Patents by Inventor Robert G. Spahn

Robert G. Spahn 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: 20030101937
    Abstract: A thermal physical vapor deposition source for vaporizing solid organic materials in forming an OLED on a structure includes a bias heater, an electrically insulative container disposed in the bias heater, and a vaporization heater disposed on the container. Relative motion is provided between the source and the structure to provide a substantially uniform organic layer on the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Van Slyke, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 6513451
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and controlling formation of organic layers by physical vapor deposition of organic materials in making organic light-emitting devices is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Van Slyke, Michael A. Marcus, John P. Spoonhower, Robert G. Spahn, Dennis R. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20020189542
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring and controlling formation of organic layers by physical vapor deposition of organic materials in making organic light-emitting devices is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Van Slyke, Michael A. Marcus, John P. Spoonhower, Robert G. Spahn, Dennis R. Freeman
  • Patent number: 6268113
    Abstract: A direct write lithographic printing plate includes a base layer; a metal light absorbing layer provided over the base layer; and a melanophobic layer provided over the metal absorbing layer and selected to have a thickness which minimizes reflection of light from the metal layer so that light which passes through a selected portion of the melanophobic layer and into the metal light absorbing layer, is absorbed by such metal layer to provide a heat source which causes the removal, at the selected portion, of the melanophobic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 6243127
    Abstract: A process of forming an image comprising imagewise-exposing, by means of a laser, a thermal recording element comprising a transparent support having thereon at least two metal layers having a melting point below about 2,000° C. and a substantially transparent, polymeric spacer layer separating each metal layer from another metal layer, thereby causing portions of each metal layer to coalesce in response to the imagewise exposure by the laser, thus forming the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mitchell S. Burberry, Lee W. Tutt, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 6237529
    Abstract: A thermal physical vapor deposition electroluminescent source includes a housing defining an enclosure having side walls and a bottom wall, the enclosure receiving solid organic electroluminescent material which can be vaporized, and the width of the housing having a dimension wh; and the housing has a conductive portion defining a vapor efflux aperture slit having a width ws for permitting vaporized electroluminescent materials to pass through the slit onto a surface of a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5900339
    Abstract: A method of making a color filter array on a first substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing and patterning a photoresist layer on the substrate to form openings over selected regions of the substrate; providing a colorant layer having a heat transferable colorant material on a second substrate and positioning the second substrate such that the heat transferable colorant layer is in transferable relationship with but spaced a distance from the first substrate; heating the second substrate sufficiently to cause substantially all of the heat transferable colorant material to transfer across the spaced distance to the patterned photoresist layer on the first substrate; and removing the patterned photoresist layer leaving behind the heat transferable colorant material in the position of the openings over the selected regions of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Luther C. Roberts, Ching W. Tang, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5756240
    Abstract: A method of making a color filter array on a first substrate having an array of pixels is disclosed. The method includes depositing and patterning a photoresist layer on the substrate layer to form selected openings over pixels in the array; providing a colorant layer having a transferable colorant material on a second substrate and positioning the second substrate such that the transferable colorant material is in transferable relationship with the first substrate; transferring the colorant material to the photoresist layer on the first substrate; and removing the patterned photoresist layer leaving behind the colorant material in the position of the openings over the selected pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Luther C. Roberts, Ching W. Tang, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5558977
    Abstract: Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer, a transparent magnetic layer comprising magnetic particles dispersed in a film-forming binder and a transparent electrically-conductive layer comprising a sputter-deposited layer of a metal oxide. Use of a sputter-deposited metal oxide provides a controlled degree of electrical conductivity and beneficial chemical, physical and optical properties which adapt the electrically-conductive layer for such purposes as providing protection against static or serving as an electrode which takes part in an image-forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Vito A. DePalma, Robert G. Spahn, Bradley K. Coltrain, George N. Musshafen, Sharon R. Girolmo
  • Patent number: 5534385
    Abstract: There is disclosed a flexible optical recording element comprising a flexible support having thereon, in order, an SbInSn phase-change alloy optical recording layer and an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer being a silicon oxide layer having an index of refraction greater than about 1.8 at about 800 nm wavelength and a thickness of about .lambda./4, where .lambda. is the wavelength at which the element is read. The element of the invention provides for an advantageous optical tape with a well adhered abrasion resistant overcoat which also provides for excellent corrosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5350732
    Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof, in order, a subbing layer and a dye layer, and wherein the subbing layer comprises a vacuum-deposited metal oxide, and wherein either a) an infrared-absorbing material is contained in the dye layer or a layer associated therewith, or b) the other side of the support has a slipping layer thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Karen M. Kosydar, Stephen M. Neumann, Robert G. Spahn, Edward P. Otocka
  • Patent number: 5324414
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing Ag/Ni composite ion selective electrode on polymer substrates. By utilizing a nitrogen glow discharge pretreatment of the polymer substrate, silver may be deposited directly thereon. Further, because of the glow discharge pretreatment, aging of the silver layer prior to nickel deposition and bleaching operation is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert G. Spahn, Louis J. Gerenser
  • Patent number: 5278576
    Abstract: A thermal dye transfer process, and intermediate receiver used therein, for obtaining a color image which is used to represent a printed color image obtained from a printing press comprising (a) imagewise-heating by means of a laser a dye-donor element in contact with a polymeric dye image-receiving layer of an intermediate dye-receiving element, thereby transferring a dye image to the dye image-receiving layer, the intermediate dye-receiving element comprising the dye image-receiving layer and a layer substantially opaque to light at the wavelength the laser is operated at, (b) adhering the dyed polymeric dye image-receiving layer to a final receiver element, and (c) separating the opaque layer from the dyed image-receiving layer. Preferably, the opaque layer is reflective, and most preferably specularly reflective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Linda Kaszczuk, Mitchell S. Burberry, Robert G. Spahn, James E. Klijanowicz
  • Patent number: 5244770
    Abstract: A donor element for laser color transfer processes includes a heat absorbing layer including a combination of a metal layer with an antireflecting layer having an index of refraction greater than 2. The heat absorbing layer may include a metal or an alloy either in single or multiple layers having a thickness sufficient to yield a heat capacity of less than 0.2 calories per degree Centigrade per square meter and an optical density at the laser wavelength of 1.0 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Robert G. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5118372
    Abstract: In the manufacture of a decorative sheet material to be bonded to a substrate to provide a surface having a brushed metal appearance, a light-reflective, glossy metal layer is formed on a thermoformable carrier film. A pattern of straight and parallel microscopic cracks is created in the metal layer at a temperature below Tg of the carrier film by bi-directionally bending and drawing the resulting sheet material around a straight cracking member. Thereafter, the sheet material is stretched at a temperature above Tg of the carrier film. This creates an attractive brushed metal appearance of reduced gloss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert G. Spahn