Patents Issued in October 2, 2007
  • Patent number: 7277161
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for qualifying a diamond on the basis of a measured light transmission through the diamond, whereby the diamond is radiated by a light source which emits light having a wavelength in a range of 225 nm to 300 nm, whereby the transmission of said light through the diamond is compared to a reference value which corresponds to the transmission of said light through a reference diamond, which is a cut colourless or near colourless diamond with a concentration of A centers between 7 ppm and 22 ppm, and whereby the diamond is classified as natural and not colour-treated if the transmission through the diamond is smaller than or equal to the reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Wetenschappelijk en Technisch Onderzoekscentrum Voor Diamant
    Inventor: Patrick Claus
  • Patent number: 7277162
    Abstract: A method is described using optical fiber technology to measure the vibration characteristics of long slender structures subjected to dynamic disturbances imposed by water or wind generated loads. The method is based on making bending strain measurements at selected locations along the length of long slender structures such as marine risers or large ropes using fiber optics technology including Optical Time Domain Reflectometry and Bragg diffraction gratings. Engineering interpretation of information obtained from bending strains determines the vibration characteristics including frequency, amplitude, and wave length. Maximum bending strain measurements assess pending structural damage. One application is measurement of vortex induced vibrations (VIV) response of marine risers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Inventor: Jerry Gene Williams
  • Patent number: 7277163
    Abstract: A personal identification system, which uses a vein pattern of a finger, optimizes the amount of light of a light source based on a captured finger image and emphasizes the vein pattern during image processing for identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Miyuki Kono, Shin-ichiro Umemura, Takafumi Miyatake, Kunio Harada, Yoshitoshi Ito, Hironori Ueki
  • Patent number: 7277164
    Abstract: A method for inspecting the painting of bodywork parts using an optical measurement instrument that is moved parallel to the parts being inspected. An inspection station for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
    Inventor: Laurent Aubanel
  • Patent number: 7277165
    Abstract: A method of measuring flare in an optical lithographic system utilizes an exposure mask with first and second discrete opaque features each having rotational symmetry of order greater than four and of different respective areas. The exposure mask is positioned in the lithographic system such that actinic radiation emitted by the lithographic system illuminates the sensitive surface of an exposure target through the exposure mask. The extent to which regions of the sensitive surface that are within the geometric image of a feature of the exposure mask are exposed to actinic radiation during due to flare is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Invarium, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Wu, Abdurrahman Sezginer
  • Patent number: 7277166
    Abstract: A medium having microfluidic circuitry for sampling and analyses. The medium may be a cartridge having a window countersunk into it and containing a flow channel. The flow channel may have items of interest flowing through it. Analyses of these items may be optical involving one or more light sources emanating light to and one or more light detectors receiving light from the channel. There are various configurations so that source and detector light cones may reach the flow channel without obscuration or interference of the light to and from the flow channel in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Aravind Padmanabhan, Jay G. Schwichtenberg, Bernard S. Fritz, Cleopatra Cabuz, Ernest A. Satren
  • Patent number: 7277167
    Abstract: An apparatus for holding liquid samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: AGilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol T. Schembri, Zhenghua Ji, Hongfeng Yin, William H. McAllister
  • Patent number: 7277168
    Abstract: A system for real-time fluorescent determination of trace elements comprising transport means for moving a plurality of samples, means for generating a plurality of incident radiation pulses of different wavelength, means for illuminating at least a respective one of the samples with at least a respective one of the radiation pulses during the movement of the samples, means for detecting the resultant fluorescence emitted from each of the samples and control means for controlling the movement of the samples and the incident radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: SmithKline Beecham Corporation
    Inventor: Dwight Sherod Walker
  • Patent number: 7277169
    Abstract: A fluorescence detection system for testing a sample having at least one fluorophore. The fluorescence detection system comprises a white light generation system outputting a white light pulse. The white light pulse has a first frequency range and a first time duration. The white light pulse excites the at least one fluorophore of the sample to emit a fluorescence. The fluorescence has a second frequency range and a second time duration, wherein the first time duration is less than the second time duration. A time-resolving detector receives the fluorescence and at least a portion of the white light pulse and separates the fluorescence from the portion of the white light pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Jing Yong Ye, Theodore B. Norris, James R. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7277170
