Patents Represented by Attorney Carl O. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5804359
    Abstract: Photographic elements are disclosed in which exposure to at least one portion of the spectrum is recorded by a silver halide emulsion layer unit as an image having its optical density provided by silver. The layer unit is comprised of a plurality of radiation sensitive silver halide emulsion layers that are responsive to the same region of the spectrum, but differ in sensitivity, including a non-wandering silver halide reducing agent. A molar ratio of reducing agent to silver halide in one of the emulsion layers is less than that stoichiometrically required for complete silver halide reduction to silver. A higher molar ratio of reducing agent to silver halide is contained in a remaining of the two emulsion layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Michael John Simons
  • Patent number: 5804363
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive high bromide {111 } tabular grain emulsion is disclosed containing a dispersing medium including a peptizer adsorbed to the tabular grains. The peptizer is a polymeric hydrophilic colloid containing repeating units derived from a diallylammonium monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joe E. Maskasky, Victor P. Scaccia
  • Patent number: 5800976
    Abstract: A dual-coated radiographic element is disclosed comprised of a blue tinted film support having coated on each of its faces a spectrally sensitized high bromide tabular grain emulsion. The properties of a maximum density of at least 3.0, an average contrast of at least 2.7, and a b* value more negative than -5.0 at a silver coating coverage on each major surface of the support of less than 12 mg/dm.sup.2, are imparted by (1) the support having a neutral density of at least 0.18, (2) tabular grains accounting for at least 90 percent of total grain projected area having a mean thickness of 0.2 micrometer or less and a coefficient of variation of equivalent circular diameter less than 20 percent, (3) a covering power enhancing compound containing at least one divalent sulfur atom adsorbed to surfaces of the silver halide grains, (4) a water soluble polymer chosen from the class consisting of polyacrylamide and dextran, in a weight ratio of the polymer to the gelatino-vehicle of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony Adin, Marcia K. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5792602
    Abstract: A process is disclosed of preparing a photographically useful emulsion containing radiation-sensitive silver iodohalide grains. Silver halide grains having a face centered cubic rock salt crystal lattice structure are precipitated within an aqueous dispersing medium including a hydrophilic colloid peptizer. Iodide ion is introduced into the crystal lattice structure by introducing elemental iodine into the dispersing medium and maintaining the dispersing medium within a pH range of from 5 to 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Joe E. Maskasky, Victor P. Scaccia, Samuel Chen
  • Patent number: 5792601
    Abstract: A radiation sensitive emulsion is disclosed containing iridium doped composite silver halide grains comprised of (a) host portions having an average aspect ratio of less than 1.3 and consisting essentially of monodisperse silver iodochloride grains containing from 0.05 to 3 mole percent iodide, based on total silver forming the host portions, with maximum iodide concentrations located nearer the surface of the host portions than their center and (b) epitaxially deposited portions containing the iridium dopant and silver bromide accounting for from 0.1 to 5 mole percent of total silver forming the composite grains.The emulsions are prepared by (a) first providing an emulsion containing grains which form the host portions of the grains and (b) modifying the performance properties of the host grains by a combination of silver bromide addition, iridium dopant incorporation and antifoggant addition, in which, prior to antifoggant addition, silver bromide in the amount of from 0.1 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James Lawrence Edwards, Benjamin Teh-Kung Chen, Eric Leslie Bell, Roger Lok
  • Patent number: 5786600
    Abstract: (Barium hafnate:Ti,Ce,Pb) phosphors, phosphor screens and phosphor preparation method. The phosphor screen includes a support and a luminescent portion. The phosphor includes oxygen and a combination of species characterized by the relationship:(Ba.sub.1-d M.sub.d)(Hf.sub.1-z-e Zr.sub.z Mg.sub.e):yCe,y'Ti,y"Pbwhere M is selected from the group consisting of Ca, and Sr, and combinations thereof; d is from 0 to 0.05; z is from 0 to 0.25; e is from 0 to 0.15; y is from 0 to 0.025; y' is from 0 to 0.05; y" is from 0 to 0.01; and y+y'+y" is from 1.times.10.sup.-6 to 0.05. The phosphor is x-ray luminescent at a temperature of 300.degree. K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Patrick Maddock Lambert, Gregory S. Jarrold, Philip Steven Bryan
  • Patent number: 5783373
