James Alan Downing

US Patent:

6445844, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Dec 21, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/446540

Inventors:

Armand P. Neukermans - Palo Alto CA
Timothy G. Slater - San Francisco CA
Tyler L. Baughman - Campbell CA
James P. Downing - Saratoga CA
John S. Forker - Palo Alto CA
Gregory A. Reznick - Pleasanton CA
Sam Calmes - Mountain View CA
Steven M. Clark - Palo Alto CA
Jack D. Foster - Los Altos CA
Marc R. Schuman - San Francisco CA
Rajiv Ramaswami - Yorktown Heights NY

Assignee:

XROS, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G02B 635

US Classification:

385 18, 385 17, 385 33

Abstract:

A fiber optic switch includes a fiber optic switching module that receives and fixes ends of optical fibers. The module includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light between a pair of optical fibers. The module also produces orientation signals from each deflector which indicate its orientation. A portcard included in the switch supplies drive signals to the module for orienting at least one deflector. The portcard also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector. The portcard compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals. The switch also employs optical alignment to precisely orient pairs of deflectors coupling a beam of light between optical fibers.

US Patent:

6608297, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

May 5, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/849564

Inventors:

Armand P. Neukermans - Palo Alto CA
James P. Downing - Saratoga CA
Timothy G. Slater - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Xeros, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

H04N 104

US Classification:

2502081, 2502311, 358486

Abstract:

A scanner, through which a document moves while being scanned by a moving beam of light, includes a wheel that rotates responsive to document movement. The wheel includes a multi-sectioned optical encoder upon which the scanning beam of light impinges when in a position at which it does not impinge upon the document. The scanner also includes an optical detector which receives light that is not absorbed by the optical encoder sections. Thus, the optical detector generates an electrical signal that indicates document movement speed. A preferred embodiment the scanner includes a pair of cup-shaped wheels one of which carries the optical encoder that encircles an inner surface of the wheel adjacent to a lip thereof. An axle, also included in the preferred embodiment, spans between, is coupled to, and supports the wheels for rotation in unison about a longitudinal axis parallel to the axle.

US Patent:

6795602, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Dec 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/729336

Inventors:

Armand P. Neukermans - Palo Alto CA 94303
Timothy G. Slater - San Francisco CA 94110
Tyler L. Baughman - Campbell CA 95088
James P. Downing - Saratoga CA 95070
John S. Forker - Palo Alto CA 94301
Gregory A. Reznick - Pleasanton CA 94566
Sam Calmes - Mountain View CA 95070
Steven M. Clark - Palo Alto CA 94303
Jack D. Foster - Los Altos CA 94024
Marc R. Schuman - San Francisco CA 94122
Rajiv Ramaswami - Yorktown Heights NY 10598

International Classification:

G02B 635

US Classification:

385 18

Abstract:

A fiber optic switch ( ) includes a fiber optic switching module ( ) that receives and fixes ends ( ) of optical fibers ( ). The module ( ) includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors ( ) which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light ( ) between a pair of optical fibers ( ). The module ( ) also produces orientation signals from each deflector ( ) which indicate its orientation. A portcard ( ) included in the switch ( ) supplies drive signals to the module ( ) for orienting at least one deflector ( ). The portcard ( ) also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector ( ) together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector ( ). The portcard ( ) compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector ( ) and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module ( ) to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals. The switch ( ) also employs optical alignment to precisely orient pairs deflectors ( ) coupling a beam of light ( ) between optical fibers ( ).

US Patent:

60647795, May 16, 2000

Filed:

Jul 23, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/121439

Inventors:

Armand P. Neukermans - Palo Alto CA
James P. Downing - Saratoga CA
Timothy G. Slater - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Xros, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04N 140

US Classification:

382313

Abstract:

A document transport for a scanner (100) has a flexible, elongated finger (226) disposed adjacent to a document (134), and a force applied to the finger (226) urges teeth (233) on the finger (226) into contact with the document (134) which urges the document (134) along a path through the scanner (100). A piezoelectric plate (222), which applies the force to the finger (226), requires only a small amount of electrical power. To traverse the scanner (100), a document (134) may also be manually fed along a guide (272). First and second speed-sensing detectors (276a and 276b), disposed along the path traversed by the document (134), permit the scanner (100) to determine a speed at which the manually fed document (134) traverses the scanner (100). To conserve electrical energy, the scanner (100) also includes a document-presence detector (274) for activating the scanner (100) when a document (134) to be scanned is present.

US Patent:

62291394, May 8, 2001

Filed:

Apr 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/547813

Inventors:

Armand P. Neukermans - Palo Alto CA
James P. Downing - Saratoga CA
Timothy G. Slater - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Xros, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

G01D 530

US Classification:

250236

Abstract:

A document transport for a scanner (100) has a flexible, elongated finger (226) disposed adjacent to a document (134), and a force applied to the finger (226) urges teeth (233) on the finger (226) into contact with the document (134) which urges the document (134) along a path through the scanner (100). A piezoelectric plate (222), which applies the force to the finger (226), requires only a small amount of electrical power. To traverse the scanner (100), a document (134) may also be manually fed along a guide (272). First and second speed-sensing detectors (276a and 276b), disposed along the path traversed by the document (134), permit the scanner (100) to determine a speed at which the manually fed document (134) traverses the scanner (100). To conserve electrical energy, the scanner (100) also includes a document-presence detector (274) for activating the scanner (100) when a document (134) to be scanned is present.