Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110232211 | WAVEGUIDE ASSISTED SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING - A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a fiber optical waveguide comprising an active core that hosts material configured to absorb and emit light, a cladding layer surrounding the active core, the cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the cladding layer, and an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide. The PV system further comprises one or more solar cells disposed at the exit port of the waveguide. The waveguide is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. Another photovoltaic (PV) system includes a waveguide comprising an active cladding layer hosting material configured to absorb and emit light, and a core layer configured to confine light emitted by the active cladding layer. The PV system further includes one or more solar cells disposed proximate the waveguide. The core layer is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. | 09-29-2011 |
20130319500 | ELECTRICITY-GENERATING FABRIC PANEL UNIT - An electricity-generating fabric panel unit includes a panel of light-collecting fabric and an edge assembly disposed along an edge of the fabric panel and adapted to collect light from the fabric panel and convert it to electricity. | 12-05-2013 |
20130340543 | DISTRIBUTED SENSOR GRID, SURFACE, AND SKIN SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure provides distributed sensor grid, surface, and skin systems and methods that utilize compressive sampling systems and methods for reading and processing the outputs of sensor arrays (serial and/or parallel) such that increased speed can be achieved. These sensor arrays can be functionalized or sensitized in any desired manner and functions are derived from the outputs, as opposed to individual data points. The sensor arrays can be made in the form of a textile, a fiber optic network, a MEMS network, or a CMOS camera, for example. In general, in accordance with the systems and methods of the present disclosure, a Code is applied to a distributed sensor as part of the compressive sampling technique and derives the functions. | 12-26-2013 |
20140000704 | WAVEGUIDE ASSISTED SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING | 01-02-2014 |
20140374603 | PROFILOMETRY SYSTEMS AND METHODS BASED ON ABSORPTION AND OPTICAL FREQUENCY CONVERSION - The present disclosure provides novel measurement techniques based on moiré techniques and optical frequency conversion. For example, in the IR realm, the configuration can be any moiré configuration, the detector is an IR detector, and the light source can be at any wavelength. The optical configuration, the detector, and the type of light source depend on the physical properties of object/scene and the parameter(s) to be measured. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375776 | WAVELENGTH DISCRIMINATING IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present disclosure provides wavelength discriminating imaging systems and methods that spatially separate (over different depths) the wavelength constituents of an image using a dispersive lens system or element, such that this spectral information may be exploited and used. The wavelength constituents of an image are deconstructed and identified over different depths using a dispersive lens system or element. | 12-25-2014 |
20150022658 | NOISE REDUCTION TECHNIQUES, FRACTIONAL BI-SPECTRUM AND FRACTIONAL CROSS-CORRELATION, AND APPLICATIONS - A measurement method and system include illuminating an object to be measured with light at two different wavelengths and an incident angle; capturing an image of the object; detecting a frequency of an interference pattern from the image using Fractional Bi-Spectrum Analysis; and calculating a thickness of the object based on the Fractional Bi-Spectrum Analysis. The thickness is calculated based on a relationship between the thickness and the frequency of the interference pattern. The Fractional Bi-Spectrum Analysis is performed on a linear medium with the two different wavelengths being known. | 01-22-2015 |
20150255657 | WAVEGUIDE ASSISTED SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING - A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a fiber optical waveguide comprising an active core that hosts material configured to absorb and emit light, a cladding layer surrounding the active core, the cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the cladding layer, and an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide. The PV system further comprises one or more solar cells disposed at the exit port of the waveguide. The waveguide is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. Another photovoltaic (PV) system includes a waveguide comprising an active cladding layer hosting material configured to absorb and emit light, and a core layer configured to confine light emitted by the active cladding layer. The PV system further includes one or more solar cells disposed proximate the waveguide. The core layer is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. | 09-10-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100135129 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SERVO SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-03-2010 |
