Patents by Inventor Michael Cracraft

Michael Cracraft 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: 12386235
    Abstract: A device, a method, and an article of manufacture are disclosed. The device includes a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, an electrochromic component positioned between tips of the optical fibers, and a voltage source connected to the electrochromic component. The method includes providing an electrochromic component, providing optical fibers and a voltage source, and assembling an optical switch that includes the electrochromic component, the optical fibers, and the voltage source. The voltage source is connected to the electrochromic component. The article of manufacture includes an optical switch with a voltage source connected to an electrochromic component positioned between optical fiber tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matteo Cocchini, Faezeh Gholami, Michael Cracraft, Vahe Minassian
  • Publication number: 20230024042
    Abstract: A device, a method, and an article of manufacture are disclosed. The device includes a first optical fiber, a second optical fiber, an electrochromic component positioned between tips of the optical fibers, and a voltage source connected to the electrochromic component. The method includes providing an electrochromic component, providing optical fibers and a voltage source, and assembling an optical switch that includes the electrochromic component, the optical fibers, and the voltage source. The voltage source is connected to the electrochromic component. The article of manufacture includes an optical switch with a voltage source connected to an electrochromic component positioned between optical fiber tips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Matteo Cocchini, Faezeh Gholami, Michael Cracraft, Vahe Minassian
  • Patent number: 11295037
    Abstract: Techniques for data scanning and removal for a removable storage device are described herein. An aspect includes a removable storage device comprising an embedded processor configured to boot from an embedded read-only memory (ROM) of the removable storage device. Another aspect includes scanning an internal storage of the removable storage device to identify a first file in the internal storage that matches removal criteria defined in the embedded ROM. Another aspect includes removing the identified first file from the internal storage of the removable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Cracraft
  • Patent number: 11187858
    Abstract: A fiber-optic switching system is provided which includes an optical fiber switch having first and second optical fiber portions and an electrically-controlled actuator. The first and second optical fiber portions are spaced apart with a gap between the portions that is sized to allow for light signal coupling between the optical fiber portions in a signal-passing state of the switch. The electrically-controlled actuator is coupled to transition the switch between the signal-passing state, where the light signal is allowed to pass between the optical fiber portions, and a signal-non-passing state, where the light signal is prevented from passing between the optical fiber portions. The electrically-controlled actuator includes an electroactive material exhibiting a physical change with change in an applied electrical field, where the physical change facilitates transitioning the optical fiber switch between the signal-passing and the signal-non-passing states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Faezeh Gholami, Michael Cracraft, Matteo Cocchini, Vahe Minassian
  • Publication number: 20210271032
    Abstract: A fiber-optic switching system is provided which includes an optical fiber switch having first and second optical fiber portions and an electrically-controlled actuator. The first and second optical fiber portions are spaced apart with a gap between the portions that is sized to allow for light signal coupling between the optical fiber portions in a signal-passing state of the switch. The electrically-controlled actuator is coupled to transition the switch between the signal-passing state, where the light signal is allowed to pass between the optical fiber portions, and a signal-non-passing state, where the light signal is prevented from passing between the optical fiber portions. The electrically-controlled actuator includes an electroactive material exhibiting a physical change with change in an applied electrical field, where the physical change facilitates transitioning the optical fiber switch between the signal-passing and the signal-non-passing states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Faezeh GHOLAMI, Michael CRACRAFT, Matteo COCCHINI, Vahe MINASSIAN
  • Patent number: 11050172
    Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board includes a first layer including a first trace, a second layer connected to the first layer and including a second trace, and a stubless interconnect positioned through the first layer and the second layer. The stubless interconnect includes a body that is electrically insulative, and a bridge trace that is electrically conductive and connected to the body, the bridge trace extending from the first trace to the second trace to electrically connect the first trace and the second trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matteo Cocchini, Michael Cracraft, Zachary Thomas Dreiss
  • Publication number: 20210159622
    Abstract: A multi-layer circuit board includes a first layer including a first trace, a second layer connected to the first layer and including a second trace, and a stubless interconnect positioned through the first layer and the second layer. The stubless interconnect includes a body that is electrically insulative, and a bridge trace that is electrically conductive and connected to the body, the bridge trace extending from the first trace to the second trace to electrically connect the first trace and the second trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Matteo Cocchini, Michael Cracraft, Zachary Thomas Dreiss
  • Publication number: 20200380174
    Abstract: Techniques for data scanning and removal for a removable storage device are described herein. An aspect includes a removable storage device comprising an embedded processor configured to boot from an embedded read-only memory (ROM) of the removable storage device. Another aspect includes scanning an internal storage of the removable storage device to identify a first file in the internal storage that matches removal criteria defined in the embedded ROM. Another aspect includes removing the identified first file from the internal storage of the removable storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Cracraft