Patents Assigned to Polaroid Corporation
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Patent number: 5956536Abstract: A close-up camera having a plurality of selectable exposure parameters such as variations in magnification, exposure trim and flash illumination includes a lookup table programmed to define follow focus flash illumination in accordance with the parameters selected. Preferably, the camera includes a plurality of exposure lenses, a pair of strobes, an exposure trim selector and a look-up table programmed to define a quench time for the strobes in accordance with the parameters selected. Filter accessories, configured to extend across the camera face, are also provided to modify both the scene light passing to the exposure lens and the illumination from the flash strobes, and the camera includes both additional look-up table capacity for selecting a proper quench time to account for the filter accessory, and means for interfacing with the accessory to automatically modify camera operation in accordance therewith.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1996Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Joseph J. Dow, Jeffrey J. Parker, Duncan C. Sorli
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Patent number: 5950020Abstract: A multiple focal length folding imaging device includes a first and second housing which are operably joined together for movement relative to one another so that the second housing is movable relative to the first housing between at least a first position and a second position. The first housing is formed to at least partially receive therein the second housing, such that when the second housing is in the first position, the second housing is at least partially received within the first housing. The second housing includes an exiting aperture for allowing exiting of at least one image recordable unit therefrom when in the second position, and when the second housing is in the first position, the exiting aperture is at least partially disposed within the first housing so that the at least one image recordable unit cannot exit from the exiting aperture.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1998Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Alan D. Ball, Peter P. Clark, John P. Kirby, Paul F. Neely, Jason D. Silver, George D. Whiteside
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Patent number: 5946502Abstract: A self-developing camera is disclosed which comprises a housing assembly including a film exit opening. Provision is made for an objective lens assembly mounted on the housing assembly and which defines an optical axis for optically capturing images of a scene and directing the images to a focal plane. A mirror in the housing assembly redirects the scene light from the objective lens assembly to a film unit of the self-developing type adjacent the focal plane. The mirror is in an operative orientation generally below the optical axis when the camera is held in a generally horizontal image capture mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1998Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Lawrence M. Douglas
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Patent number: 5946031Abstract: A photographic apparatus combines an image capturing apparatus with an image rendering apparatus, where the image capturing apparatus operates as an electronic camera and has an integral liquid crystal display panel for viewing acquired images prior to printing the images onto a photosensitive medium. The images are individually selectable to adjust image properties prior to transmittal of the image to a high-resolution liquid-crystal display in the image rendering apparatus. The image rendering apparatus produces an image on the photosensitive medium by projecting illumination through the image present in the high-resolution liquid-crystal display, through a copy lens, and onto the medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 1996Date of Patent: August 31, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Lawrence M. Douglas
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Patent number: 5942335Abstract: An ink jet recording sheet comprises a support carrying an ink-receiving layer, this layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer, preferably poly(vinyl alcohol) and a poly(vinylpyridine). The images formed using this sheet display good water fastness.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Yung T. Chen, Gerald P. Harwood, Jr., Shawn P. Lambert, Kenneth J. McCarthy, Richard J. Murphy, Michael S. Viola, Xiaojia Z. Wang
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Patent number: 5943511Abstract: A compact dual imaging camera is disclosed wherein conventional and self-developing photographic films are generally simultaneously exposed from a common scene through separate taking apertures.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1997Date of Patent: August 24, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: David L. Farrington, Philip R. Norris, Norman D. Staller
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Patent number: 5936751Abstract: Reflective image-providing displays viewed with holographically diffused light are provided. As one particular and preferred embodiment, a liquid crystal display component is presented comprising a liquid crystal display element backed with a reflective transmission holographic diffuser. Images of good contrast may be displayed and viewed from the liquid crystal display component under ambient lighting conditions and without further requirement of supplemental light sources, such as edge-lighting and backlighting.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1997Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Michael M. Wenyon
