LogEtronics Focatron

Photo Engineer · Dec 8, 2009

Does any APUGger know anything about this instrument? There isn't much on the internet about it.

Thanks.

PE

Mike Wilde · Dec 9, 2009

No knowledge to contribute, but it sounds like a low volume instrument made by some techically minded people, if they named the company LogEtronics.

Q.G. · Dec 9, 2009

Could it be the thing described in U.S. Patent 4,344,699?

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2009

Does not appear to be.

This has two purposes. One is supposedly an electronic grain focuser and the other is as a microdensitometer to measure the grain of a film. There is one technical report on the internet on the latter purpose, but I have no access to it.

Thanks.

PE

Tim Gray · Dec 9, 2009

What's the link to the report you don't have access to. I might be able to get it through work.

df cardwell · Dec 9, 2009

Sound like something used to combat the Emperor Ming.

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2009

Tim Gray said:
What's the link to the report you don't have access to. I might be able to get it through work.

Dead Link Removed

AlexG · Dec 9, 2009

Maybe you could contact the manufacturer.

Dead Link Removed

or the people the used to own LogEtronics:

http://www.afpimaging.com/

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2009

AlexG said:
Maybe you could contact the manufacturer.

Dead Link Removed

or the people the used to own LogEtronics:

http://www.afpimaging.com/

I considered doing that, but if you look at the range of products of both of those companies, they are significantly different than those of the original LogEtronics. Many years ago, LogETronics supplied a full range of analog directed products that no longer exist, and so there may be no record of what these things are. Just the absence of information on the internet about past products is rather daunting.

I thought APUG would be easier.

PE

Q.G. · Dec 9, 2009

The thing (invented by Logetronics) in the patent linked to was cited in another patent, in which a similar device, used to align optical elements and determine and achieve optimum optical focus in a photocopier, was described. That already comes close to the focussing bit.
The microdensitometer function is touched upon in the patent mentioned too.
So perhaps anyway?

Or perhaps not, of course.

Photo Engineer · Dec 9, 2009

I'll give the patent another look. Thanks.

I took this thing apart and put it together again, and there is nothing in it that resembles the patent. That is why I was discouraged from looking further. There are no lenses, just two photo sensitive elements at right angles in a movable head and inside a group of transistors linked to 3 batteries and 3 potentiometers. The batteries supply several voltages to the transistors via the potentiometers and drive a small dial indicator on the front.

It seems to do something when I turn it on, as the needle moves in response to the ambient light and movement of the pots.

PE

LogEtronics Focatron

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