Patents Examined by Chad Smith
  • Patent number: 8979237
    Abstract: A recording head control method prevents head coil burnout caused by heat output while suppressing a drop in printer throughput. A control method for a recording head 18 of a dot impact printer 100 that prints information on a recording medium S by driving the recording wires 9 of a recording head 18 that has a plurality of recording wires 9 while a carriage 19 that carries the recording head 18 traverses the recording medium S, each of the recording wires 9 being allocated to printing one dot line in the scanning direction of the carriage 19, the control method including steps of: during dot line printing, determining before printing if the number of previously defined specific dot patterns P1, P2 contained in the dot line to be printed is greater than or equal to a reference number N of 2 or more; and printing the dot line based on the result of the decision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takefumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8983243
    Abstract: Wind turbine blade comprising a sensor system with an optical path comprising a first optical sensor fiber, a second optical sensor fiber and a patch optical fiber, the first optical sensor fiber including a first core with a first core diameter wherein the first optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the second optical sensor fiber including a second core with a second core diameter, wherein the second optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the patch optical fiber including a patch core with a patch core diameter, wherein the patch optical fiber extends from a first end to a second end and connects the first optical sensor fiber and the second optical sensor fiber, wherein the first core diameter is the same as the patch core diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LM WP Patent Holding A/S
    Inventors: Morten Philipsen, Lars Erik Jensen
  • Patent number: 8977098
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid metal clamp, and a clamp system and method including same. A clamp system includes a first clamp configured to hold a first portion of a set of fibers and a second clamp configured to hold a second portion of the set of fibers, the second clamp comprising a liquid metal that takes a liquid form at a first temperature for receipt of the second portion of the set of fibers and that takes a solid form at a second temperature to secure the second of the set of fibers. The set of fibers can be a single fiber or a plurality of fibers. The fiber or fibers can have a circular or non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared Meitzler, Jeremy Dawkins
  • Patent number: 8977082
    Abstract: A filter and fabrication process for a thin film filter that is based on frustrated total internal reflection and multiple waveguide layers, in which the waveguide modes are resonantly coupled. The physics of the design is related to prism coupling of light into planar waveguides, and waveguide coupling between planar waveguides in close proximity. Embodiments include a filter that acts as a bandpass filter and polarizer, a filter that acts as a bandpass filter, polarizer and angle filter (spatial filter), a filter that is widely tunable, and a filter that is widely tunable in both peak transmission wavelength and width. Methods of fabrication are disclosed, and methods to correct for manufacturing errors in thin film deposition are described. The filter embodiments can also be used in reflection as notch filters in wavelength and angle, for a particular polarization component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Stream Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kirat Singh, Elmar Prenner, Alan D. Streater
  • Patent number: 8967751
    Abstract: When an image is recorded using a multichip recording head including a plurality of chips each having a plurality of nozzle arrays, a change in image density can occur due to a registration error between chips in an overlapping part where two chips are connected. To suppress the change in image density, input image data is distributed to two chips such that there are dots overlapping each other between the two chips in the overlapping part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Azuma, Yoshiaki Murayama, Shigeyasu Nagoshi, Minoru Teshigawara, Susumu Hirosawa, Yutaka Kano, Takeshi Murase, Kentarou Muro, Masao Kato, Minako Kato, Tomokazu Ishikawa, Fumitaka Goto, Mitsuhiro Ono, Akitoshi Yamada, Yugo Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 8942532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable gland (1) having a flange (3) and a plug-in part (2) suited for an operational connection to the flange (3). The plug-in part (2) comprises a locking sleeve (4), and a fastener (7) for a connector (8), said fastener being operatively connected to said locking sleeve by way of a control slide (10). The control slide (10) is configured such that a rotation of the locking sleeve (4) around the longitudinal axis (x) of the plug-in part (2) results in an axial displacement of the fastener (7) in a longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Huber+Suhner AG
    Inventors: Daniel Greub, Michael Lothar Völker, Leo Bollhalder
  • Patent number: 8915659
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable includes a first cable segment; a second cable segment; and a splice enclosure. The first cable segment can have a different configuration than the second cable segment. The splice enclosure is coupled to the strength member and strength component of the first cable segment and the second cable segment. One example splice enclosure includes a first enclosure body having a first threaded connection region and a second enclosure body having a second threaded connection region. Another example splice enclosure includes a tubular enclosure with two end caps. Cable retention members are positioned within the splice enclosure at fixed axial positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Marcouiller, Paula Rudenick
