Patents by Inventor François Bilodeau
François Bilodeau 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: 7666248Abstract: A method is described for priming an in-line molten metal filtration unit having a porous ceramic or refractory filter mounted substantially horizontally in a filter box. This filter box has an inlet for molten metal and an outlet for molten metal, the outlet being a closeable outlet in an exit well connecting to the downstream side of the filter. The method of the invention comprises the steps of adding a molten metal to the filter box sufficient to entirely cover the upstream side of the filter with a depth of molten metal and temporarily sealing the outlet in the exit well. A steadily increasing vacuum is then applied to the closed exit well at a rate between 0.1 and 10 kPa per second by withdrawing a stream of air from the exit well by means of a fan or air venturi until molten metal begins to flow through the filter. At that point the vacuum is quickly released and the molten metal outlet is opened.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2005Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Luc Belley, Jean-François Bilodeau, André Gendron, Serge Munger
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Publication number: 20090264346Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, X, R3, D, and the dotted line b are as defined herein; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, are useful as inhibitors of the HCV NS3 protease.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventors: Montse LLINAS-BRUNET, Murray BAILEY, Francois BILODEAU, Pasquale FORGIONE, Elise GHIRO, Nathalie GOUDREAU, Teddy HALMOS, Jean RANCOURT
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Patent number: 7606452Abstract: A device for providing an expanded mode field from a single mode optical waveguide is formed by fusing a length of single mode optical fiber with a length of fiber rod absent a cladding and adiabatically tapering the fused region. The length of single mode fiber has a core having a refractive index nco and a cladding having a refractive index ncl, wherein ncl<nco and wherein the cladding has an outer diameter ?. The length of fiber rod absent the cladding has a refractive index of the fiber rod is substantially the same as the cladding index ncl of the single mode optical fiber. The outer diameter of the length of fiber rod is ?, the same as the cladding diameter of the single mode fiber.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, through the Communications Research Centre CanadaInventors: Francois Bilodeau, Bernard Malo, Stephen Mihailov
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Publication number: 20090060417Abstract: A device for providing an expanded mode field from a single mode optical waveguide is formed by fusing a length of single mode optical fiber with a length of fiber rod absent a cladding and adiabatically tapering the fused region. The length of single mode fiber has a core having a refractive index nco and a cladding having a refractive index ncl, wherein ncl<nco and wherein the cladding has an outer diameter ?. The length of fiber rod absent the cladding has a refractive index of the fiber rod is substantially the same as the cladding index ncl of the single mode optical fiber. The outer diameter of the length of fiber rod is ?, the same as the cladding diameter of the single mode fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Francois Bilodeau, Bernard Malo, Stephen Mihailov
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Publication number: 20080053275Abstract: A method is described for priming an in-line molten metal filtration unit having a porous ceramic or refractory filter mounted substantially horizontally in a filter box. This filter box has an inlet for molten metal and an outlet for molten metal, the outlet being a closeable outlet in an exit well connecting to the downstream side of the filter. The method of the invention comprises the steps of adding a molten metal to the filter box sufficient to entirely cover the upstream side of the filter with a depth of molten metal and temporarily sealing the outlet in the exit well. A steadily increasing vacuum is then applied to the closed exit well at a rate between 0.1 and 10 kPa per second by withdrawing a stream of air from the exit well by means of a fan or air venturi until molten metal begins to flow through the filter At that point the vacuum is quickly released and the molten metal outlet is opened.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2005Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventors: Luc Belley, Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Andre Gendron, Serge Munger
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Patent number: 6960239Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the treatment of molten metal, e.g. aluminum, with a particulate treatment agent and a gas. This includes a vessel for holding molten metal, a rotary device for breaking up particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal and for dispersing particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal contained in the vessel and means for supplying the particulate treatment agent and gas to the rotary device. The rotary device includes a hollow shaft having a rotor with an axial opening fixed to the discharge end of the shaft, this rotor being in the form of an annular plate with a plurality of radially mounted upwardly directed blades projecting from the top face of the annular plate and a plurality of radially mounted downwardly directed blades projecting from the bottom face of the annular plate.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: November 1, 2005Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Jean-François Bilodeau, Laszlo Istvan Kiss, Carl Lakroni
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Publication number: 20050192212Abstract: Compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, X, R3, D, and the dotted line b are as defined herein; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, are useful as inhibitors of the HCV NS3 protease.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2005Publication date: September 1, 2005Applicant: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbHInventors: Montse Llinas-Brunet, Murray Bailey, Punit Bhardwaj, Francois Bilodeau, Pasquale Forgione, Elise Ghiro, Nathalie Goudreau, Teddy Halmos, Jean Rancourt
