Patents by Inventor Manuel A. Ferreira

Manuel A. Ferreira 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).

  • Publication number: 20200127733
    Abstract: A method for assigning spectral resources comprises assigning spectral resources for a plurality of communication channels. The spectral resources for the plurality of communication channels comprise excess resources that are at least tentatively kept unoccupied. The excess resources of a plurality of communication channels are assigned to be spectrally contiguous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: António EIRA, João Manuel FERREIRA PEDRO
  • Patent number: 10511402
    Abstract: The proposed invention is in the area of managing resources in optical transport networks, for example in the area of in-operation media channel format and spectrum management. For this purpose, the type of Media Channel Format is determined for each of a plurality of candidate paths, wherein each candidate path connects a pair of nodes in an optical transport network. Then, the expected weight describing traffic volume of each of the candidate paths is determined, and a spectrum share is assigned to each link of each of the candidate paths based on the determined Media Channel Formats and determined weights. In this way, spectrum shares assigned to different links and candidate paths can be used for efficiently assigning a band spectrum to each of the Media Channel Formats of the candidate paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Xieon Networks S.à.r.l.
    Inventors: Antonio Eira, João Manuel Ferreira Pedro
  • Publication number: 20190313168
    Abstract: The proposed invention is in the area of managing resources in optical transport networks, for example in the area of in-operation media channel format and spectrum management. For this purpose, the type of Media Channel Format is determined for each of a plurality of candidate paths, wherein each candidate path connects a pair of nodes in an optical transport network. Then, the expected weight describing traffic volume of each of the candidate paths is determined, and a spectrum share is assigned to each link of each of the candidate paths based on the determined Media Channel Formats and determined weights. In this way, spectrum shares assigned to different links and candidate paths can be used for efficiently assigning a band spectrum to each of the Media Channel Formats of the candidate paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: António EIRA, João Manuel FERREIRA PEDRO
  • Publication number: 20190205115
    Abstract: Communication network architectures, systems and methods for supporting a network of mobile nodes. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide autonomous vehicle network architectures, systems, and methods for supporting a dynamically configurable network of autonomous vehicles comprising a complex array of both static and moving communication nodes. A method, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and a system for an on-board unit of a vehicle that wirelessly communicates with cloud-based systems and on-board units of neighboring vehicles of a network of moving things comprising a plurality of vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: João Manuel Ferreira Gomes
  • Publication number: 20190207701
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of assigning a wavelength to a given light path in a wavelength switched optical network, as well as a corresponding routing engine and computer program. The method comprises the following step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: João Manuel FERREIRA PEDRO
  • Patent number: 10300870
    Abstract: An energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle comprising an electric converter circuit and a power take-off unit is disclosed. The electric converter circuit comprises: an electric energy storage; a first DC bus; an electric generator connected to the first DC bus through an electronic brake controller; a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, and an inverter connected to the second DC bus and having an output connected to the electrical load of the energy harvesting device. The power take-off unit comprises: a rotatable pivot plate for coupling to the vehicle chassis and supporting the electric generator; an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator; a shaft pulley; a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft; and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignees: UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO, ADDVOLT, S.A.
