Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090276359 | Multi-Product-Multi-Channel Payment Platform System and Method - Described herein is a multi-product-multi-channel payment platform system and apparatus that extends the capability of current online banking/funds-transfer systems. Different types of financial accounts are modeled in a financial management system to enable types of online, electronic funds transfer transaction that were not previously possible. Among novel elements of the system and apparatus disclosed is the enablement of real-time application of rules to different types of financial accounts and/or products across channels, such as how much money may be deposited or withdrawn in a period of time. | 11-05-2009 |
20100042538 | Money Movement Network Method - Embodiments of the invention include an electronic payment system that allows person-to-person (P2P) payments and requests for payment, consumer-to-consumer (C2C) payments and requests for payment, and use of a P2P service by a business which in turn offers the service to its customers for making payments and requests for payment. The system and service allow users to make payments from their existing financial accounts to anyone, anywhere without funding a special account and managing a third-party relationship separate from the relationship the user has with the financial institution. The service further allows users to receive payments without registering for a third-party service. In embodiments, the service is available as an integrated banking service alongside current financial institution electronic banking services already used by customers. A bank customer can use the payment service directly from within a bank or bank web site. | 02-18-2010 |
20100042539 | Money Movement Network Hub System - Embodiments of the invention include an electronic payment system that allows person-to-person (P2P) payments and requests for payment, consumer-to-consumer (C2C) payments and requests for payment, and use of a P2P service by a business which in turn offers the service to its customers for making payments and requests for payment. The system and service allow users to make payments from their existing financial accounts to anyone, anywhere without funding a special account and managing a third-party relationship separate from the relationship the user has with the financial institution. The service further allows users to receive payments without registering for a third-party service. In embodiments, the service is available as an integrated banking service alongside current financial institution electronic banking services already used by customers. A bank customer can use the payment service directly from within a bank or bank web site. | 02-18-2010 |
20110264583 | INTER-NETWORK INVOICING PAYMENT METHOD AND SYSTEM - An inter-bank email and mobile invoicing network is disclosed. Embodiments disclosed herein include an inter-bank email and mobile invoicing network that enables customers of banks or independent portals to send invoices to an email address or mobile phone number. The invoice can be received by the recipient within their bank's online or mobile banking site, in the case of banks that belong to a network that is managed by the proprietors of a financial management system and payment hub as disclosed herein. These banks will be referred to as “network banks” herein. The inter-bank invoicing network also refers to a common provider or connected providers of an invoicing and payment service that is linked to banks and to independent service providers. | 10-27-2011 |
20110313921 | Internetworking Between P2P Networks - A method and apparatus for internetworking multiple person-to-person (P2P) payment networks and financial institutions is disclosed. Embodiments include receiving a request to send funds from a payor, the request containing one of the payee's email address and mobile phone number; determining whether the payee is registered with a network financial institution that is within a P2P network of the payer (the originating P2P network), wherein determining includes matching one of the payee's email address and mobile phone number; if the payee is registered within the originating P2P network financial institution, transferring the funds to the payee account at the network financial institution and notifying the payee and posting the transaction on the network financial institution web site; and if the payee is not registered within the originating P2P network determining whether the payee is registered with any second payment network connected to the internetwork payment hub with which the originating network is connected wherein determining includes matching one of the email or mobile phone number of the payee specified by the payor. | 12-22-2011 |
