Patents Assigned to Polaroid Corporation
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Patent number: 5812186Abstract: Method(s) and associated apparatus are provided for the display of three-dimensional still or dynamic images in either monochrome or color. Several embodiments are described and each includes either one or more waveguide arrangements by which images formed in two-dimensional planes can be optically separated in the third dimension by arranging for their selective viewing along paths having different optical path lengths to impart a perception of depth to the image.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1994Date of Patent: September 22, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Mark R. Mischke
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Patent number: 5809164Abstract: A color management system including methods relying on an "Ideal Film Model" color mapping function characterized by exact colorimetric detection of world color information, a nonlinear tone compression acting on the tristimulus values X/Xn, Y/Yn, Z/Zn, and an exact calorimetric display of the compressed tristimulus values. The system and method operate to provide a process for describing the necessary tone reproduction required in displaying optimal reproductions of complex world pictorial scenes over a plurality of elements in an image processing system and to provide a reference system for evaluating the color and tone reproduction of real imaging systems; provide a well defined calibration protocol for the calibration of electronic and hybrid imaging systems designed to capture complex world scenes; and provide a useful model for simulating some sensitometric attributes of real photographic systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1996Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Bror O. Hultgren, III
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Patent number: 5805336Abstract: A thermoformed plastic laminar light-polarizing composite lens blank is produced from a laminate comprising a light-polarizing layer between polymeric layers. The absorption axis of the light-polarizing layer of the laminate is aligned to substantial parallelism with a principal index of refraction of the polymeric layer which forms the convex surface of the lens blank and which is birefringent, thereby to minimize retardation effects of the birefringent material on plane polarized light. The polymeric layer which forms the concave surface of the lens blank is substantially thicker than the opposed polymeric layer in order to accommodate grinding of the surface thereof to an ophthalmic prescription. Thermoforming of unitary portions cut from a supply of the laminate is performed under heat and pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1996Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: William H. Dalzell, Igor Loshak
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Patent number: 5804461Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor laser device is disclosed in which the device comprises one or more ion-implanted regions as a means to decrease the occurrence of device failures attributable to dark-line defects. The ion-implanted regions, which are formed between the laser gain cavity and the regions of probable dark-line defect origination, serve to modify the electrical, optical, and mechanical properties of the device lattice structure, thus reducing or eliminating the propagation of dark-line defects emanating from constituent defects or bulk material imperfections which may be present in the device.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 1995Date of Patent: September 8, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Dana M. Beyea, Todd Martin Dixon, Edward M. Clausen, Jr.
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Patent number: 5802402Abstract: A film cassette may be used for housing film units of the self-developing type, each having a photosensitive area, a pod of processing fluid, and a leading edge. The film cassette may be used in a film assemblage, camera back, or imaging device having either a straight or a curvilinear film path configuration. One such film cassette includes: a chamber defined by forward and rear walls, a pair of side walls, and leading and trailing end walls; means for resiliently supporting the film units within the chamber; first spread control means for use when the imaging device has a straight film path configuration, the first spread control means including at least one projection formed on an interior surface of the forward wall; and second spread control means for use when the imaging device has a curvilinear film path configuration, the second spread control means including at least one projection formed on a bottom surface of the rear wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Irving S. Lippert, Thomas H. Campbell, Jr., Edward H. Coughlin
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Patent number: 5796499Abstract: A projection screen is provided having a construction well-suited for effecting lateral color constancy in rear screen projection display systems. The inventive projection screen comprises a rigid light-transmissive faceplate and a homogenizing holographic transmission diffuser element proximate said faceplate. The holographic transmission diffuser element is made such that, upon illumination of an area of said diffuser element with a light beam having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm, and impinging at an incident input angle of .+-.0.degree. to 30.degree.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1997Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Michael M. Wenyon