20100135136 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM AND LINEAR TAPE - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-03-2010 |
20100135139 | OPTICAL TAPE TEST SYSTEM - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-03-2010 |
20100136151 | OPTICAL TAPE EMBOSSING DRUM AND OPTICAL TAPE EMBOSSING DRUM SHIM - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-03-2010 |
20110141863 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING SAME - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-16-2011 |
20110141868 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING SAME - Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications | 06-16-2011 |
20110241239 | OPTICAL MEDIA PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A nano-imprinting system may be configured to at least one of transport, emboss, coat and slit an optical media according to operational parameters. A control system may be configured to detect one or more attributes of the optical media that result from at least one of the embossing and coating of the optical media, and to adjust at least one of the operational parameters based on the detected one or more attributes. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242953 | Systems and Methods for Testing Unformatted Optical Recording Media - Various embodiments herein include one or more of systems, methods, software, and/or data structures to test and evaluate unformatted optical media such as optical tape and optical discs. Advantageously, testing and evaluation can be performed earlier in the manufacturing process of the optical media to locate defects and/or other problems or issues with the optical media that can be addressed before additional manufacturing steps are performed and possible wasted. The systems and methods include at least two optical pickup units (OPUs), a first of which may be dedicated to writing digital data and the second of which may be dedicated to scanning, locating, tracking and/or reading the written data (when the optical media is moving in a first direction) in one of a plurality of manners. Information (e.g., optical signals such as sum, differential push pull and focus error signals) associated with the writing, scanning and retrieving of data at one or more locations or segments of the optical media may be used part of an analysis of one or more properties (e.g., signal to noise, signal jitter, thickness, roughness) of the optical media. | 10-06-2011 |
20120069726 | Optical Storage Focus Servo System And Method Of Controlling Same - An optical storage focus servo system may include an optical pickup unit that includes an astigmatic focusing lens, a focusing actuator that controls a position of the lens relative to an optical media, and a plurality of detectors that detect an intensity and shape of a reflected beam from the media. The system may also include a controller that controls the focusing actuator based on the intensity and shape of the reflected beam. | 03-22-2012 |
20120291055 | Suspension System for an Optical Pickup Assembly - A suspension system is provided for an objective lens housing. The objective lens housing is supported by the suspension system and is moved in either a tracking direction Y or focusing direction Z by an electro-magnetic actuator. The objective lens housing is supported by upper and lower suspension springs. The suspension springs are moveable in the tracking direction by flexing the suspension springs and are moveable in a focusing direction by compressing a front portion and a back portion to fold the suspension spring at bends formed in an intermediate portion of the suspension springs. | 11-15-2012 |
20130019766 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AN EMBOSSER DRUM FOR USE IN PRE-FORMATTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA - Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master and bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein and a surface area that is approximately the same as an outer embossing surface of the embosser drum to be formed. Advantageously, a single, one-piece metallic shim can subsequently be generated, appropriately shaped and welded at a single seam to form the embosser drum outer embossing surface. | 01-24-2013 |
20130086599 | OPTICAL TAPE DRIVE MOVABLE PLANARIZER SUBSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO AN OPTICAL PICKUP UNIT - In an optical tape drive system, a movable planarizer subsystem includes a tape planarizer support structure for supporting an optical tape planarizer. The support structure is moveable between an operational position and a non-operational position. The movable planarizer subsystem also includes an actuator for moving the support structure and the optical tape planarizer between the operational position and the non-operational position. The operational position of the support structure positions the optical tape planarizer to permit reading/writing of information from/to an optical tape via an optical pickup unit (OPU), and the non-operational position of the support structure positions the optical tape planarizer to permit passage of a tape leader through the tape drive system without damage to the OPU. | 04-04-2013 |
20130106015 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AN EMBOSSER DRUM FOR USE IN PRE-FORMATTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA | 05-02-2013 |