    Abstract: A device and a method for spectroscopic measurement of the spectrum of a light beam. The method includes detecting the dispersed light fluxes of the beam on an imaging device comprising a matrix of photodetectors with active columns, directing the imaging device so that one wavelength is allocated to a line of photodetectors, determining for each light flux the exposure time ?i necessary to measure a maximal intensity Imax and the sub-matrix Mi of photodetectors associated with the light fluxes, allocating to the sub-matrix Mi of photodetectors an exposure time ??i so that ??i is the largest integer divider of the total integration time T smaller than ?i, measuring and resetting, during the integration time T of said spectrum, at each time ??i, the corresponding sub-matrix Mi independently of the other sub-matrices Mj with j?i, and measuring the spectrum of the beam at the time T.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Jobin Yvon SAS
    Inventors: Emmanuel Fretel, Yves Danthez, Catherine Wallerand, Arshad Mirza
  • Patent number: 7277171
    Abstract: A substantially self-contained “on-board” material system investigation system functionally mounted on a three dimensional locational system to enable positioning at desired locations on, and distances from, the surface of a large sample, including the capability to easily and conveniently change the angle-of-incidence of a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto a sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: J.A. Woollan Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Johs, Ping He, Martin M. Liphardt, Christopher A. Goeden, John A. Woollam, James D. Welch
  • Patent number: 7277172
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for using ellipsometer configurations to measure the partial Mueller matrix and the complete Jones matrix of a system that may be isotropic or anisotropic. In one embodiment two or more signals, which do not necessarily satisfy any symmetry assumptions individually, are combined into a composite signal which satisfies a symmetry assumption. The individual signals are collected at two or more analyzer angles. Symmetry properties of the composite signals allow easy extraction of overlay information for any relative orientation of the incident light beam with respect to a 1D grating target, as well as for targets comprising general 2D gratings. Signals of a certain symmetry property also allow measurement of profile asymmetry in a very efficient manner. In another embodiment a measurement methodology is defined to measure only signals which satisfy a symmetry assumption. An optional embodiment comprises a single polarization element serving as polarizer and analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies, Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Kandel, Kenneth P. Gross, Michael Friedmann, Jiyou Fu, Shakar Krishnan, Boris Golovanevsky
  • Patent number: 7277173
    Abstract: An optical package includes one or more MEMS mirrors to provide alignment between internal optical components and the signal port(s) on the package (where one or more ports may include optical fiber attachments). Once the components are placed in the package, an electrical signal is used to adjust the deflection profile of the appropriately positioned MEMS mirror(s) until maximum coupling between the internal components and the fibers/ports is obtained. Advantageously, if later signal degradation occurs due to, for example, subsequent physical misalignment of the internal components, corrective electrical signal can be sent to the MEMS mirror(s) to provide correction and re-alignment without having to open the package and physically move the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Agere Systems Inc., Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Paul Bock, John William Osenbach, Rory Keene Schlenker
  • Patent number: 7277174
    Abstract: To provide a method for color-matching a paint having brilliant feeling whose reference blend is already known and which contains a brilliant material, comprising (1) a step of obtaining the liquid color measurement data for an enamel paint not containing a brilliant material in accordance with a paint blend excluding the brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive from a reference paint blend of a paint having brilliant feeling whose reference paint blend is already known, (2) a step of obtaining a toned enamel paint adjusted to the liquid color measurement data for the enamel paint by blending and toning a paint material such as an elementary color paint excluding a brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive on the basis of the liquid color measurement data for the enamel paint, and (3) a step of color-matching a paint having brilliant feeling by adding a brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive to the toned enamel paint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Yamanouchi, Akio Nakamura, Ikko Matsubara
  • Patent number: 7277175
    Abstract: A system for measuring properties of small volume liquid samples, where the system includes wavelength selective filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Judith A. Thompson, John C. Kralik
  • Patent number: 7277176
    Abstract: An imaging system for obtaining images of a specimen that includes a novel filtering system for filtering radiation emitted from the specimen. The imaging system includes a camera and a novel filter grid that is controllably movable relative to the camera in a manner to move a selected emission filter of a plurality of emission filters carried by the grid into position between the camera and the specimen. The filter carrying grid of the system resides in a plane having X and Y coordinates and the system includes a novel positioning mechanism for controllably moving the filter carrying grid along the X and Y coordinates of the plane in a manner to position a selected one of the emission filters carried by the grid into position between the camera and the specimen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: UVP, Inc.