  • Patent number: 8905653
    Abstract: An adapter includes a plug connector having a first housing defining a first mating port and a plurality of first terminals disposed in the first housing, and a receptacle connector having a second housing defining a second mating port and a plurality of second terminals disposed in the second housing and electrically connecting to the first terminals. An optical device has a first optical module and a second optical module optically connecting with each other via optical fibers. The first optical module is movably retained in the first housing while the second optical module is immovably retained in the second housing along a mating direction of the receptacle connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jerry Wu
  • Patent number: 8909003
    Abstract: An optical low drive voltage modulator electric field sensor device includes an electric field antenna. A low drive voltage modulator has an electrical voltage input electrically coupled to the electric field antenna, a light input, and a modulated light output. The optical low drive voltage modulator electric field sensor is configured to provide an optical output signal at the modulated light output having an optical parameter responsive to an electric field at the electric field antenna. The optical low drive voltage modulator electric field sensor device can also be configured to provide an RF output signal at a location physically remote from said antenna, where the RF output signal is responsive to an electromagnetic wave received at a remote antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization
    Inventors: Michael J. Hochberg, Tom Baehr-Jones
  • Patent number: 8905650
    Abstract: A fiber-optic cable with a fitting capable of increasing connection strength between a fiber-optic cable and an optical connector, which includes a fiber-optic cable including a sheath and a tensile member, an inner ring mounted on a circumference of the sheath from a position where the tensile member is drawn out of the sheath through a slit to a front end of the sheath, and a fitting mounted on the circumference and including a first portion mounted from the position where the tensile member is drawn out of the sheath to a position of the sheath on a side opposite to the ring side, and a second portion mounted while covering a circumference of the ring, wherein the first portion connects with the sheath, and the end portion of the tensile member is sandwiched by the ring and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ishida, Hiroyoshi Maesoba, Tetsuji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8885995
    Abstract: A light-guide solar concentrator that requires less precision to assemble and manufacture than some other two-layer solar concentrators has a light-condensing layer and an optical waveguide layer. The light-condensing layer includes a plurality of focusing elements for focusing incident sunlight and a plurality of corresponding collimating elements for collimating the light for output to the optical waveguide layer. The optical waveguide layer receives the collimated light and has a plurality of deflectors for redirecting the light for lateral transmission through the optical waveguide layer toward an exit surface. A secondary optic optically coupled to the exit surface can also be provided to redirect the light toward a light collection area where a solar energy collector can be placed to harvest the concentrated sunlight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Morgan Solar Inc.
    Inventor: John Paul Morgan
  • Patent number: 8879882
    Abstract: A variably configurable fiber optic terminal as a local convergence point in a fiber optic network is disclosed. The fiber optic terminal has an enclosure having a base and a cover which define an interior space. A feeder cable having at least one optical fiber and a distribution cable having at least one optical fiber are received into the interior space through a feeder cable port and a distribution cable port, respectively. A movable chassis positions in the interior space and is movable between a first position, a second position and third position. The movable chassis has a splitter holder area, a cassette area and a parking area. A cassette movably positions in the cassette area. A splitter module holder having a splitter module movably positioned therein movably positions in the splitter holder area. The optical fiber of the feeder cable and the optical fiber of the distribution cable are optically connected through the cassette, which also may be through the splitter module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Mark Edward Conner, William Julius McPhil Giraud, Lee Wayne Nored, Gary Bruce Schnick
  • Patent number: 8861899
    Abstract: An optical fiber current transformer includes a broadband light source, a depolarizer, a beam splitter, a temperature acquisition unit, a current acquisition unit, a modulation waveform generating unit, a data processing unit and a calculating compensation unit. The broadband light source is connected with the beam splitter by the depolarizer. A first output of the beam splitter is connected with the calculating compensation unit by the temperature acquisition unit. A second output of the beam splitter is connected with the data processing unit by the current acquisition unit. The data processing unit is connected with the calculating compensation unit. The calculating compensation unit is connected with the current acquisition unit by the modulation waveform generating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Beijing Qi-Red Electric Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shudong Wu, Wenbo Wang
