Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Smith

Thomas M. Smith 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: 20040120667
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optical light transmitting component including a network of cells containing filler material, the cells being walled on the sides and unwalled on the top and bottom portion of each cell, the walled sides comprising a polymer having a first refractive index, and the cells comprising a filler material having a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index, whereby light may be transmitted through the filler material and the unwalled top and bottom portion of the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Aylward, Narasimharao Dontula, Richard D. Bomba, Thomas M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040109659
    Abstract: Disclosed is a waveguide having a light inlet surface and a viewing surface comprising stacked core layers separated by clad layers to form channels and bearing a smoothing layer on at least one of the light inlet surface or the viewing surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Aylward, Thomas M. Smith, Daniel A. Slater, Arunachalam T. Ram
  • Patent number: 6690447
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal display, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material and providing a second electrode in contact with the dried liquid crystal bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stanley W. Stephenson, John I. Kilburn, John W. Boettcher, Thomas M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030219674
    Abstract: A photothermographic film and a method for making same is taught. The film includes a support, a photothermographic imaging layer coated on the support, and a complement film generally confining the photothermographic imaging layer between the support and the complement film. The complement film is applied to the photothermographic imaging layer prior to exposure of the photothermographic imaging layer. The complement film retains any volatile materials present in the photothermographic imaging layer generated when thermal energy is applied thereto to develop a latent image exposed on the photothermographic imaging layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Aparna V. Bhave, Karissa L. Eckert, Kenneth W. Metz, Lawrence B. Wallace, Mridula Nair, Thomas M. Smith, Barry M. Brown
  • Patent number: 6627855
    Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6585849
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal display, including the steps of providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a protective dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material, providing a second substrate having a second electrode, coating the second electrode with a dielectric adhesive layer; and laminating the coated second electrode to the liquid crystal bearing material by means of the dielectric adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Stanley W. Stephenson, John I. Kilburn, John W. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 6551766
    Abstract: A process is described for healing scratches on the base side of an imaged motion picture film element comprising a polymeric film base having one or more image layers on one side thereof, the process comprising applying an aqueous coating formulation comprised of an aqueous dispersion of a polyurethane to the scratched base side of the motion picture film element, and drying the applied coating formulation to form a polyurethane layer, wherein the polyurethane comprises an aliphatic polyurethane which has a Young's modulus at 100% elongation to break of less than 4000 psi and a Sward hardness value of at least 60. Scratch healing formulations employed in accordance with the invention provide coated layers with superior resistance to blocking, cleaning solvents, and abrasion, and which are more flexible, dry faster, and are more effective in hiding minor scratches than that disclosed in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Luba Kordovski
  • Publication number: 20030052116
    Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6519326
    Abstract: A voice-ringing system is provided. The traditional telephone ring for notifying a called party of an incoming phone call is replaced by a short verbal announcement that is provided by the calling party when placing the phone call. In a manner similar to traditional telephone ringing, the announcement is repeated until the call is answered or until the caller abandons the unanswered call. One implementation for the voice-ringing system is to utilize the Internet as a signaling channel. The calling party establishes a call by utilizing a communications device that is connected to both the Internet and to a voice network. The verbal announcement is sent to the called party as a signal transmitted over the Internet. The called party hears the voice ring on a communications device that is also connected to both the Internet and a voice network. When the called party indicates that the call should be accepted, a return signal is sent to the calling party's communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Allen E. Milewski, Thomas M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20030019575
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal display, including the steps of providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a protective dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material, providing a second substrate having a second electrode, coating the second electrode with a dielectric adhesive layer; and laminating the coated second electrode to the liquid crystal bearing material by means of the dielectric adhesive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Stanley W. Stephenson, John I. Kilburn, John W. Boettcher
  • Publication number: 20030016329
    Abstract: A method of making a liquid crystal display, including the steps of providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a protective dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material; providing a second substrate having a second electrode; and laminating the second electrode to the liquid crystal layer using heat and pressure only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Stanley W. Stephenson, John I. Kilburn, John W. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 6501834
