Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and more specifically to a device for viewing photographic slides, film or prints through a television set.

Background of the Invention The use of photographic slide projectors to project the image of a slide onto a viewing screen is well known. There are several disadvantages, however, with using a conventional slide projector. First, the user must assemble a large viewing screen at a distant part of a room which can be time consuming and complicated. Next, the user must ensure the lighting of the room is dim or else the projected images will be difficult to see. In addition, the projector might not have electronic capabilities to adjust the projected image for light source spectral balance, the slide color balance or under or over exposure. Further, it is difficult to reproduce a slide show when a conventional projector is used--the order of the slides and the scripts used to describe the slides must be recorded in writing

U. S. Patent No. 5,543,833 to Toyoda et al. discloses a scanner focusing method and apparatus for displaying a digitized image of a film slide on a computer and a computer monitor. The Toyoda apparatus uses an analog to digital (A/D) converter to convert a film slide image into a digital format for a computer, although not for a television. The Toyoda apparatus disadvantageously, however, uses a linear CCD sensor, which requires that either the slide or the sensor moves back and forth to properly scan the slide.

For this, the Toyoda apparatus uses a drive motor, rack and pinion to move the slide. Additionally, the use of a linear CCD sensor requires that each scanned point of the slide must be scanned three times, once for each of the three colors on its color wheel. The Toyoda apparatus further requires the use of a microprocessor. These disadvantages make the Toyoda apparatus costly and impractical.

Other patents have disclosed displaying an image of a film negative on an analog television set. U. S. Patent No. 5,053,874 to Stekelenburg discloses a photographic negative-to-television converter which uses a light source, a system of lenses and a television pick-up device to display an image of a cinematographic negative such as a slide on an analog television.

The television pick-up device can be a frame transfer sensor. Stekelenburg also uses a picture signal processing circuit to enhance the picture signal.

The Stekelenburg apparatus, however, does not allow the slide image to be displayed on a digital television and does not take advantage of digital signal processing.

U. S. Patent No. 4,698,683 to Schwartz et al. discloses a video conversion kit for projectors which uses a lamp module, a slide magazine such as the Kodak Ektagraphic, a special effects unit such as a video enhancer and a video receiver. U. S. Patent No. 3,553,352 to Neil et al. discloses a photographic film and television signal reproduction apparatus which uses photographic film, a film holder, an optical to electrical color signal transducer such as a videotape recorder, a signal processing network, and a television.

U. S. Patent No. 3,949,161 to Fujishima et al. discloses a video signal reproducing system which uses a photoelectronic image device and a signal processing circuit to display an image from a web of film such as electronic video recording film onto a video monitor. U. S. Patent No. 4,943,853 to Morisawa discloses a TV viewer that uses an imaging device such as a camera to view slides on a monitor television. The Schwartz, Neil, Fujishima and Morisawa devices, however, also do not allow the film image to be displayed on a digital television, nor do they not take advantage of the benefits from digital signal processing.

What is desired, therefore, is a self-contained device using a non-liner camera for viewing photographic images, including slides, film and prints through a digital television set. It is also desired to use digital signal processing to improve the image quality.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a self- contained device for viewing photographic images, such as slides, film or photographs through a digital television set.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide devices of the above type having a digital signal processor to improve picture quality.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a video recorder with the devices of the above type to make a recording of a series of slides or pictures accompanied by audio. This will provide a permanent record of a slide show, and enable the slide show to be replayed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device of the above type that inclues a digital to analog converter to view the photographic film on an analog television set.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the above type that uses a non-liner camera.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for viewing photographic images that allows the photographic image to be sent to a computer, a printer, or both.

These objects of the invention are achieved by a device for viewing a photographic image through a television set, which generally comprises a light source for illuminating the photographic image, a photographic image holder, an optical element for focusing the illuminated photographic image, and either a digital non-liner camera or an analog non-liner camera with an analog to digital converter for capturing the focused photographic image and for creating a digital image, which can be shown on a digital television.

Additionally, the image viewer can include a digital to analog converter to convert the image to analog such that it can be viewed on an analog television. The digital image can also be sent to a computer or printer. The photographic image can be either a slide, film in a cartridge or a photographic print. The device can further comprise a digital signal processor for improving the quality of the digital image and a video recorder for recording the images for later playback. In operation, a slide or other photographic image is placed into the device and is displayed on a digital or analog television set, a computer or printed on a printer.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIGS. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c are three isometric views of the device for viewing a photographic image through a television set in accordance with the invention, wherein the photographic images are a slide, film in a cartridge, and a photograph, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the devices of FIG 1 a, b and c.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the device of the second embodiment of the devices of FIG 1a, b and c.