20130152112 | DRUM FOR USE IN TESTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA ON DRUM - Various embodiments herein include utilities that facilitate the substantially flat and aligned mounting of optical tape segments on testing drums to increase testing accuracy of the tape segments. In this regard, a drum for testing optical tape media is disclosed having a substantially planar portion onto which first and second ends of an optical tape segment may be mounted to thereby secure the entire tape segment around an outer testing surface of the drum. Also disclosed is fixture that may be used to precisely mount and secure the tape segment over the outer mounting surface of a drum in a manner that reduces axial run-out and wrinkling of the optical tape. | 06-13-2013 |
20130342930 | Lateral Tape Motion Detector - A tape edge sensor system for detecting lateral movement of a storage tape includes a first photo-emitter, a first photo-detector positioned to receive a first light signal from the first photo-emitter, a first aperture disposed between the first photo-emitter and the first photo-detector, and a feedback system connected to the first photo-emitter and the first photo-detector. The first aperture defines a first region at a first tape edge through which the first light signal is received by the first photo-detector with the storage tape blocking a portion of the first light signal. The feedback system determines the first photo-detector's signal amplitude and adjusts the first light signal such that the first photo-detector signal amplitude is within a first average amplitude range. A tape edge sensor system using compensating photo-interrupters is also provided. | 12-26-2013 |
20140036649 | System and Method for Off-Track Write Prevention and Data Recovery in Multiple Head Optical Tape Drives - In an optical tape drive having optical heads for writing data in tracks on an optical tape, each track having an off-track threshold, a system and method are disclosed for off-track write prevention. The system includes multiple actuators, each actuator configured to control a position of an associated optical heads. The system also includes a controller configured to determine a position of each of the optical heads relative to an associated track on the optical tape and to prevent, in response to an event causing an optical heads to have a position outside the off-track threshold of the associated track, only that optical head from writing data to the optical tape and to buffer a stream of data for that optical head for later processing. | 02-06-2014 |
20140086029 | PRE-COMPENSATED OPTICAL TAPE WOBBLE PATTERNS - Amplitude or phase modulated un-compensated wobble patterns representing address patterns for track addresses of optical media are generated. A filter is applied to the un-compensated wobble patterns to pre-compensate the un-compensated wobble patterns. When an inverse of the filter is applied to a signal representing the pre-compensated wobble patterns in the presence of noise, the noise is suppressed and the un-compensated wobble patterns are substantially recovered. | 03-27-2014 |
20140099438 | OPTICAL MEDIA PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A nano-imprinting system may be configured to at least one of transport, emboss, coat and slit an optical media according to operational parameters. A control system may be configured to detect one or more attributes of the optical media that result from at least one of the embossing and coating of the optical media, and to adjust at least one of the operational parameters based on the detected one or more attributes. | 04-10-2014 |
20140284825 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AN EMBOSSER DRUM FOR USE IN PRE-FORMATTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA - Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master, bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein, creating a replica of the bonded replica structure and electroforming a metallic layer onto the bonded replica structure replica to create a single, one piece, metallic shim which can be used to create a weld-less embosser drum. | 09-25-2014 |
20140311656 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING AN EMBOSSER DRUM FOR USE IN PRE-FORMATTING OPTICAL TAPE MEDIA - Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master and bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein and a surface area that is approximately the same as an outer embossing surface of the embosser drum to be formed. Advantageously, a single, one-piece metallic shim can subsequently be generated, appropriately shaped and welded at a single seam to form the embosser drum outer embossing surface. | 10-23-2014 |