    Abstract: A message sender status monitor is used to determine the communication status of the sender of an electronic message. In the case of email, upon the recipient opening an email, a query is launched to a “status registry” to determine if the sender of the email is currently logged in to the communication network, or if the sender is currently on the telephone, or currently using a cell phone, etc. This status information is then used by the recipient of the email to determine the communication medium used to send a reply to the email sender. For example, if the status information indicates that the message sender is currently logged in to the data network, the recipient can respond using “instant messaging” (considered, therefore, to be a more efficient type of response that merely responding with an email message).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Allen E. Milewski, David R. Millen, Thomas M. Smith, David M. Weimer
  • Patent number: 6475713
    Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging member comprising at least two polymer sheets joined by solvent based thermoplastic adhesive applied to at least one said at least two polymer sheets between 15 and 50° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Aylward, Robert P. Bourdelais, Alphonse D. Camp, Thomas M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20020077117
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronously delivering complementary data to two devices. Complementary data is used herein to designate at least two streams of related data that, when combined, form an organic whole. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a command is received through a network for the synchronous transmission of complementary data. Subsequently, first data is transmitted through the network to a first device synchronized with transmission of second data to a second device, wherein the first and second data are complementary data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Jocelyn Cloutier, Allen E. Milewski, Thomas M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010044808
    Abstract: A bookmarking system is provided that includes a user input device and a network server. A person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference. The viewer utilizes the user input device to communicate to the network server the identity of the program of interest. The network server uses the identification information for the program of interest to identify a URL for the archived version of the program. The network server transmits the URL for the archived program to the personal computer of the viewer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Allen E. Milewski, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6289346
    Abstract: A bookmarking system is provided that includes a user input device and a network server. A person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference. The viewer utilizes the user input device to communicate to the network server the identity of the program of interest. The network server uses the identification information for the program of interest to identify a URL for the archived version of the program. The network server transmits the URL for the archived program to the personal computer of the viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Allen E. Milewski, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6259065
    Abstract: A merchandiser for displaying food products and holding such food products at a controlled temperature has a well divided into three or more well sections, wherein each of the well sections receives a serving tray and wherein the serving trays collectively have a center line. A rear access door, a pair of side plates, and a transparent front plate, together with the well, define a food product holding cavity. A pair of supporting brackets position a merchandiser heating and control device above the well. The merchandiser heating and control device has a heating compartment, which positions three or more heating elements and three or more illuminating elements substantially above the center line of the serving trays, wherein the heating compartment includes three or more circulating fans for circulating heated air from the heating compartment into the holding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Melissa M. Hohler, Peter J. Koopman, Robert T. Wood, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6190162
    Abstract: A new infrared heater containing a gas fired burner having a metallic burner body with a combustion plenum chamber, a matrix which covers the combustion mixture plenum and a screen made of fibers treated with a silicon carbide. The screen could be connected to the matrix by a pressure fit. The invention also relates to a new matrix that is energy efficient and made from fibers ceramic or metallic, treated with a pre-ceramic polymer containing silicon and carbon to rigidize the matrix and increase its emittance. The matrix could also have a variety of surfaces that are also more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Marsden, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Smith, Walter J. Sherwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5930471
    Abstract: A communications system facilitates transactions between a sender and a plurality of recipients as part of an electronic messaging system. Messaging means enable a sender to form an electronic template containing a message in the form of a structured response object for a recipient as part of a transaction between a sender and a recipient(s). Controller means receive and store the message in a virtual mailbox assigned to the transaction for access by the sender and the recipient(s). The controller means generate and send to the recipients an indicator or pointer identifying the message at an address for the virtual mailbox. The recipient(s) use the pointer address to view the electronic message in the form of a structured object response at the virtual mailbox in the controller. The recipient may ignore or file the message or send a response to the virtual mailbox. The response or lack of response to the structured object response by the recipient (s) is tracked and recorded by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: AT&T Corp
    Inventors: Allen E. Milewski, Thomas M. Smith
  • Patent number: D480260
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: Sabrina M. Domi, Danny Halcomb, Peter J. Koopman, Thomas M. Smith