Patents by Inventor Kevin W. Williams

Kevin W. Williams 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).

  • Patent number: 6610386
    Abstract: This invention comprises a transferable support comprising a substantially flat sheet having on a surface thereof encoded data in the form of dot code or two-dimensional bar code wherein the data is capable of being read by a sensor. The invention also comprises object having affixed to a surface thereof a support comprising a substantially flat sheet having on a surface thereof encoded data in the form of dot code or two-dimensional bar code wherein the data is capable of being read by an sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Williams, Huijuan D. Chen, W. S. Gaugh
  • Publication number: 20030138606
    Abstract: A laser-induced thermal recording element comprising a support having thereon a colorant layer comprising a colorant dispersed in a polymeric binder, said colorant layer having associated therewith a laser light-absorbing dye absorbing at the wavelength of a laser used to expose said element, said laser light-absorbing dye comprising a polymethine (cyanine) dye having covalently bonded thereto a phenylenediamine moiety. The element exhibits improved dye stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ruizheng Wang, Kevin W. Williams, Ann L. Carroll-Lee
  • Publication number: 20030119938
    Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet ink composition comprising water, a humectant, and polymer-dye particles, wherein said polymer-dye particles comprise a colorant phase containing a water insoluble dye, and a polymer phase, said particles being associated with a co-stabilizer. This invention further relates to an ink jet printing method utilizing the above ink jet ink composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Xiaoru Wang, Huijuan D. Chen, Kevin W. Williams, Mihaela L. Madaras
  • Patent number: 6579662
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic charged polymer (ionomer) and an infrared radiation sensitive negatively-charged oxonol dye that has a &lgr;max of greater than 700 nm. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without conventional alkaline processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Kevin W. Williams
  • Publication number: 20030104314
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic charged polymer (ionomer) and an infrared radiation sensitive negatively-charged oxonol dye that has a &lgr;max of greater than 700 nm. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without conventional alkaline processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Kevin W. Williams
  • Publication number: 20030081956
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal developing photographic element comprising a radiant energy absorbing material incorporated into said photothermal film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Timothy W. Stoebe, Mark E. Irving, David H. Levy, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6542622
    Abstract: A test target having N invisible test data encodements (660-66N, 740-74N, 74′0-74′N) each comprising test data printed over the surface of test print media media in a defined spatial order printed in invisible ink by a printer under test. The invisible ink print quality of the printer is determined by the ability of an invisible encodement reader to decode certain of the N invisible encodements (660-66N, 740-74N, 74′0-74′N). In a first preferred embodiment, a test print media is prepared by pre-printing or coating a media surface with an invisible ink that is sensitive to the same wavelength of light as the printer ink in a plurality N of areas on the media surface providing step background densities (580-58N) ranging from no applied ink to maximum printer ink density in a test tablet manner In the test mode, N test data files are printed as N invisible encodements (660-66N) in the corresponding N areas (580-58N) thereby creating a test target that is to be read by the reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Nelson, Kevin W. Williams, Robert C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 6541100
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of storing encoded data on an article comprising applying said data on a surface of the article, as an encodement invisible to the human eye under normal viewing conditions. The invention also provides materials for use in said method. This invention comprises an article having on a surface thereof data represented by a material applied to the article that forms a differential light pattern when illuminated which is capable of being read by a sensor capable of detecting said differential light pattern, said material being substantially invisible to the human eye under normal viewing conditions; wherein the light absorbance of at least a portion of the surface of the article underlying said data is different from the absorbance of the material comprising the data under the conditions in which the data is read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Williams, Huijuan D. Chen
  • Patent number: 6537730
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and an infrared radiation sensitive dye having multiple sulfo groups. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without wet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventors: James C. Fleming, Jeffrey W. Leon, David A. Stegman, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6538140
