Patents by Inventor Stephen Nelson

Stephen Nelson 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: 20110182571
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device uses microcode to perform an end of life calculation for the optoelectronic device. In a disclosed example, the optoelectronic device senses environmental and operational parameters under changing conditions during device operation. The optoelectronic device then calculates the end of life for itself based on one or more of the sensed environmental and/or operational parameters. The calculation can be done in real time and using digital logic. The calculation can provide a result in a format which is useful to a host system with which the device is connected. The optoelectronic device may automatically shut itself down upon reaching its calculated end of life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Kishore Kamath, John Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7986884
    Abstract: An optical network test access point (“TAP”) device. In one example embodiment, an optical network TAP device includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of optical receiver modules. The printed circuit board includes a microprocessor, a multiplexer connected to the microprocessor, and a plurality of post amplifiers connected to the multiplexer. Each optical receiver module includes one or more ROSAs. Each ROSA is connected to the multiplexer through one of the plurality of post amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Greta L. Light
  • Patent number: 7978800
    Abstract: A translation circuit for mediating between a fiber-optic controller chip and a host device. The translation circuit may be on a fiber-optic transponder. The controller chip includes a phase locked loop that outputs a short synchronization signal when a hunting frequency passes through a target data signal frequency while hunting for a data signal and outputs a synchronization signal when the phase locked loop is locked onto a data signal. The translation circuit distinguishes between the synchronization signals and generates a lock signal when the phase locked loop is locked onto a data signal, but does not when the hunting frequency passes through the target data signal frequency. The lock signal may be used by a host device into which the fiber-optic transponder has been in installed. Errors from misinterpreted signals can thus be mitigated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Darin J. Douma, Rudolf J. Hofmeister, Stephen Nelson
  • Patent number: 7920788
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device uses microcode to perform an end of life calculation for the optoelectronic device. In particular, the optoelectronic device senses environmental and operational parameters under changing conditions during device operation. The optoelectronic device then calculates the end of life for itself based on one or more of the sensed environmental and/or operational parameters. The calculation can be done in real time and using digital logic. The calculation can provide a result in a format which is useful to a host system with which the device is connected. The optoelectronic device may automatically shut itself down upon reaching its calculated end of life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Kishore Kamath, John Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20110054746
    Abstract: A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Chisholm, Stephen Nelson, Steve D. Lundquist
  • Patent number: 7849953
    Abstract: A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
    Inventors: Matthew Chisholm, Stephen Nelson, Steven D Lundquist
  • Patent number: 7835642
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device that uses microcode to perform an end of life calculation for a laser in the optoelectronic device is disclosed. In particular, the optoelectronic device senses environmental and operational parameters under changing conditions during device operation. The optoelectronic device then calculates the end of life for the laser based one on or more of the sensed environmental and/or operational parameters. The calculation can be done in real time and using digital logic. The calculation can further provide a result in a format which is useful to a host system with which the device is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Kishore Kamath
  • Patent number: 7663890
    Abstract: One example of an optical transceiver includes a housing and an optical transmitter and optical receiver disposed within the housing. A PCB is also disposed in the housing. The PCB has front and side edges, as well as circuitry in communication with the optical transmitter and the optical receiver. The PCB also includes a group of plated contact pads, each of which includes a front-most extremity that terminates short of the front edge. Finally, the PCB includes a group of traces, one of which leads from one of the side edges of the PCB to a via that is connected with the circuitry, and another of which leads from the via to one of the plated contact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Donald White
  • Patent number: 7664401
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for adjusting the operating characteristic of an optical signal transmitted by an optoelectronic device based on the operational data rate, as is indicated by a ‘rate select’ signal. The rate select can be generated automatically, or can be transmitted from a host device. One example of an operating characteristic that can be adjusted is the optical modulation level of the transmitted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Rudolf J. Hofmeister, Lewis Aronson
  • Patent number: 7634197
    Abstract: A method for calibrating the calculation of a laser power measurement with respect to specified operational and/or environmental parameters in an optoelectronic device, such as an optical transceiver module having a laser diode, is disclosed. In particular, the method includes sensing analog data that relates to light emission from the laser diode using a monitor photodiode disposed in the optical transceiver module. Additional sensors are then used to sense analog data that relates to the temperature and voltage of the monitor photodiode. The analog data is converted into digital data, then a formulaic relationship that relates the light emission data to the temperature and voltage data is used to calculate the laser power of the laser diode. Calibration by this method accounts for unintended effects caused by temperature and voltage fluctuations in the optical transceiver module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Kishore Kamath
  • Patent number: 7602772