    Inventors: Darius Kelly, Sean Gallager, Jeff Pieri, Dave Wick
  • Patent number: 7277177
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a light source used in Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy. The apparatus comprises a controller that generates a control signal to activate and deactivate the light source based on a comparison of an energy signal from a resonant cavity and a threshold. The light source is activated for a time period based on the stabilization time of the light source and the time necessary to provide sufficient energy to the resonant cavity. Thereafter the controller deactivates the light source for a predetermined time period by interrupting its current source so that the light energy in the cavity rings down and so that the presence of analyte can be measured. The light energy from the light source is directly coupled to the resonant cavity from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Tiger Optics, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Augustine, Calvin R. Krusen, Chuji Wang, Wen-Bin Yan
  • Patent number: 7277178
    Abstract: A photo-thermal, interferometric spectroscopy system is disclosed that provides information about a chemical at a remote location. A first light source assembly is included that emits a first beam. The first beam has one or more wavelengths that interact with the chemical and change a refractive index of the chemical. A second light source produces a second beam. The second beam interacts with the chemical resulting in a third beam with a phase change that corresponds with the change of the refractive index of the chemical. A detector system is positioned remote from the chemical to receive at least a portion of the third beam. The detector system provides information on a phase change in the third beam relative to the second beam that is indicative of at least one of, absorption spectrum and concentration of the chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Celight, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Shpantzer, Jacob B. Khurgin, Pak Shing Cho, Yaakov Achiam
  • Patent number: 7277179
    Abstract: A system for estimating a parameter selected from the group consisting of a current, a magnetic field, or combinations thereof comprises a resonant frequency tunable magneto-optical loop resonator, wherein the loop resonator comprises a magneto-optical sensing element coupled to an optical waveguide, and wherein the loop resonator is configured for receiving an originating optical signal from a broadband light source and providing a modulated signal indicative of the estimated parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kung-Li Justin Deng, Glenn Alan Forman
  • Patent number: 7277180
    Abstract: A method including: (i) directing a beam to an interferometer head using an optical connection, the beam including a first beam component having a first polarization and a first frequency and a second beam component having a second polarization different from the first polarization and a second frequency; (ii) rotating the polarization of the first beam component to the second polarization; (iii) rotating the polarization of the second beam component to the first polarization; and (iv) returning the beam with the rotated polarizations from the interferometer head using the optical connection. For example, the step of directing may include: directing the first beam component into a first fiber of the optical connection; and directing the second beam component into a second fiber of the optical connection. The first beam component may be returned using the second fiber, and the second beam component may be returned using the first fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Townley-Smith, John Kondis
  • Patent number: 7277181
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the surface profile of a test object includes a light source, a beam splitter, a reflective component, a sensor, and a computing device. The light source emits a light beam. The beam splitter divides the light beam into reference and probing beams. The reference beam is reflected by the reflective component back to the beam splitter. The reflective component is configured so that components of the reflected reference beam travel at different optical path lengths to the beam splitter. The probing beam is reflected by the test object back to the beam splitter. The beam splitter combines the reflected reference and probing beams to result in a heterodyne light beam. The sensor converts the heterodyne light beam into a corresponding electrical signal. The computing device records the converted electrical signal. A method for detecting the surface profile of the test object is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Chroma Ate Inc.
