Patents by Inventor Earl Johns
Earl Johns 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).
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Patent number: 8319797Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Patent number: 8233785Abstract: A photography station operates to capture digital images of a subject with at least one digital camera. The photography station includes foreground lighting and background lighting. The foreground lighting is configured to illuminate the subject, while the background lighting is configured to illuminate a background. The photography station includes a computing device having a setup module operable to perform tests to check a configuration of the photography station, and a photography module operable to capture digital images of the subject with the digital camera. In some embodiments, the tests performed by the setup module include a plurality of initial checking operations and a plurality of background processing operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventors: Michael John Surma, Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Brent Peterson
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Publication number: 20120120281Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: LIFETOUCH INC.Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Patent number: 8134576Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Publication number: 20110134141Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2010Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: LIFETOUCH INC.Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Publication number: 20110080351Abstract: A method of controlling touch input on a touch-sensitive display when a display element is active and a portable electronic device configured for the same are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling touch input on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device, the method comprising: displaying a widget having at least one field on a user interface screen displayed on the touch-sensitive display; selecting the field in the widget in response to predetermined interaction with the touch-sensitive display; changing the value of the selected field in accordance with a predetermined touch gesture at any location on the touch-sensitive display; and re-displaying the widget on the user interface screen with the changed value of the selected field.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITEDInventors: Earl John WIKKERINK, Michael George LANGLOIS, Michael Thomas HARDY, Raymond Emmanuel MENDOZA, Yoojin HONG, Rohit Rocky JAIN, Orlin STOEV
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Patent number: 7834894Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2007Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Lifetouch Inc.Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Publication number: 20080246777Abstract: A first digital image is acquired of a framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a first lighting condition. A second digital image is then acquired of the same framed area while illuminating the background and foreground object under a second lighting condition. Preferably, the first lighting condition illuminates the background without illuminating the foreground object so that a silhouette of the foreground object is acquired in the first image. The second lighting condition illuminates the foreground object (e.g., with frontal lights). Due to the difference in the illumination between the background and silhouette in the first image, an alpha mask can be created from the first acquired image. Using the mask, the background from the second image can be removed and replaced by virtually any other desired background image.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2007Publication date: October 9, 2008Inventors: Richard Lee Swanson, Earl John Adolphi, Michael John Surma, John Robert Reinert Nash
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Publication number: 20060154110Abstract: Patterned thin films comprise regions of relatively low thermal conductivity material separated by regions of relatively high thermal conductivity material. The low thermal conductivity regions may be provided in the form of cylinders or cuboids which are arranged in a continuous matrix of the high thermal conductivity material. The thin film may be used as thermal control layers in data recording media such as heat assisted magnetic recording media.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2005Publication date: July 13, 2006Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Julius Hohlfeld, Yukiko Kubota, Dieter Weller, Stanko Brankovic, Xiaomin Yang, Earl Johns
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Publication number: 20060023606Abstract: An apparatus comprises a ferroelectric storage medium, and a transducer for reading data from the ferroelectric storage medium and for writing data to the ferroelectric storage medium, wherein the transducer includes a substrate and a probe coupled to the substrate, wherein the probe includes a conductive element and a bilayer structure causing the probe to bend toward the ferroelectric storage medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2004Publication date: February 2, 2006Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Mark Lutwyche, Earl Johns, Martin Forrester, Mark Bedillion, Andreas Roelofs, Joachim Ahner, Robert Rottmayer, Andre Liem, Edward Skalko, Xueshi Yang
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Publication number: 20050128616Abstract: A ferroelectric transducer for use with a ferroelectric storage medium includes a read electrode. The read electrode emits a current when a polarity orientation of the read electrode is opposite a polarity orientation of a ferroelectric domain on the storage medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2003Publication date: June 16, 2005Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Earl Johns, Mark Lutwyche, Yiao-Tee Hsia, James Kiely
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Patent number: 5821876Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker control arrangement that is reliable, accurate and cost-effective to manufacture, install and maintain. This circuit breaker arrangement also provides increased modularity by alleviating the need for installing wires to connect each circuit breaker with the control station. The present invention uses circuit breakers that contain internal control technology for interrupting and establishing an associated current path. At least one coded signal designates each circuit breaker, and a communication bus carries these coded signals to each circuit breaker. Decoding technology located on each circuit breaker determines whether the coded signal corresponds to that circuit breaker. If the coded signal does correspond to that circuit breaker, then the decoding technology responds by sending the appropriate response signal over the communication bus, and the circuit breaker's internal control technology either interrupts or establishes the associated current path.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1991Date of Patent: October 13, 1998Assignee: Square D CompanyInventors: Ronald Lee Farrington, Larry James Serbousek, Andy Allen Haun, Earl John Tessmer
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Patent number: 5717454Abstract: To facilitate creating professional poses for a person to be photographed, a posing mask generating system is provided including a microprocessor having a video graphics board therein. The microprocessor also has a memory and a data input and output device. A video camera is interfaced with the video graphics board so that a video image of a model to be photographed can be viewed on a display terminal. Using the data input device, a professional photographer, experienced in posing subjects, enters graphics information into the system which is then overlaid with the video image and appropriately positioned to define a mask or template defining the location for prominent features of the subject within the frame of reference. This is repeated for a number of possible poses, with the graphics information being stored in the memory of the microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1993Date of Patent: February 10, 1998Assignee: Lifetouch Portrait Studios, Inc.Inventors: Earl John Adolphi, Michael T. Breckenridge, Michael J. Surma
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Patent number: 5232570Abstract: A hard protective material and method for forming the medium having the formula C.sub.x N.sub.y. The medium may be formed as a protective film on a magnetic recording disk in a sputtering apparatus such as a magnetron apparatus. The amount of nitrogen in the film may be affected by controlling the collisions of the sputtered material between the target and deposition substrate by controlling the bombardment of the substrate by electrons. The films exhibit properties indicative of a textured morphology on a nanoscale which enhances the retention of lubricant overcoats.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1991Date of Patent: August 3, 1993Assignee: Digital Equipment CorporationInventors: William G. Haines, Chongwon Byun, Earl Johns, Quock Ng, Durga Ravipati, Robert M. Raymond, Gary C. Rauch
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Patent number: 4470335Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely attaching one object to another object comprising: (a) a target consisting of layers of contrasting hardness attached to one object, wherein the outer layer is a relatively soft composition and the underlying base is a relatively hard composition, and (b) a projectile of intermediate hardness attached to the other object. By propelling the projectile against the target, the projectile penetrates the softer outer layer and expands upon impact with the inner layer, thus securely anchoring the two objects together. Such a method and apparatus are useful in outer space and underwater applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 1982Date of Patent: September 11, 1984Assignee: Gearhart Industries, Inc.Inventor: Earl Johns