Patents by Inventor Lawrence W. Dobbins

Lawrence W. Dobbins 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: 4793281
    Abstract: A liquid toner applicator for elongated photoconductive film medium on which a latent electrostatic image has been formed includes an upper bearing surface for supporting moving film medium, which is spaced from a conductive block having an upper surface. The conductive block has slots cut into a toning region of its upper surface. During operation, pressurized toner wells through the slots into the region between the lower surface of the film and the upper surface of the block. The toner tones the latent image. The upwelling toner spills into fluid channels, which carry the toner which is not used to a catch basin. From the catch basin, a toner pump recirculates the toner. Downstream form the toning region, a further slot cut into the block communicates with a vacuum source to squeegee away excess toner which is not associated with the toned image. An air knife downstream from the vacuum squeegee includes a slot cut an an angle through the block and a pressurized air source therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lawrence W. Dobbins, Siu K. Luk
  • Patent number: 4507773
    Abstract: An optical beam switch is provided in a multiple beam optical disc record and playback system. Current systems for very high data rate optical disc mass memory apparatus include requirements for near-continuous recording of data using two separate turntables in a single apparatus. To reduce cost and complexities in the system as well as power requirements, the optical system includes a beam switch that allows a single record laser and modulator to be shared between two turntables. In accordance with the system a half-wave plate is shifted into and out of the beam path to effect polarization change of the light beam. A polarizing beam splitter, which follows the half-wave plate in the beam path, shifts the light beam in one of two directions depending upon the polarization of the light beam or, in other words, the position of the half-wave plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: James T. McCann, Lawrence W. Dobbins, Charles W. Reno
  • Patent number: 4344088
    Abstract: A photographic film recorder includes film-exposing apparatus having a laser light source for exposing the film, and a photographic film-developing apparatus. A film transport means transports the film at the same velocity through both the exposing apparatus and the developing apparatus, under control of a received film velocity signal. The time period each element of the film is in the developer varies inversely with film velocity. A plurality of transfer function look-up tables are provided for translating a received video density signal to a corresponding exposure signal for controlling the laser light source. Means responsive to the film velocity signal selects for use a transfer function look-up table which is appropriate for the time period each element of the film is in the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen L. Corsover, Lawrence W. Dobbins, Paul B. Pierson