20150146509 | QUADRATURE TRACK ERROR SIGNAL FOR OPTICAL RECORDING MEDIA AND DEVICES - A method for providing tracking error signals in an optical data storage system includes a step of receiving a wobble signal having a first frequency from the wobble detection system. The wobble detection system includes an optical pick up unit that detects positions of the head relative to lands and grooves. Characteristically, the wobble signal is amplitude modulated for positions intermediate between the land and the groove. The method further includes a step of receiving a primary tracking error signal from the wobble detection system. The wobble signal is multiplied with a synchronous signal to about a product signal. The product signal is positive for a first direction of motion and negative for a second direction of motion that is opposite that of the first direction. The product signal is integrated to obtain a quadrature track error signal. | 05-28-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100093279 | ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR COMMUNICATION UTILIZING ENERGY DETECTION AND/OR FREQUENCY SYNTHESIS - An electronic device for communication comprises a processor. The processor comprises a power scan module configured to receive an energy detection signal identifying detection of energy of a page signal or an inquiry signal. The power scan module is further configured to provide, upon receiving the energy detection signal, an instruction to perform a page scan or an inquiry scan. | 04-15-2010 |
20140043203 | FRONT END PARALLEL RESONANT SWITCH - A front end parallel resonant switch is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes an inductor and a capacitor configured to couple a first RF transmission to an antenna, and at least one switch configured to connect the inductor to the capacitor to form a matching network when transmitting the first RF transmission from the antenna, and to connect the inductor to capacitor to form a parallel resonant circuit when transmitting a second RF transmission from the antenna. | 02-13-2014 |
20140080414 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE IN NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATIONS - Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication are included herein. An aspect of the subject matter described in the disclosure provides a device configured to detect a transmission. The device includes a receiver configured to receive an inductive communication signal having a center frequency. The device further includes an analog-to-digital converter configured to sample the signal at a rate higher than twice the center frequency. The device further includes one or more processors configured to digitally downconvert the signal. The processors are further configured to compare an energy of the downconverted signal to a detection threshold. The device further includes a transmitter configured to selectively transmit a communication based on the comparison. | 03-20-2014 |
20140086301 | PULSE SHAPING FOR GENERATING NFC INITIATOR TRANSMIT WAVEFORM - Systems and methods are disclosed that can shape signals to meet emission mask requirements, current consumption requirements, and overshoot/undershoot requirements relating to the interaction that, for example, occurs when a near field communications (NFC) target comes within range of an NFC initiator, and the initiator generates and transmits an NFC waveform. In some implementations, a pair of bit patterns are defined whose differential output from an amplifier is a shaped pulse width modulated waveform. Varying individual bits of the bit patterns can vary the shaped pulse waveform with predictability. The pulse width modulated waveform may be filtered using a matching network that reduces higher order harmonics, thereby reducing out-of-band emissions. | 03-27-2014 |
20140103906 | INTEGRATED REAL POWER DETECTOR - Techniques for calculating a real power delivered to a transmit load of a transceiver. In an aspect, two distinct voltages are sampled from a matching network coupling the transmit load to an amplifier output. The voltages are coupled by configurable coupling elements to the down-conversion mixers of the transceiver, and are subsequently converted to digital form for processing by a baseband processor. The baseband processor may calculate a coefficient relating the calculated real power to an actual power delivered to the load. The coefficient may be stored and subsequently applied to a transmit element during normal signal transmission by the transceiver. Note the coupling elements may be configured to decouple the sampled voltages from the down-conversion mixers during normal signal reception by the transceiver, thus avoiding unnecessary loading on the receive signal path. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106668 | CIRCUIT TUNING FOR DEVICE DETECTION IN NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATIONS - A near-field communications (NFC) device includes an NFC antenna, a matching network coupled to the NFC antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the matching network. The transmitter applies a signal to the matching network and a capacitance of the matching network is varied. A parameter is measured while varying the capacitance of the matching network and while applying the signal. A peak value of the parameter is identified and compared to a threshold. A communication protocol is initiated in response to a determination that the peak value satisfies the threshold. | 04-17-2014 |
20140106669 | CARRIER FREQUENCY VARIATION FOR DEVICE DETECTION IN NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATIONS - A near-field communications (NFC) device includes an NFC antenna, a matching network coupled to the NFC antenna, and a transmitter coupled to the matching network. The transmitter applies a signal to the matching network and varies a frequency of the signal. A parameter is measured while varying the frequency of the signal. A peak value of the parameter is identified and compared to a threshold. A communication protocol is initiated in response to a determination that the peak value satisfies the threshold. | 04-17-2014 |
