Stephen John Ames

US Patent:

6373574, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Mar 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/804895

Inventors:

Yeming Gu - Suwanee GA
Michael A. Spencer - Suwanee GA
Jeffrey P. Treptau - Golden Valley MN
Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA
Daniel B. Seevers - Duluth GA
Rex A. Aleshire - Buford GA
Hong Tang - Suwanee GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G01N 2125

US Classification:

356419, 356326, 356328

Abstract:

A produce data collector and produce recognition system which illuminates a produce item with substantially uniform light to enhance the accuracy of collected produce data and subsequent identification of the produce item as part of a transaction in a transaction establishment. The produce data collector includes a light source for illuminating the produce item with substantially uniform light during the transaction, a light separating element for splitting light collected from the produce item into a plurality of different light portions having different wavelengths, a detector for converting energy in the plurality of light portions into a plurality of electrical signals, and control circuitry which digitizes the plurality of electrical signals to produce a digital spectrum from the produce item which contains information to identify the produce item for the purpose of determining its unit price.

US Patent:

6404275, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Nov 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/683193

Inventors:

Steven H. Voldman - South Burlington VT
Stephen J. Ames - Rochester MN

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G05F 110

US Classification:

327538

Abstract:

ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) robust current mirror circuits incorporate circuitry for decoupling the gate when the chip is unpowered. Additional protection is provided by a second element which provides de-biasing to prevent Vgs from being established. A third element can be added between the gate and the ground potential on the current mirror gate node to prevent the gate of the current mirror from rising too high and allows the current to be discharged through the element instead of the current mirror.

US Patent:

6470495, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Sep 6, 1996

Appl. No.:

08/709021

Inventors:

Stephen J. Ames - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

NCR Corporation - Dayton OH

International Classification:

G06F 944

US Classification:

717173, 709220

Abstract:

Microprocessor-controlled equipment, such as cash register/inventory control systems, sometimes require in-field modification of programs which run on the microprocessors. Under the invention, such modified programs are downloaded to the equipment, via a commercially available paging service, through a satellite link. When owners of the equipment receive the new programs, they update old programs, as appropriate.

US Patent:

6528777, Mar 4, 2003

Filed:

Jan 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/761526

Inventors:

Stephen J. Ames - Rochester MN
Steven John Baumgartner - Rochester MN
Kenneth Paul Jackson - Rochester MN
Clint Lee Schow - Rochester MN
Michael A. Sorna - Hopewell Junction NY
Steven John Zier - Hopewell Junction NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H01J 4014

US Classification:

250214R, 250214 A

Abstract:

An optical transceiver with a transimpedance amplifier generates a dynamic common mode voltage of the peak-to-peak output current of the photodetector for use as an in-situ optical power meter. Peak-to-peak voltage signal are imposed on the common mode voltage so optical power measurements are obtained using preexisting electrical contacts. An nfet and a capacitor of the transimpedance amplifier smooths the peak-to-peak voltage to create the control signal for the common mode voltage. The common mode current is mirrored into a bank of pfets at the output stage to create a current sink. Depending upon the potential of the common mode voltage, more or less current will be drawn from the peak-to-peak voltage signals output from a final differential amplifier stage of the transimpedance amplifier.

US Patent:

6617518, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Nov 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/985345

Inventors:

Stephen John Ames - Rochester MN
Bart Owen McCoy - Rochester MN
Salvatore Nicholas Storino - Rochester MN

Assignee:

JDS Uniphase Corporaton - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H05K 100

US Classification:

174254, 174260, 174261, 174262, 174266, 361749, 361760

Abstract:

A flex cable has a number of conductive wirings for electrically coupling electrical leads of an electrical component to a wiring board. The flex cable has a conductive tab for electrically coupling one of the conductive wirings to one of the leads. The flex cable is bendable to form an essentially horizontal portion and an essentially vertical portion. The conductive tab is disposed at a transition between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion.

US Patent:

6627867, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Nov 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/989826

Inventors:

Stephen John Ames - Rochester MN
Michael William Marlowe - Rochester MN
Christopher K. White - Rochester MN

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H01J 4014

US Classification:

250214R, 359152

Abstract:

An apparatus, circuit arrangement and method enable a host system to read a signal that is proportional to the peak-to-peak optical power incident on a transceiver at one end of a fiber optic link without breaking that link. By reading this signal and being aware of the characteristics of the laser, the âhealthâ of the laser is known and the integrity of the link is maintained. Consequently, the host system has a predictive tool that is able identify substandard lasers so that such lasers can be replaced before serious, and potentially costly, data disruptions occur.

US Patent:

6661817, Dec 9, 2003

Filed:

Sep 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/955545

Inventors:

Stephen John Ames - Rochester MN
Michael William Marlowe - Rochester MN
Christopher K. White - Rochester MN

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H01S 50683

US Classification:

372 29021

Abstract:

An apparatus, program product and method enable a host system to read a signal or signals that are proportional to the output power and/or the bias of a laser in a fiber optic link connected to that host system without breaking that link. By reading one or more of these signals and being aware of the laser characteristics, the âhealthâ of the laser is known and the integrity of the link is maintained. Consequently, the host system has a predictive tool which is able identify substandard lasers and replace them before a serious, and potentially costly, data disruption occurs.

US Patent:

7062164, Jun 13, 2006

Filed:

Jun 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/893222

Inventors:

Stephen John Ames - Rochester MN, US
Roy Kearns Ball - Austin MN, US
Clint Lee Schow - Goleta CA, US
Christopher Keith White - Rochester MN, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04B 10/08
H04B 17/00
H04B 3/46
H04B 10/06
H04Q 1/20

US Classification:

398 25, 375225, 324 7641, 324 7647, 398202

Abstract:

A data receiver, which could be an optical transceiver, a modem, a router hub, is capable of detecting the transmission rate of incoming data. The data is converted to electrical waves appropriate for passive or active bandpass filtering. The frequencies at which the waves are filtered are determined from a plurality of known possible transmission rates and are chosen as having the most detectable difference in the power spectra. By implementing a filter at the corresponding frequency(ies), data having that (those) frequency(ies) will be transmitted. A signal detector then can receive a signal transmitted through the filter and determine the corresponding data rate. It is further contemplated that the multiple frequencies can be filtered by using stages of filters and signal detectors for different frequencies or by filters and detectors capable of multiple frequency operation.