    Inventor: Yaomin Lin
  • Patent number: 7277182
    Abstract: A device for polarization-specific examination of an optical system having a detector part that has polarization detector means for recording the exit state of polarization of radiation emerging from the optical system. Also, an associated optical imaging system, and a calibration method for the device. The device includes a polarization detector with a polarizing grating structure. Provided as an alternative is a device for snapshot polarimetry having a birefringent element and downstream polarizer element that adequately polarizes nonquasi-parallel radiation. The device may be used for determining the influence on the state of polarization of UV radiation by a microlithographic projection objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Wegmann, Markus Mengel
  • Patent number: 7277183
    Abstract: A method includes providing scanning interferometry data for a test object, the data including intensity values for each of multiple scan positions for each of different spatial locations of the test object, the intensity values for each spatial location defining an interference signal for the spatial location, the intensity values for a common scan position defining a data set for that scan position. The method includes providing a scan value for each scan position, wherein increments between the scan values are non-uniform, transforming at least some of the interference signals into a frequency domain with respect to the scan values, and determining information about the test object based on the transformed interference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Zygo Corporation
    Inventor: Leslie L. Deck
  • Patent number: 7277184
    Abstract: A method for simultaneous measuring a thickness of a liquid crystal layer and an average refractive index of the said liquid crystal in sealed liquid crystal cell is disclosed. The method is based on analysis of spectral positions of maxima and minima of interference oscillations, their magnitudes and their envelope in the spectrum of light mirrored by the liquid crystal cell at several different angles-of-incidence. The method is applicable to cells filled with different liquid crystals including cholesterics and smectics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Swedish LCD Center
    Inventors: Kent Skarp, Oleksandr Slobodyanyuk, Sergiy Valyukh
  • Patent number: 7277185
    Abstract: In a method of measuring, in a lithographic manufacturing process using a lithographic projection apparatus, overlay between a resist layer, in which a mask pattern is to be imaged, and a substrate, use is made of an alignment-measuring device forming part of the apparatus and of specific overlay marks in the substrate and resist layer. These marks have periodic structures with periods which cannot be resolved by the alignment device, but generate an interference pattern having a period corresponding to the period of a reference mark of the alignment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Rene Monshouwer, Jacobus Hermanus Maria Neijzen, Jan Evert Van Der Werf
  • Patent number: 7277186
    Abstract: The method serves for the interferometric measurement of non-rotationally symmetric wavefront errors on a specimen . The specimen is brought into a number of rotational positions, at least one measurement result being determined in each of the rotational positions and a mathematical evaluation of all measurement results is performed. The measurement results (M1 . . . Mm; N1 . . . Nn) of each of the measurement series (M, N) are determined respectively in mutually equidistant rotational positions of the specimen . The measurement results (M1 . . . Mm, N1 . . . Nn) of each of the at least two measurement series (M, N) are evaluated independently of one another for non-rotationally symmetric wavefront errors (<W>m, <W>n) on the specimen, and a difference is computationally rotated m or n times and the results averaged out. At least one of the wavefront errors (<W>m, <W>n) is corrected with the result (<<W>m-<W>n>m or <<W>m-<W>n>n) averaged in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT AG
    Inventors: Guenther Seitz, Wolfgang Otto
  • Patent number: 7277187
    Abstract: A system and method for dimensioning large or palletized freight of one or more pieces determines the dimensions of a rectangular prism having the smallest volume which would contain the freight. The system is capable of being positioned remotely from the freight. The system is further configured to determine the dimensions in varying levels of ambient light and varying object surface reflectance. The system still further is configured to first rapidly scan an area to determine the general location of the boundaries of the freight and then more precisely scan the determined general boundaries of the freight to determine the precise boundaries of the freight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Quantronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvyn Lionel Smith, Lyndon Smith, Eve Carlsruh
  • Patent number: 7277188
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for focusing a beam for an interaction with a film deposited on a substrate wherein the focused beam defines a short axis and a long axis. In one aspect, the system may include a detecting system to analyze light reflected from the film on an image plane to determine whether the beam is focused in the short axis at the film. In still another aspect, a system may be provided for positioning a film (having an imperfect, non-planar surface) for interaction with a shaped line beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: Cymer, Inc., Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Palash P. Das, Thomas Hofmann, Otto Boucky, Ernst Stump, Berthold Matzkovits, Michael Hoell, Joerg Walther, Kurt Brenner, Guenter Grupp
  • Patent number: 7277189
