Patents by Inventor Silvio Abrate

Silvio Abrate 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: 7642504
    Abstract: Optical transducers are provided for detecting forces such as, rotation and transversal forces acting on them, wherein, for the purpose of detecting the forces, optical signals are transmitted through an optical path, for instance defined by an optical fiber. Moreover, polarization scrambling means are provided together with polarizing means, with the polarization scrambling means being adapted to render the polarization of the optical signals entering the optical path either parallel or perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the polarizing means. The polarization of optical signals transmitted through the transducer is further modified as a result of forces acting on the transducer so that the optical signals exiting the transducer can be used for the purpose of detecting the forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignees: Fondazione Torino Wireless, Istituto Superiore Mario Boella
    Inventors: Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone
  • Patent number: 7323678
    Abstract: An optical displacement transducer includes a transducing element comprising at least a first optical fiber, having a first end face substantially aligned along an axis and positioned with a small gap between said first end face and a second end face of a reception assembly, the transducer further comprising at least a light source coupled for transmission to first optical fiber and at least a photo-detector coupled for reception to the second optical fiber. The first end face and the second end face are displaceable along the axis and relatively with respect to each other, in order to follow the displacement of points associated to the first end face and second end face. The transducer is effective in detecting axial displacement simply and low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: Istituto Superiore Mario Boella sulle Techologie dell'Informazione e delle Telecommunicazioni, Fondazione Torino Wireless
    Inventors: Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone, Roberto Gaudino, Davide Perla
  • Publication number: 20070253000
    Abstract: An optical transducer adapted to detect external mechanical actions or forces acting comprising at least one sensing optical path (5) adapted to transmit at least one sensing optical signal (b?) and to emit at least one sensing output electrical signal (d) along with at least one reference path (4) adapted to emit at least one output electrical reference signal (e). Moreover, at least one portion (5?) of the at least one optical path (5) is adapted to be exposed to external mechanical actions or forces, so that the transmission of the sensing optical signal (b?) through the sensing optical path can be modified as a result of the mechanical actions or forces, so that a phase shift between the sensing electrical signal (d) and the reference electrical signal (e) is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Alberto Vallan, Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone
  • Publication number: 20070181788
    Abstract: Optical transducers are provided for detecting forces such as, rotation and transversal forces acting on them, wherein, for the purpose of detecting the forces, optical signals are transmitted through an optical path, for instance defined by an optical fiber. Moreover, polarization scrambling means are provided together with polarizing means, with the polarization scrambling means being adapted to render the polarization of the optical signals entering the optical path either parallel or perpendicular to the axis of polarization of the polarizing means. The polarization of optical signals transmitted through the transducer is further modified as a result of forces acting on the transducer so that the optical signals exiting the transducer can be used for the purpose of detecting the forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Fondazione Torino Wireless
    Inventors: Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone
  • Publication number: 20070181789
    Abstract: Optical transducers are provided for detecting forces such as, for example rotational and transversal forces acting on them, wherein, for the purpose of detecting said forces, optical signals are transmitted through an optical path defined by optical fibers. Moreover, optical means are provided, adapted to modify the transmission of the optical signals through the optical path, as a result of forces acting on them. The resulting optical signals exiting the transducer are then used for the purpose of detecting the forces acting on the transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Fondazione Torino Wireless
    Inventors: Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone
  • Publication number: 20060043268
    Abstract: An optical displacement transducer includes a transducing element comprising at least a first optical fiber, having a first end face substantially aligned along an axis and positioned with a small gap between said first end face and a second end face of a reception assembly, the transducer further comprising at least a light source coupled for transmission to the first optical fiber and at least a photo-detector coupled for reception to the second optical fiber. The first end face and second end face are displaceable along the axis and relatively with respect to each other, in order to follow the displacement of points associated to the first end face and second end face. The transducer is effective in detecting axial displacement simply and at low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Silvio Abrate, Guido Perrone, Roberto Gaudino, Davide Perla