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows an example of a Bayer pattern for a non-liner camera.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the photographic image viewer used with a computer and printer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the photographic image viewer used with a printer.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the device for viewing a photographic image through a television, also referred to herein as a photographic image viewer 10, comprises a light source 12, an image holder 14, optics 16 and either a digital camera 18 or an analog camera 19 with an analog to digital converter 22. The device for viewing a photographic image can further comprise a digital signal processor 20 and a digital to analog converter 23.

For film 38 or slides 34, an illuminated photographic image is produced by placing a photographic slide or film between a light source and conventional slide projector optics. For a photographic print 36, an illuminated photographic image is produced by shining a light source on the print 36.

This illuminated photographic image is captured by either an analog 19 or digital 18 electronic camera. If an analog camera 19 is used, the signal is sent through an analog to digital converter 22. The captured photographic image, if desired, can then be sent through a digital signal processing unit 20 to enhance the quality of the film image. The digital image can then be sent to a television 24 that is digital for viewing. If desired, the film image can be passed through a digital to analog converter 23 to change the image into the analog domain to be viewed on a television 24 that is analog.

The digital 18 or analog 19 camera can both use either CCD (charge- coupled device) or CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology and is a non-liner camera. A linear camera is defined herein as being a camera that uses a line scanner array to obtain a single line of pixels, such as CCD pixels, and uses a single readout register, also called a single shift register. A non-liner camera is defined herein as being a camera that is not linear, which includes cameras using an area, matrix or rectangular sensor array.

In general, a digital camera 18 is more desirable than an analog camera 19 because the digital domain permits more versatility in the

enhancement process. A camera having CCD or CMOS technology may have an internal analog to digital converter 22 so that the camera 18 output is digital. A CMOS camera, for instance, can have an internal analog to digital converter on the die with the pixels. A digital to analog converter 23 will be required to convert the digital signal to analog for an analog television set, but will not be required with a digital television set. A low cost photographic image viewer 10 can come equipped with a low-cost CMOS or CCD camera, which can directly output NTSC or PAL signals to a standard television receiver. Alternatively, a higher resolution camera can be used, wherein three image sensors are used to capture the image, one each in the colors of red, green and blue.

The use of a non-liner camera, such as a matrix or area camera, is preferable. A linear camera, although capable of producing a high resolution image, requires that the photographic image be moved relative to the scanning device, which increases the cost of the device. For instance, a slide may have to be moved back and forth so that the scanning device can scan the slide linearly back and forth. A microprocessor or another device will be required to coordinate the movement of the photographic image and the scanning.

The non-liner camera format can be either striping, in which the pattern alternates in columns of red, green and blue filters, or a Bayer pattern.

The Bayer pattern is a color filter array that comprises a ratio of two green

pixels 42 to one red pixel 40 or blue pixel 44. Figure 4 shows an example of a Bayer pattern. A horizontal 48 and a vertical shift 46 register are used to store and shift the pixel data. The Bayer color interpolation is implemented by a digital signal processing ASIC inside the camera. Preferably, the camera uses the Bayer pattern rather than striping because the Bayer pattern produces a higher color resolution.

The present invention is easy to use, requiring only connection to AC power 32 and a simple video connection 39 using a video input on to an analog or digital television set. The video connection 39 can be either a wire connection or can be wireless. The device costs less than the conventional slide projector and screen. Operating controls are single function commands initiated by pressing a button. The device is lightweight and portable for use with more than one television set.

The photographic image viewer 10 of the present invention can allow viewing of standard 35mm transparent film slides 34 on a standard television set. This invention can also be used to view photographic images from sources other than slides, such as film rolls and cartridges 38 or film clips, projected one frame at a time, and photograph prints 36. The photographic image viewer 10 can also be capable of allowing transparent photographic negatives to be viewed. For negatives, the photographic image viewer 10 will correct the negative color to allow true, or final printed, color to be viewed on

the television screen. The negative color can be corrected by referencing a standard color look-up table stored in memory.

The photographic image holder 14 can be similar to that found in commercially available slide projectors. As shown in FIG. 1a, the image holder can comprise a slide holder 15 that holds a single slide 34 or is capable of transporting slides 34 from a stack or a slide holder 15 or magazine into the optical path of the photographic film viewer. Once viewed, the slides 34 can be moved to another stack or returned to the same slide holder 15. The power for the movement of the slide holder 15 can come either directly from the user or from an internal motorized mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 1 b, the photographic image holder can also comprise a film cartridge holder 28 to hold film from a cartridge 38 containing developed photographic negatives. The negatives are moved into position, one frame at a time, so that an image from each frame is projected through the lens by the light source and captured by an analog 19 or digital 18 electronic camera.

The film cartridge holder 28 can be operated manually or automatically.

As shown in FIG. 1 c, the photographic image holder can also comprise a print holder 30 to hold a developed print 36, either black and white or color, to be viewed on an analog or digital television set. The image of the print 36 is illuminated by a light source 12 and captured by an analog 19 or digital 18 electronic camera. The same capturing can be done for either a positive or

negative photograph. The print holder 30 can also be operated manually or automatically.

