM> via a support <NUM> which can be displaced vertically along the chassis <NUM>. The bottom of the enlarger chassis <NUM> is connected to an enlarger stand <NUM>. The enlarger <NUM> comprises an enlarger mount <NUM> for automatically positioning the displaceable carriage <NUM> and wherein the enlarger mount <NUM> comprises electronics <NUM> for controlling the carriage displacement. The enlarger <NUM> further comprises an ultrasonic sensor <NUM> coupled to the underside of the support <NUM> for detecting the vertical position of the carriage <NUM> above the enlarger stand <NUM> and upon which the photosensitive printing paper P is placed.

<FIG> illustrates details of an enlarger system including the enlarger <NUM> and a computing device S. Specifically, <FIG> provides a block diagram of the enlarger <NUM> showing digital photograph data DD arriving from the computing device S, which in various examples comprises a smart phone, a cell phone, a digital camera, or a different source. The interchangeable LCD module 20A comprises an LCD (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>-ND) <NUM> and a filter (e.g., Model <NUM>) <NUM>. In various alternatives described elsewhere herein, the LCD module 20A is a laser projection module, a digital light projection module, or is any other projection module capable of projecting a digital image onto a photosensitive material.

The electronics <NUM> comprises a central processing unit (CPU) <NUM> (e.g., Arduino Uno Micro Controller) that communicates with a video processor <NUM> (e.g., MST3M182VGC-LF-Z1) including a timer control <NUM> (e.g., a software timer) for controlling the light source <NUM> (e.g., an incandescent bulb, light emitting diodes (LEDs) enlarger lamps, etc.). The CPU <NUM> controls both the timer control module <NUM> (viz. , to control exposure time) and the video processor <NUM> to have the LCD <NUM> display digital image data so as to project an enlarged version of that data onto the photosensitive printing paper P. In particular, the light source <NUM> is used as the backlight for the LCD <NUM> while the CPU <NUM> commands the video processor <NUM> to transmit the video data to the LCD <NUM> for emitting the image. Although it is shown that digital data DD is received wirelessly, in an alternative implementation, the computing device is coupled to the enlarger <NUM> with a cable instead.

To also effect automatic control of the enlargement size, electronics <NUM> also include the ultrasonic sensor <NUM> (e.g., an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor) and a motor control unit <NUM> (e.g., L298N STMicroelectronics motor controller). The ultrasonic sensor detects the carriage <NUM> height above the photosensitive printing paper P and conveys that information to the CPU <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> communicates with a motor control unit <NUM> to control the activation of a motor <NUM> (e.g., a DC motor) for precisely driving the carriage <NUM> up or down along the enlarger chassis <NUM> for effecting the particular enlargement size.

<FIG> illustrates an example enlarger mount <NUM>. In this example, carriage <NUM> displacement is achieved by the enlarger mount <NUM> that includes a worm gear configuration <NUM> which engages the motor <NUM> on a motor mount portion <NUM> that is connected to an enlarger mount base structure <NUM> which houses the electronics <NUM>. A pair of mounting brackets 52A and 52B hold the base structure <NUM>/motor mount portion <NUM> to the enlarger chassis <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary electrical schematic for implementing features of the present disclosure. In this figure, the timer control module <NUM> is omitted and instead a relay circuit R has been implemented for controlling the light source <NUM> via the CPU <NUM>. In particular, to cover incoming light from hitting the paper, relay R oscillates the light source on/off. The motor control unit <NUM> is controlled with <NUM> pins: Enable, Dir1, and Dir2, along with an external power source of <NUM> volts. The enable pins control the speed of the motor <NUM> and are hooked up to a PWM pin on the CPU <NUM>. The PWM (pulse width modulation) establishes a waveform for the digital output to the motor which controls the speed. The ultrasonic sensor <NUM> requires two pins: one pin sends out a sonic pulse and the other pin counts the time it takes for the pulse to return to the sensor. The CPU <NUM> interface with the Bluetooth Module <NUM> spans most of the CPU pins because the module <NUM> has SPI (serial peripheral interface is an interface bus commonly used to send data between microcontrollers and small peripherals), I2C (serial protocol for <NUM>-wire interface for connecting low-speed devices) and UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) capabilities.