    Inventors: Adriano Da Silva Carvalho, Bruno Filipe Azevedo Costa, José Manuel Ferreira Duarte, José Ricardo Sousa Soares, Justino Miguel Neto De Sousa, Rodrigo Manuel Marinho Pires
  • Patent number: 10279861
    Abstract: A device for bicycles or other pedal-powered vehicles is fitted with at least one crank that has a pedal at one end and a crank box on the other. The crank box is fitted with a flute and contiguous to a fixed structure fitted with a pin. The movement of the crank is limited by the pin's movement in the flute. The crank box has a torsion spring nested within it. The device is fitted with a braking mechanism of the crankshaft's sprockets, in that these sprockets engage with sprockets of a transmission box, connecting the transmission box to the toothed shaft's box. The sprockets of the transmission box, in turn, transmit their movement to the outer shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Inventor: José Manuel Ferreira Marinho
  • Publication number: 20190109644
    Abstract: A set of media channel (MCh) widths are determined to be used in an optical network. Based on the topology of the network, a first set of MCh widths are computed for tentative use in said optical network, said first set of MCh width defining a target spectral efficiency. A reduced set of MCh widths are generated from said first set of MCh widths by mapping each of the original MCh widths of said first set to a corresponding new MCh width, which is identical with or larger than the original MCh width. An optimization algorithm is used that penalizes MCh widths that are more likely to cause fragmentation problems in the spectrum, and penalizes a decrease in spectral width due to the mapping of an original MCh width of said first set to a new, larger width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Antonio EIRA, João Manuel FERREIRA PEDRO
  • Publication number: 20180310556
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for protecting stored agricultural dry products during storage, consisting of a controlled release system of essential oils and a shell for allowing oil diffusion in vapour phase towards the outer atmosphere without direct contact of the support material with stored products. This system is characterized by being suitable for use within containers for protecting stored dried agricultural plant products for a long period of time, in particular more than 4 weeks, more preferably more than 8 or 12 weeks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Margarida Maria DA SILVA MONTEIRO BASTOS, Fernão DOMINGOS DE MONTENEGRO BAPTISTA MALHEIRO DE MAGALH, José Manuel RIBEIRO DE SOUSA, Filipe GONÇALVES PIRES DA SILVA, Joana Vieira DE FREITAS BARBOSA, António Maria MARQUES MEXIA, Ana Maria DA COSTA ALDIR MAGRO, Maria Da Graça FRAGA FREIRE DE BARROS BARBOSA MAIA, Cláudia Verónica SÁNCHEZ LARA, José Manuel FERREIRA NOBRE SEMEDO, Maria Manuela ROLDÃO DE OLIVEIRA, Olívia CRUZ DE MATOS
  • Publication number: 20180316764
    Abstract: A request from a mobile access point that is installed on a vehicle may be received via network interface circuitry of one or more computing devices. Processing circuitry of the one or more computing devices may determine characteristics of a captive portal to present in response to the request based on current location of the vehicle and mobile access point. A captive portal with the determined characteristics is then provided by the processing circuitry, via the network interface circuitry, in response to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: João Manuel Ferreira Gomes, Rui Miguel Correia e Costa, Ricardo Jorge Magalhães de Matos
  • Patent number: 10016740
    Abstract: A new and efficient nanoparticles synthesis apparatus and process production. More particularly, an apparatus and process applied to the synthesis of nanostructured tin dioxide. The benefits provided by the apparatus and process are applied in various gaseous reactions where occurs the formation of solid and gaseous products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Faculdades Católicas, Associação sem fins lucrativos, Mantenedora da Pontificia Universidade Católica
    Inventors: Diego Manuel Ferreira Lusquinos Fontanez, Francisco Jose Moura
  • Publication number: 20180159693
    Abstract: Communication network architectures, systems and methods for supporting a network of mobile nodes. As a non-limiting example, various aspects of this disclosure provide communication network architectures, systems, and methods for supporting a dynamically configurable communication network comprising a complex array of both static and moving communication nodes (e.g., the Internet of moving things). More specifically, systems and methods for self and automated management of certificates in a network of moving things that may include autonomous vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Tiago Silvestre Condeixa, Dário Fernando Rodrigues Nascimento, João Manuel Ferreira Gomes
  • Publication number: 20170259764
    Abstract: An energy harvesting device for a transport vehicle comprising an electric converter circuit and a power take-off unit is disclosed. The electric converter circuit comprises: an electric energy storage; a first DC bus; an electric generator connected to the first DC bus through an electronic brake controller; a second DC bus connected to the first DC bus through a DC/DC converter, and an inverter connected to the second DC bus and having an output connected to the electrical load of the energy harvesting device. The power take-off unit comprises: a rotatable pivot plate for coupling to the vehicle chassis and supporting the electric generator; an electric generator pulley coupled to the electric generator; a shaft pulley; a shaft attachment for attaching the shaft pulley to the vehicle driveline shaft; and a belt connecting the electric generator pulley and the shaft pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Adriano DA SILVA CARVALHO, Bruno Filipe AZEVEDO COSTA, José Manuel FERREIRA DUARTE, José Ricardo SOUSA SOARES, Justino Miguel NETO DE SOUSA, Rodrigo Manuel MARINHO PIRES