    Abstract: A method of generating a library of simulated-differentiation signals (simulated signals of a periodic grating includes obtaining a measured-diffraction signal (measured signal). Hypothetical parameters are associated with a hypothetical profile. The hypothetical parameters are varied within a range to generate a set of hypothetical profiles. The range to vary the hypothetical parameters is adjusted based on the measured signal. A set of simulated signals is generated from the set of hypothetical profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Timbre Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinhui Niu, Nickhil Jakatdar
  • Patent number: 7277190
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optical measurement arrangement, in particular for the examination of layer systems, and can include an illumination device having at least one illumination source for delivering a measurement light beam and coupling the measurement light beam into the beam path of a layer thickness measuring instrument. In such a measurement arrangement, the illumination device can be housed in a lamp housing that may be detachably connected to the remaining portion of the measurement arrangement via an installation element wherein illumination sources can be prealigned with respect to the beam path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Vistec Semiconductor Systems Jena GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Slodowski, Detlef Wolter
  • Patent number: 7277191
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the processing of an image, such as a document. The invention determines the location of differing content types within the document allowing specialized processing of various content types. The invention performs the identification of pixels having similar content characteristics into windows during the first scanning pass of the document by the use of an identifier equivalence table to update selected memory locations to a base identifier during processing. A second pass processing is available to enhance or alter the image by the use of the information gathered during first pass processing. The present invention benefits from a very low memory requirement while being able to determine windows extending the length or width of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Metcalfe, Jeng-nan Shiau
  • Patent number: 7277192
    Abstract: In conventional technique, a layout result is displayed on only one page, and a print result cannot be roughly observed by reduced display of all pages. For this reason, a specific image printed on a specific page cannot be overlooked, and a user must print the image while imaging an image result. When a user tries to change a layout method in the middle of a printing operation, the user must inconveniently restart the operation. In order to solve the problem, a printing apparatus for printing an image selected from images stored in a storage medium includes an image display unit for displaying the image in the storage medium as a list, a printing object selection unit for selecting an image to be printed with reference to the image display unit, a print medium selection unit for selecting medium on which the image is printed, and a print layout selection unit for selecting an arbitrary layout from layouts depending on the medium selected by the print medium selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Kotani, Kunihiro Yamamoto, Kiyoshi Kusama
  • Patent number: 7277193
    Abstract: In a method of printing using a mobile device, the mobile device accesses remote content. An archive file containing the remote content is generated on the mobile device or on a proxy server on a network. The mobile device then transmits a print request to an imaging device, and the imaging device requests and receives the archive file and prints the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeremy Bunn, Daniel Revel
  • Patent number: 7277194
    Abstract: An output destination of a job can be arbitrarily selectively used in accordance with an application of the user. If a state of each of printers to which the print job should be outputted is abnormal, if the states of the printers are unknown, or if there is a trouble in the obtainment and holding of the states of the printers, by controlling so as to output the print job at the output destination according to each situation with reference to an output destination change instruction table which has preliminarily been registered by the user, the output destination of the job is not always changed. If the output destination is changed, the output destination can be manually changed, thereby enabling the job to be outputted at the output destination according to the application of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichiro Wanda
  • Patent number: 7277195
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for monitoring information delivered through an electronic delivery system. One method for monitoring electronically delivering documents is provided which includes the steps of: creating log files for storing selected data related to selected electronic document preparation events; forwarding the log files to a central database for storage; and providing access to the log files for retrieval and analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Genworth Financial, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Hamilton, Junious Gupton, Todd Beck, Varun Tandon, Glen Young, Jeff Gainer, Randy Harris
  • Patent number: 7277196