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Patent number: 5795698Abstract: The present invention discloses a lithographic printing plate developable on a lithographic printing press equipped with means for delivering lithographic ink and aqueous fountain solutions to the printing plate, the lithographic printing plate having in order (a) a printing plate substrate; and (b) a photoresist photohardenable upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation, the photoresist comprising (i) a macromolecular organic binder; (ii) a photopolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group capable of forming a high polymer by chain-propagated polymerization, (iii) a polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, and (iv) an amphoteric hydrogen bond-forming developability stabilizer, the hydrogen bond-forming developability stabilizer being non-volatile miscible in the photoresist and soluble in said lithographic ink and fountain solutions; the amphoteric hydrogen bond-forming developability stabilizer possessing a strong hydrogen bond-forming funcType: GrantFiled: April 14, 1997Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Maurice J. Fitzgerald, Michael J. Jurek, Rong-Chang Liang, Richard J. Sugrue
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Patent number: 5795981Abstract: Squarylium compounds of the formula: ##STR1## (in which Q.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 are each a chromophoric group having an aromatic unsaturated system conjugated with the squarylium ring and such that in the compounds of formulae Q.sup.1 CH.sub.2 R.sup.1 and Q.sup.2 CH.sub.2 R.sup.2 the methylene hydrogens are active hydrogens, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom, or an acyl, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic group, subject to the proviso that one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be an amino or substituted amino group, or one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom and the other is an organosulfonyl group, or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 together with the intervening nitrogen atom form a nitrogenous heterocyclic ring) are useful as near infra-red absorbers.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: John W. Lee, Donald A. McGowan, Mark R. Mischke, Socorro M. Ramos, Stephen J. Telfer
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Patent number: 5796487Abstract: A dark-field imaging system and method that employs photon tunneling to optically encode and decode information at full-field and in real-time or substantially real-time for recording and retrieval purposes. The system is particularly useful for high density information storage in media in which submicron scattering sites are formed. The system comprises an illumination section for illuminating a surface of an optical recording media with an evanescent field. A collecting section is positioned with respect to the illuminated surface to channel radiant energy converted from the evanescent field by the scattering sites to unbound energy propagating away from the surface. Various embodiments of the illumination section are disclosed including the use of a bulk optic prismatic element, the forward aplantic element of a compound microscope objective, diffracting gratings, and optical waveguides.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: John M. Guerra
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Patent number: 5793792Abstract: A laser assembly is disclosed comprising a heatsink, a laser device attached to a mounting surface of the heatsink, and a beam-shaping lens attached to an oblique surface of the heatsink, the oblique surface intersecting with the mounting surface to form an obtuse dihedral angle. The beam-shaping lens comprises a canted attachment surface which, when placed against the oblique surface, serves to optimally position the lens in relation to the laser device.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1997Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Kevin A. Baxter, Douglas S. Goodman
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Patent number: 5794076Abstract: There is disclosed a photographic system incorporating a photographic apparatus of the type including an exposure control system which senses and evaluates ambient and infrared spectral energy for controlling camera functions; as well as an accessory for use in combination therewith which compensates for attenuation of infrared energy underwater which infrared energy would otherwise be used in controlling the camera functions. Provision is made for a supplemental source of infrared energy that is directed to such system for a time period and in an amount based upon an evaluation of reflected visible spectral energy from the scene.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1995Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: David L. Farrington, A. Brian Holland, Thomas A. Lumenello, Jane L. Riemenschneider
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Patent number: 5785795Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling the temperature of a delaminating surface in a range which reduces the formation of pinholes in an image bearing layer on an image bearing medium upon release of a laminated protective coating from its carrier web during delamination of the medium from the carrier web, as well as minimizes the formation of laminating artifacts in the image bearing medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1995Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: James F. Ryan, Alfredo G. Kniazzeh
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Patent number: 5784651Abstract: A photo booth for capturing an image of a subject and providing reproductions of the image is constructed from self-contained modules--an apparatus module and a background module--linked via a roof module and a floor member. The modules can be easily bundled for handling and storing and occupy, when bundled together, a substantially smaller floor space than when the modules are secured to each other for operation as a photo booth. The apparatus module includes an image capturing device, such as a photographic camera using self-developing film, an electronic camera or a combination thereof, and an image reproduction device and may further include means for illuminating the subject, for image processing and display and for receiving payment. Means for controlling the temperature and humidity inside the apparatus module may also be provided. The apparatus module may also be used as a stand-alone unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1996Date of Patent: July 21, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Donald E. Mauchan