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Patent number: 5933537Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for converting frequency-coefficient matrices between a configuration in which the matrices are transforms of unoverlapped image-data matrices and a configuration in which the matrices are transforms of overlapped image-data matrices, the image-data matrices comprising image-data terms corresponding to pixels from an original image, the method comprising the steps of: deriving a conversion matrix; transposing the conversion matrix; matrix multiplying a first frequency-coefficient matrix of one configuration by the conversion matrix; matrix multiplying a second frequency-coefficient matrix of the same configuration by the transpose conversion matrix; and combining the product results to form a matrix formatted in the other configuration.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Ibrahim Hajjahmad, Munib A. Wober, Michael L. Reisch
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Patent number: 5933278Abstract: A device for redirecting beams of light emitted from different sources includes: a monolithic stationary substrate having alignment surfaces for aligning the device for mounting into a system; multiple facets resident on the substrate including at least two facets having surfaces for redirecting the beams of light emitted from different sources; and facet edges on the substrate demarcating each of the multiple facets from one another, the edges providing outside corners greater than .pi. radians between surfaces of adjacent multiple facets. The surfaces of the multiple facets are preferably surfaces of revolution created by cutting the facet surfaces while the device is rotated about a common axis, for instance, by machining via single diamond point turning.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: William T. Plummer, Jeffrey W. Roblee, Douglas S. Goodman
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Patent number: 5926293Abstract: A light-diffusing holographic transflector comprising a holographic layer and a transflective layer is disclosed. The transflector is capable under good ambient lighting conditions of illuminating an LCD display element by holographic reflection, and under poor ambient lighting conditions, by the transmission therethrough of internal edge- or back-lighting. The transmission of light is accomplished to form a predetermined visually-perceptible image (e.g., graphics, designs, and logos) by the provision in said transflector of a corresponding pattern of light-transmitting microholes. The light-transmitting microholes are formed preferably by laser ablation or etching.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Philip J. Ralli
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Patent number: 5925289Abstract: A visible range synthetic light polarizing element is provided, the optical and polarizing properties thereof having been selectively effected by regulated exposure of said polarizing element to ultraviolet irradiation. The ultraviolet irradiation can be either polarized or non-polarized, but in either case, is at intensities greater than that produced incidentally or by ambient ultraviolet irradiation sources. The resultant light-polarizing element is characterized by its heightened luminous transmittance, an improvement accomplished without departure from good polarization efficiency (i.e., greater than 99.9%).Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: John J. Cael, Robert L. Jones, Rong-Chang Liang, Giorgio B. Trapani, Tung-Feng Yeh
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Patent number: 5923794Abstract: An image sensing device comprising active pixels is disclosed, each pixel having a charge accumulation region for collecting charges generated by a photosensitive element such as a photodiode. Fixed pattern noise is minimized by utilizing a reference current to reset the pixels and to generate an output current signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1996Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: R. Daniel McGrath, Vincent S. Clark, Lisa G. Dron, Adolphus Kearney, James R. Toker
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Patent number: 5923380Abstract: The present invention is useful in taking a visible light image for identification and other purposes without the requirement of a photobooth, regardless of the background of the visible light image. The original background of the visible light image is replaced with a preselected background. Two IR images with different intensities of IR illumination in the foreground and background regions of the scene, respectively, are compared to produce a difference image of light intensity differences between corresponding pixels of the two images. A binarized image is generated by binarizing the difference image with respect to a predetermined threshold value .theta.. A connectivity constraint is used to generate a binary mask from the binarized image, then a gray-scale mask is produced by multiplying the binary mask times a preselected modulation function of the difference image. Warping the gray-scale mask produces a transformed mask.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1996Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Yibing Yang, John C. Bowman, Ibrahim Hajjahmad
