Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Erwin Pfeifle
  • Patent number: 6522817
    Abstract: Preselected alignment of an array of N optical fibers is obtained using a relatively thick primary substrate with a thin layer mounted thereon. The primary substrate has a sufficient structure to support an array of N spaced-apart optical fibers passing therethrough. The primary substrate has first and second opposing surfaces and defines a plurality of N primary substrate apertures which each extend therethrough from the first surface to the second surface and have a cross-section which is greater than a cross-section of an optical fiber such that one of the N optical fibers can be inserted through each of the N primary substrate apertures. The layer is metal, is relatively thin, and engages one of the first and second opposing surfaces of the primary substrate, and defines N layer apertures therethrough. Centers of the layer apertures are aligned to a preselected tolerance value which is required for the array of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Veritech, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph M. Moran
  • Patent number: 6404250
    Abstract: A memory system on a semiconductor body is tested by testing components formed on the semiconductor body. A programmable clock signal generator receives an external clock signal and selectively generates an output clock signal having a frequency at a predetermined multiple of the received external clock signal. A counter receives the output clock signal from the clock signal generator and generates output signals having a cyclical binary count up to the predetermined multiple of the received external clock signal. Memory locations in a programmable look-up memory store separate commands for testing the memory system. The programmable look-up memory receives each of selective remotely generated binary encoded address signals to access a separate predetermined look-up memory section, and the binary output signals from the counter for sequentially accessing separate memory locations within the separate predetermined look-up memory section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Richmond, LP
    Inventors: Joerg Volrath, Keith White, Mark Eubanks
  • Patent number: 6148122
    Abstract: An optical modulator receives both an optical channel signal and at least one electrical driving voltage signal, and generates an optical output channel signal which is polarization independent. The optical modulator includes at least three electrodes, and first and second lithium niobate optical waveguides interspersed between the electrodes. At least one electrode receives the driving voltage signal to provide a travelling wave therealong. The first optical waveguide receives the optical channel signal, and the second optical waveguide provides the optical output channel signal. A cross splice/delay line interconnects the second end of the first optical waveguide to the first end of the second optical waveguide with polarization maintaining optical fibers, respectively, for introducing a predetermined rotation of TE and TM modes. As a result, polarization components at the second end of the second optical waveguide experience a same amount of phase modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Qtera Corporation
    Inventors: Xiang-Dong Cao, David Kirk Lewis
  • Patent number: 5940402
    Abstract: Apparatus provides time division multiplex (TDM) transmissions of interrupt requests between a plurality of shelves to a microprocessor mounted on one of the shelves. The shelves are interconnected with a cable wherein one lead is dedicated for the transmission of interrupt data signals to the microprocessor. Each shelf includes a plurality of ports or elements that are monitored and initiate interrupt request signals when a request for an action occurs therein for processing by the microcomputer. A separate encoder is mounted on each of the shelves for converting an interrupt request signal from an element on the same shelf into an X-bit interrupt data signal identifying that element. The bits of the X-bit interrupt data signal are serially transmitted over the one lead of the cable during a separate plurality of at least X clock cycles forming a timeslot assigned to the shelf originating the interrupt request within a frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Timeplex, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Krakovyak
  • Patent number: 5929431
    Abstract: An optical tracker system comprises an optical sensor 1 and associated signal processing circuitry 12, 24 for conditioning signals output from the sensor and rejecting signal indicative of false sensor information. A signal rejection circuit 24 comprises a guard time monostable 28 arranged to generate a guard time pulse defining a guard time when a pulse is input from the sensor 1, an output monostable 35 arranged to generate an output pulse in response to the guard time pulse, and an output suppress monostable 30 arranged to suppress the output monostable 35 when a false signal condition occurs during the guard time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Stewart Hughes Limited
    Inventor: Maxwell Richard Hadley
  • Patent number: 5793668
    Abstract: An apparatus uses parasitic capacitances between each of one or more leads and a spaced apart electrically conductive plane on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to store data transmitted on the one or more leads until new data is transmitted over the one or more leads from first or second devices interconnected by the one or more leads. The first device is responsive to a first control signal for modifying the data on the one or more leads and transmitting the modified data back onto the one or more leads. Alternatively, the first device is responsive to a second control signal for inhibiting the first device from reading the data from the one or more leads and from transmitting any data back onto the one or more leads for at least one clock cycle. When the first device is responsive to the second control signal, the data stored in the parasitic capacitances are, for example, read back into the second device and/or used as an output of the apparatus during a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Timeplex, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Krakovyak
  • Patent number: 5771015
    Abstract: A system for the control of the orientation and configuration of an indoor TV antenna. Such control can be effected by using an infrared remote control device, such as the type conventionally used as a TV remote control, which controls the antenna directly. Alternatively, optimum antenna orientation and configuration can be determined for each channel and stored in a memory and, when the viewer selects a particular channel, the antenna is automatically adjusted to the stored optimum orientation and configuration associated with that channel. Some of the antenna characteristics which can be controlled and stored include the orientation of antenna elements about a vertical axis, the length of the elements, the relative angle between elements, the angular orientation of a loop antenna about a vertical axis, the angular orientation of a loop antenna about a horizontal axis, the diameter of the loop antenna, and other attributes such as antenna amplifier gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Inventors: Stuart E. Kirtman, David A. Kirtman
  • Patent number: 5724344
    Abstract: A bidirectional amplifier that compensates for signal attenuation in a transmission medium uses a first diplex filter for directing a first signal including a pilot signal and propagating in a first direction along a first section of the transmission medium onto a first path of the amplifier. A second diplex filter directs a second signal in a different frequency band than the first signal that is propagating in a second direction opposite to the first signal along a second section of the transmission medium onto a second path of the amplifier. The first and second paths interconnect separate sections of the first and second diplex filters. A compensating device is disposed in the first and second paths wherein a pilot detection circuit detects the pilot signal in the first signal and generates therefrom separate control signals to first and second Bode Slope Equalizers in the first and second paths, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: William Federick Beck