20130198061 | INTERNETWORKING BETWEEN P2P NETWORKS - A method and apparatus for internetworking multiple person-to-person (P2P) payment networks and financial institutions is disclosed. Embodiments include receiving a request to send funds from a payor, the request containing one of the payee's email address and mobile phone number; determining whether the payee is registered with a network financial institution that is within a P2P network of the payer (the originating P2P network), wherein determining includes matching one of the payee's email address and mobile phone number; if the payee is registered within the originating P2P network financial institution, transferring the funds to the payee account at the network financial institution and notifying the payee and posting the transaction on the network financial institution web site; and if the payee is not registered within the originating P2P network determining whether the payee is registered with any second payment network connected to the internetwork payment hub with which the originating network is connected wherein determining includes matching one of the email or mobile phone number of the payee specified by the payor. | 08-01-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100108133 | Thin Film Semiconductor Photovoltaic Device - A substantially transparent substrate having first and second major surfaces and a plurality of side surfaces; a thin-film semiconductor layer coupled to the first major surface of the substrate and including first and second major surfaces and at least one photo-sensitive p-n junction therein; and a light directing feature operable to cause incident light to propagate through the substrate and into the semiconductor layer in a waveguide mode such that the light reflects a plurality of times between the first and second major surfaces of the semiconductor layer and impinges upon the p-n junction a plurality of times | 05-06-2010 |
20100129647 | Method of Weldbonding and a Device Comprising Weldbonded Components - A method of assembling optoelectronic and/or photonic components, said method comprising: (i) providing at least two optoelectronic and/or photonic components; (ii) aligning and situating these components relative to one another and in close proximity with one another so as to: (a) provide optical coupling between these components; and (b) maintain the distance d between the adjacent parts of these components, where d is 0 to 100 μm; (iii) adhering these components to one another with while maintaining optical coupling therebetween; and (iv) laser welding these components together while maintaining optical coupling therebetween. | 05-27-2010 |
20100154877 | Semiconductor Core, Integrated Fibrous Photovoltaic Device - A cane having optical properties includes: a core formed of a semiconductor material; and a transparent cladding formed of glass, glass-ceramic, or polymer coaxially oriented about the core, the cane may be used to produce a photovoltaic device, including: a semiconductor core including at least one p-n junction, defined by respective n-type and p-type regions; a substantially transparent cladding in coaxial relationship with the semiconductor core, forming a longitudinally oriented cane; and first and second electrodes, each being electrically coupled to a respective one of the n-type and p-type regions. | 06-24-2010 |
20100159242 | Semiconductor Core, Integrated Fibrous Photovoltaic Device - A cane having optical properties includes: a core formed of a semiconductor material; and a transparent cladding formed of glass, glass-ceramic, or polymer coaxially oriented about the core, the cane may be used to produce a photovoltaic device, including: a semiconductor core including at least one p-n junction, defined by respective n-type and p-type regions; a substantially transparent cladding in coaxial relationship with the semiconductor core, forming a longitudinally oriented cane; and first and second electrodes, each being electrically coupled to a respective one of the n-type and p-type regions. | 06-24-2010 |
20100303109 | Proximity Coupled Athermal Optical Package Comprising Laser Source And Compound Facet Wavelength Conversion Device - Particular embodiments of the present disclosure bring an SHG crystal, or other type of wavelength conversion device, into close proximity with a laser source to eliminate the need for coupling optics, reduce the number of package components, and reduce package volume. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical package is provided comprising a laser source and a wavelength conversion device. The laser source is positioned such that the output face of the laser source is proximity-coupled to a waveguide portion of the input face of the wavelength conversion device. The input face of the wavelength conversion device comprises an α-cut facet and β-cut facet. The α-cut facet of the input face is oriented at a horizontal angle α, relative to the waveguide of the wavelength conversion device to permit proximity coupling of the output face of the laser source and the input face of the wavelength conversion device. The β-cut facet of the input face is oriented at a horizontal angle β, relative to the waveguide of the wavelength conversion device to cooperate with the horizontal tilt angle of the device to reduce back reflections from the input face of the wavelength conversion device into the laser source. Additional embodiments are disclosed. | 12-02-2010 |