    Abstract: Infrared radiation-sensitive compounds have been found that are represented by Structure DYE as follows: wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, or substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic aromatic group, R1 and R1 are independently substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic or carbocyclic aromatic groups, and M+ is a monovalent cation. These compounds have a &lgr;max above 700 nm and are can be used in a number of photosensitive or heat-sensitive imaging materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Williams, Shiying Zheng
  • Publication number: 20020197563
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, has an imaging layer comprised of a thermally sensitive ionomer (charged polymer) and a photothermal conversion material that is a bis(aminoaryl)polymethine dye that is soluble in water or a water-miscible organic solvent, and that has a &lgr;max greater than 700 nm as measured in water or the water-miscible organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Ruizheng Wang, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6464412
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for radiant thermal development of photothermal film comprising a receiving chamber for a film cartridge, drive means to advance thermal film from said film cartridge and rewind film into said film cartridge, an accumulator to gather said film after it has left the cartridge, a source of radiant energy, a guiding means to guide said radiant energy to develop said thermal film as said thermal film passes between said cartridge and said accumulator, a radiant energy absorbing material incorporated into said photothermal film, and a lighttight container for said chamber, heater, and accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy W. Stoebe, Mark E. Irving, David H. Levy, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6423469
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and an infrared radiation sensitive oxonol dye that has a &lgr;max of greater than 700 nm. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without wet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thap DoMinh, Shiying Zheng, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6410202
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and an infrared radiation sensitive dye having multiple quaternary ammonium groups. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without wet processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James C. Fleming, Jeffrey W. Leon, David A. Stegman, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6376163
    Abstract: A UV or visible-light sensitive photobleachable dye composition substantially free of polymerizable monomer comprising a photobleachable dye and an N-oxyazinium compound, a photographic element containing such a photobleachable composition, and a method for bleaching a photographic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Ramanuj Goswami, Samir Y. Farid, Robert J. Perry, Paul A. Zielinski, Ian R. Gould, Kevin W. Williams
  • Patent number: 6361916
    Abstract: A composition that is useful in a wide variety of applications comprises a latex having water as a continuous phase and, as the dispersed phase, hydrophobic polymer particles having associated therewith both a dye and a stabilizer for the dye. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the dye is an infrared absorbing dye. The composition can be used as an inkjet ink, as a coating composition to form an infrared sensitive optical recording layer or for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Huijuan D. Chen, Tien-Teh Chen, Kevin W. Williams
  • Publication number: 20010031340
    Abstract: This invention comprises a transferable support comprising a substantially flat sheet having on a surface thereof encoded data in the form of dot code or two-dimensional bar code wherein the data is capable of being read by a sensor. The invention also comprises object having affixed to a surface thereof a support comprising a substantially flat sheet having on a surface thereof encoded data in the form of dot code or two-dimensional bar code wherein the data is capable of being read by an sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 1998
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: KEVIN W. WILLIAMS, HUIJUAN D. CHEN, W. S. GAUGH
  • Patent number: 6248893
    Abstract: Infrared radiation-sensitive compounds have been found that are represented by Structure DYE as follows: wherein R is a secondary or tertiary amine that contains no heterocyclic group, R1 and R2 are independently carbocyclic aromatic groups, and M+ is a monovalent cation. These compounds have a &lgr;max above 700 nm and are can be used in a number of photosensitive or heat-sensitive imaging materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Williams, Shiying Zheng, Thap DoMinh
  • Patent number: 6248886
    Abstract: Infrared radiation-sensitive heterocyclic oxonol compounds have been found that are represented by Structure DYE as follows: wherein R is a secondary or tertiary amine, R1 and R2 are independently heterocyclic or carbocyclic aromatic groups, and M+ is a monovalent cation, provided that at least one of R, R1 and R2 contains at least one heterocyclic group. These compounds have a &lgr;max above 700 nm and are can be used in a number of photosensitive or heat-sensitive imaging materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin W. Williams, Shiying Zheng, Thap DoMinh
  • Patent number: 6245255
    Abstract: A dispersion comprises a solvent having dispersed therein a liquid-crystal forming dye of structural Formula I, II or III: wherein the substituent are as defined in the specification. The dispersion is particularly useful in imaging and photographic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Margaret J. Helber, William J. Harrison, Kevin W. Williams, Steven W. Kortum