  • Publication number: 20170189878
    Abstract: A new and efficient nanoparticles synthesis apparatus and process production. More particularly, an apparatus and process applied to the synthesis of nanostructured tin dioxide. The benefits provided by the apparatus and process are applied in various gaseous reactions where occurs the formation of solid and gaseous products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Diego Manuel Ferreira Lusquinos Fontanez, Francisco Jose Moura
  • Publication number: 20160272276
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device (1) for bicycles or other pedal-powered vehicles, fitted with at least one crank (3) that has a pedal at one end (2) and a box on the other (4), with said box (4) being fitted with a flute and contiguous to a fixed structure fitted with a pin, characterized in that the movement of the crank is limited by the pin's movement in said flute, in that the box (4) nests a torsion spring within it, in that the device is fitted with a braking mechanism of the crankshaft's (24) sprockets, in that these sprockets (24) engage in the sprockets of the transmission box, connecting this box to the toothed shaft's box (63) and in that the sprockets of the transmission box, in turn, transmit their movement to the outer shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: José Manuel FERREIRA MARINHO
  • Patent number: 9293280
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture of a hydrofluoroolefin and a hydrofluorocarbon, optionally combined with another fluorinated gas, as an electrical insulation medium and/or an electric arc extinguishing medium in a medium-voltage electrical apparatus. The invention also relates to a medium- or high-voltage electrical apparatus in which such a mixture provides electrical insulation and/or electric arc extinguishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen, Manuel Ferreira Da Costa
  • Patent number: 9240982
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for associating an image forming device and a mobile device receive, at a first device, a request to establish a connection with a second device; generating an optically-readable code that encodes a first set of data, wherein the first set of data includes first key-derivation data; display the optically-readable code of the first set of data; establish a communication channel with the second device; receiving a second set of data from the second device via the established communication channel, wherein the second set of data includes second key-derivation data, and wherein the second key-derivation data is generated in response to receiving the first key-derivation data at the second device; and determine the common key from the first key-derivation data and the second key-derivation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignees: Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc., Canon U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Royce E. Slick, Manuel Ferreira, Craig Mazzagatte
  • Publication number: 20150188896
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for associating an image forming device and a mobile device receive, at a first device, a request to establish a connection with a second device; generating an optically-readable code that encodes a first set of data, wherein the first set of data includes first key-derivation data; display the optically-readable code of the first set of data; establish a communication channel with the second device; receiving a second set of data from the second device via the established communication channel, wherein the second set of data includes second key-derivation data, and wherein the second key-derivation data is generated in response to receiving the first key-derivation data at the second device; and determine the common key from the first key-derivation data and the second key-derivation data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicants: Canon U.S.A., Inc., Canon Information and Imaging Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Royce E. Slick, Manuel Ferreira, Craig Mazzagatte
  • Publication number: 20150139894
    Abstract: The following invention relates to a novel and efficient nanoparticles synthesis reactor and process production. More particularly, the present invention is applied to the synthesis of nanostructured tin dioxide. The benefits provided by the invention can be seen in various gaseous reactions where occurs the formation of solid and gaseous phases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Diego Manuel Ferreira Lusquinos Fontanez, Francisco José Moura
  • Publication number: 20140346145
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture of a hydrofluoroolefin and a hydrofluorocarbon, optionally combined with another fluorinated gas, as an electrical insulation medium and/or an electric arc extinguishing medium in a medium-voltage electrical apparatus. The invention also relates to a medium- or high-voltage electrical apparatus in which such a mixture provides electrical insulation and/or electric arc extinguishing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen, Manuel Ferreira Da Costa