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Patent number: 5778106Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image captured by an image acquisition device having a two-dimensional matrix of non-square pixels with a first aspect ratio. In one aspect of the method, the image is sampled in a color sub-sampled manner such that fewer than three color measurements are known for each pixel location. A processed image is then constructed by processing the fewer than three color measurements known for each pixel to generate one or more interpolated color values at each of the pixel locations. A processed image is then created for rendering on an output device having a square raster with a second aspect ratio which differs from the first aspect ratio. The processed image is processed such that an aspect ratio of the original image captured on the non-square pixels is maintained on the output device.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1996Date of Patent: July 7, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Andrew K. Juenger, Werner Metz
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Patent number: 5774626Abstract: A digital motor control is described which is programmable and has dual digital phase with sliding proportionality such that the motor control adaptively alters a speed of a motor by both changing sign and altering motor speed proportionally to an amount of motor speed error.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1995Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Edwin K. Shenk
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Patent number: 5774598Abstract: An image processing system for sample rate conversion of an image signal representing an image of pixels from a first sample rate to a second sample rate includes: an image acquisition device for acquiring the image signal from an image signal source at the first sample rate; a first memory for buffering the input signal; a second memory for storing predetermined discrete cosine transform coefficients; a dot product multiplier for multiplying the image signal retrieved from the first memory times the predetermined coefficients to produce an output signal at the second sampling rate; a third memory for buffering the output signal; control sequencer logic for controlling operation of the image processing system; and an output device for providing a resampled image at the second sampling rate from the output signal. The image processing system facilitates sample rate conversion by segmenting the image into segments of image data points wherein a separate and different offset is determined for each segment.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1995Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Lon E. Sunshine, Michael L. Reisch, Munib A. Wober
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Patent number: 5774221Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing phase controlled evanescent illumination. The phase controlled evanescent illumination is useful for Imaging, metrology, and energy delivery. The light waves comprising the evanescent electromagnetic field are inhomogeneous in that their planes of equal phase are substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation and to their planes of constant amplitude. The planes of equal phase are therefore normal to the surface to which the evanescent field is adjacent and to a sample surface illuminated by this field as well. Methods and means for dynamic or static phase shifting of inhomogeneous waves comprising the evanescent field are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 1996Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: John M. Guerra
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Patent number: 5773188Abstract: Unique laser ablation transfer ("LAT") imaging technique presenting options of flexibility and versatility hitherto alien to LAT imaging science ("LATIS"), comprises LAT imaging onto special or conventional intermediate receptor elements, characteristically onto adhesive face surface thereof, and then laminating, notably hot laminating under pressure, the intermediate receptor thus imaged onto any one of a very wide variety of ultimate receptor substrates; thus produced are, e.g., original full-color prints or proofs, photomasks, monochrome or multichrome transparencies, and the like, having smooth or matte protective durable overcoatings.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 1997Date of Patent: June 30, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventor: Ernest W. Ellis
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Patent number: 5759721Abstract: A holographic recording medium comprises an acid generator capable of producing an acid upon exposure to actinic radiation; a binder; and at least one monomer or oligomer capable of undergoing cationic polymerization initiated by the acid produced from the acid generator. This recording medium is not subject to the disadvantages (for example, oxygen sensitivity) associated with radical-polymerized prior art holographic recording media.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1996Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Pradeep K. Dhal, Michael G. Horner, Richard T. Ingwall, Eric S. Kolb, Parag G. Mehta, Richard A. Minns, Howard G. Schild, David A. Waldman
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Patent number: 5761539Abstract: A coin operated camera is mounted on a pedestal intermediate a plurality of children's rides. The camera may be rotated about a vertical axis to align with any of the rides to allow a photograph to be taken of the ride and any associated persons or apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1995Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Polaroid CorporationInventors: Paul M. Foley, John W. Lynch, Donald E. Mauchan