20140139042 | PORT ISOLATION IN SHARED TRANSFORMERS - Techniques for improving performance of a transformer shared amongst a plurality of operating modes. In an aspect, first and second primary windings of a transformer are coupled to an AC ground voltage. Primary windings are mutually coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. To render the second primary winding inactive, e.g., when operating in a first mode, a switch coupling the second primary winding to the common reference voltage is opened. Similarly, when it is desired to render the first primary winding inactive, e.g., when operating in a second mode, a switch coupling the first primary winding to the common reference voltage is opened. In this manner, the inactive primary winding advantageously does not load the secondary winding. Further aspects provide for, e.g., extending the techniques to more than two modes, and alternative techniques to mutually couple the signal from the primary to the secondary winding. | 05-22-2014 |
20140153616 | SLIDING IF TRANSCEIVER ARCHITECTURE - Techniques for providing a transceiver with a sliding intermediate frequency (IF). In an aspect, a PLL generates a single local oscillator (LO) signal used for both up-conversion by a transmit (TX) signal path and down-conversion by a receive (RX) signal path, wherein the LO frequency is chosen as the TX carrier frequency. As the TX and RX carrier frequencies may generally differ by a variable amount, the RX signal path utilizing the (TX) LO frequency for down-conversion may be characterized as having a “sliding” IF. To accommodate the sliding IF receiver architecture, specific processing functions such as charge sampling, discrete-time analog band-pass filtering, and sub-sampling analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) are described. | 06-05-2014 |
20140187154 | MULTIPLE HARDWARE INTERRUPT FUNCTIONALITY ON NEAR-FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) - Hardware interrupt functionality associated with a disable pin may be used to place a near-field communication (NFC) device into various operational modes. For example, various intermediate voltage windows may be defined within an I/O voltage domain and a resistive divider running off an I/O rail may generate multiple reference voltages within the I/O voltage domain. In one embodiment, different comparators may compare voltage on the disable pin to the reference voltages generated with the resistive divider to determine whether the voltage on the disable pin falls within one of the intermediate voltage windows. As such, if a particular comparator determines that the voltage on the disable pin falls within one of the intermediate voltage windows, a control signal may be generated to transition the NFC device into a corresponding operational mode. | 07-03-2014 |
20140273828 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING PHASE NOISE IN NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICE SIGNALING - A method for communication between near field communication (NFC) devices includes generating a transmission signal, an in-phase local oscillator signal, and a quadrature local oscillator signal from edges of an input clock signal. The method further includes mixing a load modulated signal with the in-phase local oscillator signal to generate an in-phase baseband signal. The method further includes mixing the load modulated signal with the quadrature local oscillator signal to generate a quadrature baseband signal. The method further includes adjusting a phase delay of at least one of the in-phase local oscillator signal or the quadrature local oscillator signal in response to a first signal strength of the in-phase baseband signal and a second signal strength of the quadrature baseband signal. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273830 | DIRECT POWER TRANSMISSION LOAD MODULATION IN NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION DEVICES - An NFC initiator device requests a passive communication mode by modulating a request onto a first carrier signal. In response thereto, the target device transmits a second carrier signal while still receiving the first carrier signal from the initiator device. The target device may modulate data onto the second carrier signal to convey information to the initiator device. The initiator device may detect changes in the load provided by the target device to interpret the data conveyed by the target device. | 09-18-2014 |
20150049793 | INTERFACE SHARING BETWEEN DIGITAL AND RADIO FREQUENCY CIRCUITS - Exemplary embodiments are related to interfacing a digital module and a radio-frequency (RF) module of a wireless communication device. A device may include a digital module configured to output at least one constant-envelope phase modulated signal. The device may further include an RF module configured to receive the at least one constant-envelope phase modulated signal and generate one or more digital bits in response to receipt of the at least one constant-envelope phase modulated signal. | 02-19-2015 |
20150280946 | FEEDBACK RECEIVE PATH WITH LOW-IF MODE - An apparatus includes an input configured to receive a radio-frequency (RF) signal at a feedback receive path and also includes circuitry coupled to the input. The circuitry is configured to generate a low-intermediate frequency (low-IF) signal based on the RF signal. | 10-01-2015 |