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Patent number: 5919608Abstract: The sensitivity to radiation of combinations of cationic electron acceptors (such as phosphonium, sulfonium, diazonium and iodonium salts) with sensitizing dyes, which sensitize these cationic electron acceptors to wavelengths (typically visible wavelengths) to which they are not sensitive in the absence of the dye, can be increased by including with the cationic electron acceptor and the sensitizing dye a supersensitizer which has an oxidation potential lower than that of the sensitizing dye, the supersensitizer being an ionic compound having a cation comprising an ionic grouping, said grouping comprising at least one atom of an element from Group VB, VIB or VIIB of the Periodic Table.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1997Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Serajul Haque, John L. Marshall, Stephen J. Telfer
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Patent number: 5919950Abstract: Squarylium compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 are each independently a pyrylium, thiopyrylium, selenopyrylium, benzpyrylium, benzthiopyrylium or benzselenopyrylium nucleus, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, can be prepared by reacting a squaric acid derivative of the formula: ##STR2## with a compound of the formula Q.sup.2 CH.sub.2 R.sup.2 in the presence of a base.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1993Date of Patent: July 6, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Paulina P. Garcia, John W. Lee, John L. Marshall, Donald A. McGowan, Anthony J. Puttick, Thomas K. Spencer, Stephen G. Stroud, Stephen J. Telfer, Michael J. Zuraw
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Patent number: 5917969Abstract: An all-optical modulator for modulating the output power of a high-power optical pump source is disclosed. More particularly, with the optical modulator of the invention, the output power of a CW fiber laser is modulated by a low-power laser, such as a diode laser. The modulator comprises two optical couplers which are preferably wavelength-selective and interconnected by a nonlinear single mode optical fiber with a high Raman gain. A laser system comprising a high-power pump laser, a fast signal laser with a suitable modulation depth and the optical modulator of the invention can advantageously employed in materials processing and graphics arts printing applications.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Pavle Gavrilovic, Andrei N. Starodoumov, Iouri O. Barmenkov, Fernando Mendoza-Santoyo
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Patent number: 5914213Abstract: A process for generation of acid uses a medium comprising a first acid-generating component capable of generating a first acid, and a secondary acid generator, this secondary acid generator being capable of thermal decomposition to form a secondary acid, the thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator being catalyzed by the first acid. At least part of the medium is exposed to so as to cause formation of the first acid from the first acid-generating component; and the medium is then heated to cause, in the exposed part of the medium, acid-catalyzed thermal decomposition of the secondary acid generator and formation of the secondary acid.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1997Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Jurgen M. Grasshoff, John L. Marshall, Richard A. Minns, Socorro M. Ramos, Stephen G. Stroud, Stephen J. Telfer, Haixin Yang, Roger A. Boggs, Eric S. Kolb
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Patent number: 5910940Abstract: A medium suitable for the optical storage and retrieval of information comprising a substrate, an active layer for retention of the data, and an overlying optical layer, or layers for double-sided. The optical layer serves to produce an evanescent field in or adjacent to the active layer in response to an incident beam of radiation. The evanescent field is frustrated or attenuated by the data in the active layer and produces a signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1997Date of Patent: June 8, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: John M. Guerra
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Patent number: 5907149Abstract: The present invention particularly provides an identification card and an access system for its use. The identification card has recorded thereon visually-readable bearer information and encoded machine-readable data. The encoded machine-readable data includes encoded data representative of a personal identifier of the bearer and encoded data representative of at least one event or transaction. When used in the access system, the identification card is scanned by an information processing apparatus. When the bearer of the identification card presents a personal identifier to the information processing apparatus, the presented personal identifier is analyzed and compared with the encoded personal identifier data. If there is an acceptable correlation between the presented personal information and the encoded personal identifier data, and if there is a determination that access would not exceed a predetermined number of permissible occurrences, access is effected.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1994Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Eugene F. Marckini
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Patent number: D412163Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1998Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Maaike L. Evers, Chaitanya Kanojia, Steven J. Meister, Gilbert Y. Wong