Patents by Inventor Douglass Blanding

Douglass Blanding has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20070273831
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a retinal image of an eye has a control logic processor for executing a sequence of operations for obtaining the image. A visual target orients the eye of a patient when viewed. An indicator element provides a signal that indicates that the patient is in position. A cornea focus detection section indicates cornea focus, in cooperation with the control logic processor. An alignment actuator aligns the optical path according to a signal obtained from the cornea focus detection section. A retina focus detection section detects retina focus in cooperation with the control logic processor. A focusing actuator is controlled by instructions from the control logic processor according to a signal obtained from the retina focus detection section. An image capture light source is energized by the control logic processor for illuminating the retina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Dale Tucker, Jeffrey Hawver, Seung-Ho Baek, Vishwas Abhyankar, Richard Weil, Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20070030450
    Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining a retinal image of an eye has a control logic processor (214) for executing a sequence of operations for obtaining the image. A visual target (162) orients the eye of a patient when viewed. An indicator element (410) provides a signal that indicates that the patient is in position. A cornea focus detection section (450) indicates cornea focus, in cooperation with the control logic processor (214). An alignment actuator aligns the optical path according to a signal obtained from the cornea focus detection section (450). A retina focus detection section (452) detects retina focus in cooperation with the control logic processor (214). A focusing actuator (406) is controlled by instructions from the control logic processor (214) according to a signal obtained from the retina focus detection section (452). An image capture light source is energized by the control logic processor (214) for illuminating the retina.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Dale Tucker, Jeffery Hawver, Seung-Ho Baek, Vishwas Abhyankar, Richard Weil, Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20060186285
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a platform (84) relative to a base (82), has first, second, and third flexible shaft couplings (80). Each flexible shaft coupling (80) is mechanically coupled between the platform (84) and the base (82). Each flexible shaft coupling (80) has a rigid intermediate member (12) and a platform coupling (104) with a plurality of folded sheet flexures (20). Each folded sheet flexure (20) is coupled to the rigid intermediate member (12) on one side of a fold (36) and coupled to the platform (84) on the opposite side of the fold (36). Each flexible shaft coupling (80) also has a base coupling (102) with a plurality of folded sheet flexures (20) wherein each folded sheet flexure (20) is coupled to the rigid intermediate member (12) on one side of a fold (36) and coupled to the base (82) on the opposite side of the fold (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20060092376
    Abstract: An apparatus (220) for obtaining a scanned image of an eye has a reference locator for pupil alignment apparatus along an optical axis. A pupil profiling apparatus for obtaining an outline of the pupil has a pupil profiling light source (176), a sensor (170) for detecting reflected light, and a control logic processor (104) for computing an outline of the pupil according to detected light. An illumination apparatus (112) for directing visible illumination into the eye has a spatial light modulator (125) for shaping an illumination beam according to the detected outline, a scanning element (229), and a camera (146) for obtaining the scanned image by sensing a portion of the reflected illumination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Seung-Ho Baek, Douglass Blanding, Rongguang Liang, Dale Tucker, Jeffery Hawver
  • Publication number: 20060094514
    Abstract: A flexure coupling (40) between a drive member (30) and a load member (32) has a plurality of folded sheet flexures (20). Each folded sheet flexure (20) is coupled to the drive member (30) on one side of a fold (36) and coupled to the load member (32) on the opposite side of the fold (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20060094513
    Abstract: A flexure coupling (40) between a drive member (30) and a load member (32) has a plurality of folded sheet flexures (20). Each folded sheet flexure (20) is coupled to the drive member (30) on one side of a fold (36) and coupled to the load member (32) on the opposite side of the fold (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20060040230
    Abstract: An apparatus for suitable for obtaining an image of a dental structure has an illuminator member placed proximate the area to be imaged. The illuminator member has a support structure (30) for retaining the illuminator member in position proximate the area to be imaged. A reference (22) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member and disposed within the area to be imaged. At least one light source (24) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member for directing imaging illumination toward the area to be imaged. A camera (12) records an image from within the area to be imaged using the imaging illumination from the illuminator member, wherein the image comprises the reference (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Inventors: Douglass Blanding, Rongguang Liang, Edward Giorgianni, Steven Hansen
  • Publication number: 20050236095
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) applies pressure against a platen (16) using a linked series of contact members arranged in a closed loop. A drive apparatus rotates the loop about a support mechanism, thereby imparting movement to the linked series of contact members. The support mechanism is disposed to force a plurality of the moving contact members simultaneously into compressive contact against the platen (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20050069376
    Abstract: A compound coupling for mounting a component (60) having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to a base (62) having a second CTE, the compound coupling comprising a first flexure coupling (40), a second flexure coupling (40), and a third flexure coupling (40), each flexure coupling (40) extends from the base (62) to the component (60) and attached to the base (62) at a first and a second mount point (66, 68) associated with that flexure coupling (40). Each flexure coupling (40) is also attached to the component (60) at an associated component mount point (64). Each flexure coupling (40) has a flexure CTE substantially equal to the second CTE of base (62).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20050013646
    Abstract: An apparatus for displacing a movable platen (50) in orthogonal first and second directions within a fixed plane of a surface (62). The movable platen is suspended from a stationary housing (80). A first actuator (40) provides a first linear displacement along the first direction and a second actuator (40) provides a second linear displacement along the second direction. A lever member (70) is pivoted at a flexure element (62) and is coupled to the stationary housing (80). The position of the flexure element along the lever member defines a working arm (58) of the lever member between the flexure element and the movable platen and an effort arm (76) of the lever member between the flexure element and point of contact of the actuator. The travel distance of the movable platen relative to the first linear displacement of the first actuator is proportional to the ratio of the length of the working arm to the length of the effort arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding
  • Publication number: 20020113945
    Abstract: A double speed intermittent film pull down for a movie projector (100) comprises a sprocket (122), which advances the film (114) a frame at a time. A star wheel (140) is mounted on a common shaft (132) with the sprocket (122). A cam (134) turns the sprocket (122) every other rotation of the cam (134). A shutter (106) is mounted on a common shaft (132) with the cam (134) and interrupts light to the frame of the film (114). The common shaft (132) for the cam (134) and shutter (106) turns at approximately twice the speed of the common shaft (132) for the star wheel (140) and sprocket (122).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Douglass Blanding