Patents by Inventor Kenneth Merola

Kenneth Merola 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: 7738032
    Abstract: A self-contained, portable apparatus and corresponding method for capturing, displaying and analyzing images of a person includes a housing for containing a digital camera, a light source capable of providing at least two different wavelengths of light, a touch-screen display and a computer for controlling the camera, the light source and the display. The apparatus selectively captures and displays a plurality of digital images using different wavelengths of illuminating light. The light source may include a plurality of flashes and filters, some of which may be adjustable to adjust the angle of incidence of the illuminating light on the subject. Preferably, the apparatus is self-serve, allowing any person to capture, review and analyze the images. To that end, the apparatus may provide a moving image and verbal instructions to a user to aid in positioning themselves relative to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Patent number: 7376346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assessing the efficacy of skin care products by comparing images of the skin prior to and after use of said skin care product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: J&J Consumer Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20060268148
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of photographing the skin of a person comprising: (i) illuminating the skin with at least one light source, wherein the light source emits substantially only light having a wavelength from about 380 to about 430 nm or emits light through a filter that emits substantially only light having a wavelength from about 380 to about 430 nm; and (ii) capturing the image of the illuminated skin with a camera; wherein the light entering the camera is also filtered with a long pass filter, wherein the long pass filter substantially eliminates light having a wavelength below about 400 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Patent number: 6961517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of promoting a skin care product comprising taking a standard photograph of the skin of a person; (ii) taking at least one additional photograph of the skin of the person, the additional photograph selected from the group consisting of an ultraviolet photograph, a blue fluorescence photograph, and a polarized photograph; (iii) presenting the standard photograph and the at least one additional photograph to the person; and (iv) suggesting skin care products based upon the person's review of the presented photographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20050201935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assessing the efficacy of skin care products by comparing images of the skin prior to and after use of said skin care product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20050195316
    Abstract: A self-contained, portable apparatus and corresponding method for capturing, displaying and analyzing images of a person includes a housing for containing a digital camera, a light source capable of providing at least two different wavelengths of light, a touch-screen display and a computer for controlling the camera, the light source and the display. The apparatus selectively captures and displays a plurality of digital images using different wavelengths of illuminating light. The light source may include a plurality of flashes and filters, some of which may be adjustable to adjust the angle of incidence of the illuminating light on the subject. Preferably, the apparatus is self-serve, allowing any person to capture, review and analyze the images. To that end, the apparatus may provide a moving image and verbal instructions to a user to aid in positioning themselves relative to the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Patent number: 6922523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assessing the efficacy of skin care products by comparing images of the skin prior to and after use of said skin care product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Patent number: 6907193
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of photographing the skin of a person comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating the skin with at least one light source, where the light emitted from the light source is filtered using a polarizing filter; and (ii) capturing the image of the illuminated skin with a camera; wherein the angle formed by the light source, the skin, and the camera is from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20040146290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of photographing the skin of a person comprising: (i) illuminating the skin with at least one light source, wherein the light source emits substantially only light having a wavelength from about 380 to about 430 nm or emits light through a filter that emits substantially only light having a wavelength from about 380 to about 430 nm; and (ii) capturing the image of the illuminated skin with a camera; wherein the light entering the camera is also filtered with a long pass filter, wherein the long pass filter substantially eliminates light having a wavelength below about 400 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20030138249
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assessing the efficacy of skin care products by comparing images of the skin prior to and after use of said skin care product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20030086712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of promoting a skin care product comprising taking a standard photograph of the skin of a person; (ii) taking at least one additional photograph of the skin of the person, the additional photograph selected from the group consisting of an ultraviolet photograph, a blue fluorescence photograph, and a polarized photograph; (iii) presenting the standard photograph and the at least one additional photograph to the person; and (iv) suggesting skin care produces based upon the person's review of the presented photographs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Merola, Nikiforos Kollias, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk
  • Publication number: 20030086703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of photographing the skin of a person comprising the steps of: (i) illuminating the skin with at least one light source, where the light emitted from the light source is filtered using a polarizing filter; and (ii) capturing the image of the illuminated skin with a camera; wherein the angle formed by the light source, the skin, and the camera is from about 35 degrees to about 55 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Nikiforos Kollias, Kenneth Merola, Jeffrey S. Pote, Gregory Payonk