Patents by Inventor Frank R. Little

Frank R. Little 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: 5963352
    Abstract: A distortion circuit for linearizing third-, fifth- and seventh-order distortion components in a non-linear optical communications system includes at least one group of series connected diodes coupled to a common input terminal for receiving a signal source at one end and to an inductor and a capacitor at the other end, a resistance coupled to the common input terminal and a bias source for providing a bias current to the group of series connected diodes. The distortion circuit may be implemented as a predistortion circuit in the headend of the optical communications system or as a postdistortion circuit at the receiving end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Dogan A. Atlas, Rezin E. Pidgeon, Jr., Frank R. Little
  • Patent number: 5477370
    Abstract: A receiver is described for optical signals which are amplitude modulated with broadband radio frequency signals. The receiver includes an optical detector which receives the incoming optical signal and generates a radio frequency electrical signal which varies with the power level of the incoming optical signal. This electrical signal is applied to a pair of amplifiers which are connected in a push-pull relationship. A gain control circuit controls the gain of the amplifier pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Little, Herman A. Kruse, John G. Megna, Rezin E. Pidgeon
  • Patent number: 5430568
    Abstract: An optical communications system provides optical signals of different wavelengths over an optical fiber having a zero dispersion wavelength. Electrical dispersion compensating elements independently compensate optical signals having wavelengths different than the zero dispersion wavelength for dispersion in the optical fiber. Limiting radio frequency signals for modulating a light emitting device or laser outputting signals at a wavelength different than the zero dispersion wavelength to less than one octave of frequency permits second order harmonic distortion resulting from dispersion in the fiber to be filtered at a receiving location. The optical communications system may include a reverse transmission path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Little, Don E. Frymyer
  • Patent number: 5347388
    Abstract: A receiver is described for optical signals which are amplitude modulated with broadband radio frequency signals. The receiver includes an optical detector which receives the incoming optical signal and generates a radio frequency electrical signal which varies with the power level of the incoming optical signal. This electrical signal is applied to a pair of amplifiers which are connected in a push-pull relationship. A gain control circuit controls the gain of the amplifier pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Little, Herman A. Kruse, John G. Megna, Rezin E. Pidgeon
  • Patent number: 5267071
    Abstract: A system for signal level control in AM fiber systems is provided. The system provides level controls at both transmitter and receiver ends of the fiber transmission system, utilizing compensation and control techniques at each end to maintain and optimize the performance of the system. The transmitter includes two stage level control based on a composite power level of a detected RF signal. The receiver includes two stage level control based on a pilot channel filtered from the channels transmitted to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Little, John G. Megna, Heather H. Rand, Frederick T. Zendt
  • Patent number: 5239402
    Abstract: A receiver is described for optical signals which are amplitude modulated with broadband radio frequency signals. The receiver includes an optical detector which receives the incoming optical signal and generates a radio frequency electrical signal which varies with the power level of the incoming optical signal. This electrical signal is applied to a pair of amplifiers which are connected in a push-pull relationship. In a preferred embodiment, a tuning network is connected between the two amplifiers for optimizing the amplification of a selected band of radio frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Little, Jr., Herman A. Kruse, John Megna
  • Patent number: 4748667
    Abstract: Scrambling and descrambling systems utilizing jamming signals provide improved pictures with minimal distortion due to ghosts and artifacts. The television signal is combined with a jamming signal or signals located preferably in the vestigial sideband (VSB) of the modulated picture carrier and at about a null in the spectrum of the modulation of the picture carrier by the horizontal sync. The jamming signal or signals also preferably are placed between the harmonic components of the horizontal sync which define the horizontal sync spectrum and at frequencies which comply with governmental regulations respecting frequency locations of strong signals of CATV purposes. The jamming signals are generated by phase locking to the horizontal sync signals of the television signals or to a submultiple of the horizontal sync frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Scientific Atlanta
    Inventors: James O. Farmer, Anatoly Kozushin, Herman A. Kruse, William P. LaFay, Christopher P. Lewis, Frank R. Little, Jr., Leo Montreuil, Leo J. Thompson, Lamar E. West, Jr., Joseph G. Mobley, II