Patents by Inventor John Joseph Ciardi

John Joseph Ciardi 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).

  • Patent number: 8634478
    Abstract: An Linear Time Code (LTC) receiver for receiving and decoding a LTC frame of the type used in connection with film and television and accompanying audio includes a first counter that measures the number of reference clock periods within the duration of a bi-phase mark signal interval to yield a timing reference for extracting the payload from the LTC frame. A second counter detects a sync field within the LTC frame to establish the LTC frame direction. A third counter serves to count the number of symbols in the LTC frame. A state machine responsive to the counts of the first, second and third counters, serves to (a) detect a valid synchronization sequence within an incoming LTC frame; (b) determine the LTC frame direction, (c) decode (extract) payload information from the LTC frame; and (d) transfer the payload information in an order determined by the LTC frame direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: GVBB Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: John Joseph Ciardi
  • Patent number: 7268825
    Abstract: A sync generator (genlock) (10) for frequency and phase locking an incoming video signal to a system clock (12) includes a digitizer (16, 22) for digitizing the incoming video signal to yield a digitized color sub-carrier burst component. A numerically controlled oscillator (15) clocked by the system clock generates a phase lock reference signal for locking to the incoming video signal. Phase detection means logic unit (42, 74) sense a static phase offset magnitude from an ideal 90° phase offset between the digitized color sub-carrier burst component and the numerically controlled oscillator output signal. In accordance with the sensed static offset, a static phase error nulling circuit (70) generates a compensating offset in accordance for input to the system clock (27) to drive the static offset to zero, thus achieving frequency and phase locking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing LLC
    Inventor: John Joseph Ciardi
  • Publication number: 20040207763
    Abstract: A sync generator (genlock) (10) for frequency and phase locking an incoming video signal to a system clock (12) includes a digitizer (16, 22) for digitizing the incoming video signal to yield a digitized color sub-carrier burst component. A numerically controlled oscillator (15) clocked by the system clock generates a phase lock reference signal for locking to the incoming video signal. Phase detection means logic unit (42, 74) sense a static phase offset magnitude from an ideal 90° phase offset between the digitized color sub-carrier burst component and the numerically controlled oscillator output signal. In accordance with the sensed static offset, a static phase error nulling circuit (70) generates a compensating offset in accordance for input to the system clock (27) to drive the static offset to zero, thus achieving frequency and phase locking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: John Joseph Ciardi