Patents by Inventor John D. Vala

John D. Vala 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).

  • Publication number: 20130265395
    Abstract: A system for generation of stereo video imagery. The system includes a first video camera, a second video camera, and an analysis subsystem. Positioning of the first and second video cameras is dynamically adjusted in near real time in response to a control signal that is generated by the analysis subsystem in response to the difference between a disparity signal and a reference parallax signal to dynamically minimize the difference between the disparity signal and the reference parallax signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: John D. Vala, David D. Conger, John-Taylor W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6744469
    Abstract: A method and system provide for real-time compensation of an imaging system for variations in illumination intensity. An illumination system provides reflected illumination, and a charge coupled device system directly detects the reflected illumination from the illumination system. The CCD system then converts the reflected illumination into illumination data and a host processor converts the illumination data into adjusted control data and final image data. The adjusted control data is based on an illumination profile and a reference illumination intensity. The reference illumination intensity is measured before each document with a compensation reference, and is compared to the illumination profile to adjust control parameters in a real-time mode. Directly measuring the illumination intensity with the CCD system allows for a reduction in parts, manufacturing steps, and errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Gudenburr, William L. Kozlowski, Christopher N. St. John, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 6246464
    Abstract: In a document processing array, an imaging/illumination arrangement for illuminating and imaging the documents at one or several imaging-sites as they are rapidly transported there-past, each site having, as its illumination source, a hollow Lambertian integrating cylinder housing lamps which project essentially all their light onto the inner cylinder walls to be reflected/diffused thereby in Lambertian fashion and sent to the imaging site(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Vala, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, Robert T. Rourke, Paul Stolis, Gary B. Copenhaver, David J. Valice, David J. Concannon
  • Patent number: 6178014
    Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating objects wherein a large number of objects are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more stations, each illuminated by a cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity having one or more like light sources therein so as to generate and project a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating optical guide means to couple said illumination beam to the face of the objects at said station and to couple the reflected image of the object back to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Gary B. Copenhaver, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, John D. Vala, David J. Concannon
  • Patent number: 5825945
    Abstract: In a check processing array, an imaging/illumination arrangement for illuminating and imaging checks at one or several imaging sites as they are rapidly, continuously transported past two or more imaging stations, each station having, as its illumination source, a hollow Lambertian integrating vessel, housing lamps which project a highly uniform, diffuse Lambertian illumination-beam to its respective imaging site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Unisys Corp
    Inventors: Paul Stolis, John D. Vala, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, Gary B. Copenhaver, David J. Concannon, Robert T. Rourke, David J. Valice
  • Patent number: 5780841
    Abstract: Document-imager for imaging documents (e.g. checks that are transported past an imaging-site, where the site is illuminated by one (or two) pairs of lamps symmetrically disposed about the site, with image-reflection sent back between lamps to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Unisys Corp.
    Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, David B. Tratar, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 5717504
    Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating objects wherein a large number of objects are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more stations, each illuminated by a cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity having one or more like light sources therein so as to generate and project a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating optical guide means to couple said illumination beam to the face of the objects at said station and to couple the reflected image of the object back to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Unisys Corp.
    Inventors: Gary B. Copenhaver, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, John D. Vala, David J. Concannon
  • Patent number: 5591961
    Abstract: Document-imager for imaging documents (e.g. checks that are transported past an imaging-site, where the site is illuminated by one (or two) pairs of lamps symmetrically disposed about the site, with image-reflection sent back between lamps to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, David B. Tratar, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 5519513
    Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating objects wherein a large number of objects are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more stations, each illuminated by a cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity having one or more like light sources therein so as to generate and project a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating optical guide means to couple said illumination beam to the face of the objects at said station and to couple the reflected image of the object back to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Gary B. Copenhaver, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, John D. Vala, David J. Concannon
  • Patent number: 5513274
    Abstract: Arrangement for lifting image of checks, with Xenon lamp, Fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD Camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the Camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Concannon, John D. Vala, Gerald Banks
  • Patent number: 5491336
    Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating documents in a document-processing system wherein a large number of documents are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more imaging stations, each station having, for illumination, an integrating structure which houses one or more cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavities, each cavity having one or more like light sources, so that each cavity generates and projects a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating imaging camera means and optical guide means to couple the illumination beam to the face of the documents at the imaging station and to couple the image of the document to the imaging camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Concannon, Gary B. Copenhaver, Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 5471048
    Abstract: Document-imager for imaging documents (e.g. checks that are transported past an imaging-site, where the site is illuminated by one (or two) pairs of lamps symmetrically disposed about the site, with image-reflection sent back between lamps to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, David B. Tratar, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 5453849
    Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating objects wherein a large number of objects are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more stations, each illuminated by a cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity having one or more like light sources therein so as to generate and project a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating optical guide means to couple said illumination beam to the face of the objects at said station and to couple the reflected image of the object back to the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Gary B. Copenhaver, Clive E. Catchpole, Johan P. Bakker, John D. Vala, David J. Concannon
  • Patent number: 5371356
    Abstract: Document-imager for imaging documents (e.g. checks that are transported past an imaging-site, where the site is illuminated by one (or two) pairs of lamps symmetrically disposed about the site, with image-reflection sent back between lamps to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, David B. Tratar, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 5272331
    Abstract: Document-imager for imaging documents (e.g. checks that are transported past an imaging-site, where the site is illuminated by one (or two) pairs of lamps symmetrically disposed about the site, with image-reflection sent back between lamps to be captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Johan P. Bakker, Clive E. Catchpole, David B. Tratar, John D. Vala
  • Patent number: 4622654
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method for the storage and conversion of a light input into a corresponding output with light from another source. The device includes an improved liquid crystal light valve having as a photosensor layer a deposited memory semiconductor material which is reversibily convertible between a first stable, relatively high electrical resistance condition and a second stable, relatively low electrical resistance condition. Each change of state or condition will remain after cessation of the input until stimulated to reverse to the other state, thereby achieving a storage or memory function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Zvi Yaniv, David A. Strand, John D. Vala