20100303110 | Edge Bonded Optical Packages - Particular embodiments of the present disclosure bring an SHG crystal, or other type of wavelength conversion device, into close proximity with a laser source to eliminate the need for coupling optics, reduce the number of package components, and reduce package volume. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical package is provided comprising a laser source subassembly comprising a laser base and a wavelength conversion device subassembly comprising a converter base. The bonding interface of the laser base is bonded the complementary bonding interface of the converter base such that the laser output face can be proximity-coupled to the converter input face at an predetermined interfacial spacing x. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 12-02-2010 |
20110069929 | Methods for Passively Aligning Opto-Electronic Component Assemblies on Substrates - A method for aligning an opto-electronic component assembly (OECA) on a substrate includes positioning a substrate on an assembly surface and positioning an OECA on the substrate such that a first OECA alignment face projects from a first substrate alignment face. The substrate and the OECA are advanced towards a contact face of a first assembly alignment mechanism such that the first substrate alignment face contacts the contact face of the first assembly alignment mechanism after the first OECA alignment face contacts the contact face. The OECA is displaced relative to the first substrate alignment face when the first OECA alignment face contacts the contact face and the substrate continues to move towards the contact face thereby aligning the OECA on the substrate relative to the first substrate alignment face. | 03-24-2011 |
20110129189 | CLAD METAL SUBSTRATES IN OPTICAL PACKAGES - Embodiments of the present disclosure bring a wavelength conversion device into close proximity with a laser source to eliminate the need for coupling optics, reduce the number of package components, and reduce package volume. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical package is provided comprising a laser diode chip and a clad metal substrate. The clad metal substrate comprises a clad metal region that is mechanically coupled to a base metal region. The laser diode chip is coupled to the clad metal region. The clad metal region comprises a clad metal material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than a thermal conductivity of the base metal material. The clad metal region further comprises a coefficient of thermal expansion that is approximately equal to a coefficient of thermal expansion of the base metal material and is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the laser diode chip. | 06-02-2011 |
20120189252 | RECEPTACLE FERRULE ASSEMBLIES WITH GRADIENT INDEX LENSES AND FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS USING SAME - A receptacle ferrule assembly for a fiber optic receptacle connector. The receptacle ferrule assembly comprises a first lens with first second optical surfaces and a receptacle ferrule body having first and second ends. At least one monolithic optical system is formed in a monolithic receptacle ferrule body and includes a lens formed at the second end of monolithic receptacle ferrule body and an optical surface formed at the first end of monolithic receptacle ferrule body. The optical surface is situated adjacent to, and mated to the second optical surface of the first lens The monolithic optical system is configured, in conjunction with the first lens, to define a receptacle optical pathway from the second end of the monolithic optical system to the first surface of the first lens. According to some embodiments the first lens is a gradient index lens. | 07-26-2012 |
20130044773 | OPTICAL SOURCES HAVING PROXIMITY COUPLED LASER SOURCE AND WAVEGUIDE - An optical source including a laser source and a waveguide is provided. The laser source includes a laser cavity having a laser optical path length extending from a DBR grating to a reflective laser output facet, and emits an output beam at a fundamental wavelength. The waveguide has an input facet and an output facet, and extends along a waveguide optical length from the input facet of the waveguide to the output facet of the waveguide. The input facet and the output facet of the waveguide are approximately normal with respect to an optical path of the output beam. The waveguide and the laser source are proximity coupled, and the waveguide optical length is an integer multiple of the laser optical path length. | 02-21-2013 |
20130219969 | METHODS OF MAKING A STUB LENS ELEMENT AND ASSEMBLIES USING SAME FOR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY APPLICATIONS - Methods of making a stub lens element and assemblies for coherence tomography (OCT) applications are disclosed. The method of making the stub lens element includes drawing a rod of optical material and processing the drawn rod to form a lens integrally connected to a stub section. The methods also include operably supporting an optical fiber and a stub lens element in a cooperative optical relationship to form a stub lens sub-assembly. The methods also include operably supporting the stub lens sub-assembly and a light-deflecting member in a cooperative optical relationship to form a probe optical assembly that has a folded optical path. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223787 | PROBE OPTICAL ASSEMBLIES AND PROBES FOR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - Probes optical assemblies and probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) applications are disclosed. The probe assembly includes an optical fiber, a stub lens and a light-deflecting member arranged in a cooperative optical relationship to define an optical path between the optical fiber end and an image plane that is folded by the light-deflecting member. The optical probe includes a transparent jacket that contains the optical probe assembly. | 08-29-2013 |
