Patents Represented by Attorney Nelson Blish
  • Patent number: 7912426
    Abstract: The invention is intended for the technological field of data communication between electronic equipment (1-4) forming part of a system of electronic equipment (10). The invention more specifically relates to a method and a system to facilitate, using an identifier having the form of a visual code, the transmission of command data to one of the electronic equipment items of the system, when the electronic equipment that produces the visual code is activated. The transmission of command data intended for one of the equipment items is performed following the reading and decoding of the visual code, for example with another equipment item of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Eric Masera, Santie V. Adelbert, Christophe E. Papin, Thierry Lebihen
  • Patent number: 7867688
    Abstract: A method of making micro-structure devices by coating a first layer of resist (12) on a substrate (10). A pattern is created on the substrate by radiation induced thermal removal of the resist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Scott E. Phillips, Timothy J. Tredwell, Lee W. Tutt, Glenn T. Pearce, Kelvin Nguyen, Ronald M. Wexler
  • Patent number: 7782347
    Abstract: A printing apparatus (100) for printing digital images onto a photosensitive medium (140) employing, for exposure energy, a light source (20) that uses various arrays of LEDs (32). The printing apparatus (100) may form the print image using sequential modulation, one color at a time, or by applying all colors simultaneously. Arrangements of discrete LEDs (32) may include high-intensity devices configured with collector cones (41) arranged as a multicone structure (141), with parabolic reflectors (65), or collimating lenses (36). Large area LEDs (46) may alternately be used, arranged on an angled mounting surface (64), for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Martin E. Oehlbeck, Richard L. Druzynski, Robert J. Zolla, James E. Roddy
  • Patent number: 7777859
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) forms a latent indicium onto a sensitized medium, using an area energy source (26) for applying a substantially uniform sensitizing energy over an area of the sensitized medium and a pixel exposure source (30) for applying radiant energy to expose a pattern of pixels (14) onto the area of the sensitized medium for forming the indicium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Zolla, Paul W. Jones, John A. Heath, Thomas F. Powers, Scott P. MacKenzie
  • Patent number: 7739042
    Abstract: A system (10) for viewing location marker data on a display (14) located in a vehicle (16) has a transponder (20) located on a structure (18) and a transmitter (22) located on the vehicle, which transmits a first signal (24). The transponder receives the first signal and transmits a second signal (26) with a first identification tag. A receiver (28) in the vehicle receives the second signal. A microprocessor (30) in the vehicle interprets the first identification tag and displays location marker data corresponding to the first identification tag on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventors: Sharon Stiller, Nelson Adrian Blish, Sierra Stiller-Saiger, Lou Horvath
  • Patent number: 7672482
    Abstract: A method of finding an object in an image that consists of describing an object shape by one or more sets of feature points (220); estimating positions of the feature points (310); finding new locations for each feature point based on an appearance model of an aggregate appearance of the object in local neighborhoods of all features points (320); and constraining the positions of the feature points based on a shape model (330).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark R. Bolin, Peter O. Stubler
  • Patent number: 7660013
    Abstract: A first recipe (10) is converted using a first colorant set to a second recipe (50) using a second colorant set. The first recipe (10) is converted into a CIE_Lab estimate (30) using a first model and a first database (20). The CIE_Lab estimate (30) is converted into the second recipe (50) using a second model and second database (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kurt M. Sanger
  • Patent number: 7656567
    Abstract: A method for selecting a best three color solution for a CIE_Lab request comprises generating a three color database (10) of CIE_Lab values at specified colorant input levels. A closest point in the database with colorant input levels is found, which will produce a CIE_Lab value that is closest to the CIE_Lab request. A matrix of points centered on the closest point (30) is selected. A linear model to the matrix of points is found. An output color consisting of a set of colorant levels is created using the linear model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kurt M. Sanger
  • Patent number: 7616881
    Abstract: A camera apparatus (10) has a zoom lens (12) having a zoom focus setting that is adjustable over a range of focus values and control circuitry for generating a variable voltage potential according to the zoom focus setting. A flash illumination apparatus (20) has a light source (32) and a variable focus liquid crystal lens (24), the variable focus liquid crystal lens (24) having a first and a second solid optical element (40, 50), chamber (44), the two electrodes (42, 48) and liquid crystal material (46). A variable voltage is applied to the liquid crystal material (46) for the lens power according to the zoom focus setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Xiang-Dong Mi, David Kessler
  • Patent number: 7616393
    Abstract: A thin lens consists of a first optical element which comprises a first refracting surface, wherein incoming light passes through the first refracting surface on a first optical axis. A reflecting surface changes a direction of the incoming light from the first optical axis to a second optical axis. Incoming light on the second optical axis passes through a second refracting surface. A second optical element comprises a first refracting surface, wherein incoming light passes through the first refracting surface on the second optical axis. A reflecting surface changes a direction of the incoming light from the second optical axis to a third optical axis. Incoming light on the third optical axis passes through a second refracting surface. The third optical axis is approximately parallel to, and in opposite direction from, the first optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John N. Border, Joseph R. Bietry, John T. Compton
  • Patent number: 7605785
    Abstract: A method for improving liquid crystal spatial light modulator (10) uniformity is disclosed wherein an original code value (40) is obtained for a first pixel and a conditioned code value (50) is assigned to the first pixel. The conditioned code value is determined by characterizing the luminance response of a sample pixel of the spatial light modulator and defining an interpolation zone (18) for code values bounded between a minimum luminance code value and a threshold code value (16) for the sample pixel. The threshold value corresponds to a luminance level at which there is a generally linear relationship of luminance to code values. If the original code value lies within the interpolation zone, an interpolated value is calculated as the conditioned code value. The pixel of the spatial light modulator is modulated according to the conditioned code value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: James T. Stoops
