Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100260503 | Free Space Optical Connector - A Free Space Optics (FSO) connector is provided with a method for interfacing to an electronic circuit card electrical connector via the FSO connector. The method transceives electrical signals via an electronic circuit card electrical connector. Using an FSO connector, the method converts between electrical signals and optical signals, and transceives optical signals via free space. In one aspect, the optical signals are initially received via free space along a first axis, and reflected along a second axis. Further, the optical signals may be initially transmitted along the second axis and reflected into free space along the first axis. In another aspect, the optical signals are transceived in a plurality of directions in free space. For example, optical signals may be transmitted and received in four mutually-orthogonal axes. | 10-14-2010 |
20100316337 | Fiber Optic Cable Interface - Fiber optic cable jacks and plugs are provided. In one aspect, a cable is made from at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The first plug is shaped to engage a first jack housing. A second plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The second plug is shaped to engage a second jack housing. The mechanical bodies have inner walls that form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface. | 12-16-2010 |
20110200283 | Fiber Optic Cable with High Interface Mismatch Tolerance - A fiber optic cable is provided with a cable section including at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first and second plug each have a mechanical body shaped to selectively engage and disengage a jack housing. Each plug has a microlens with a planar surface to engage the fiber optic line end and a convex surface to transceive light in a first collimated beam with a jack optical interface. The fiber optic cable ends are formed in a focal plane of a corresponding plug microlens. | 08-18-2011 |
20110200284 | Fiber Optic Jack with High Interface Mismatch Tolerance - A fiber optic connector jack is provided with a backcap processing module. The jack includes a lens housing having a lensed lid. A connector flange extends from the lensed lid top surface, shaped to selectively engage a plug connector housing. A microlens having a first surface is formed in the lensed lid bottom surface. A convex surface is formed in the lensed lid top surface to transceive light in a collimated beam with a plug optical interface. A backcap enclosure wall extends from the lensed lid bottom surface. The jack also includes a backcap processing module with a circuit substrate and an optical element. The optical element (e.g., a laser diode or photodiode) has an optical interface formed in a focal plane of the microlens to transceive light with the microlens first surface. An electrical connector and electrical cable selectively engages a printed circuit board with the circuit substrate. | 08-18-2011 |
20110229084 | Fiber Optic Cable Connector - Fiber optic cable jacks and plugs are provided. In one aspect, a cable is made from at least one length of fiber optic line having a first end and a second end. A first plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line first end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The first plug is shaped to engage a first jack housing. A second plug includes a one-piece mechanical body with a cable interface to engage the fiber optic line second end, and a microlens to transceive light with the cable interface. The second plug is shaped to engage a second jack housing. The mechanical bodies have inner walls that form an air gap cavity interposed between the microlens convex surface and an engaging jack optical interface. | 09-22-2011 |
20110286698 | Fiber optic connector microlens with self-aligning optical fiber cavity - A fiber optical connector microlens is provided with a self-aligning optical fiber cavity. The microlens includes a convex first lens surface and a second lens surface. A fiber alignment cavity is integrally formed with the second lens surface to accept an optical fiber core. A lens body is interposed between the first and second lens surfaces, having a cross-sectional area with a lens center axis, and the fiber alignment cavity is aligned with the lens center axis. In a first aspect, the fiber alignment cavity penetrates the lens second surface. In a second aspect, an integrally formed cradle with a cradle surface extends from the lens second surface, and a channel is formed in the cradle surface, with a center axis aligned with the lens center axis. The fiber alignment cavity includes a bridge covering a portion of the channel. | 11-24-2011 |
20140147945 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PHOTODETECTOR HAVING A BANDWIDTH TUNED HONEYCOMB CELL PHOTODIODE STRUCTURE - A photodetector with a bandwidth-tuned cell structure is provided. The photodetector is fabricated from a semiconductor substrate that is heavily doped with a first dopant. A plurality of adjoining cavities is formed in the semiconductor substrate having shared cell walls. A semiconductor well is formed in each cavity, moderately doped with a second dopant opposite in polarity to the first dopant. A layer of oxide is grown overlying the semiconductor wells and an annealing process is performed. Then, metal pillars are formed that extend into each semiconductor well having a central axis aligned with an optical path. A first electrode is connected to the metal pillar of each cell, and a second electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate. The capacitance between the first and second electrodes decreases in response to forming an increased number of semiconductor wells with a reduced diameter, and forming metal pillars with a reduced diameter. | 05-29-2014 |
20140209801 | METHOD FOR USING A PHOTODETECTOR HAVING A BANDWIDTH TUNED HONEYCOMB CELL PHOTODIODE STRUCTURE - A photodetector with a bandwidth-tuned cell structure is provided. The photodetector is fabricated from a semiconductor substrate that is heavily doped with a first dopant. A plurality of adjoining cavities is formed in the semiconductor substrate having shared cell walls. A semiconductor well is formed in each cavity, moderately doped with a second dopant opposite in polarity to the first dopant. A layer of oxide is grown overlying the semiconductor wells and an annealing process is performed. Then, metal pillars are formed that extend into each semiconductor well having a central axis aligned with an optical path. A first electrode is connected to the metal pillar of each cell, and a second electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate. The capacitance between the first and second electrodes decreases in response to forming an increased number of semiconductor wells with a reduced diameter, and forming metal pillars with a reduced diameter. | 07-31-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100170043 | APPARATUS FOR MONITORING VITAL SIGNS - A sleep monitoring system includes a fluid bladder. A pump is in fluid communication with the fluid bladder, and the pump is operable to increase a fluid pressure within the fluid bladder. A sensor is packaged with the pump, and the sensor is in fluid communication with the fluid bladder and is operative to determine a pressure within the fluid bladder. A controller is configured to determine the at least one vital sign based on the pressure within the fluid bladder. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174198 | APPARATUS FOR MONITORING VITAL SIGNS HAVING FLUID BLADDER BENEATH PADDING - A sleeping monitoring system includes a first padding layer. A fluid bladder is beneath the first padding layer. A sensor is in fluid communication with the fluid bladder. The sensor is configured to output a vital sign signal. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174199 | APPARATUS FOR MONITORING VITAL SIGNS OF AN EMERGENCY VICTIM - A portable apparatus for monitoring on site near an emergency field at least one vital sign of a patient reclined thereon includes a fluid bladder transformable between a stowable arrangement and a deployed arrangement. The fluid bladder in the deployed arrangement has a comfortable top surface of sufficient size to fully support at least a torso of the patient in a reclined position, and the fluid bladder has a ruggedized puncture resistant bottom layer. A sensor is configured to detect a pressure within the fluid bladder. A controller is configured to determine the at least one vital sign based on the pressure within the fluid bladder. A triage condition indicator is configured to indicate a care urgency level based on the at least one vital sign. | 07-08-2010 |
20110144455 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING A SUBJECT AT REST - Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a subject at rest. One such device comprises a sensing unit having a fluid-filled bladder configured to be placed under a substrate on which the subject lays and a sensor in fluid communication with the bladder. The sensor is configured to sense pressure variations within the bladder generated by a heart beat, respiration and body weight of the subject and to generate signals indicative of the pressure variations. A processor is configured to receive the signals and to determine and generate output indicative of the subject's heart beat and respiration and presence on the substrate. An external device is configured to display one or more of the output. | 06-16-2011 |