<FIG> illustrates an example process <NUM> for creating an enlarged photograph from a digital photograph using the enlarger <NUM>. In some implementations, the operator uses a software application <NUM> (to be discussed later) to effect the majority of this process <NUM>. In other implementations, some, most, or all of process <NUM> may be performed by the enlarger <NUM> automatically without being controlled by the software application <NUM>. In various implementations, the software application <NUM> executes on the same computing device S that transmits the digital photograph data to the enlarger <NUM>. In various implementations, a single software application <NUM> both transmits the digital photograph data to the enlarger <NUM> and controls the enlarger <NUM> according to process <NUM>.

In step <NUM>, the operator removes the film carrier from the enlarger and inserts the interchangeable LCD module 20A as discussed previously. Step <NUM> is optional as the enlarger may not include a film carrier. Thus in some implementations, step <NUM> does not occur. At step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> selects a digital photograph. In some modes of operation, the software application <NUM> performs this selection automatically and in other modes of operation, the software application <NUM> receives such a selection from a human operator. The software application <NUM> then sends the selected photograph in step <NUM> to the enlarger <NUM> (e.g., via the Bluetooth module <NUM> of the enlarger electronics <NUM>) and then configures the enlarger in steps <NUM>-<NUM> again using the software application <NUM>. Specifically, the software application <NUM> adjusts the size of the picture by adjusting the height of the carrier (step <NUM>), and selecting the desired exposure time (step <NUM>). In some modes of operation, the software application <NUM> controls the enlarger to preview ("project") the enlarged image. If the software application <NUM> is controlling the enlarger in this manner, then the software application <NUM> switches off the projection at step <NUM>. The projection that occurs is through the LCD <NUM> and filter <NUM>, as well as through the focal lens <NUM>.

After the steps described above, the exposure and development of the photosensitive paper occurs. The operator places the photosensitive printing paper P on the enlarger base <NUM> (step <NUM>), confirms the print with the software application <NUM> (step <NUM>), and waits for confirmation from the software application <NUM> (step <NUM>). More specifically, at step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> receives a notification from an operator to proceed in making the print and at step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> controls the enlarger <NUM> to expose the photosensitive printing paper P. Step <NUM> is optional, as in some implementations, the software application <NUM> does not wait for human action to proceed with exposing the print. The software application <NUM> causes the enlarger <NUM> to expose the photosensitive printing paper P, thereby embedding the image on the photosensitive printing paper P. The exposure is performed according to enlarger configuration and photographic editing settings controlled by the software application <NUM> described elsewhere herein. For example, the exposure is controlled according to images edited through the software application <NUM> according to techniques include the elevation 240A, timer 242A, burn and dodge 244A, and stage timer 246A, described elsewhere herein. Once the enlarged image is embedded on the photosensitive printing paper P, the operator removes the paper P from the enlarger base <NUM> (step <NUM>) and brings the paper P to the print development process <NUM>, which comprises a chemical bath (step 124A), a rinse in water (step 124B) and a drying step (step 124C).

As described above, in some implementations, the enlarger <NUM> operates at the direction of or in conjunction with a software application <NUM>. In various implementations, the software application <NUM> implements one or more of four functions (<FIG>):.

In some examples, these four functions are implemented using a graphical user interface (GUI) comprised of various screens which are discussed below.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary screen that depicts a toolbar <NUM> and menu button <NUM> that appears on every screen in the software application <NUM>. The toolbar <NUM> permits the operator to navigate from feature to feature to accomplish various tasks of the four functions. The toolbar <NUM> comprises a Devices tool <NUM>, a Print tool <NUM>, an Edit tool <NUM> and a Develop tool <NUM>. A Community tool <NUM> and a Settings tool <NUM> are also provided.

<FIG> depicts an exemplary login screen for the operator to log in to the software application <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the print screen <NUM> according to an example. In some implementations, after login, the software application <NUM> displays the print screen <NUM>. In this screen <NUM>, the operator can tap/touch a photo selection/current photo viewer <NUM> which causes a camera roll to be available, thereby allowing the operator to select a photograph to be enlarged from a plurality of photographs. Once a photograph is selected, a black and white filter (not shown) is applied by the software application to invert the colors of the selected digital photograph so that it appears as a black and white negative in the viewer <NUM>. At this point, the operator can be prompted to make another photograph selection if desired; if the software application <NUM> is on an iPhone, the "3D Touch" feature can be utilized to make the photograph swap. A print button <NUM> is provided in this screen <NUM> and pressing that button <NUM> transmits the digital data of the selected photograph as well as "initial conditions" (to be discussed later) to the enlarger. Upon receipt of this data, the enlarger runs the protocol set by the software application <NUM> and develops the image accordingly.

