Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Eastman-kodak Company

Minolta Company, Ltd.

Terrence H Joyce

Richard R Lemberger

Paul C Schubert

William C Egbert

Michael E Hamerly

Robert W Spurr

Eric Julius Donaldson

Douglas D Jensen

Ziyad Hanna Doany

Steven W Tanamachi

Dean M Dowdle

Timothy S Vraa

Leah C Featherstone

Ronald David Jesme

William A Mittelstadt

Justin M Johnson

Jaewon Kim

Robert A Sainati

Zheng Huang

Hiroshi Tomita

Fuminori Moro

Yukiyoshi Yamakoshi

Hajime Takei

Naoyuki Matsuda

Katherine A Brown

Andrew Bonifas

Swagata R Banerjee

Yun Zhong Li

Zhiguo Wen

Jacob D Chatterton

Yingyu Wang

Todd G Langmade

Sihua Yuan

Xuetao Yu

Jack K Warren

A system for monitoring temperature of an electrical conductor () enclosed in at least a (semi)conductive layer () comprising: a passive inductive unit (), and a transceiver unit () and a control unit (). The passive inductive unit () includes at least one temperature sensitive component and is configured to have a resonance frequency and/or Q value that vary with temperature of the electrical conductor (). The transceiver unit () is configured to be electromagnetically coupled to the passive inductive unit () and to send out a signal representing the resonance frequency and/or Q value of the passive inductive unit (). The transceiver unit () is further configured to communicate with the control unit () which ascertains the signal representing one or both of the resonance frequency and Q value, and which determines a value of the temperature of the electrical conductor () based on the ascertained signal representing one or both of the resonance frequency and Q value.

System for monitoring temperature of electrical conductor

An article, system and method related to a magnetomechanical marker used to mark stationary assets. Magnetomechanical markers can be arranged in clusters and associated with stationary assets, including assets buried underground. Markers can be associated with an asset by being attached to the asset, arranged in a particular spatial relationship with the asset, or in any other appropriate way. A portable locating device can be used to generate an alternating magnetic field to activate the magnetomechanical marker and thus locate the asset.

Magnetomechanical markers for marking stationary assets

In general, the disclosure describes an RFID tag designed such that the tag is both covert and not easily blocked from the interrogation signal by the hand or other body part of a person. In particular, the RFID tag is designed to have a long, narrow aspect that allows placement of the tag in locations on or in a book that are inconspicuous to the casual observer while extending beyond a hand of a person holding the book by the spine on or near a geometry centerline. The RFID tag includes a dipole segment and a loop segment coupled to the dipole segment. The loop segment of the modified dipole antenna provides the antenna with larger signal strength than conventional dipole antennas. Moreover, the conductive loop segment also provides improved impedance matching capabilities to allow the modified dipole antenna to match the impedance of an integrated circuit (IC) chip of the RFID tag.

RFID tag with a modified dipole antenna

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 light collection device for use in a film image digitizing apparatus comprises a housing having an elongated aperture extending along a light beam scan line. The aperture receives light transmitted through a sheet of film from a light source. A diffusing member, disposed within the aperture and extending along the scan line, optically diffuses the light received by the aperture. The housing may include one or more reflective interior surfaces. A linear array of photodiodes, disposed within the housing and extending along the scan line, detects the light diffused by the diffusing member. Each of the photodiodes generates an analog signal representing an intensity of the detected light for each of a plurality of pixels. A summing circuit, coupled to each of the photodiodes, sums the analog signals generated by the photodiodes for each of the pixels to produce an output analog signal representing an overall intensity of the light transmitted through the sheet of film for each of the pixels.