  • Patent number: 8851765
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector for terminating an optical fiber is provided. The optical fiber connector includes a housing configured to mate with a receptacle. The connector also includes a collar body disposed in the housing and retained between the housing's outer shell and a backbone. The collar body includes a swivel head coupled to a front end portion of the collar body, where the swivel head is configured to receive a ferrule. The swivel head is configured to pivot with respect to the front end portion of the collar body by a controlled amount upon a side pull force being placed on the connector and/or optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Donald K. Larson, Wesley A. Raider, Joseph C. Sawicki, Daniel J. Treadwell
  • Patent number: 8851594
    Abstract: Systems and methods of fill area reduction during printing are disclosed. An example of a method includes identifying a fill area. The method also includes generating a depletion matrix corresponding to the fill area. The depletion matrix identifies which of the plurality of print heads to deactivate. The method also includes selectively adjusting output from the plurality of print heads based on the depletion matrix in order to reduce fill area during printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sergio Puigardeu, Luis Garcia Garcia, Angel Martinez Barambio
  • Patent number: 8845050
    Abstract: A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a stage, a head, an adjustment mechanism, an ejection command means, and a control means. On the stage, a powder material is accumulated. The head ejects ink to the powder material on the stage. The adjustment mechanism adjusts a relative height of the stage and the head for each predetermined layer thickness so that a three-dimensional object is formed on the stage by the predetermined layer thickness. The ejection command means causes the ink to be ejected from the head so that the powder material is colored a plurality of colors corresponding to multilevel luminance information items in a multivalued image obtained by performing a multivalued processing of luminance with respect to a two-dimensional cross-sectional image data of a modeling target object. The control means controls the adjustment mechanism and the ejection command means so that the multivalued image is drawn for each layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Matsui, Junichi Kuzusako, Hiroyuki Yasukochi
  • Patent number: 8849076
    Abstract: An optical switch includes a microresonator comprising a plurality of silicon nanoparticles within a silicon-rich silicon oxide layer. The microresonator further includes an optical coupler optically coupled to the microresonator and configured to be optically coupled to a signal source. A method of optical switching includes providing an optical switch comprising an optical coupler and a microresonator having a plurality of nanoparticles and receiving an optical pulse by the optical switch, wherein at least a portion of the optical pulse is absorbed by the nanoparticles such that at least a portion of the microresonator undergoes an elevation of temperature and a corresponding refractive index change when the optical pulse has an optical power greater than a predetermined threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J. F. Digonnet, Anuranjita Tewary, Mark Brongersma
  • Patent number: 8837895
    Abstract: A fiber holder which can wind an optical fiber easily and accurately, and hold an optical fiber in a wound state is provided. The optical fiber is accommodated in the groove (introduction portion) formed on the fiber bobbin, after that, the bobbin cover is rotated in the rotational direction of the helical groove while the optical fiber is kept in contact with the cutout formed in the bobbin cover. With this, the optical fiber can be accommodated in the groove. Thus, the optical fiber can be wound easily and accurately, and the optical fiber can be held on the fiber bobbin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiko Nakano, Tadamasa Yokoi, Yuichi Ishizu, Masao Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 8814446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a splice protection device for spliced optical fibers and to a method particularly for providing an access point to an optical fiber cable in a dwelling unit of a multi dwelling unit. To facilitate mounting of a splice protection device, the splice protection device according to the invention comprises a first and a second tube, the second tube being arranged concentrically and slidable within the first tube, the first and second tubes being adapted to receive at least one spliced fiber. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for providing an access point to a provider optical cable in a dwelling unit of a multi-dwelling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem BVBA
    Inventors: Mohamed Labraymi, Sam Leeman, Kristof Vastmans, Bart Mattie Claessens, Kathleen Bellekens
  • Patent number: 8814322
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a recording head that includes a discharge port face on which a plurality of discharge ports for discharging ink is formed, a cap configured to cap the discharge port face, a suction recovery unit configured to suck ink from the recording head via the cap, and a control unit configured to control the suction recovery unit so that a suction amount changes based on elapsed time from when the discharge port face is capped by the cap, in a state where ink discharged from the recording head is present, wherein the control unit controls the suction recovery unit so that the suction amount decreases as the elapsed time increases when the elapsed times does not exceed a first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihisa Saikawa