    Abstract: In one example, an optical network access switch includes independent first and second banks of individually selectable optical inputs, as well as independent first and second groups of individually controllable optical outputs. A first multiplexer is connected to the optical inputs of the first bank and the optical outputs of the first group, and a second multiplexer is connected to the optical inputs of the second bank and the optical outputs of the second group. Finally, a configuration interface communicates with the first and second multiplexers and receives a switching command which specifies the connection/disconnection of an optical output to/from an optical input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher J. Cicchetti, Timothy M. Beyers, Donald A. Blackwell, Stephen Nelson, Greta L. Light
  • Publication number: 20090199160
    Abstract: Using a testing framework, developers may create a test module to centralize resources and results for a software test plan amongst a plurality of systems. With assistance from the testing framework, the test module may facilitate the creation of test cases, the execution of a test job for each test case, the collection of performance statistics during each test job, and the aggregation of collected statistics into organized reports for easier analysis. The test module may track test results for easy comparison of performance metrics in response to various conditions and environments over the history of the development process. The testing framework may also schedule a test job for execution when the various systems and resources required by the test job are free. The testing framework may be operating system independent, so that a single test job may test software concurrently on a variety of systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Girish Vaitheeswaran, Sapan Panigrahi, Daniel Bretoi, Stephen Nelson, George Wu
  • Publication number: 20090199047
    Abstract: Using a testing framework, developers may create a test module to centralize resources and results for a software test plan amongst a plurality of systems. With assistance from the testing framework, the test module may facilitate the creation of test cases, the execution of a test job for each test case, the collection of performance statistics during each test job, and the aggregation of collected statistics into organized reports for easier analysis. The test module may track test results for easy comparison of performance metrics in response to various conditions and environments over the history of the development process. The testing framework may also schedule a test job for execution when the various systems and resources required by the test job are free. The testing framework may be operating system independent, so that a single test job may test software concurrently on a variety of systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Girish Vaitheeswaran, Sapan Panigrahi, Daniel Bretoi, Stephen Nelson, George Wu
  • Publication number: 20090143952
    Abstract: A method for managing power in a hydrostatically driven vehicle includes calculating the power consumption of the vehicle based on the pressure of the compressed fluid in a hydraulic circuit, and the displacement of the pump. An electronic controller further calculates the power output of the engine based on at least one engine operating parameter, and operates to change the power output of the engine based on a difference between the power consumption and the power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Chisholm, Stephen Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090139792
    Abstract: A hydrostatically powered vehicle includes an engine operatively associated with a pump that supplies fluid to a propel motor. Based on various sensed and engine operating conditions, a controller determines a desired operating condition for the engine while maintaining the travel speed of the vehicle constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Chisholm, Stephen Nelson, Steve D. Lundquist
  • Patent number: 7507034
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a printed circuit board positioning mechanism includes a solderable plate and a compressible structure attached to the solderable plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Moore, Hung Van Nguyen, Stephen Nelson
  • Publication number: 20090073189
    Abstract: A method, and associated systems and computer programs, for generating a visual display of graphical data comprises retrieving and displaying an initial approximate visual representation of the graphical data, progressively retrieving and displaying the graphical data, the graphical data being processed from source data representing a plurality of graphical elements, for full quality on-screen rendering. While the graphical data is being retrieved and/or the source data is being processed for full quality on-screen rendering, the display is progressively updated by blending the approximate representation with elements of the graphical data that have been retrieved for full quality on-screen rendering. The blending presents the approximate representation as a partially transparent overlay on top of the retrieved elements of graphical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Picsel (Research) Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen NELSON, Majid Anwar
  • Patent number: 7447438
    Abstract: An optical transceiver configured to perform calibration of digital diagnostics prior to providing the calibrated values to a host computing system (hereinafter referred to simply as a “host”) that is communicatively coupled to the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes a sensor that measures an analog operational parameter signal such as temperature or supply voltage. Each analog signal is then converted to digital samples by analog to digital converter(s). A processor executes microcode that causes the optical transceiver to perform calibration on the various samples to compensate for predictable error introduced into the analog signal prior to or during the analog-to-digital conversion. The optical transceiver may then make the calibrated result accessible to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Luke M. Ekkizogloy, Jayne C. Hahin, Gerald L. Dybsetter, Stephen Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080205827
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a printed circuit board positioning mechanism includes a solderable plate and a compressible structure attached to the solderable plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua Moore, Hung Van Nguyen, Stephen Nelson
  • Publication number: 20070280591
    Abstract: An optical network test access point (“TAP”) device. In one example embodiment, an optical network TAP device includes a printed circuit board and a plurality of optical receiver modules. The printed circuit board includes a microprocessor, a multiplexer connected to the microprocessor, and a plurality of post amplifiers connected to the multiplexer. Each optical receiver module includes one or more ROSAs. Each ROSA is connected to the multiplexer through one of the plurality of post amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Nelson, Greta L. Light