20130223801 | STUB LENS ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEMS - Stub lens assemblies for use in optical coherence tomography. The stub lens assembly has an optical fiber having an end, and an optical fiber ferrule that supports the optical fiber. The stub lens assembly also has a sleeve having a central channel with first and second ends, with the optical fiber ferrule supported within the central channel at the first end. The stub lens assembly further includes a stub lens element having a stub section with a proximal end that resides adjacent the optical fiber end within the central channel of the sleeve. The stub section is formed integral with a lens, which has a lens surface. The sleeve supports the optical fiber end and the proximal end of the stub section in a cooperative optical relationship. | 08-29-2013 |
20130266259 | MONOLITHIC BEAM-SHAPING OPTICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN OCT PROBE - Monolithic beam-shaping optical systems and methods are disclosed for an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe that includes a transparent cylindrical housing having asymmetric optical power. The system includes a transparent monolithic body having a folded optical axis and at least one alignment feature that supports the end of an optical fiber adjacent an angled planar end wall. The monolithic body also includes a total-internal reflection surface and a lens surface that define object and image planes. Light from the optical fiber end traverses the optical path, which includes the cylindrical housing residing between the lens surface and the image plane. Either the lens surface by itself or the lens surface and the reflective (eg, TIR) surface in combination are configured to substantially correct for the asymmetric optical power of the cylindrical housing, thereby forming a substantially rotationally symmetric image spot at the image plane. | 10-10-2013 |
20140143996 | METHODS OF FORMING GRADIENT INDEX (GRIN) LENS CHIPS FOR OPTICAL CONNECTIONS AND RELATED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS - Gradient index (GRIN) lens chips for optical connections, and related methods of creating GRIN lens chips are disclosed. Each GRIN lens chip may include at least one GRIN lens and a GRIN lens holder for aligning the GRIN lens in an optical connection. When creating a GRIN lens chip, a shaped substrate may be provided including a GRIN lens holder and at least one GRIN groove for securing and aligning the GRIN lens relative to the GRIN lens holder. The GRIN lens may be part of a GRIN lens rod. By freeing the GRIN lens holder from the shaped substrate, the GRIN lens holder may include a fiber mating surface and a terminal mating surface. The fiber mating surface and the terminal mating surface may be used to align the GRIN lens holder in the optical connection. | 05-29-2014 |
20140147078 | GRADIENT INDEX (GRIN) LENS CHIPS AND ASSOCIATED SMALL FORM FACTOR OPTICAL ARRAYS FOR OPTICAL CONNECTIONS, RELATED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS - Gradient index (GRIN) lens chips and associated small form factor optical arrays for optical connections, and related fiber optic connectors are disclosed. By aligning GRIN lenses within a GRIN lens chip, a more precise and reliable alignment may be achieved with respect to optical fibers than if a single conventional ferrule is utilized to align and secure both GRIN lenses and optical fibers. The GRIN lens chip may include a GRIN lens received and thereby aligned within a groove disposed between a fiber end and a terminal end of a GRIN lens holder body. The optical fibers may also be received and thereby aligned within a groove of a ferrule body. In this manner, when the GRIN lens chip containing the GRIN lenses is aligned with a ferrule body containing the optical fibers, then the GRIN lenses may be precisely located relative to the optical fibers. | 05-29-2014 |
20140169742 | OPTICAL PORT HAVING ONE OR MORE ALIGNMENT FEATURES - Disclosed are optical ports and devices using the optical ports. The optical port includes a mounting body having a first pocket and at least one mounting surface for securing the optical port, one or more optical elements, and a first alignment feature disposed in the pocket, wherein the alignment feature includes a piston that is translatable during mating. The one or more optical elements may be an integral portion of the mounting body or a discrete lens. In other embodiments, the mounting body may include a plurality of pockets and one of the pockets may include a magnet for securing a plug to the optical port. The optical port may optionally have a minimalist optical port footprint so that the complimentary mating optical plug engages a portion of the frame during mating. | 06-19-2014 |