    Abstract: An electronic printing method is disclosed which comprises subjecting a radiation sensitive silver halide emulsion layer of a recording element to actinic radiation of at least 10.sup.-4 ergs/cm.sup.2 for up to 100.mu. seconds duration in a pixel-by-pixel mode. The silver halide emulsion layer is comprised of grains predominantly bounded by {100} crystal faces and internally containing three dopants each selected to satisfy a different one of the following class requirements: (i) a metal coordination complex containing a nitrosyl or thionitrosyl ligand in combination with a transition metal chosen from groups 5 to 10 inclusive of the periodic table of elements, (ii) a shallow electron trapping dopant, and (iii) a iridium coordination complex having ligands each of which are more electropositive than a cyano ligand. A gelatino-peptizer for the grains is employed that contains less than 30 micromoles of methionine per gram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerzy Z. Mydlarz, Jerzy A. Budz, Eric L. Bell
  • Patent number: 5783378
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive high chloride emulsion is disclosed comprised of grains predominantly bounded by {100} crystal faces and internally containing three dopants each selected to satisfy a different one of the following class requirements: (i) a metal coordination complex containing a nitrosyl or thionitrosyl ligand in combination with a transition metal chosen from groups 5 to 10 inclusive of the periodic table of elements, (ii) a shallow electron trapping dopant, and (iii) an iridium coordination complex having ligands each of which are more electropositive than a cyano ligand. A gelatino-peptizer for the grains is employed that contains less than 30 micromoles of methionine per gram. The dopants and peptizer in combination increase contrast and provide a highly unexpected increase in high density contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Jerzy Z. Mydlarz, Jerzy A. Budz, Eric L. Bell
  • Patent number: 5780217
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silver halide photographic emulsion having improved sensitometric properties; in particular, the present invention relates to a silver halide photographic product comprising this emulsion.The emulsion of the invention comprises tabular grains consisting mainly of silver bromide dispersed in a binder consisting of a hydrophilic colloid and a latex, the emulsion before coating having a pAg between 9.0 and 9.9.The present invention in particular enables the pressure fog to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gerard Amede Friour, Christiane Marie Feumi-Jantou
  • Patent number: 5773206
    Abstract: An element capable of forming a silver image is disclosed containing insufficient radiation-sensitive silver halide grains to render the element detectable by an infrared sensor. The element has been modified to increase infrared specular density by the inclusion of, in a hydrophilic colloid dispersing medium, particles (a) being removable from the element during a rapid access processing cycle, (b) having a mean size of from 0.3 to 1.1 .mu.m and at least 0.1 .mu.m larger than the mean grain size of the radiation-sensitive grains, and (c) having an index of refraction at the wavelength of the infrared radiation that differs from the index of refraction of the hydrophilic colloid by at least 0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stephen A. Hershey, James C. Bolthouse, Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 5763151
    Abstract: A process is disclosed of preparing a photographic emulsion comprised of high bromide silver halide tabular grains accounting for greater than 90 percent of total grain projected area. The grains exhibit a low level of size dispersity by reason of forming in the presence of a dispersing medium containing a polyalkylene oxide block copolymer surfactant a population of silver halide grain nuclei containing twin planes, the halide content of the grain nuclei consisting essentially of silver bromide, and growing the silver halide grain nuclei containing twin planes to form the tabular silver halide grains. Inadvertent variation in tabular grain sizes and thicknesses from one precipitation to the next are minimized by growing the silver halide grain nuclei at a pH in the range of from 3.0 to 8.0 and in the presence of at least a 0.01M concentration of a partially dissociated acid having a pKa that is within 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas B. Brust, Philip J. Dale, Philip J. Zola, Terrence R. O'Toole
  • Patent number: 5759759
    Abstract: A dual-coated radiographic element is disclosed containing high bromide tabular grain emulsion layers exhibiting increased covering power and colder image tones. A covering power enhancing compound containing at least one divalent sulfur atom adsorbed to grain surfaces and a gelatino-vehicle are present in the emulsion layers. The emulsion layers additionally include a water soluble polymer chosen from the class consisting of polyacrylamide and dextran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Anthony Adin, Robert E. Dickerson, Marcia K. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5759754
    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 2.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert Edward Dickerson
  • Patent number: 5750326
