Patents by Inventor Michael J. Steinle
Michael J. Steinle 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: 8797611Abstract: A lens receives light emitted from an illumination source along an orientation in which a center of the lens is aligned with a central axis of illumination that forms an acute angle of incidence relative to a to-be-imaged surface and the lens directs the light toward the to-be-imaged surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Michael J. Steinle
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Patent number: 6606888Abstract: An anti-pilfer lock device is provided for protecting against unauthorized access to the flow control valve units projecting from the outer surface of a mobile ammonia nurse tank. A box-shaped housing is sized and configured to be removably mounted on the shell of the nurse tank in complemental conforming relationship thereto in a position shielding the flow control valve units to prevent theft of ammonia from the nurse tank. Lock structure is provided for releasably holding the housing in its valve protecting position on the nurse tank storage vessel. The lock structure includes a coupling bar connected to at least one of the control valve housings, and an extension strap secured to the bar extends upwardly therefrom through a slot in the top wall of the housing. A bolt cutter proof lock is removably connected to the upper end of the extension strap above the top surface of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Farmland Industries, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. Steinle, Guy Swenson
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Patent number: 6567570Abstract: An image scanner uses optical targets within the scanner to characterize imperfections of a lens system and to partially compensate for the imperfections using digital image processing. In one sample embodiment, a series of two-dimensional optical targets are placed outside the document scanning area. Each individual target is suitable for obtaining an estimate of the point-spread function for a small segment of the scan line. Each point-spread function is then used to compute a convolution kernel for the corresponding segment of the scan line. Alternatively, each point-spread function may be used in an iterative solution for a modified image. In an alternative embodiment, a two-dimensional known random pattern is provided for a target. Cross-correlation of a portion of the known random pattern with the scanned image of the same portion of known random pattern provides an estimate of the point-spread function for the portion of the scan line corresponding to the portion of the known random pattern.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Michael J. Steinle, Dan S. Johnson
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Publication number: 20020124605Abstract: An anti-pilfer lock device is provided for protecting against unauthorized access to the flow control valve units projecting from the outer surface of a mobile ammonia nurse tank. A box-shaped housing is sized and configured to be removably mounted on the shell of the nurse tank in complemental conforming relationship thereto in a position shielding the flow control valve units to prevent theft of ammonia from the nurse tank. Lock structure is provided for releasably holding the housing in its valve protecting position on the nurse tank storage vessel. The lock structure includes a coupling bar connected to at least one of the control valve housings, and an extension strap secured to the bar extends upwardly therefrom through a slot in the top wall of the housing. A bolt cutter proof lock is removably connected to the upper end of the extension strap above the top surface of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Michael J. Steinle, Guy Swenson
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Patent number: 6255676Abstract: A CCD assembly comprising: a semiconductor chip having a first face surface; an active light sensitive region located on the first face surface; an inactive region located on the first face surface next adjacent the active region; and a nonreflective coating applied over at least a portion of the inactive region.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Hewlett Packard CompanyInventor: Michael J Steinle
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Patent number: 6232594Abstract: A feedback control system has two sinusoidal quadrature position feedback signals generated by photosensitive detectors that sense light reflected from (or transmitted through) position encoding strips that have a reflectance (or transmissivity) that varies sinusoidally along the length of the strip. The system may have one position encoding strip, with two photosensors offset along the length of the strip to provide a ninety degree phase offset. Alternatively, the system may have two strips that are offset in phase by ninety degrees. An error signal is produced directly within the servo loop without requiring computation of ARC-SIN or ARC-COSINE. The error signal is continuous, and position error is not sensitive to photosensor gain.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Joseph A Eccher, Michael J Steinle
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Patent number: 6207945Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed wherein the imaging portion of the imaging device is integrated into an optical positioning system. The imaging device has a linear array of photodetector elements that are used to generate machine-readable image data representing an object being imaged. At least one two-dimensional photodetector segment comprising a two-dimensional array of photodetector elements is integrated into the linear array of photodetector elements. The two-dimensional photodetector segments serve the dual function of providing image data and positioning data.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 1999Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: David D. Bohn, Michael J. Steinle
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Patent number: 6172772Abstract: A process for compensation for real time changes of magnification in an optics system for an image scanner. Targets having high-contrast edges, on both sides of an image to be scanned, are scanned along with the image. If magnification changes, the number of pixels between the targets may change. The pixels between the targets are filtered to generate a fixed number of pixels. Photosensor sensitivity compensation values may be separated into factory compensation values and scanner pre-scan compensation values. Factory compensation values are applied before filtering. Differences between factory compensation values and pre-scan compensation values are applied after filtering.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael J. Steinle, Dan S. Johnson
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Patent number: 6080980Abstract: An optical system that folds a light path multiple times with all the folded paths being coplanar. The light is first polarized. Then, the polarized light is reflected multiple times through a quarter-wave plate, finally being phase shifted to the proper polarization state to enable transmission out of the system. One optical element transmits light that is at one planar polarity and reflects light at the orthogonal planar polarity. Another optical element transmits light that is at one circular polarity and reflects light at the orthogonal circular polarity.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Michael J. Steinle