20140247454 | POWER TRANSMISSION AND SENSING DEVICE - A torque transmission assembly comprising: (i) an optical fiber coupled to an optical sensing component and capable of rotating and translating the optical sensing component and of transmitting light to and from the optical sensing component; and (b) an annular structure surrounding the optical fiber, the annular structure in conjunction with said optical fiber transmits torque from a rotating component to the optical sensing component, wherein the annular structure does not include a steel wire torque spring. | 09-04-2014 |
20140247455 | OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY ASSEMBLY - An OCT assembly comprising: (a) a light transmissive rod having a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a refractive surface adjacent to the second end; (b) a housing surrounding the OCT probe component; the housing having a tubular body with the window situated over the refractive surface, said tubular body having a surface wherein said surface of said tubular body has a coefficient of friction being less than 0.3; (c) an optical fiber connected to the OCT probe component; (d) an annular structure surrounding said optical fiber and capable of translating and rotating the OCT probe component. | 09-04-2014 |
20140376865 | FIBER OPTIC CONNECTORS HAVING A TRANSLATING TRAY ALONG WITH CABLE ASSEMBLIES USING THE CONNECTORS - Embodiments disclosed herein include fiber optic connectors that include a tray that translates from a retracted position to an extended position along with cable assemblies using the connector and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the connector includes a housing, a fiber optic body having an optical interface with at least one optical channel, at least one optical fiber in optical communication with the at least one optical channel of the optical interface, a tray that is movable between a first position that retracts the tray into the housing and a second position where the tray extends from the housing, wherein the fiber optic body is essentially stationary with respect to the tray, and an actuator for moving the tray between the first position and the second position. | 12-25-2014 |
20150025369 | HOUSING FOR THE OCT PROBE, OCT PROBE ASSEMBLY, AND A METHOD OF MAKING SUCH ASSEMBLY - According to some embodiments a housing for the OCT comprises: (a) a tubular body with an inner diameter of less than 5 mm (for example less than 2 mm, and in some embodiments not greater than 1.5 mm), a first end, a second end; and a window formed in the tubular body closer to the second end than to the first end, displaced from the second end, and framed by a portion of the tubular body, wherein the window has a width w. According to some embodiments, 0.05 mm01-22-2015 | |
20150063765 | DEVICE-TO-DEVICE OPTICAL CONNECTORS - A device-to-device optical connector assembly is configured to provide an optical signal as an expanded beam to an expanded beam plug cable. The connector assembly includes an active receptacle having a lead-in portion that receives a light beam from an opto-electronic device, a lead-out portion and a turn portion that turns the light beam and delivers a collimated light beam to the lead-out portion. A waveguide rod is optically coupled to the lead-out portion of the active receptacle that receives the collimated light beam and carries the collimated light beam from the active receptacle to the expanded beam plug cable. In one embodiment, the waveguide rod has a step index core waveguide profile with its fundamental mode generally matching the coupling optics of a complementary cable assembly or the like within a predetermined value. | 03-05-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100014718 | Computationally Efficient Feature Extraction and Matching Iris Recognition - A method and system for uniquely identifying a subject based on an iris image. After obtaining the iris image, the method produces a filtered iris image by applying filters to the iris image to enhance discriminative features of the iris image. The method analyzes an intensity value for pixels in the filtered iris image to produce an iris code that uniquely identifies the subject. The method also creates a segmented iris image by detecting an inner and outer boundary for an iris region in the iris image, and remapping pixels in the iris region, represented in a Cartesian coordinate system, to pixels in the segmented iris image, represented in a log-polar coordinate system, by employing a logarithm representation process. The method also creates a one-dimensional iris string from the iris image by unfolding the iris region by employing a spiral sampling method to obtain sample pixels in the iris region, wherein the sample pixels are the one-dimensional iris string. | 01-21-2010 |