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Patent number: 6755889Abstract: A process is described for treating molten metal with a particulate treating agent. A melt of a metal, e.g. aluminum, is provided in a treatment vessel such as a ladle and a mixing impeller is positioned substantially below the surface of the molten metal. The impeller comprises a plate with a series of spaced blades extending from the surface of the plate. This impeller is adapted to provide high shear mixing with minimum vortex. While rotating the impeller on a substantially vertical axis, particulate treating agent is fed by way of an injection tube below the surface of the molten metal and into the region between the axis and periphery of the impeller. This causes a high shearing action in the region of the blades whereby the treating agent is quickly broken down into finely divided droplets that are at least partially molten and which are circulated within the molten metal.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Sebastien Fafard
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Publication number: 20030205854Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the treatment of molten metal, e.g. aluminum, with a particulate treatment agent and a gas. This includes a vessel for holding molten metal, a rotary device for breaking up particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal and for dispersing particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal contained in the vessel and means for supplying the particulate treatment agent and gas to the rotary device. The rotary device includes a hollow shaft having a rotor with an axial opening fixed to the discharge end of the shaft, this rotor being in the form of an annular plate with a plurality of radially mounted upwardly directed blades projecting from the top face of the annular plate and a plurality of radially mounted downwardly directed blades projecting from the bottom face of the annular plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Laszlo Istvan Kiss, Carl Lakroni
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Publication number: 20030196518Abstract: A process is described for treating molten metal with a particulate treating agent. A melt of a metal, e.g. aluminum, is provided in a treatment vessel such as a ladle and a mixing impeller is positioned substantially below the surface of the molten metal. The impeller comprises a plate with a series of spaced blades extending from the surface of the plate. This impeller is adapted to provide high shear mixing with minimum vortex. While rotating the impeller on a substantially vertical axis, particulate treating agent is fed by way of an injection tube below the surface of the molten metal and into the region between the axis and periphery of the impeller. This causes a high shearing action in the region of the blades whereby the treating agent is quickly broken down into finely divided droplets that are at least partially molten and which are circulated within the molten metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2003Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Sebastien Fafard
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Patent number: 6602318Abstract: A process is described for treating molten metal with a particulate treating agent. A melt of a metal, e.g. aluminum, is provided in a treatment vessel such as a ladle and a mixing impeller is positioned substantially below the surface of the molten metal. The impeller comprises a plate with a series of spaced blades extending from the surface of the plate. This impeller is adapted to provide high shear mixing with minimum vortex. While rotating the impeller on a substantially vertical axis, particulate treating agent is fed by way of an injection tube below the surface of the molten metal and into the region between the axis and periphery of the impeller. This causes a high shearing action in the region of the blades whereby the treating agent is quickly broken down into finely divided droplets that are at least partially molten and which are circulated within the molten metal.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Sebastien Fafard
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Patent number: 6589313Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the treatment of molten metal, e.g. aluminum, with a particulate treatment agent and a gas. This includes a vessel for holding molten metal, a rotary device for breaking up particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal and for dispersing particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal contained in the vessel and means for supplying the particulate treatment agent and gas to the rotary device. The rotary device includes a hollow shaft having a rotor with an axial opening fixed to the discharge end of the shaft, this rotor being in the form of an annular plate with a plurality of radially mounted upwardly directed blades projecting from the top face of the annular plate and a plurality of radially mounted downwardly directed blades projecting from the bottom face of the annular plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Alcan International LimitedInventors: Jean-François Bilodeau, Laszlo Istvan Kiss, Carl Lakroni
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Publication number: 20020096810Abstract: A process is described for treating molten metal with a particulate treating agent. A melt of a metal, e.g. aluminum, is provided in a treatment vessel such as a ladle and a mixing impeller is positioned substantially below the surface of the molten metal. The impeller comprises a plate with a series of spaced blades extending from the surface of the plate. This impeller is adapted to provide high shear mixing with minimum vortex. While rotating the impeller on a substantially vertical axis, particulate treating agent is fed by way of an injection tube below the surface of the molten metal and into the region between the axis and periphery of the impeller. This causes a high shearing action in the region of the blades whereby the treating agent is quickly broken down into finely divided droplets that are at least partially molten and which are circulated within the molten metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2001Publication date: July 25, 2002Inventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Ghyslain Dube, Claude Dupuis, Sebastien Fafard
