Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Cook

Thomas B. Cook 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).

  • Circuit board testing system using free space optical communications
    Patent number: 7863912
    Abstract: System including backplane, and first and second circuit boards. First circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal transmitter. Second circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal receiver. First optical signal transmitter and first optical signal receiver are separated by free space and form optical communication link configured for circuit board test signal communication from first circuit board to second circuit board through the free space. Method includes providing backplane and first and second circuit boards, where first circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal transmitter, and second circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal receiver. First optical signal transmitter and first optical signal receiver are separated by free space, and form optical communication link. Method additionally includes transmitting circuit board test signal from first circuit board to second circuit board through the free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Calvin Byers, Thomas B. Cook, Bradford Gene Van Treuren
  • Circuit board testing system
    Publication number: 20090140755
    Abstract: System including backplane, and first and second circuit boards. First circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal transmitter. Second circuit board is attached to backplane and has first optical signal receiver. First optical signal transmitter and first optical signal receiver are mutually configured and mutually aligned for circuit board test signal communication from first circuit board to second circuit board across free space. Method includes providing backplane and first and second circuit boards, where first circuit board has first optical signal transmitter and second circuit board has first optical signal receiver. Method further includes attaching first and second circuit boards to backplane, and mutually configuring and mutually aligning first optical signal transmitter and first optical signal receiver for circuit board test signal communication from first circuit board to second circuit board across free space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Calvin Byers, Thomas B. Cook, Bradford Gene Van Treuren