Other

Hewlett-packard Development Company, L.p.

Livengood Engineering, Inc.

Theodore B Ziemkowski

John Bonvallet

Barry T Phillips

Peeraya Nilwong

Devon Clark

Frank W Kennedy

Patrick Gene Bashor

Patrick Simons

Donald J Stavely

David W Boyd

Robert Paul Cazier

Charles Edward Schinner

Eric F Aas

Joseph C Livengood

Amy L Livengood

Chris Corman

Larry S Chapman

Robert D Bolinder, Iii

Jeffrey P Baker

A sensor for a laser may contain an at least partially transparent plastic with a fluorescent material that receives laser light at one frequency and creates light inside the transparent plastic with a second, different frequency. The light at the second frequency may travel through the plastic to an electronic sensor mounted against the transparent plastic. The sensor may be several feet in length or longer and still detect a single impinging Class I or Class II laser beam. In systems where the position of the laser may be known, a set of linear gain coefficients may be determined to calibrate the electronic sensor, as the signal strength of a received signal may decay with the distance from the electronic sensor to the location where the laser beam impinges the plastic element.

Laser sensor with flourescent loaded transparent plastic

A two dimensional scanning laser system may automatically detect a laser, then align and calibrate itself to scan over the sensor area. The system may have a laser with a controller that may cause the laser to be directed over two dimensions, as well as a sensor apparatus. The laser may be controlled with a mirror system that may pivot in two directions, thus allowing the laser to be scanned over a two dimensional area. The sensor may be a point sensor, where the laser may be positioned in a constant direction, as well as a larger area sensor where the laser may be moved across the sensor area to detect objects in a two or three dimensional space. An alignment and calibration sequence may cause the laser to scan across its operational area and detect the location of one or more sensors.

Laser alignment and calibration system for scanning lasers

An improved court perimeter boundary for volleyball or other sports comprises at least one indicator that indicates a hypotenuse distance to be used in squaring the court delimited by the boundary. Optionally, the perimeter boundary may be separated, facilitating the setup of the court and the winding of the boundary for storage. A method of setting up a volleyball court is also described.

Sport court perimeter boundary

A mounting mechanism for a laser or reflector may consist of a gross adjustment mechanism and a fine adjustment mechanism. The gross adjustment mechanism may enable a laser or reflector to be oriented in an approximate orientation and locked in place. The fine adjustment mechanism may enable a fine and precise adjustment to be applied. The mounting mechanisms may include a mounting plate that may mount to the surface of a wall and protect the rest of the mounting mechanism from disruption, but may also allow the fine adjustment mechanism to be tuned. The mounting mechanisms may be used to create a durable yet easily adjustable laser maze amusement.

Mounting devices for lasers, reflectors, and receivers

A laser controller may operate a laser at a high power level, such as Class 3R, Class 3B, or higher, but may have safety interlocks to limit exposure to a safe level and may, as a system, be classified as Class 1. The laser controller may control a laser that transmits a light beam to a sensor, and may operate the laser in a high power mode when the sensor senses the light beam. While a laser is transmitting and the laser beam is not sensed, the laser may be operated within Class 1 power levels. When the light beam is broken, the laser controller may turn off the laser or change the power level to a safe level such that a person would not be exposed to any more energy than a Class 1 level. The laser controller may use various mechanisms to set a detection threshold and may use an ambient light sensor to determine when detection may be impossible.

Laser safety controller

In a method and apparatus for building up a database of known faces, the database of known faces allows the names of the people captured in an image to be added to the meta-data of the image file. The digital imaging device will ask the user to identify unknown people captured in an image.

Face recognition in a digital imaging system accessing a database of people

Mechanical mounting for maze attraction

A sensor mounting system for enabling image stabilization in a digital camera is described. An electronic array light sensor is moved in relation to other parts of the camera in response to camera motion. In one embodiment, the sensor is moved by at least one linear motor having a ferrofluid in a gap of the linear motor. Other aspects of the system are described, including methods of heat sinking the sensor, a suspension system, methods of compensating for an effect of temperature on the ferrofluid, and a compact magnet configuration for forming the linear motor and providing feedback as to the position of the sensor.

Flexible suspension for image stabilization

A laser controller has a sensor input for each of a plurality of lasers which the controller may control using outputs. Each laser and sensor may form a laser beam. The controller may have timing start and stop inputs to control a timer, and the controller may calculate a score based on the timer as well as any tripped laser beams. The controller may be used for controlling a game system.

Laser controller

A patient support platform provides a solution for healthcare facilities and nursing staff to address patient and staff safety, patient mobility, patient comfort, the availability of patient information, monitoring drugs and therapy provided, and controlling health care expenses. The patient support platform preferably includes a transmission system that allows the patient and/or medical staff member to choose a stop, walk or roll mode. The transmission system preferably includes a drag wheel for applying a braking force in response to a voltage generated by a braking motor. The platform supports a plurality of devices that may be attached or associated with a patient throughout their stay at a healthcare facility. The support platform also preferably includes a mechanism for releasably attaching the support platform to another structure, such as a bed. Embodiments of the present invention include multiple non-medical uses of the platform.

Modular patient support system

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for avoiding image artifacts caused by camera vibration. The taking of one or more photographic exposures is timed in relation to the vibration, so as to avoid motion blur, video jitter, or both. The vibration may be characterized by motion sensors, or by analysis of image data.

Avoiding image artifacts caused by camera vibration

A slave strobe is built including a photodetector, a flash tube, a flash controller, a mode switch, a body, and a top rotatable with respect to the body, and depressible with respect to the body. The photodetector is configured to detect a flash of light. The flash controller is electrically coupled with the photodetector, the mode switch and the flash tube, and is configured to change modes of operation when the mode switch is activated. The mode switch is configured to activate when the top is depressed. The top includes a plurality of strobe lenses configured to modify a flash of light from the flash tube when rotated in front of the flash tube.

Slave strobe

A digital image capturing system includes at least two digital image capturing devices and a bi-directional link cable connecting the image capturing devices. The image capturing devices are capable of sharing data items over the bi-directional link cable.

Share link between image capturing devices

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a camera and methods associated therewith for notifying a user upon non-conforming separation of a remote from the camera.

Growing community of inventors

Loveland, CO, United States of America

Theodore B Ziemkowski