<FIG> provides a flow diagram of the method <NUM> for operation of the print screen <NUM> according to an example. At step <NUM>, no photo is selected in the print screen <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> determines whether a photo is selected. If a photo is not selected, the method <NUM> returns to step <NUM>. If a photo is selected, then the method <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> displays the selected photo. At step <NUM>, the software application <NUM> determines whether an editing input has been received. Example editing inputs include the elevation input 240A, the timer input 242A, the burn and dodge input 244A, and the stage timer 246A, all described elsewhere herein (e.g., in <FIG>). If an editing input has been received, then the method <NUM> proceeds to step <NUM>, where the software application <NUM> changes the photo according to the edit. If no editing input has been received, but instead a print command has been received at step <NUM>, then the method proceeds to step <NUM>, where the software application <NUM> sends data to the enlarger <NUM> to control the enlarger to generate the print. After step <NUM>, the method <NUM> may return to step <NUM> and again display the photo or the method <NUM> may end.

<FIG> depicts the Devices screen <NUM> that permits the operator to view and monitor the activity of connected enlargers. The network name of each device and its particular status are shown in the data field <NUM>; the status indicators are green for "connected," yellow for "idle" and red for "disconnected. " Although not shown, the Devices screen <NUM> also includes a data field for indicating the total number of devices that are currently connected. The Devices screen <NUM> is also where the operator pairs each enlarger device. A device search button <NUM> is provided to permit the operator to search for Bluetooth LE (low energy) peripherals in the vicinity.

<FIG> are the display screens of the software application <NUM> related to the initial condition for configuring the enlarger <NUM> as well as the print development process. As shown in <FIG>, the Initial Conditions screen <NUM> directs the operator to establishing the Carriage Elevation Setting <NUM>, the Master Timer Setting <NUM>, the Burn and Dodge Settings <NUM> and the Stage Timer Settings <NUM>. Respective information buttons 240A-246A provide the operator with information about the particular setting in a separate information screen <NUM> (<FIG>), namely:.

The operator can exit out of the Informational screen using the close button <NUM>.

As can be seen most clearly in the Edit screen (<FIG>), the BD feature allows the operator to conduct simple photo editing, e.g., drawing simple shapes over top of an image and that those shapes have black fill. The stages (e.g., stages <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>) allow the operator to have multiple images appear at different times during the development stage and to behave exactly the same as a computer-driven slide show on a timer. The stage lengths are set in the respective timer data fields <NUM>. By hovering over a particular Stage Timer Setting <NUM>, the operator is brought to BD screens of <FIG> and <FIG> to effect the particular editing. A "Go To Print" button <NUM> in <FIG> acts as a print screen short cut. A Save button <NUM> and a Load button <NUM> are also provided in the display of <FIG> which bring the operator to respective display screens shown in <FIG>. These screens save the current parameters of all of the features on the software application <NUM> to be loaded again if the operator wishes to make an identical print which would also include the BD stages.

<FIG> depicts the display screen <NUM> for the Develop tool <NUM>. In particular, this display screen permits the operator to use his/her smartphone in the dark room without damaging the image by applying a red filter (<FIG>) to the smartphone display screen. Red light does not damage black and white prints. As such, by tinting the operator's smartphone's display screen, the prints are protected from any light emitting from the smartphone. A virtual slider control <NUM> permits the operator to impose the red filter over the smartphone display screen while in the dark room.

<FIG> depicts the display screen <NUM> for the Community tool <NUM>. In particular, the Community tool <NUM> allows the operator to post his/her images along with the parameters of the development process. These images and process parameters can be sold to others using an online marketplace. The purchase transfer involves a data packet including the image, the initial conditions, and any BD effects, thereby allowing the purchasers to reproduce the seller's image. The display screen <NUM> comprises an identification <NUM> of the account/user, the photograph <NUM> being purchased along with its parameters and a description/post data field <NUM>.

In an alternative to using the LCD module 20A to generate an enlarged photograph from digital photograph data DD, an alternative projector module <NUM> (e.g., a Sony Laser Projector MP-CL1A-Lumen) is used with the enlarger in a dark room environment DR. In one example, the alternative projector module <NUM> is a laser projector module. In another example, the alternative projector module <NUM> is a digital light processing module. As used herein, the term "projector module" refers to any technically feasible module that performs the functions of the LCD module 20A, or the alternative projector module <NUM>.

