Patents by Inventor William P. Kennedy
William P. Kennedy 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).
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Patent number: 6954265Abstract: An alignment system that uses a single optical sensor to enable the end of an optical fiber to be aligned with the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the output of a single optical sensor can be processed and converted into digital signals, which are then further processed in accordance with an alignment algorithm to generate feedback signals that enable precise alignment to be achieved. The alignment system includes the single optical sensor, a lens and processing logic.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: October 11, 2005Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William P Kennedy, Amanda J Price, Wallace J Lannen, John Bernard Medberry
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Patent number: 6809823Abstract: An optical system for detecting and coupling light to optical devices, and a method for aligning and calibrating the system. The system includes positioning stages and fiber sensors. The fiber sensors are used to detect the positions of calibration pieces and other sensors in a variety of configurations. From these detected positions, any misalignment of the sensors or positioning stages may be calculated and corrected for. The fiber sensors calibrate the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William P Kennedy, John Bernard Medberry, David Washburn, Benno Guggenheimer, James D Adams
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Publication number: 20040170360Abstract: An alignment system that uses a single optical sensor to enable the end of an optical fiber to be aligned with the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the output of a single optical sensor can be processed and converted into digital signals, which are then further processed in accordance with an alignment algorithm to generate feedback signals that enable precise alignment to be achieved. The alignment system includes the single optical sensor, a lens and processing logic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2004Publication date: September 2, 2004Inventors: William P. Kennedy, Amanda J. Price, Wallace J. Lannen, John Bernard Medberry
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Patent number: 6748141Abstract: An alignment system that uses a single optical sensor to enable the end of an optical fiber to be aligned with the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the output of a single optical sensor can be processed and converted into digital signals, which are then further processed in accordance with an alignment algorithm to generate feedback signals that enable precise alignment to be achieved. The alignment system includes the single optical sensor, a lens and processing logic.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William P Kennedy, Amanda J Price, Wallace J Lannen, John Bernard Medberry
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Patent number: 6690454Abstract: A measurement system is provided that is capable of analyzing light at the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device under test (DUT) and/or at the output of the waveguide, preferably at both. At the input of the waveguide, light having a particular polarization state generated by a polarization controller is output from the polarization controller and coupled into a proximal end of an optical fiber. The measurement system analyzes the polarization state of the light being launched from the opposite, or distal, end of the optical fiber into the waveguide input of the DUT to determine whether and by how much the polarization state of the light has been changed by the optical fiber. The polarization controller is altered, if necessary, to compensate for any changes in the polarization state caused by the optical fiber so that the polarization state of light being launched into the input of the optical fiber is known and is controllable.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2002Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William P Kennedy, Amanda J Price, Max Seminario, John Bernard Medberry
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Publication number: 20030202171Abstract: A measurement system is provided that is capable of analyzing light at the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device under test (DUT) and/or at the output of the waveguide, preferably at both. At the input of the waveguide, light having a particular polarization state generated by a polarization controller is output from the polarization controller and coupled into a proximal end of an optical fiber. The measurement system analyzes the polarization state of the light being launched from the opposite, or distal, end of the optical fiber into the waveguide input of the DUT to determine whether and by how much the polarization state of the light has been changed by the optical fiber. The polarization controller is altered, if necessary, to compensate for any changes in the polarization state caused by the optical fiber so that the polarization state of light being launched into the input of the optical fiber is known and is controllable.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Inventors: William P. Kennedy, Amanda J. Price, Max Seminario, John Bernard Medberry
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Publication number: 20030185516Abstract: An alignment system that uses a single optical sensor to enable the end of an optical fiber to be aligned with the input of an optical waveguide of an optical device. In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that the output of a single optical sensor can be processed and converted into digital signals, which are then further processed in accordance with an alignment algorithm to generate feedback signals that enable precise alignment to be achieved. The alignment system includes the single optical sensor, a lens and processing logic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: William P. Kennedy, Amanda J. Price, Wallace J. Lannen, John Bernard Medberry
