Patents Represented by Attorney Carl O. Thomas
  • Patent number: 6255044
    Abstract: A silver halide imaging element is disclosed that is capable of providing a sharp image with silver halide grains still present following imagewise exposure and development. This is achieved by choosing a dispersing medium for the silver halide grains comprised of an organic vehicle and, dispersed therein, titanium dioxide particles having an average size of less than 0.1 micrometer accounting for at least 10 percent by weight of the dispersing medium. The elements are useful for optical printing or scan image retrieval without fixing. The elements can be used for providing black-and-white photographic images, radiographic images or dye images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David H. Levy, John Gasper
  • Patent number: 6114105
    Abstract: A high bromide {111} tabular grain emulsion is disclosed in which most of the tabular grains exhibit silver salt epitaxy at a single site. Most of the silver halide epitaxy sites contact an edge region of the tabular grains. These emulsions exhibit chemical sensitization by the epitaxy and surprising lower levels of desensitization by spectral sensitizing dyes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Brust, Bernard D. Stich
  • Patent number: 6100019
    Abstract: A process is disclosed of conducting in a single reaction vessel selective site high chloride epitaxy deposition as a continuation of host high bromide {1111} tabular grain emulsion precipitation. A host tabular grain emulsion is precipitated accounting for 0.05 to 1.5 moles of silver per liter of dispersing medium. Any iodide at the major faces of the tabular grains is uniformly distributed and any iodide in a surface region of the grains amounts to less than 7 mole, based on silver in the surface region. Until epitaxy is formed, pH is held in the range of 3 to 8. Gelatino-peptizer in an amount of 1 to 40 grams per Ag mole is added to the emulsion. Chloride ion in a range of from 0.03 to 0.15 mole per liter is dispersed in the emulsion. pBr is held in the range of from 3.0 to 3.8 until epitaxy is formed. Iodide ion in a concentration of from 5.times.10.sup.-6 to 1.times.10.sup.-4 mole per square meter of grain surface area is uniformly adsorbed to the major surfaces of the tabular grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Brust, Philip J. Dale, Mark R. Mis, Donald L. Black
  • Patent number: 6048683
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of manufacturing radiation-sensitive emulsions by a pulsed flow double-jet process in which high chloride silver halide grains are grown in the presence of a thioether ripening agent in the dispersing medium in the reaction vessel the silver halide grains exhibiting an average grain roundness coefficient n in the range of from 2 to less than 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rajesh V. Mehta, Ramesh Jagannathan, Y. Chea Chang
  • Patent number: 6042986
    Abstract: Portal localization radiographic elements and a process of confirming the targeting of a beam of X-radiation of from 4 to 25 MVp using the portal radiographic elements are disclosed. The X-radiation is directed at a subject containing features that are identifiable by differing levels of X-radiation absorption. After a first X-radiation exposure a shield containing a portal is placed between the subject and the source of X-radiation. X-radiation is directed at the subject through the portal. In each instance the X-radiation leaving the subject impinges on a metal screen, causing it to emit electrons, and the electrons impinge upon a fluorescent screen, causing it to emit light, creating during the first and second exposures first and second superimposed latent images in the radiographic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Stephen A. Hershey, James C. Bolthouse
  • Patent number: 6043019
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of manufacturing a radiation-sensitive tabular grain emulsion comprised of (a) providing in a stirred reaction vessel a host tabular grain emulsion containing greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver, and a speed enhancing amount of iodide and (b) then introducing a silver salt solution into the stirred reaction vessel, wherein (1) the silver salt solution is introduced into the stirred reaction vessel at a rate sufficient to create a new grain population, (2) halting introduction of the silver salt solution for a time sufficient to allow the new grain population to be ripened out, and (3) repeating steps (1) and (2) from 3 to 20 times until silver introduced in steps (1) and (2) amounts to from 5 to 50 percent of total silver forming the radiation-sensitive tabular grain emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Jagannathan, Rajesh V. Mehta, Steven P. Szatynski, Wai K. Lam
  • Patent number: 6040128
    Abstract: A process of preparing a radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion is disclosed in which a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer surfactant is employed. Dispersion of the polyalkylene oxide block copolymer surfactant in the aqueous dispersing medium is increased by the inclusion of an auxiliary surfactant. The auxiliary surfactants are selected from among those that, in the form of an aqueous solution containing 10 percent by weight of the auxiliary surfactant based on total weight of the aqueous solution, is miscible in all proportions with at least one of water and the polyalkylene oxide block copolymer surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John W. Boettcher, Seshadri Jagannathan, Michael W. Orem, Philip J. Zola