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Patent number: 5654809Abstract: A method for dynamically determining and adjusting the color balance of the light strip along one edge of the scanned area and adjusting the gains of independently controlled red, green and blue channels of a CCD array. Alternatively, the gain of one color channel may be held constant and measured to determine the light intensity of the light source as the temperature of the light source varies. The power to the light is then changed to maintain the intensity of the light source within a predetermined range. The three color channels are then compared to a predetermined color balance. If the color balance is outside of a predetermined range, the other two color channels gains are varied in order to maintain the color balance between the three color channels.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 1996Date of Patent: August 5, 1997Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Co.Inventors: Edward S. Beeman, Steven L. Webb, Michael J. Steinle, Robert G. Gann, Brian L. Hastings, Greg A. Degi
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Patent number: 5646394Abstract: The optical photoelectric imaging apparatus adjusts automatically using closed-loop control before each scan to optimize scanning quality. Various optical components can be moved in order to align a scanned image of an object with the linear photosensor array. The device scans a target of known characteristics to determine what adjustment is needed.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael J. Steinle, Joe A. Eccher
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Patent number: 5410347Abstract: A scanning apparatus having a linear photosensor, an imaging assembly, and a scanning displacement assembly adapted for producing relatively constant rate linear displacement between an imaged object and the imaging assembly to cause scan line portions of the object to be sequentially imaged on the linear photosensor device and an image registration holding assembly associated with the scanning displacement device to cause an image from each different scan line portion on the object to be temporarily held in registration with the linear photosensor.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1993Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael J. Steinle, Steven G. Henry, Dean Buck, Jerry L. Bybee
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Patent number: 5406066Abstract: A photosensor device which comprises a first photosensor array having a first predetermined number of pixels for generating a first data signal indicative of a first color component image of an object which is imaged thereon; a second photosensor array having a second predetermined number of pixels for generating a second data signal indicative of a second color component image of the object which is imaged thereon; and color registration error correction means operatively associated with the photosensor array for correcting color registration error due to a predetermined difference in image size between the first color component image and the second color component image.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1993Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael J. Steinle, Greg A. Degi
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Patent number: 5300767Abstract: An optical scanning device for generating a data signal representative of an object which is scanned comprising a light source for illuminating the object; an imaging assembly for projecting imaging light from the object onto an image plane; a plurality of linear photosensor arrays positioned at the image plane for generating light sensing signals indicative of the intensity of light in different spectral regions impinged thereon; a transparent plate positioned in adjacent overlying relationship with the photosensor arrays; a plurality of filter coatings disposed on different regions of the transparent plate in alignment the plurality of photosensor arrays for filteringly transmitting imaging light in the predetermined different spectral regions to the different photosensor arrays.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1993Date of Patent: April 5, 1994Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: Michael J. Steinle, Steven L. Webb, Hans D. Neumann
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Patent number: 5227620Abstract: An apparatus for assembling components of a color optical scanner subassembly which includes a first filter member, a second filter member and a photosensor unit. The apparatus includes an imaging means for impinging an imaging light beam from a line object onto the first and second filter assemblies for producing spatially separated color component images of the line object on the photosensor unit. The apparatus also includes a physical adjustment assembly for holding and selectively adjusting the relative position of the first filter member, the second filter member and the photosensor unit in response to data signals generated by the photosensor unit. This positioning accurately locates the filter members relative to the photosensor unit for optimizing performance of the color optical scanner.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1992Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventors: C. William Elder, Jr., Michael J. Steinle, Duane L. Starner
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Patent number: 5044727Abstract: An optical separator device for splitting a beam of incident polychromatic light into a plurality of spacially and spectrally separated component beams having parallel optical axes including a first composite for spectrally and spacially separating the incident beam into a first plurality of component beams and having a first plurality of parallel, spectrally selective, reflective layers including a layer adapted to reflect light in a first spectral range and a second spectral range; a second composite for further spectrally and spacially separating the first plurality of component beams into a second plurality of component beams and having a second plurality of parallel, spectrally selective, reflective layers including a layer adapted to reflect light in the spectral range and to transmit light in the second spectral range.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 1990Date of Patent: September 3, 1991Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Michael J. Steinle
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Patent number: 5040872Abstract: A color imaging assembly for forming spatially separated, color component images of an object on a unitary image plane, comprising an imaging lens adapted for receiving a polychromatic imaging light beam from the object for imaging the object on the unitary image plane; a unitary multilayered beam splitter disposed obliquely in the path of the polychromatic, imaging light beam for splitting the polychromatic light beam into a plurality of parallel, spatially separated, color component beams having optical axes positioned perpendicular to the unitary image plane; and a path length compensator device disposed between the beam splitter and the unitary image plane for refractively compensating for differences in optical path lengths of the plurality of color component beams whereby each of the color component beams provides a focused color component image of the object on the unitary image plane is disclosed. A beam combiner assembly having a component beam path length compensator device is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1990Date of Patent: August 20, 1991Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Michael J. Steinle
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Patent number: 5032004Abstract: An optical device for splitting an imaging light beam into at least three spacially and spectrally separated component beams which includes a plurality of surface pairs. Each of the surface pairs includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface of each of the surface pairs is adapted to reflect a different one of the component beams. The second surface of each said surface pairs is adapted to reflect all of the component beams except for the component beam reflected by the associated first surface. A method for optimizing the performance of such an optical device is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1990Date of Patent: July 16, 1991Assignee: Hewlett-Packard CompanyInventor: Michael J. Steinle