Patents by Inventor Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.

Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr. 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: 6437863
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6330341
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining accurate hair color classifications and appropriate coloring agents to bring about a selected change of color include a table of hair color classifications, a color measuring instrument to arrive at Hunter L, a and b for use in identifying a particular classification from the table and a database that identifies appropriate coloring agents based on a selection of coloring actions from a menu and the classifications of hair color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6314372
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining accurate hair color classifications and appropriate coloring agents to bring about a selected change of color include a table of hair color classifications, a color measuring instrument to arrive at Hunter L, a and b values for use in identifying a particular classification from the table and a database that identifies appropriate coloring agents based on a selection of coloring actions from a menu and the classifications of hair color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6308088
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson MacFarlane, David Kenneth MacFarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6271920
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for calibrating a color measuring instrument with a color standard and verifying the color standard and calibration are provided. One method includes providing a color standard having a surface with at least two different colors (preferably arranged for a simultaneous color measurement), calibrating the instrument, and verifying that said color standard is an authorized color standard of a predetermined specification and that the calibration of the color measuring instrument has achieved predetermined specified results. Some of the provided methods and apparatus use a photosensitive portion of the color standard that changes color in a known way when exposed to a predetermined dose of light. Various color standards for use with this invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby S. Macfarlane, David K. Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6178341
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring with a Color Measurement System of predetermined specification and evaluating the color of skin, teeth, hair and material substances with a Color Index. The principles of this invention also relate to techniques for using such a Color Measurement System with the Color Index in medical applications such as the detection of chromogenic disease including bilirubin infant jaundice, cosmetics applications and in the evaluation of the color of hair or teeth, and other applications. The Color Index is measured and calculated from the reflectance spectrum of any skin (or teeth, hair or material substance) by a two step process. The first step is the weighting of the visible spectra with a unique set of weighting factors which calculate a sample's reflectance spectrum's contribution to the appearance of four color components independent of the illuminating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby S. Macfarlane, David K. Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr., Hugh S. Fairman
  • Patent number: 6157445
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6129664
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6128516
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as bilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson Macfarlane, David Kenneth Macfarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6067504
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining accurate hair color classificatinos and appropriate coloring agents to bring about a selected change of color include a table of hair color classifications, a color measuring instrument to arrive at Hunter L, a and b values for use in identifying a particular classification from the table and a database that identifies appropriate coloring agents based on a selection of coloring actions from a menu and the classifications of hair color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson MacFarlane, David Kenneth MacFarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5671735
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a test subject based on color uses a color measuring instrument to detect change in a color factor indicative of a condition such as a disease, spoilage, ageing, etc. A medical condition such as hyperbilirubinemia that affects skin color can be detected. One measures color factors such as Hunter b and L in the subjects' skin color. For predetermined ranges of one color factor, in particular L, changes in the other color factor, e.g. Hunter b, above predetermined levels are indicative of the medical condition. In many cases, a single measurement of the color factors can be utilized as a warning of the likelihood of the medical or contaminated condition, if the ordinary range of the color factor is known for healthy individuals with skin coloration like that of the test subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Chromatics Color Sciences International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darby Simpson MacFarlane, David Kenneth MacFarlane, Fred W. Billmeyer, Jr.