Patents by Inventor James P. Downing
James P. Downing has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6795602Abstract: A fiber optic switch (400) includes a fiber optic switching module (100) that receives and fixes ends (104) of optical fibers (106). The module (100) includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors (172) which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light (108) between a pair of optical fibers (106). The module (100) also produces orientation signals from each deflector (172) which indicate its orientation. A portcard (406) included in the switch (400) supplies drive signals to the module (100) for orienting at least one deflector (172). The portcard (406) also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector (172) together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector (172). The portcard (406) compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector (172) and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module (100) to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, Timothy G. Slater, Tyler L. Baughman, James P. Downing, John S. Forker, Gregory A. Reznick, Sam Calmes, Steven M. Clark, Jack D. Foster, Marc R. Schuman, Rajiv Ramaswami
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Patent number: 6608297Abstract: A scanner, through which a document moves while being scanned by a moving beam of light, includes a wheel that rotates responsive to document movement. The wheel includes a multi-sectioned optical encoder upon which the scanning beam of light impinges when in a position at which it does not impinge upon the document. The scanner also includes an optical detector which receives light that is not absorbed by the optical encoder sections. Thus, the optical detector generates an electrical signal that indicates document movement speed. A preferred embodiment the scanner includes a pair of cup-shaped wheels one of which carries the optical encoder that encircles an inner surface of the wheel adjacent to a lip thereof. An axle, also included in the preferred embodiment, spans between, is coupled to, and supports the wheels for rotation in unison about a longitudinal axis parallel to the axle.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: Xeros, Inc.Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, James P. Downing, Timothy G. Slater
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Patent number: 6445844Abstract: A fiber optic switch includes a fiber optic switching module that receives and fixes ends of optical fibers. The module includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light between a pair of optical fibers. The module also produces orientation signals from each deflector which indicate its orientation. A portcard included in the switch supplies drive signals to the module for orienting at least one deflector. The portcard also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector. The portcard compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals. The switch also employs optical alignment to precisely orient pairs of deflectors coupling a beam of light between optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: XROS, Inc.Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, Timothy G. Slater, Tyler L. Baughman, James P. Downing, John S. Forker, Gregory A. Reznick, Sam Calmes, Steven M. Clark, Jack D. Foster, Marc R. Schuman, Rajiv Ramaswami
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Publication number: 20020011558Abstract: A scanner, through which a document moves while being scanned by a moving beam of light, includes a wheel that rotates responsive to document movement. The wheel includes a multi-sectioned optical encoder upon which the scanning beam of light impinges when in a position at which it does not impinge upon the document. The scanner also includes an optical detector which receives light that is not absorbed by the optical encoder sections. Thus, the optical detector generates an electrical signal that indicates document movement speed. A preferred embodiment the scanner includes a pair of cup-shaped wheels one of which carries the optical encoder that encircles an inner surface of the wheel adjacent to a lip thereof. An axle, also included in the preferred embodiment, spans between, is coupled to, and supports the wheels for rotation in unison about a longitudinal axis parallel to the axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, James P. Downing, Timothy G. Slater
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Patent number: 6229139Abstract: A document transport for a scanner (100) has a flexible, elongated finger (226) disposed adjacent to a document (134), and a force applied to the finger (226) urges teeth (233) on the finger (226) into contact with the document (134) which urges the document (134) along a path through the scanner (100). A piezoelectric plate (222), which applies the force to the finger (226), requires only a small amount of electrical power. To traverse the scanner (100), a document (134) may also be manually fed along a guide (272). First and second speed-sensing detectors (276a and 276b), disposed along the path traversed by the document (134), permit the scanner (100) to determine a speed at which the manually fed document (134) traverses the scanner (100). To conserve electrical energy, the scanner (100) also includes a document-presence detector (274) for activating the scanner (100) when a document (134) to be scanned is present.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2000Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: Xros, Inc.Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, James P. Downing, Timothy G. Slater
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Patent number: 6064779Abstract: A document transport for a scanner (100) has a flexible, elongated finger (226) disposed adjacent to a document (134), and a force applied to the finger (226) urges teeth (233) on the finger (226) into contact with the document (134) which urges the document (134) along a path through the scanner (100). A piezoelectric plate (222), which applies the force to the finger (226), requires only a small amount of electrical power. To traverse the scanner (100), a document (134) may also be manually fed along a guide (272). First and second speed-sensing detectors (276a and 276b), disposed along the path traversed by the document (134), permit the scanner (100) to determine a speed at which the manually fed document (134) traverses the scanner (100). To conserve electrical energy, the scanner (100) also includes a document-presence detector (274) for activating the scanner (100) when a document (134) to be scanned is present.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1998Date of Patent: May 16, 2000Assignee: Xros, Inc.Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, James P. Downing, Timothy G. Slater