  • Patent number: 7598008
    Abstract: Methods for imaging regular patterns are provided. A multi-channel imaging head is configured in accordance with the repeat of a pre-determined regular pattern such that no swath boundaries appear within the visibly imaged features of the pattern. The imaged articles have reduced visible banding due to the elimination of swath boundaries in the imaged features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
    Inventors: Jonathan V. Caspar, Harry Richard Zwicker
  • Patent number: 7586507
    Abstract: A method for forming a pixel (20) having a predetermined density onto a sensitized recording medium moving in a length direction energizes a pixel exposure source (14) to begin exposure at the leading edge (34) of a pixel (20) and for a first predetermined time interval. The pixel exposure source (14) is de-energized for a period depending on the predetermined density and on media transport speed, then re-energized at the termination of the period. The pixel exposure source (14) is then de-energized at the end of a second predetermined time interval to terminate exposure at the trailing edge (36) of the pixel (20), whereby spatial dimensions of each pixel (20) are maintained at variable transport speed or density of pixel (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Scott P. MacKenzie, Nelson A. Blish
  • Patent number: 7583416
    Abstract: A modular scanning system (10) consisting of a first scanning unit (11) and a plurality of tethered scanning (13) and digital capture elements (150, 160) providing both sheet-fed, platen, and digitally captured documents and photographs. The first scanning unit (11) includes all the mechanisms necessary to permit sheet-fed scanning of documents. The platen scanner (13) provides a second scanning unit which performs platen scanning of documents on a glass top (26) of the platen scanner (13). Since the platen scanner (13) is detachable, the user has the option to select the platen scanning functionality but with the additional flexibility of selectively mounting or storing the platen element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Brugger, Joseph T. Olesik, George O. Simmons, Nelson A. Blish
  • Patent number: 7574378
    Abstract: A system for distributed digital images. The system comprises image publishers, image buyers, and a system service center. Image publishers, interested in selling rights in high-resolution images, publish thumbnails representing those images in the service's web-site. The image buyer, searching the service web site for images of particular attributes, selects those thumbnails meeting her/his requirements, and gets from the service a temporary direct communication link to the image repository of the image publisher. The buyer gets the option to remotely review, enhance and embed, in a page layout, the low-resolution representation of the selected thumbnails, and quality check parts of the high-resolution images. The buyer negotiates a price with the image publisher, and pays via the service's billing module. On conclusion the buyer acquires the high-resolution image file directly from the publisher's repository.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Kodak IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Shay Lipowitz, Ron Beery, Hanan Gelbendorf, Hanan Weisman, Raz Manascherov
  • Patent number: 7570393
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a first image processing apparatus at a first location with a control image processing apparatus at a second location. The method comprises obtaining a plurality of individual exposure levels and plotting them against time creating a deviation history and comparing it to the operating specification for the control image processing apparatus. If the deviation history is within the operating specification, initiate a calibration, if not adjust the exposure levels and then initiate calibration. The calibration comprises preparing a calibration curve of exposure level versus density for a plurality of shipped thermal donors; computing an exposure modification curve by comparing a control thermal receiver to the shipped thermal receivers; transmitting the calibration and then the exposure modification curve to the first image processing apparatus; and adjusting the first image processing apparatus exposure levels to conform to the calibration curve and the exposure modification curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Craig Iannazzi
  • Patent number: 7559654
    Abstract: A projection apparatus (10) has an LC modulator panel (60) with photoresponsive layer (316), segmented into a first, second, and third portion, each spatially separated. An image writing section (120) forms a first, second, or third image within the corresponding portion of the LC modulator panel by scanning successive lines of image writing light to energize the photoresponsive layer. The image writing section has at least one grating electromechanical system for modulating a narrow-band light source (70) by providing diffracted and non-diffracted orders and a scanning element (98) for directing a line of light toward the LC modulator panel to energize the photoresponsive layer. An illumination section (130) directs the illumination beams for modulation by the LC modulator panel. Polarizing beamsplitter (24r, 24g, 24b), polarize and direct the illumination beams toward the LC modulator panel and directs modulated light toward projection lens (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, David Kessler, Andrew F. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 7559653
    Abstract: A stereoscopic imaging apparatus (200) has an illumination source (110) providing polarized illumination beams and at least one uniformizing element (22) for uniformizing first and second illumination beams. A left channel modulation apparatus (220l) modulates the first polarized illumination beam to provide the left eye portion of the stereoscopic image and a right channel modulation apparatus (220r) modulates the second polarized illumination beam to provide the right eye portion. Each channel modulation apparatus has a color separator (78) for separating the polarized illumination beam into at least a first component wavelength illumination and a second component wavelength illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Barry D. Silverstein
  • Patent number: 7428084
    Abstract: A scanner has a transport system for transporting a document along a transport path for scanning by at least a first camera. A first removable image guide is disposed between the first camera and a first side of the document. The first removable image guide has a first manifold with a first patter of holes for applying a first level of air pressure or vacuum to the document. Replacement of the first removable image guide with an upgrade removable image guide provides an alternate manifold with an alternate pattern of holes that provide a second level of air pressure or vacuum to the document, different from the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Carl J. Tesavis, Scott P. Haude
  • Patent number: 7416297
    Abstract: Single coatings onto non-absorbent substrates on which aqueous inkjet inks are jetted with subsequent application of heat or other forms of energy to further cross-link the coating onto the substrate and to fuse the inkjet ink image to give good quality water resistance colored reproductions. Optionally a protective layer is applied on the ink-jet printed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Kodak IL Ltd.
    Inventor: Murray Figov