  • Patent number: 6040131
    Abstract: A camera-speed color photothermographic imaging method is disclosed. A photothermographic film is employed that contains a photographically responsive, thermally developable panchromatically sensitized emulsion layer unit capable of concurrently forming silver and dye image densities. The emulsion layer unit is exposed in three separate image capture areas to blue, green or red light received from the photographic subject to create latent images of blue, green and red light exposure. The photothermographic element is thermally processed to produce images of the same hue in each of the three separate image capture areas. The images of blue, green and red light exposures are then converted into a corresponding additive or subtractive primary hue, and integrated to provide a positive or negative color image of the photographic subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lyn M. Eshelman, Timothy W. Stoebe
  • Patent number: 6037112
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive medical diagnostic film for soft tissue imaging, particularly mammography, is disclosed. The film allows more rapid processing than films currently available for mammographic imaging and maintains acceptably high levels of image sharpness and low levels of mottle. The radiographic film records medical diagnostic images of soft tissue through (a) exposure by a single intensifying screen located to receive an image bearing source of X-radiation and (b) processing, including development, fixing and drying, in 90 seconds or less comprised of a film support transparent to radiation emitted by the intensifying screen and having opposed front and back major faces and an image-forming portion for providing, when imagewise exposed by the intensifying screen and processed, an average contrast in the range of from 2.5 to 3.5, measured over a density above fog of from 0.25 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 6033840
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive medical diagnostic film for soft tissue imaging, particularly mammography, is disclosed. The film allows more rapid processing than films currently available for mammographic imaging and maintains acceptably high levels of image sharpness and low levels of mottle. The radiographic film records medical diagnostic images of soft tissue through (a) exposure by a single intensifying screen located to receive an image bearing source of X-radiation and (b) processing, including development, fixing and drying, in 90 seconds or less comprised of a film support transparent to radiation emitted by the intensifying screen and having opposed front and back major faces and an image-forming portion for providing, when imagewise exposed by the intensifying screen and processed, an average contrast in the range of from 2.5 to 3.5, measured over a density above fog of from 0.25 to 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 6027869
    Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed having at least one emulsion layer comprised of (a) radiation-sensitive silver halide grains, (b) sensitizer for the radiation-sensitive silver halide grains, (c) hydrophilic colloid vehicle, including peptizer for the radiation-sensitive silver halide grains, and (d) light scattering particles, wherein (a) the radiation-sensitive silver halide grains include tabular grains (1) having an aspect ratio of at least 2.0, (2) having {111} major faces, (3) containing greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver, and (4) accounting for greater than 50 percent total grain projected area, (b) the sensitizer includes a fragmentable electron donating sensitizer, (c) the peptizer is a water dispersible cationic starch, and (d) the light scattering particles have aspect ratios of less than 1.5 and can be dissolved for removal from the emulsion layer. The photographic elements exhibit enhanced imaging speed and can be employed for color or black-and-white photographic imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joe E. Maskasky, Kenneth J. Reed, Victor P. Scaccia, James A. Friday
  • Patent number: 6020117
    Abstract: A thermographic or photothermographic element is disclosed having a surface coating containing a film-forming binder overlying at least one major surface of the element. An alkoxysilane containing at least one saturated hydrocarbon substituent having at least 8 carbon atoms is confined to the surface coating to act as a friction reducing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles L. Bauer, Michael J. Ritz
  • Patent number: 6007976
    Abstract: A silver halide imaging element is disclosed that is capable of providing a sharp image with silver halide grains still present following imagewise exposure and development. This is achieved by choosing a dispersing medium for the silver halide grains comprised of an organic vehicle and, dispersed therein, titanium dioxide particles having an average size of less than 0.1 micrometer accounting for at least 10 percent by weight of the dispersing medium. The elements are useful for optical printing or scan image retrieval without fixing. The elements can be used for providing black-and-white photographic images, radiographic images or dye images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David H. Levy, John Gasper
  • Patent number: 6001548
    Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed comprised of a transparent film support and, coated on the support, a red recording layer unit containing the latent image forming silver halide grains in a plurality of emulsion layers with the latent image forming silver halide grains of maximum sensitivity being the first red recording emulsion layer to receive exposing radiation and containing randomly oriented red light scattering silver halide grains free of adsorbed spectral sensitizing dye. An optional layer coated beneath first layer contains tabular silver halide grains to reflect red light. Improvements in imaging speed with improvements or relatively low losses in image sharpness are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday
  • Patent number: 5998115
    Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed that relies upon high bromide silver halide grains that are sulfur and/or gold sensitized for latent image formation. Coated to receive exposing radiation directly from a layer containing the latent image forming grains is a non-imaging layer containing (a) tabular silver halide grains (i) comprised of greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver, (ii) having a thickness in the range of from 0.03 to 0.20 .mu.m, and (iii) having an average aspect ratio of greater than 20, and (b) silver halide epitaxy selectively positioned adjacent edges of said tabular grains in said non-imaging layer, said silver halide epitaxy (i) containing greater than 50 mole percent chloride, based on silver, and (ii) accounting for from 0.1 to 50 percent of the total silver in the composite grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday, Thomas B. Brust
  • Patent number: 5998114
    Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed comprised of a transparent film support and, coated on the support, a red recording layer unit containing the radiation-sensitive silver halide grains in a plurality of emulsion layers with each emulsion layer located to receive exposing radiation prior to an underlying emulsion layer containing silver halide grains of higher sensitivity than the silver halide grains located in the underlying emulsion layer. The red recording layer unit includes a red light reflective layer free of red absorbing dye and containing tabular silver halide grains having a thickness in the range of from 0.03 to 0.12 .mu.m, an average aspect ratio of greater than 20, and a coating coverage of 0.5 to 1.25 g/m.sup.2, and formed of greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver, is located in the red recording layer unit interposed between two emulsion layers. Improvements in imaging speed and/or gamma with relatively low losses in image sharpness are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday
  • Patent number: 5998113
    Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed containing in its blue recording layer unit a blue light reflective layer positioned to receive light from a layer in the blue recording layer unit containing latent image forming silver halide grains of maximum sensitivity. The blue light reflective layer is free of blue absorbing dye and contains tabular silver halide grains having a thickness in the range of from 0.12 to 0.15 .mu.m, an average aspect ratio of greater than 15, and a coating coverage of 0.5 to 1.5 g/m.sup.2, and are formed of greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver. The layer containing grains of maximum sensitivity additionally contains from 0.01 to 0.5 g/m.sup.2 of randomly oriented grains having an ECD in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday, Roger A. Bryant
  • Patent number: 5994042
    Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed containing in its blue recording layer unit a blue light reflective layer positioned to receive light from a layer in the blue recording layer unit containing latent image forming silver halide grains of maximum sensitivity. The blue light reflective layer is free of blue absorbing dye and contains tabular silver halide grains having a thickness in the range of from 0.12 to 0.15 .mu.m, an average aspect ratio of greater than 15, and a coating coverage of 0.5 to 1.5 g/m.sup.2, and are formed of greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday, Roger A. Bryant
  • Patent number: 5994043
    Abstract: A color photographic element is disclosed containing in its blue recording layer unit a blue light reflective layer positioned to receive light from first and second latent image forming layers in the blue recording layer unit. The first layer overlies the second layer and contains a silver coating coverages in the range of from 0.1 to 0.7 g/m.sup.2. The second layer contains latent image forming silver halide grains of maximum sensitivity. The blue light reflective layer is free of blue absorbing dye and contains tabular silver halide grains have a thickness in the range of from 0.12 to 0.15 .mu.m, an average aspect ratio of greater than 15, and a coating coverage of 0.5 to 1.5 g/m.sup.2, and are formed of greater than 50 mole percent bromide, based on silver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joseph F. Bringley, James A. Friday, Roger A. Bryant
  • Patent number: 5989796
    Abstract: A thermally processable imaging element is disclosed having a protective coat overlying at least one thermographic or photothermographic imaging layer containing an organic silver salt and a thermally activated reducing agent for silver ion. The protective coat includes a film-forming binder comprised of a water dispersible polymer containing hydroxy pendant groups and, to reduce low density spots visible after thermal processing, a combination of anionic, non-ionic and fluorocarbon moiety containing surfactants satisfying formula defined selection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Alice Moon