    Abstract: A system and method for printer control and color balance calibration. The system and method address the image quality problems of print engine instability, low quality of color balance and contouring from the calibration. The method includes defining combinations of colorants, such as inks or toners that will be used to print images, defining a desired response for the combinations that are to be used and, in real time, iteratively printing CMY halftone color patches, measuring the printed patches via an in situ sensor and iteratively performing color-balance calibration based on the measurements, accumulating corrections until the measurements are within a predetermined proximity of the desired response. The calibration is performed on the halftones while they are in a high quantization resolution form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre R. M. Van de Capelle, Lalit K. Mestha, Robert P. Loce, Raja Bala, Martin S. Maltz, Peter A. Crean
  • Patent number: 7277197
    Abstract: In a pre-procedure in an image communication method, a receiver notifies a transmitter as to whether a capability of receiving JPEG-encoded information is provided, whether a capability of receiving full-color information in Lab color space is provided, whether a capability of receiving full-color information in sYCC color space is provided, and whether a capability of receiving non-regular-sized information in sYCC color space is provided. Furthermore, the transmitter notifies the receiver as to designation of transmission of JPEG-encoded data, designation of transmission of full-color information in Lab color space, designation of transmission of full-color information in sYCC color space, and designation of transmission of non-regular-sized information in sYCC color space. An upper limit of information amount of non-regular-sized information in a main scanning direction is determined based on a maximum receivable sheet size and resolution of full-color information in Lab color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7277198
    Abstract: An image printing apparatus and its control method for printing an image based on image data from an image data source. In a case where a correction condition is set for the image data, if the image data is a new format file image data including predetermined information, correction processing is performed in accordance with the set correction condition. If the image data is not a new format file image data, the correction processing in accordance with the correction condition is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawanabe, Takao Aichi, Akihiko Hamamoto, Kazuyuki Masumoto, Fumihiro Goto, Makoto Hibi, Tetsuya Suwa, Mitsuhiro Ono, Masato Oshima
  • Patent number: 7277199
    Abstract: A media supply is provided for use in an imaging device having an entry port. The media supply has a housing defining a media storage area to hold media, an opening to receive media, and a device engagement surface shaped for insertion into the entry port A media enclosure is mounted to the housing and is movable between an open position wherein the media storage area can be accessed through the opening and a closed position blocking the opening. Wherein the media storage area, media enclosure, and engagement surface are arranged so that the media enclosure can be moved between the closed position and the open position when the engagement surface is inserted into the entry port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Samuel F. Swayze, David R. Gotham, Sr., Christopher J. Lundgren
  • Patent number: 7277200
    Abstract: In color matching among media having different white points or different black points, how to address gray balances among media poses a problem. To solve this problem, upon converting a colorimetric value onto a color space that connects profiles, gray-balance correction is made on the human color perception space on the basis of a media white point and gray-balance black point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Manabua Ohga
  • Patent number: 7277201
    Abstract: Historically, the creation of digital line screens was considered to be a subset of the creation of the digital cluster dot screens. The geometric constraints necessary for digital cluster dot screens were imported into the creation of digital line screens. Accordingly, the number of available angles or digital line screens was also significantly limited. In various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention, a digital line screen cell is defined such that the vectors defining the digital line screen cell are not necessarily isometric and are not necessarily at right angles to each other. By using a high-addressability grid that has different resolutions along x and y axis of the grid, the systems and methods according to this invention allow the components of the vectors along the high-addressability direction to be noninteger multiples of the components of the vectors along the other direction of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Charles M. Hains
  • Patent number: 7277202
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a first computer that can communicate with a second computer. The second computer sends information to the first computer that includes a desired ink color and optionally includes information of other desired ink properties. The first computer includes a database of data for predicting color data of ink formulations using a selected ink base color set, a software program for selecting an ink formulation based on data for a desired ink, and a software program for sending information to the second computer to display the color of the selected ink formulation on a color monitor connected to the second computer. The ink base color set can be selected to provide other desired properties for the ink, such as low cost, light fastness, or chemical resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Flint Group Incorporated
    Inventor: Domingo Q Chan
  • Patent number: 7277203