    Abstract: A process is disclosed of preparing a high bromide tabular grain emulsion comprising (1) in a grain nucleation step creating in a dispersing medium tabular grain nuclei containing parallel twin planes and (2) in a grain growth step subsequently growing the grain nuclei into tabular grains by running into the dispersing medium high bromide silver halide grains having a maximum equivalent circular diameter of less than 40 nm, wherein (a) the high bromide grains are formed prior to the grain nucleation step and then held in the presence of a grain growth restrainer adsorbed to the grain surfaces to inhibit grain ripening and (b) during the growth step the restrainer is desorbed from the high bromide grains and silver and halide ions forming the high bromide grains are released by ripening into the dispersing medium in the growth step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael George Antoniades, Xin Wen, Mark Jay Herman
  • Patent number: 5744294
    Abstract: A radiographic element including an image recording silver halide emulsion layer coated on a transparent film support and a blue anthraquinone dye. Transmission of red light through the exposed and processed radiographic element is reduced by coating on the support at least one ionic linear condensation polymer containing a cyan phthalocyanine dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Rickey J. Seyler
  • Patent number: 5744297
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive emulsion is disclosed in which at least 70 percent of total grain projected area is accounted for by tabular grains (a) having {100} major faces, (b) containing greater than 50 mole percent chloride, based on silver, (c) having a mean equivalent circular diameter in the range of from 2.0 to 5.0 .mu.m, and (d) exhibiting a mean thickness of 0.1 .mu.m or less.The emulsion is prepared by (a) precipitating up to 10 percent of the total silver forming the high chloride {100} tabular grains to create a first grain population under conditions that form a crystal lattice structure that favors the growth of high chloride {100} tabular grains, (b) thereafter rapidly introducing silver and halide ions to create a second grain population, and (c) growing the first grain population to create the high chloride {100} tabular grains by ripening out the second grain population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Yun C. Chang, Rajesh V. Mehta, Lois A. Buitano
  • Patent number: 5738981
    Abstract: A silver halide film for reproducing digitally stored medical diagnostic images through exposure and processing, including development, fixing and drying, in 90 seconds or less is disclosed in which onto a film support transparent to exposing radiation are coated (1) a processing solution permeable front layer unit coated on the front major face of the support capable of absorbing up to 60 percent of the exposing radiation and containing less than 30 mg/dm.sup.2 of hydrophilic colloid and less than 20 mg/dm.sup.2 silver in the form of radiation-sensitive silver halide grains and (2) a processing solution permeable back layer unit coated on the back major face of the support containing less than 40 mg/dm.sup.2 of hydrophilic colloid, silver in the form of radiation-sensitive silver halide grains accounting for from 40 to 60 percent of the total radiation-sensitive silver halide present in the film, and a dye capable of providing an optical density of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert Edward Dickerson, Wray Earl Paul
  • Patent number: 5736310
    Abstract: Radiation sensitive emulsions are disclosed comprised of silver iodochloride grains having three pairs of equidistantly spaced parallel {100} crystal faces and containing from 0.05 to 3 mole percent iodide, based on total silver, in a controlled, non-uniform iodide distribution forming a core containing at least 50 percent of total silver, a surface shell, and a sub-surface shell that contains a maximum iodide concentration and provides, when the emulsion is exposed to 390 nm electromagnetic radiation at 10.degree. K., stimulated fluorescent emissions in the range of from 450 to 470 nm and at 500, the stimulated fluorescent emission in the range of from 450 to 470 nm having a peak intensity more than twice the stimulated fluorescent emission intensity at 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Benjamin Teh-Kung Chen, James Lawrence Edwards, Roger Lok, Sanford Howard Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 5736312
    Abstract: A process of preparing a photographic emulsion having radiation-sensitive silver iodohalide grains. Iodide is introduced into the grains by releasing iodide ions from iodate (IO.sub.3.sup.-). Release of iodide ions from the IO.sub.3.sup.- is employed to enhance the uniformity of iodide availability during emulsion preparation, either during grain precipitation or subsequent halide conversion. The process of the invention is in one preferred form directed to the partial halide conversion of tabular grains. A speed-granularity advantage is demonstrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Seshadri Jagannathan, Harold G. Judd, Samuel Chen, David E. Fenton, Allen K. Tsaur, Kenneth J. Reed
  • Patent number: 5733718
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion for use in photographic is disclosed containing an oxidized cationic starch as a peptizer. The oxidized cationic starch facilitates emulsion precipitation and chemical sensitization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Joe Edward Maskasky