Patents by Inventor Christopher L. Watkins

Christopher L. Watkins 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: 11938703
    Abstract: Airsoles or bladders for articles of footwear comprising multi-layered films are provided herein. In one aspect, the airsoles or bladders comprise a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein a first side of the first sheet faces a second side of the second sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are bonded together to form an internal cavity in a space between the first side of the first sheet and the second side of the second sheet, forming a bladder capable of retaining a gas in the internal cavity at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, at atmospheric pressure, or below atmospheric pressure; and wherein each of the first sheet and the second sheet comprise a multi-layered film comprising: a core region comprising at least 20 gas barrier layers and a plurality of elastomeric layers, wherein the gas-barrier layers alternate with the elastomeric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Diya Bandyopadhyay, Narayanan Ashwin Kumar Bharadwaj, Yihua Chang, Christopher J. Dimitriou, Nancy D. Eisenmenger, Sharon Oba, Richard L. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20240067826
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to color compositions and methods of making a printed layer using the color composition as well as an article that can include the printed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Yihua Chang, Christopher J. Dimitriou, Jeremy Gantz, Adam Kohn, Richard L. Watkins, Mary Austin
  • Patent number: 7319547
    Abstract: A method of determining substrate and ink compatibility includes providing a test pattern having a range of ink loading levels and including test features corresponding to at least one of text and graphics; identifying a substrate; identifying an ink set; printing the test pattern on the identified substrate using the identified ink set; selecting an ink loading level for at least one of the at least one of text and graphics using the test pattern; and generating a tone scale transformation for one or more ink colors of the identified ink set using the selected ink loading level for at least one of the at least one of text and graphics, the selected ink loading level for the at least one of the at least one of text and graphics being dependent on the identified substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, Terry A. Wozniak, Christopher L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 7050196
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the quantification of a printed tone scale for each individual color in a printing system, developing a linear tone scale derived in an independent color space and referenced from the shade of the unprinted substrate. The present invention determines the threshold for excessive ink coverage of a printing system on a specified substrate. This determination is based on a subjective evaluation of acceptable thresholds for bleed, cockle, show through, and image density. The method works in conjunction with a predefined test pattern printed on the specified substrate at fixed printing parameters, such as speed, dryer temperature, and web tension. This invention also includes an ability to limit the ink of each independent color in the system as a fraction of the total upper ink limit. Furthermore, this invention allows calibration of the tone scale of each color in the system using the color of the paper as a reference point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, Terry Wozniak, Christopher L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6980330
    Abstract: The present invention addresses problems encountered in the conversion of continuous tone data into binary data for printing on low resolution imaging systems. Representation of the continuous tone data is only roughly approximated through the conversion to binary data. Artifacts of the binary printing process are objectionable for several reasons. They decrease over all image quality and may sometimes allow for only partial representation of the original data. Partially formed and/or irregularly formed text characters are one such example. This invention addresses this problem by forcing certain levels to be processed through predictable dot dispersion patterns so as to preserve pre-identified portions of the input data stream. Continuous tone image data for imaging on a digital output device is processed by identifying at least one problematic tone level in the binary representation of the image, and identifying at least one non-problematic tone level in the binary representation of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Piatt, Christopher L. Watkins
  • Patent number: 6513899
    Abstract: The present invention proposes a method of digitally manipulating inking in digital images to optimize the image by affecting the amount of ink put on the paper. This is accomplished by replacing some inkings with values determined from actual measurement, rather than with values derived from formulas. Digital image data is manipulated by means of multiple transformations, maintaining printed color quality while obtaining a more favorable inking. The technique of the present invention of manipulating inking is calorimetric, in that it is based on precise color measurements. The method of the present invention is based on hard data for the particular print system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher L. Watkins