The Mead Corporation

Color Savvy Systems Limited

Wright State University

Eric Walowit

Ronald J Duke

Victor L Iseli

Long B Sam

Gregory J Sexton

Michael J Vrhel

Kefu Xue

Ann J Winans

Sun Lu

James R McLaughlin

A sensor for measuring reflective, transmissive, or self-luminous samples, comprises a plurality of light sources, where each of the light sources emit light of a substantially different wavelength band spaced in the visible spectrum; a reference channel photodetector; a sample channel photodetector; an optical cap adapted to direct a first portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the reference channel photodetector, a reflector cone for directing a second portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the sample; and a receptor piece for directing the diffuse portion of the light reflected from the sample to the sample channel photodetector. Preferably, the reference channel and sample channel photodetectors are identical devices and are mounted back-to-back to share environmental characteristics, and in turn, minimize the variation between their respective responses. The sensor is preferably incorporated into a hand-held 'mouse' device, which includes an area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the various readings. And the sensor is preferably mounted into the mouse device such that the focal aperture of the downward pointing reflector cone is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the mouse to 'point' with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch using the same index finger.

Color sensor

A sensor for measuring reflective, transmissive, or self-luminous samples, comprises a plurality of light sources, where each of the light sources emit light of a substantially different wavelength band spaced in the visible spectrum; a reference channel photodetector; a sample channel photodetector; an optical cap adapted to direct a first portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the reference channel photodetector; a reflector cone for directing a second portion of the light emitted by each of the light sources to the sample; and a receptor piece for directing the diffuse portion of the light reflected from the sample to the sample channel photodetector. Preferably, the reference channel and sample channel photodetectors are identical devices and are mounted back-to-back to share environmental characteristics, and in turn, minimize the variation between their respective responses. The sensor is preferably incorporated into a hand-held 'mouse' device, which includes an area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the various readings. And the sensor is preferably mounted into the mouse device such that the focal aperture of the downward pointing reflector cone is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the mouse to 'point' with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch using the same index finger.

A hand-manipulatable device includes a sensor for gathering reflective, densitometric, spectrophotometric, colorimetric, self-luminous or radiometric readings from a sample surface. The device includes a housing having a substantially flat bottom surface and a top surface contoured to fit comfortably in the fingers and palm of the human hand. The housing also includes area on its top surface for seating an index finger of the human hand. Positioned within this area is a pressure-activated switch that is operatively coupled to the sensor circuitry for performing the readings. Preferably, the sensor is mounted into the device such that the focal aperture of the sensor is in axial alignment with the pressure-activated switch. Accordingly, a user will be able to use the device to 'point' with his or her index finger to an area of the sample surface, and will then simply press the switch to initiate the readings, using the same index finger.

A process is provided for creating a high resolution copy of a target video frame selected from a sequence of video frames, wherein each video frame comprises two interlaced fields. The process comprises the steps of: selecting a single field of the target video frame for resolution enhancement; defining a reference target frame having pixel values assigned from the selected single field; defining an enlarged target frame having pixel locations corresponding to the high resolution copy; assigning pixel values from the selected single field to pixel locations in the enlarged target frame which correspond to pixel locations in the selected single field; assigning estimated pixel values to unassigned pixel locations in the reference target frame; selecting a field from one of the video frames in the sequence of video frames which was not chosen as the selected single field as a first object field; estimating motion vectors extending from the reference target frame to pixels in the first object field; identifying accurate motion vectors; assigning the value of a respective pixel for each motion vector identified as accurate to an enlarged target frame pixel location corresponding to an origination point of the motion vector unless the enlarged target frame pixel location was previously assigned a pixel value; and printing the enlarged target frame. Further provided is printing apparatus for creating a high resolution copy of lower resolution video information.

Motion compensated resolution conversion system

Apparatus for utilizing microencapsulated media material includes a cartridge which contains a supply of the material, including a supply spool. The supply spool is wound as a two-layer sandwich which includes a donor web carrying the microencapsulated photosensitive material would in face-to-face relation with receiver material, in which the donor web forms the radial outer layer of the composite and the receiver material forms the radial inner layer. The donor web is formed with a clear base through which the photosensitive layer may be imaged, by drawing the composite from the spool past an exposure station formed as a slit in the cartridge. Thereafter, the composite is processed between a pair of developer rolls, one of which is formed as part of the cartridge. The donor web is then wound on a spool in the cartridge while the receiver material, carrying the image, is delivered from the cartridge. The receiver material may be glossed while it is within the cartridge by glosser apparatus contained within the cartridge. Additionally, the cartridge may contain means for treating the fumes of glossing.

Microencapsulated media supply and utilization apparatus and method

A method of improving image resolution by interpolation combines the concept of convolution with a parameter-controlled mask, with the concept of adjustment of the mask based on edge information. In the method, first the edge information is extracted from the original image data, and then interpolated to the size to which the original image data will be interpolated. With the guidance of the interpolated edge information, the interpolation process will produce an image with high contrast but minimal artifacts. A spline-under-tension function is applied to generate interpolated values, the function being modified for image data points located close to edges.

Method for video-to-printing image resolution conversion

A cartridge or cassette of web-type media material for delivery to utilization apparatus, such as a photocopier system, incorporates a filter which is integrated into the cartridge for filtering or absorbing fumes or gasses generated by the processing of the media material. The filter is automatically replaced and changed with the replacement of the cartridge.

Integrated media cartridge and filter

A method and apparatus are disclosed for producing an image made up of marks having varying sizes, densities and/or shapes on an imaging media. The image is generated in response to image data defining the image to be produced received by an input scanner or other input device. The image data is processed and then used to address at least one amplitude and/or pulse width modulation table to, in turn, generate amplitude and pulse width signals which controls a writing device. Marks are therefore written onto the media, such marks having varying sizes, densities and/or shapes for forming the completed image.

Method and apparatus for halftone imaging

A method for processing color image data converts input RGB color data to output CMY color data. An input device is calibrated to a intermediate color space, and an output device is calibrated to the intermediate color space. The input RGB color data is collected from the input device, and is converted to intermediate color space data. The intermediate color space data is converted to the output CMY color data, and is outputted to the output device. During the conversion process, the image data is processed to compensate for gamut mismatch.

Growing community of inventors

Springboro, OH, United States of America

Eric Walowit