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Publication number: 20020088307Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the treatment of molten metal, e.g. aluminum, with a particulate treatment agent and a gas. This includes a vessel for holding molten metal, a rotary device for breaking up particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal and for dispersing particulate treatment agent and gas within the molten metal contained in the vessel and means for supplying the particulate treatment agent and gas to the rotary device. The rotary device includes a hollow shaft having a rotor with an axial opening fixed to the discharge end of the shaft, this rotor being in the form of an annular plate with a plurality of radially mounted upwardly directed blades projecting from the top face of the annular plate and a plurality of radially mounted downwardly directed blades projecting from the bottom face of the annular plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2001Publication date: July 11, 2002Inventors: Jean-Francois Bilodeau, Laszlo Istvan Kiss, Carl Lakroni
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Patent number: 6374016Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein optical structures such as Bragg gratings can be written into planar waveguides disposed on a substrate. By employing the method of this invention, a polarization insensitive device can be made. Such relatively thin planar waveguides disposed on a substrate are inherently polarization sensitive and the structure itself is birefringent. By writing structures in the waveguides or by simply writing a refractive index change in the waveguide by limiting the beam width at the waveguide layer to less than or equal to the thickness of the waveguiding layers on the substrate, in combination with conventional wider beam writing techniques, polarization sensitivity can be lessened or obviated.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2001Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of IndustryInventors: Jacques Albert, Francois Bilodeau, Kenneth O. Hill, Derwyn C. Johnson, Stephen J. Mihailov
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Publication number: 20010014200Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein optical structures such as Bragg gratings can be written into planar waveguides disposed on a substrate. By employing the method of this invention, a polarization insensitive device can be made. Such relatively thin planar waveguides disposed on a substrate are inherently polarization sensitive and the structure itself is birefringent. By writing structures in the waveguides or by simply writing a refractive index change in the waveguide by limiting the beam width at the waveguide layer to less than or equal to the thickness of the waveguiding layers on the substrate, in combination with conventional wider beam writing techniques, polarization sensitivity can be lessened or obviated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2001Publication date: August 16, 2001Inventors: Jacques Albert, Francois Bilodeau, Kenneth O. Hill, Derwyn C. Johnson, Stephen J. Mihailov
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Patent number: 6256435Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein optical structures such as Bragg gratings can be written into planar waveguides disposed on a substrate. By employing the method of this invention, a polarization insensitive device can be made. Such relatively thin planar waveguides disposed on a substrate are inherently polarization sensitive and the structure itself is birefringent. By writing structures in the waveguides or by simply writing a refractive index change in the waveguide by limiting the beam width at the waveguide layer to less than or equal to the thickness of the waveguiding layers on the substrate, in combination with conventional wider beam writing techniques, polarization sensitivity can be lessened or obviated.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of IndustryInventors: Jacques Albert, Francois Bilodeau, Kenneth O. Hill, Derwyn C. Johnson, Stephen J. Mihailov
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Method of creating an index grating in an optical fiber and a mode converter using the index grating
Patent number: 5216739Abstract: Efficient, narrow-band rocking filters have been made in polarization-maintaining monomode optical fiber by photoinducing periodic birefringent gratings along the length of the fiber. These gratings, fabricated with a period chosen to provide synchronous coupling between the two principal states of polarization of the LP.sub.01 mode at a preselected wavelength, gently rock to and fro the principal polarization axes of the fiber. To photoinduce the grating, the fiber is exposed periodically along its length to a U.V. light beam which is incident at right angles to the geometrical axis of the fiber and is directed .pi./4 radians with respect to the principal axes. Efficient polarization mode conversion at 1.3 .mu.m with the fiber gratings are obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 1991Date of Patent: June 1, 1993Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of CommunicationsInventors: Kenneth O. Hill, Bernard Y. Malo, Francois Bilodeau, Derwyn C. Johnson -
Patent number: 5150439Abstract: A two-channel optical fiber fused coupler comprising two optical fibers, each with a core and cladding, fused together at a narrow tapered waist. The first channel is at a wavelength of .lambda..sub.1 and the second channel is at a wavelength of .lambda..sub.2 where .lambda..sub.2 is longer than .lambda..sub.1. The coupler is fabricated to have a characteristic wavelength .lambda..sub.0 such that for wavelengths .lambda..sub.2 longer than .lambda..sub.0 coupling occurs and for wavelenghts .lambda..sub.1 shorter that .lambda..sub.0 the light at .lambda..sub.1 is core guided throughout the coupler and thus does not couple across.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1991Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of CommunicationsInventors: Kenneth O. Hill, Francois Bilodeau, Bernard Malo, Derwyn C. Johnson
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Method of creating an index grating in an optical fiber and a mode converter using the index grating
Patent number: 5104209Abstract: This invention relates to a method of creating an index grating in an optical fiber comprising disposing a slit mask containing one or more slits over a side of an optical fiber, illuminating the fiber through the slit mask by substantially monochromatic ultraviolet light for a short interval, whereby an index grating line is created and stored in the core of the fiber.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1991Date of Patent: April 14, 1992Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of CommunicationsInventors: Kenneth O. Hill, Bernard Malo, Francois Bilodeau, Derwyn C. Johnson