Eastman-kodak Company

Construction Robotics, LLC

Erwin Ludwig Allmann

Myra T Olm

Thomas D Pawlik

Thomas J Widzinski

Gary M Spinelli

Scott Lawrence Peters

Judith A Bose

Camiel J Raes

Timothy Riley Voorheis

Rockwell Najeeb Yarid

Thomas W Palone

Timothy Floyd Spencer

David R Strip

Glenn Dayton White

Alan R Bentz

Michael John Oklevitch

Kerry Evan Lipp

Myra Toffolon Olm

A Mortar Delivery System is described. The Mortar Delivery System provides precise control of the delivery and application of mortar in addition to the mixing and tempering of mortar. Such control eliminates the use of a hand trowel in brick, block and stone laying applications. Sensing and control are integrated with the Mortar Delivery System to make it an important element of a robotic brick laying system. The Mortar Delivery System contains sensors to measure mortar viscosity and workability, mortar flow rate, and mortar nozzle pressure. The data from the Mortar Delivery System sensors can be used to change the rotational speed of the shear blades, change the amount of water being used for mixing or tempering, and change the delivery speed of the mortar. Such changes result in precise control of mortar that is in turn suitable for automated or semi-automated building processes.

Mortar delivery system

A laser positioning system is described. The laser positioning system provides a positioning and guidance system that is suitable for environments that have external disturbances such as those caused by wind, equipment movement, vibration, and the like. The laser positioning system of the present invention uses at novel laser line beacon positioning system in optical communication with a novel laser line receiver to achieve accurate positioning in environments with external disturbances, something that has previously not been attainable. In some embodiments, a target or series of targets are used to create a reference by which the laser line receiver and an associated moveable assembly such as a robotic arm assembly are able to accurately place building elements such as bricks. Exemplary applications of the laser positioning system include, but are not limited to, accurate positioning of bricks in a wall under construction by a robotic brick laying system.

Laser positioning system

A method for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; establishing an area within the image; counting a number of pixels within the area to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and if the ratio is above a predetermined threshold the security marker is authenticated.

Method of authenticating security marker

A method for detecting authorized security markers includes capturing an image of a region of interest on a product with a camera; storing image data in a two-dimensional array on a microprocessor; counting a number of pixels at or above a predetermined brightness level in the image data with the microprocessor to determine a first score; eroding the image data; counting the pixels which remain at or above the predetermined brightness level after erosion to determine a second score; calculating a ratio of the second score to the first score; and producing a first authentication signal if the ratio meets a first predetermined criteria.

Image algorithms to reject undesired image features

An apparatus for eliminating background noise from a security marker authenticating system including a first sensor for capturing an image of a background of the security marker; a light source for illuminating the security marker; the first sensor or a second sensor or both captures a plurality images of the optical response of the security marker; a computer which averages the plurality of optical response images; the computer smoothes the background image; and the computer subtracts the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images.

Apparatus for eliminating background noise

A method of eliminating background noise from a system for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a background of the security marker; illuminating the security marker; capturing a plurality of images of the optical response of the security marker; averaging the plurality of optical response images; smoothing the background image; and subtracting the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images.

Method of eliminating background noise

A security marker material comprising emissive particles selected from at least two groups with different size distributions and the size distributions satisfy the formula:[()/()]&#x3e;1wherein x and z are the volume-weighted mean equivalent-spherical diameters of the two particle distributions and Sand Sare the standard deviations of the same two distributions.

Size dependent marker codes

A security marker material comprising emissive particles selected from at least two groups with different size distributions and the size distributions satisfy the formula:[()/(S)]wherein x and z are the volume-weighted mean equivalent-spherical diameters of the two particle distributions and Sand Sare the standard deviations of the same two distributions. The emissive materials are placed in or on an item. The emissive materials are excited with electromagnetic radiation in one or more specified spectral bands. The electromagnetic radiation is detected in one or more spectral bands from the emissive materials in an image-wise fashion. The attributes of the image are analyzed and characterized and are compared to authentication criteria to determine the authenticity of the marked item.

Security system with different size emissive particles

A method for hermetically sealing an organic thin-film light-emitting device between a substrate and a cover including the steps of bringing the substrate and cover into close proximity at a peripheral side edge of at least one of the substrate or cover, bringing an energy absorbing material into contact with the cover and substrate at the peripheral side edge of at least one of the substrate or cover, and applying energy directly to the energy absorbing material, causing the energy absorbing material to transfer heat to the substrate and the cover to fuse and form a hermetic seal along the peripheral side edge.

Sealing of organic thin-film light-emitting devices

A measurement apparatus and method for determining the traction and coefficient of friction of a material on a roller. First and second rollers transport the material. Encoders are coupled to each roller, and a motor is coupled to one of the rollers. The motor applies a forward and reverse torque to the first roller, wherein the material slips relative to the roller. A computer coupled to the encoders calculates the traction and coefficient of friction.

Traction measurement apparatus and method

Apparatus and method for detecting the presence of a splice in a running length of web material, particularly photosensitive web material. The apparatus includes first and second encoders coupled to first and second rollers, respectively. As the web material is transported across the rollers, the speeds of the rollers are continuously and simultaneously detected. The rollers will travel at substantially the same speed when the web is being transported across both rollers. The presence of the splice is detected when the speeds of the two rollers differ.

Growing community of inventors

Penfield, NY, United States of America

Erwin Ludwig Allmann