Patents by Inventor Dennis Eugene Baxter

Dennis Eugene Baxter 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: 5652928
    Abstract: Camera autofocus apparatus and method employing an autoranging device to determine a lens destination focus position in terms of a target number of signal pulses from a lens motion sensor photo-interrupter. A lens drive motor is initially driven at maximum speed by a 100% pulse width modulated drive signal. At a fixed number of signal pulses in advance of the target, the average motor speed is calculated and a reduced pulse with modulated drive signal, determined based on the calculated motor speed, is applied to the drive motor to cause the lens to arrive at a uniform speed at a near destination focus position that is suitable for application of a standard motor stopping routine. During the motor stopping routine, the motor is initially "plugged" (reverse polarity drive signal) and the signal pulse period is monitored until a predetermined period is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dennis Eugene Baxter, James Vergil Leavy, Peter Austin Newman, Leonard Richiuso