20100238584 | SIMULTANEOUS BIT PATTERN DETERMINATION AND HEAD POSITIONAL INFORMATION DETECTION ON PATTERNED MEDIA - An apparatus, system, and method comprise a magnetoresistive head configured to respond to magnetization states of patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head detects the magnetization states of at least two patterned cells formed on a patterned medium. The magnetoresistive head generates a readback signal based on the magnetization state of the at least two patterned cells. A detector circuit coupled to the head determines a bit pattern corresponding to the readback signal. A processor circuit coupled to the detector circuit determines positional information associated with the magnetoresistive head relative to the at least two patterned cells based on the bit pattern. The system further comprises a patterned medium. | 09-23-2010 |
20120008019 | Shadow Removal in an Image Captured by a Vehicle-Based Camera Using an Optimized Oriented Linear Axis - A method is provided for removing an illumination generated shadow in a captured image. Each pixel of the captured input image is plotted on a two dimensional logarithmic graph. A linear axis for the plurality of color sets is determined that is substantially orthogonal to a respective illumination direction of each respective color set. A log-chromaticity value of each plotted pixel is projected on the axis. An orientation of the linear axis is selected to minimize an illumination effect and provide optimum separation between each of the respective color sets on the linear axis. Edges in the input image and illumination invariant image domain are identified. The identified edges of the input image are compared to identify edges in the illumination invariant image domain. A determination is made whether a shadow edge is present in response to the comparison. A shadow-reduced image is generated for scene analysis by a vehicle vision-based system. | 01-12-2012 |
20120008021 | Shadow Removal in an Image Captured by a Vehicle-Based Camera for Clear Path Detection - A method for is provided for creating a shadow-reduced image from a captured image for distinguishing a clear path of travel. Each pixel of a captured input image is plotted according to a two dimensional logarithmic graph. A specific color set relating to an associated color value of a clear path. A linear illumination-invariant axis is determined as a function of the specific color set. An illumination direction for the linear illumination-invariant axis is determined. A log-chromaticity value of each plotted pixel of the specific color set is projected on the axis. Edges in the input image and the illumination-invariant image domain are identified. The identified edges of the input image are compared to identify edges in the illumination-invariant image domain. A determination is made whether a shadow edge is present in response to comparing the edges. A shadow-reduced image is generated for scene analysis by a vehicle vision-based system. | 01-12-2012 |
20130188463 | Bi-Directional Pattern Dependent Noise Prediction - A method performed by a disk drive, comprising: receiving a plurality of signal samples over a channel in the disk drive; executing a forward pattern-dependent noise prediction (PDNP) operation on the plurality of the signal samples; generating, based on execution of the forward PDNP operation, a first detection of recorded data bits in the plurality of received signal samples; executing a backward PDNP operation on the plurality of the received signal samples; generating, based on execution of the backward PDNP operation, a second detection of recorded data bits in the plurality of received signal samples; comparing the first detection to the second detection; identifying, based on comparing, one or more erasures in the received plurality of signal samples; and generating one or more sequences of bits that promote correction of the one or more erasures. | 07-25-2013 |
20130236067 | Computationally Efficient Feature Extraction and Matching Iris Recognition - A method and system for uniquely identifying a subject based on an iris image. After obtaining the iris image, the method produces a filtered iris image by applying filters to the iris image to enhance discriminative features of the iris image. The method analyzes an intensity value for pixels in the filtered iris image to produce an iris code that uniquely identifies the subject. The method also creates a segmented iris image by detecting an inner and outer boundary for an iris region in the iris image, and remapping pixels in the iris region, represented in a Cartesian coordinate system, to pixels in the segmented iris image, represented in a log-polar coordinate system, by employing a logarithm representation process. The method also creates a one-dimensional iris string from the iris image by unfolding the iris region by employing a spiral sampling method to obtain sample pixels in the iris region, wherein the sample pixels are the one-dimensional iris string. | 09-12-2013 |
20140241444 | TENTPOLES SCHEME TO ACHIEVE RELIABLE V2V COMMUNICATIONS - A communications system including a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter transmits a signal with normal data symbols and at least one dual-use data symbol, where the dual-use data symbol has user data and more data protection than the normal data symbols. The receiver receives the transmitted signal and decodes the dual-use data symbol and uses information from decoding of the dual-use data symbol to improve a channel estimate for the normal data symbols. | 08-28-2014 |