Eastman-kodak Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Carestream Health, Inc.

Steven W Tanamachi

Eric Julius Donaldson

Robert W Spurr

Douglas D Jensen

Timothy S Vraa

Leah C Featherstone

Terrence H Joyce

John A Harrington

Steven M Shor

Terrance C Joyce

James L Hartmann

Victoria M Dunlop

A system for sensing imaging media along a transport path. System includes a light source positioned proximate to a selected location along transport path. A transducer in optical alignment with light source so as to receive light from light source after light crosses transport path provides an output signal having a frequency representative of the presence of imaging media at the selected location.

Imaging apparatus having media sensing system

Sheet media package system includes a cartridge or other packaging for containing a plurality of sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transponder which stores relevant digital data associated with the cartridge or other packaging.

Sheet media package having radio-frequency identification transponder

A temperature control system for reducing flicker in an electrical resistance heater comprising: an electrical resistance heater divided into at least two electrical loads and; a source of electrical power for repetitively supplying electrical power to each of the at least two electrical loads at successive different time sub periods within a predetermined time period, wherein the sum of the power supplied to the at least two electrical loads is equal to the total power supplied to the electrical resistance heater during the predetermined time period.

Logical flicker suppression for a temperature controlled heater load

A temperature controlled apparatus comprising: an object having a surface and being rotatable about an axis; an electrical heater assembly thermally coupled to the surface of the object; a temperature sensor assembly mounted on the object for sensing the temperature of the object surface and for producing temperature signals representative of the sensed temperatures; a microprocessor non-rotatably mounted with respect to the rotatable object; an optical communication link for transmitting the temperature signal to the microprocessor; and a temperature control assembly, non-rotatably mounted with respect to the rotatable object for controlling the flow of electrical power to the heater in response to control signals from the microprocessor as a function of the transmitted temperature signals.

Apparatus for controlling temperature of moveable electrically heated objects/drums

A sheet media system comprising an apparatus for utilizing sheet media; and a radio-frequency identification transceiver associated with said apparatus for communicating with a transponder associated with sheet media utilized by said apparatus.

Sheet media system having radio-frequency identification transponder

A control system for reducing flicker in an electrical resistance heater comprising: a source of AC (alternating current) current for supplying AC current to an electrical resistance heater; a bidirectional solid state switching device connected between said source and said electrical resistance heater, and a control circuit for controlling the bidirectional solid state switching device to supply a varying, phase controlled duty cycle of current to said heater which effectively ramps heater power up and down in response to a binary control signal which randomly turns on said switching device.

Control of electrical heater to reduce flicker

A method and apparatus for calibrating a halftone imaging system is described which automatically compensates for drifts in overall system performance as well as for any substantial change in the imaging parameters. Calibration is achieved by optimizing the exposure level of the imaging system and linearizing the exposure level of the imaging system based on the determined optimized exposure level. The method and apparatus of the present invention are capable of calibrating an imaging system automatically by generating lookup tables and transfer functions without substantial operator intervention. Once calibration is achieved, subsequent imaging commands are automatically mapped to appropriate commands that produce a calibrated output image.

Method and device for calibrating an imaging apparatus

Temperature control apparatus for controlling the temperature of an electrically heated moveable object such as an electrically heated rotatable drum. A temperature control mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the electrical heater, controls the temperature by controlling the flow of electricity to the electrical heater in response to control signals. A temperature sensor mechanism, rotatably mounted in conjunction with the cylindrical drum and electrically coupled to the temperature sensor, senses the temperature of the surface of the cylindrical drum and produces temperature signals indicative thereof. A microprocessor, non-rotatably mounted with respect to the cylindrical drum, controls the temperature of the electrically heated drum by generating the control signals in response to the temperature signals. An optical mechanism, coupled to the temperature control means, the temperature sensor means and the microprocessor means, optically couples the temperature signals from the rotating temperature sensor means to the non-rotating microprocessor means and optically couples the control signals from the non-rotating microprocessor means to the rotating temperature control means.

Apparatus for controlling the temperature of and a moveable,

A two-part sensor includes a power source/signal receiver and a signal generator which are physically spaced and disconnected from one another. The power source/signal receiver is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular solenoid core with an aperture, a coil around the core and a photodiode mounted in the aperture. The photodiode detects a modulated light beam received from the signal generator and produces an output information signal. The solenoid coil produces a fluctuating magnetic field when connected to a power supply. The signal generator is encased within transparent encapsulating material and includes an annular relay coil with an aperture, a coil around the core, a transducer circuit and an LED mounted within the aperture. The relay coil provides a signal generator supply potential when positioned within the magnetic field produced by the power source/signal receiver. The supply potential powers the transducer circuit and the LED. The transducer circuit generates a modulated transducer signal as a function of a sensed parameter. The LED is coupled to the transducer circuit and produces the modulated light beam as a function of the transducer signal.

Two-part sensor with transformer power coupling and optical signal

A photographic media position sensing system for use in conjunction with a media processor of the type including a plurality of processing tanks for holding baths of conductive liquid media developing chemicals and a transport mechanism for driving the media through and between the processing tanks. The system includes a plurality of sensing electrodes, each of which is positioned adjacent to one of the processing tanks. One or more ground electrodes are positioned within the processing tanks for making electrical contact with the baths of developing chemicals. Media sensor circuits are connected between the ground electrodes and sensing electrodes. The media sensor circuits provide sensed media signals representative of the presence of media between the sensing electrode and adjacent processing chemical bath as a function of the capacitance between the sensing and ground electrodes. Location identifying circuitry is coupled to the media sensor circuits and provides media location signals as a function of the sensed media signals. A visual display of the positions of the media within the processing tanks is provided by a display interfaced to the location identifying circuitry.

Growing community of inventors

Lauderdale, MN, United States of America

Steven W Tanamachi