The optical system of the photographic image viewer 10 is composed of an optical focusing lens 16 and the optical portion 17 of an electronic camera. For film 38 and slides 34, these components are arranged so that the light source passes through the film or slide being viewed, then through the focusing lens 16, then upon the focal plane 17 of the electronic camera.

For a print 36, the illuminated print is arranged such that its reflected light passes through the focusing lens 16 and then upon the focal plane 17 of the electronic camera.

Unlike a standard slide projector, the light source 12 of the photographic image viewer 10 is not required to be high power. Thus, unlike a slide projector, the lower power light source for the photographic image viewer 10 will be relatively inexpensive, use less power, and should last the life of the product under normal usage. In addition, further reducing the cost of the light source 12, (for reasons mentioned below) the light source does not need to be spectrally balanced or white. A focusing lens 17 of either the analog 19 or digital 18 camera is designed to focus the light at the focal plane of the camera. Unlike a conventional projector lens, the lens 17 of the photographic imager viewer 10 does not need to handle high optical power, nor does it require a large range of focus adjustment.

The photographic image viewer can also include a digital signal processing unit 20 to enhance the quality of the photographic image. The digital signal processing unit 20 can comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other semiconductor circuits to correct image focus, improve image color quality, correct original under or over exposure of the image, and enhance or correct various other characteristics of the image.

The signal processing unit 20 can also use reprogrammable circuits and chips in the processing unit to permit reprogramming for use with a digital television if the unit was originally programmed for use with an analog television. In addition to enhancing the quality of the image, the signal processing unit 20 can include capabilities for zoom and special effects for adding time, date, ledger and audio features to the film image. The signal processing unit 20 can also be designed to allow a user to display more than one image on a television 24 at a time.

The digital signal processing unit 20 can be implemented using a standard CSIC or RISC processor, a standard DSP processor, or a photographic film viewer ASIC. The processing unit can provide several capabilities in the photographic film viewer system, which can include automatic corrections for the light source spectral balance, the slide color balance, under/over exposure, and even focus. The processing unit can provide user controlled enhancements, such as cropping or zoom, contrast adjustment, color adjustment, image modification and image rotation. The processing unit 20 can further provide special effects such as posterization,

blurring, ripple effects or false color. The photographic image viewer architecture allows a nearly unlimited set of possible features. Ultimately, features of a particular photographic film viewer model will be tailored to a particular market's needs and desired selling price.

The digital signal processing unit 20 will output digital information into a frame storage memory (not shown), which will also be accessed by an output converter. The output converter will read the frame store continuously, converting the stored image to an analog NTSC or PAL signal. The output converter can be fabricated using several widely available standard integrated circuits for conversion and timing, or it may be part of a special ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The digital processing unit 20 will be capable of both reading and writing to the frame store memory.

The photographic image film viewer 10 can also be connected to a video recording device 26 such as a VCR for analog images or digital video disk (DVD) for digital images. The use of a video recorder 26 will allow the user to prepare video recording of a series of film images for later playback. If the video recorder 26 has an audio input, a user can provide an audio signal to the VCR to record along with the film images. The audio signal can include a narration of the film images or music to accompany the playback of the images. The signal processor 20 of the photographic film viewer can be modified to allow the user to add titles with the video recorder.

In another embodiment, the photographic image viewer 10'can send data to a computer as shown in FIG. 5. The image viewer 10 is similar to 10', with the exception that the output of the image viewer 10'must be digital.

Thus, the image viewer 10'will not contain a digital to analog converter 23.

As in the above embodiments, the digital output from a camera 54 will either be produced from a digital camera or from an analog camera with an analog to digital converter. The image viewer 10'can be connected to the computer 50 through a serial port, a parallel port, or a USB interface. Additionally, the computer 50 can be connected to a printer 52 as shown in FIG. 5.

Functionally, the computer 50 can control the titling of images. The interface could allow the full exchange of computer and slide images, supporting additional image editing, computer storage of images, and computerized graphic image superimposition upon viewed slides. With a printer 52 connected to the computer 50, the user can print out photographic images from the computer 50.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the photographic image viewer 10'can be connected directly to a printer. Similar to use with a computer, the output of the image viewer 10'will be digital and will be formated for a computer by the digital processing unit 20, which may be a digital processor or an ASIC. The digital output from the camera 54 will either be produced from a digital camera or from an analog camera with an analog

to digital converter. The image viewer 10'can be connected to the computer through a serial port, a parallel port, or a USB interface.

The digital architecture described will be adapted for different digital television receivers or monitors by simply changing the output converter (not shown). The converter may be modified to provide signals meeting standard digital television formats, such as HDTV, MPEG, S-video or any other standard that may become defined and released.

It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to determine the scope of the invention.