Light collection device for a film image digitizer

A multi-user digital laser imaging system for imaging film from bar coded cartridges as a function of image values representative of the images to be printed. The imaging system includes memory for storing transfer functions and film models for each of several users. The transfer functions characterize the relationships between image values and expected imaged film transmittance quantities. The film models characterize the relationship between the transmittance quantities and laser drive values that will provide the appropriate film exposure. An image management subsystem generates lookup tables characterizing the relationship between image values and laser drive values on the basis of user-selected transfer functions and film models selected by the system through the use of film identification information read from the bar code. During imaging operations the image management subsystem accesses the lookup tables as a function of the image values to obtain the appropriate laser drive values. The transfer functions can be modified to accommodate user preferences. Test wedge calibration procedures are periodically implemented to correlate the film models to measured sensitometric characteristics. Density patch calibration procedures are performed during each imaging operation to correct for drifts caused by the film developing subsystem.

Multi-user digital laser imaging system

An image forming apparatus that can be charged with a sheet cassette with a resealable flexible cover includes a roller member engageable with and translatable across the cover to wind the cover on the roller member. The size of the sheet material accommodated in the sheet cassette can be determined from a bar code and the movement of the roller member can be adjusted in accordance with the size of the sheet material. Timers can be set to provide predetermined time periods relative to the translating opening and closing movement of the roller member and, if these time periods expire, an indicator can be provided to the operator.

Information forming apparatus with mechanism for unsealing and sealing a

A laser imaging system includes a cartridge of photographic film, a laser imager, a film processor and an image management system responsive to image input data for controlling the imager and film processor. An optical bar code with a unique cartridge ID, film size, film type information and film sensitometric information is attached to the cartridge. The laser imager includes a cartridge receiving mechanism, a cartridge opening mechanism, a laser scanning system and an optical scanner mounted to the cartridge opening mechanism. Information is read from the bar code as the cartridge is opened. The image management system controls the laser imager as a function of the input data and the sensitometric information read from the bar code. The image management system causes the film processor to develop the film as a function of the film type information read from the bar code.

Film cartridge bar code scanner and controller for a digital imaging

An opening and closing mechanism for photographic film cartridges of the type having a film-receiving tray with outwardly extending front and side lips and a flexible cover for the tray resealably engaged with the lips. The opening and closing mechanism includes a cartridge-receiving base with front and side lips for supporting the front and side lips of the tray. A carriage is mounted for movement with respect to the base. An elongated roller including cartridge cover-engaging fingers is rotatably and movably mounted to the carriage. Springs bias the roller toward engagement with the lips of the base. A carriage drive assembly includes a roller drive linkage, a track drive linkage, a motor and a shuttle linkage. A rack is mounted adjacent to the base for engagement by the track drive linkage. During the cartridge opening stroke, the shuttle linkage couples the motor to the roller drive linkage causing the roller to rotate in a first direction and peel the cover from the tray and wind the cover onto the roller. During the cartridge closing stroke, the shuttle linkage couples the motor to the track drive linkage to drive the carriage with respect to the base and rotate the roller in a second direction to unwind the reseal the cover onto the tray.

Opening and closing mechanism for a laser imager film cartridge

A system and method of modifying pixels supplied to the system that a multiple level signals for a digitized image wherein a moving pixel window with a center pixel, D.sub.c, is used from which the annular means, m.sub.a, of the center pixel (the mean of the 2.sup.N pixel values of the window surrounding the center pixel, where N is an integer of 1 or more) is determined with the center pixel and selected pixels surrounding the center pixel, D.sub.c, are used to determine a measure of deviation (center deviation, .sigma..sub.c) of the center pixel relative to the center pixel that is used to obtain a modification gain, f(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g). The center pixel, D.sub.c, its annular mean, m.sub.a, and its modification gain, f(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g) or F'(.sigma..sub.c,C.sub.g) are used to obtain a modified center pixel value, D.sub.c 40 , in accordance with one of the following equations that are of the form for an algorithm for determining the unsharp marking filter value for an image pixel:

Method and system for enhancement of a digitized image

Growing community of inventors

Lakeville, MN, United States of America

Terrence H Joyce