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Publication number: 20030063277Abstract: An optical system for detecting and coupling light to optical devices, and a method for aligning and calibrating the system. The system includes positioning stages and fiber sensors. The fiber sensors are used to detect the positions of calibration pieces and other sensors in a variety of configurations. From these detected positions, any misalignment of the sensors or positioning stages may be calculated and corrected for. The fiber sensors calibrate the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: April 3, 2003Inventors: William P. Kennedy, John Bernard Medberry, David Washburn, Benno Guggenheimer, James D. Adams
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Patent number: 6353478Abstract: A digital range sensor comprises a light source, an optical element to focus the light from the source down to a small spot on a target, a second optical element that is mounted obliquely from the source axis, and a prism mounted on a multi-element detector, which in turn is mounted at the focus of the light returning from the target. The purpose of the prism on the detector is to direct the light onto the active surface of the detector at an angle closer to normal incidence than would otherwise be possible. The detector produces digital data which is transferred to a control module for processing and to produce a numerical range measurement.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 1999Date of Patent: March 5, 2002Assignee: CyberOptics CorporationInventors: Eric P. Rudd, William P. Kennedy, Troy R. Pesola, David D. Madsen
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Patent number: 6288786Abstract: A digital range sensor comprises a light source, an optical element to focus the light from the source down to a small spot on a target, a second optical element that is mounted obliquely from the source axis, and a prism mounted on a multi-element detector, which in turn is mounted at the focus of the light returning from the target. The purpose of the prism on the detector is to direct the light onto the active surface of the detector at an angle closer to normal incidence than would otherwise be possible. The detector produces digital data which is transferred to a control module for processing and to produce a numerical range measurement.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: September 11, 2001Assignee: CyberOptics CorporationInventors: Eric P. Rudd, William P. Kennedy, Troy R. Pesola, David D. Madsen
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Patent number: 6088110Abstract: A digital range sensor comprises a light source, an optical element to focus the light from the source down to a small spot on a target, a second optical element that is mounted obliquely from the source axis, and a prism mounted on a multi-element detector, which in turn is mounted at the focus of the light returning from the target. The purpose of the prism on the detector is to direct the light onto the active surface of the detector at an angle closer to normal incidence than would otherwise be possible. The detector produces digital data which is transferred to a control module for processing and to produce a numerical range measurement.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1999Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: CyberOptics CorporationInventors: Eric P. Rudd, William P. Kennedy, Troy R. Pesola, David D. Madsen
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Patent number: 5121242Abstract: A retro-reflective transceiver provides optical communications by reflecting light transmitted by a distant source. The transceiver has a corner cube reflector with a truncated apex that serves as a transmissive aperture. A portion of the incoming light passes through the aperture in the corner cube reflector to a receiver where information encoded on the incoming light beam can be detected. The remainder of the light beam is reflected back toward the source in a direction substantially parallel to the incoming light beam by the three mutually perpendicular, reflective faces of the corner cube reflector. An optical switch (e.g. ferro-electric light crystal material) located in front of the corner cube reflector is used to modulate the intensity of the reflected beam to transmit information to the source.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 1991Date of Patent: June 9, 1992Assignee: Martin Marietta CorporationInventor: William P. Kennedy
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Patent number: 4088158Abstract: A loom harness having a conventional frame of side rails and top and bottom main rails. The heddle rods, carried by spring clips, support the heddles in the frame. Additional support is provided by hanger assemblies spaced laterally along the main rails. Each hanger assembly is formed of a pair of brackets which join together to surround the rail, one bracket carrying a plate with a tongue protruding through a slot in the main rail. The exposed portion of the plate has a sidewise extending lug received in a keyhole slot in the heddle frame. Lateral shifting of the heddle rod permits disengagement of the rod from the lug. A second embodiment provides a threaded member in the hanger assembly for limited vertical adjustment to the position of the heddle rod.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1976Date of Patent: May 9, 1978Assignee: Pioneer Heddle and Reed Company IncorporatedInventor: William P. Kennedy