Recording a digital image of a desired aperture format and resolution onto motion picture photosensitive medium

#The present invention relates to a method for receiving digital images from a digital image file and recording corresponding visual images onto a motion picture photosensitive medium.

#Digital images can be printed on a photosensitive medium by a system that uses a two-dimensional optical modulator such as a reflective liquid crystal display (LCD). Systems that utilize two-dimensional optical modulators to print digital images to a photosensitive medium are the subject of U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,016,157 and 6,130,740. The digital image presented on the modulator is optically focused on the motion picture photosensitive medium and a source or sources of light is allowed to illuminate the modulator, which then creates a latent image frame on the motion picture photosensitive medium. Common types of photosensitive medium manufactured by the Eastman Kodak Company, for example, used by the motion picture industry is of a fixed width such as 16 mm, 35 mm, or 65 mm and variable length according to the number of images contained on it. In addition there are, in the most common types, a series of perforation holes on each side of the motion picture photosensitive medium along it's length. A series of related image frames printed on this type of motion picture photosensitive medium in a specific sequence, which differs slightly in image content in a predetermined manner, will produce the visual sensation of movement when projected on a movie screen. This is the method used for over 90 years to project movies in theaters worldwide.

#The size and location of the image frame on the motion picture photosensitive medium used to project a movie is defined in the standards published by the Society of Motion Picture Television Entertainment (SMPTE 59-1998). The three most common motion picture photosensitive media in use today are the 16, 35, and 65 mm formats, the most common of which is the 35 mm format. The size of the image frame on the motion picture photosensitive medium is referred to as the aperture image area by the Standards. Over the last 90 years the structure of aperture areas have been defined. Today the most common type used are 35 mm Style C and 35 mm Style A. The motion picture industry commonly refer to the Style C as a Full Aperture frame and the 35 mm Style A as an Academy Aperture frame. The Standard's definition of aperture image area deals with the length, width, location and orientation of the frame on the motion picture photosensitive medium.

#FIG. 1 depicts a portion of an optical system and media transport mechanism for a two-dimensional optical modulator printer system;

#FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the Standards 59-1998 for 35 mm Academy and Full Aperture formats with critical positive and negative image positions;

#FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C depict different perspective views of a flexure mechanism for holding and positioning an LCD modulator;

#FIG. 1 is a partial view of the optical and media transport mechanism used in a digital image printer. Such printers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,215,547 and 6,330,018. Turning now to FIG. 1, an area array liquid crystal display (LCD) is used as a two-dimensional optical modulator 10. An area type reflective liquid crystal display or LCD is one such type of a two-dimensional optical modulator. The digital image is presented to form a visual image on the two-dimensional optical modulator 10. If the motion picture photosensitive medium 12 is of the monochromatic type, commonly called black and white film, it will only have one monochromatic color image plane or emulsion layer. Information in a digital image file is organized or encoded to provide a record corresponding to a particular color image plane. For black and white motion picture photosensitive medium there will be only one color record. If the motion picture photosensitive medium 12 is a color medium, then the digital image file will typically contain three color records and the motion picture photosensitive medium will, typically, have three monochromatic color emulsion layers or planes. For a printer system that employs a single two-dimensional optical modulator 10, a color image can only be printed by sequentially presenting each of the visual color images created by the associated color records in the digital image file onto the motion picture photosensitive medium. Each of the color planes from the associated color record is superimposed on each other at the motion picture photosensitive medium. In a printer system employing multiple two-dimensional optical modulators, the color records can be presented to each of the two-dimensional optical modulators, as is available, simultaneously while optically combining and focusing the visual images provided by each modulator into a single visual image and recording such visual image onto the photosensitive medium.

#Once the digital image is presented on the two-dimensional optical modulator 10 an illumination source 14 is then enabled to create a visual image which is then optically focused at the image plane 34 on the motion picture photosensitive medium by the imaging optics 16. The imaging optics 16 is a telecentric optical system that is designed to provide a specific magnification (variable or fixed) and ability to focus the visual image from the two-dimensional optical modulator on the image plane 34. The motion picture photosensitive medium is positioned at the image plane 34. The illumination source 14 could contain more than one color light source, each at a different wavelength, as is required by the type of medium that is being used. Such an illumination source is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,215,547. Typically, an illumination source with three different wavelengths of approximately 680 nm, 530 nm, and 445 nm can be used with negative stock color motion picture photosensitive medium. Such different colors might be generated by light emitting diodes (LED) sources, laser sources, or white light filtered to pass specific colors. The selection of wavelengths can be dependent on the peak sensitivity of the emulsion layers in the motion picture photosensitive medium and available sources of light. Each color light source in the illumination source 14 is independently controlled in order to precisely produce the proper densities and colors of the image on the motion picture photosensitive medium. The source of illumination is controlled in a time dependent sequence and duration synchronous with the color records in the digital image file when presented to the LCD modulator. Such control involves controlling the duration in time that each color light source is turned on and emitting light and controlling the light output power or intensity of the color light source on the medium. This combination of controlling time and light power at the motion picture photosensitive medium is referred to as the exposure level. Once the image has been exposed on the motion picture photosensitive medium, a new unexposed frame needs to be brought into the focused image plane in order to create the next image. The science of creating color or black and white images on photosensitive medium is well documented in such publications as “Eastman Professional Motion Picture Films”, Kodak Publication No. H-1.

#Turning now to FIG. 2, the SMPTE Standard SMPTE 59-1998 defines two aperture image areas as Style A 40 and Style C 42 to be used on 35 mm motion picture photosensitive medium 44. The orientation of the images as shown in FIG. 2 is viewed from the emulsion side and with the reference edge 46 of the motion picture photosensitive medium at the bottom. The specific photosensitive medium used for recording movies have a series of perforations 48, 50 along the length on both edges of the motion picture photosensitive medium. There are some media that have only a series of perforations on one side, but the most common types have two series of perforations. The present invention works equally as well with either type. Both Style A and Style C apertures are commonly referred to in the industry as an Academy Aperture and a Full Aperture respectively. The placement of a negative Academy Aperture can be accommodated within the defined area of a Full Aperture 42. The placement of the negative aperture imaging area is specified relative to the perforations and edges of the film. The placement of the frame within the defined aperture image area between the perforations is of primary importance to the present invention. It is assumed that the placement of the image frame along the direction of the length of the film is not affected, beyond the limits of tolerance, by the methods and apparatus presented in the present invention.