For the example that uses a laser projection module, the laser projector module comprises the requisite light sources, lenses, and filters, thereby forming a compact projection device. Thus in this example, the carriage <NUM> is replaced with a laser projector module mounted on the support arm <NUM> which also includes the ultrasonic sensor <NUM>, as shown most clearly in <FIG>. In addition, an aperture <NUM> is associated with the laser projector module and is controlled by a servo motor <NUM>. Moreover, a pair polarizing filters 306A/306B are also provided to reduce light intensity and are controlled by a polarizer servo <NUM>. The polarizing filters 306A/306B and the polarizer servo <NUM> are positioned on a mounting bracket <NUM> that secures to the laser projector module <NUM>.

The example that uses the digital light processing module is similar to the example that uses the laser projection module. Specifically, in that example, the digital light processing module includes the light sources, lenses, and filters, and thus forms a compact projection device. Thus, again, in this example, instead of the carriage <NUM> is a digital light processing module mounted on the support arm <NUM>, which also includes the ultrasonic sensor <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> is controlled by the servo motor <NUM>. As with the laser projection module example, with the digital light processing module, a pair of polarizing filters 306A/306B, positioned on the mounting bracket <NUM>, and controlled by the polarizer servo <NUM>, are provided to reduce light intensity.

It should be understood that in the present disclosure, any mentioned instance of the LCD module 20A may be replaced with any of the alternatives described herein such as the laser projection module or the digital light processing module.

<FIG> provides a block diagram of the enlargement system utilizing the alternative projector module <NUM>. This block diagram is similar to the block diagram of <FIG> but wherein the carriage <NUM> has been replaced with the alternative projector module <NUM>, aperture <NUM>, the servo motor <NUM>, and the mounting bracket <NUM> containing the polarizer filters 306A/306B and the polarizer servo <NUM>. In particular, the aperture <NUM> is coupled to the emission end of the alternative projector module <NUM> to cover incoming light from striking the photosensitive printing paper P. The servo motor <NUM> drives the aperture <NUM> back and forth (e.g., reciprocate) to create this effect. The servo motor <NUM> is commanded by the CPU <NUM> via the timer module <NUM>. Furthermore, the external polarizing filters 306A/306B are adjusted by the polarizer servo <NUM> (also commanded by the CPU <NUM> via the timer module <NUM>) to reduce light intensity. Other than that, the enlargement system of <FIG> operates in a similar fashion to the system shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> provides an electrical schematic for the block diagram of <FIG> using the alternative projector module <NUM>. Again, other than the servo motor <NUM> and the polarizer servo <NUM> coupled to the CPU <NUM>, the system operates similarly to the system shown in <FIG>. Rather than use the relay circuit R as shown in <FIG>, the servo motor <NUM> operation achieves the same result.

<FIG> depicts one of the polarizing filters 306A or 306B each of which contains a polarized sheet (e.g., polarizing film sheet, model <NUM> Gadget & Electronics Store, etc.). The filters comprise circular housings that have a one-half gear configuration <NUM>, thereby allowing an intermediate gear (not shown) for one polarizing filter 306A or 306B to displace both housings in opposite directions to shorten the distance traveled in each spin; as such, the polarizing servo need only spin <NUM>°. <FIG> depicts how the pair of polarizing filters 306A/306B are arranged in the mounting bracket <NUM> such they are displaced slightly away from the output end of the laser projector module <NUM> adjacent the aperture <NUM>. By controlling the polarizing filters 306A/306B, e.g., by decreasing the amount of light intensity, this permits a laser printer (not shown) to obtain increased exposure times per print without over-exposing the image. It should be understood that although polarizing filters 306A/306B are described, either or both of elements 306A and 306B may be removed or may be substituted for other elements such as a polycarbonate filter or other types of filters.

Claim 1:
A photograph enlarger for enlarging digital photographs onto a photosensitive material, the photograph enlarger comprising:
an enlarger stand from which an enlarger chassis projects; and
a carriage comprising a light source, a condenser, a focal lens, and a removable projector module,
wherein the carriage is connected to a support that is displaceable along the enlarger chassis for allowing the carriage to be positioned at a desired height above the enlarger stand to effect a desired enlargement size when a digital photograph is projected using the projector module and the light source is energized to form an enlarged photographic image for exposing a photo-sensitive material positioned on the enlarger stand under the focal lens, and
wherein the photograph enlarger further comprises electronics and a non-contact sensor coupled to the electronics, the non-contact sensor being configured to detect a height of the carriage above the enlarger stand.