    Abstract: A method for initializing a printing system using error diffusion is discussed. In application of the invention to color printing systems, the method initializes a first error buffer with a first set of seed values and then initializes at least one other error buffer with another set of seed values. The other set of seed values is negatively correlated with respect to the first set of seed values in the first error buffer. The method then uses the seed values in all the error buffers to start an error diffusion process. For monochrome systems, only one error buffer is initialized with random numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: John Charles Dalrymple
  • Patent number: 7277204
    Abstract: A method of building threshold matrices for stochastic screening by using the actual size and shape of imaged pixel and/or pixel agglomerate instead of the nominal one, in the stage of calculating appropriate threshold matrices. For each relevant combination of imager and imaged media, a matrix with desirable blue-noise-like characteristics is created from actual imaged pixels and/or pixel agglomerates, taking into account their overlap when placed in close proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kodak IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Krol, Alex Weiss
  • Patent number: 7277205
    Abstract: While a general large layer dither volume provides great flexibility in dither cell design, by decoupling different intensity levels, they are inefficient to access since each colour component requires the retrieval of a different bit from the volume. Therefore in a multi threshold dither volume for digital halftoning a contone colour image, in the form of an array of contone colour pixel values to bi-level dots, there is allocated for each dither cell location a fix set of n thresholds defining n+1 intensity intervals within which said dither cell location is defined to be alternatively not set and set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 7277206
    Abstract: A method for reducing image noise in a digital image including establishing image data of image pixel values; specifying a local virtual surface patch; fitting the local virtual surface patch to the image data; using the local virtual surface patch to estimate a palliative value of at least one pixel in the region of the local virtual surface patch; replacing an original pixel value with the palliative value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Corel Corporation
    Inventors: Mikhail Ivanovich Trifonov, Kryzstof Antoni Zaklika, Pavel Vladimirovich Gruzdev
  • Patent number: 7277207
    Abstract: A recording device includes an image retrieval unit, a memory, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The image retrieval unit retrieves images of the document pages as document image data. The control unit begins retrieving document image data from the memory as the image retrieval unit is retrieving document image data and sends the document image data to the image forming unit. The image forming unit uses document image data to form images on recording sheets faster than the image data is retrieved. The control unit checks the memory to confirm whether document image data for a next document page is stored in the memory. The timing of the memory check is both after completion of forming an image of a present document page at the recording sheet transport speed and when storage of image data for the next document page is anticipated to start in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinari Okamoto, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7277208
    Abstract: A hologram recording medium is provided which can prevent sensitization of a region thereof other than a data recording region thereby to prevent deterioration of a characteristic of the hologram recording medium. The hologram recording medium includes partition members for partitioning a recording material. Upon recording, unnecessary light generated when signal light and reference light enter the recording material is blocked from propagating in the recording material by the partition members and cannot advance into adjacent partitions. Therefore, unnecessary sensitization of the recording material by the unnecessary light can be prevented, and particularly, decrease of the recording capacity can be prevented. Consequently, the performance of a hologram recording and reproduction apparatus which adopts, for example, a multiplex recording system can be exhibited fully.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kihara, Hisayuki Yamatsu
  • Patent number: 7277209
    Abstract: The method consists of computing (E1-E4) a set of two-dimensional images in a three-dimensional geometrical space representing a virtual object from respective different viewpoints. The virtual object is represented by digital data stored in a computer. Holograms are computed (E5-E6) for the respective two-dimensional images using a fast complex transform, such as a Fourier transform. The holograms are then juxtaposed (E7) to form a digital hologram of the object which is physically reproduced (E8) by a spatial light modulator. A three-dimensional image of the object is obtained by illuminating the spatial light modulator with a coherent source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: European Community (EC)
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Grossetie, Pierre Noirard
  • Patent number: 7277210
    Abstract: An optical apparatus in which multiplexed holograms are used to achieve wavelength selectivity and polarization manipulation is used to facilitate near-normal incidence of light on the holograms. The polarization manipulation allows light reflected from the holograms to be separated from the light incident on the holograms. In one application, the apparatus can be used to extract spectral lines of an analyte from radiation scattered from a sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: C8 Medisensors Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Lipson