Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120097739 | METHODS OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION TO MOBILE DEVICES USING COST EFFECTIVE CARD READERS - A method of transmitting information to a mobile device includes providing a card reader is provided with a read head, a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card and device electronics that includes an analog front-end and a microcontroller. The analog to digital front end is coupled to a processing element in the microcontroller. A raw magnetic head signal is received at the analog to digital front end. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. An output jack output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device. | 04-26-2012 |
20120097740 | METHOD OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION FROM A CARD READER WITH A POWER SUPPLY AND WAKE-UP CIRCUIT TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A method of transmitting information to a mobile device has a card reader with wake-up electronics and a microcontroller, and a power supply coupled to the wake-up electronics and the microcontroller. Data is read on the magnetic stripe. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. An output jack signal is sent to the mobile device. | 04-26-2012 |
20120118956 | METHOD OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION FROM EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL CARD READERS TO MOBILE DEVICES - A method is provided of transmitting information with a communication protocol to a mobile device. A card reader is provided with a read head that has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, an output jack and device electronics that includes a microcontroller. The read head is used to read data on a magnetic stripe of a card. A raw magnetic signal is produced indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. The raw magnetic head signal is converted into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. A synchronous Manchester encoded stream is produced that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. A Manchester encoded stream output jack signal is delivered to the mobile device through the output jack. | 05-17-2012 |
20120126007 | CARD READER WITH COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL - A card reader has a read head positioned in the housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. Device electronics are provided that include a microcontroller. The device electronics receives a raw magnetic head signal and converts it into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. The microcontroller produces a synchronous Manchester encoded stream that makes a greater number of 0 crossings. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver a Manchester encoded stream output jack signal to the mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126010 | COST EFFECTIVE CARD READER CONFIGURED TO BE COUPLED TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A has a read head configured to be coupled to a mobile device. The read head has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. Device electronics are provided with an analog front-end and a microcontroller. The analog to digital front end is coupled to a processing element in the microcontroller. The analog to digital front end receives a raw magnetic head signal and converts it into a processed digital signal that the microcontroller can interpret. The microcontroller produces a signal. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126011 | CARD READER WITH POWER EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE THAT INCLUDES A POWER SUPPLY AND A WAKE-UP CIRCUIT - These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a card reader with a read head positioned in a housing. The read head is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126012 | METHOD OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION FROM A POWER EFFICIENT CARD TO A MOBILE DEVICE - A method of transmitting information to a mobile device includes providing a read head with a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card, a power supply coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. The wake-up electronics are powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120132712 | CARD READER WITH POWER EFFICIENT ARCHITECTURE THAT INCLUDES A WAKE-UP CIRCUIT - A card reader is provided with a read head with a slot and is configured to be coupled to a mobile device and has a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a card. The read head reads data on the magnetic stripe and produces a raw magnetic signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. A power supply is coupled to wake-up electronics and a microcontroller. An output jack is adapted to be inserted in a port of the mobile device and deliver an output jack signal to the mobile device. The wake-up electronics is powered by a microphone bias of a mobile device. | 05-31-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110161980 | Load Balancing Web Service by Rejecting Connections - A load balancer allocates requests to a pool of web servers configured to have low queue capacities. If the queue capacity of a web server is reached, the web server responds to an additional request with a rejection notification to the load balancer, which enables the load balancer to quickly send the rejected request to another web server. Each web server self-monitors its rejection rate. If the rejection rate exceeds a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is increased. If the rejection rate falls below a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is decreased. | 06-30-2011 |
20120246129 | EFFICIENT STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL FOR LARGE NUMBER OF DATA OBJECTS - A data object management scheme for storing a large plurality of small data objects (e.g., image files) in small number of large object stack file for storage in secondary storage (e.g., hard disks). By storing many individual data objects in a single object stack file, the number of files stored in the secondary storage is reduced by several orders of magnitude, from the billions or millions to the hundreds or so. Index data for each object stack file is generated and stored in primary storage to allow efficient and prompt access to the data objects. Requests to store or retrieve the data objects are made using HTTP messages including file identifiers that identify the files storing the data objects and keys identifying the data objects. A file server stores or retrieves the data object from secondary storage of a file server without converting the requests to NSF or POSIX commands. | 09-27-2012 |
20140188870 | LSM CACHE - A variety of methods for improving efficiency in a database system are provided. In one embodiment, a method may comprise: generating multiple levels of data according to how recently the data have been updated, whereby most recently updated data are assigned to the newest level; storing each level of data in a specific storage tier; splitting data stored in a particular storage tier into two or more groups according to access statistics of each specific data; during compaction, storing data from different groups in separate data blocks of the particular storage tier; and when a particular data in a specific data block is requested, reading the specific data block into a low-latency storage tier. | 07-03-2014 |
20140258521 | Load Balancing Web Service by Rejecting Connections - A load balancer allocates requests to a pool of web servers configured to have low queue capacities. If the queue capacity of a web server is reached, the web server responds to an additional request with a rejection notification to the load balancer, which enables the load balancer to quickly send the rejected request to another web server. Each web server self-monitors its rejection rate. If the rejection rate exceeds a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is increased. If the rejection rate falls below a threshold, the number of processes concurrently running on the web server is decreased. | 09-11-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130247225 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING RIGHTS TO BROADBAND CONTENT - Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content are provided. A request for broadband content may be received by a server. The received request may include a client identifier associated with a customer device from which the request is received and a content identifier associated with the requested broadband content. Based at least in part upon the client identifier, a billing account associated with the customer device may be identified, and one or more users associated with the billing account may be identified. A set of access rights for the one or more users may be determined and, based upon an analysis of the set of access rights, a determination may be made as to whether access to the broadband content is authorized. | 09-19-2013 |
20130305382 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS PROVIDING A SEPARABLE DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT APPLICATION - Systems and methods providing content having digital rights management (DRM) applications separable from other authorization applications are provided. A system may include a distribution service provider system in communication with a content provider system and consumer premise equipment (CPE) for the transmission of content from the content provider system to the CPE device. The distribution service provider system may: receive A/V content provided by the content provider system, wherein the A/V content includes a DRM application; apply a conditional access system (CAS) application to the A/V content that is independent of the DRM application; and transmit the A/V content including the CAS and the DRM applications to the CPE for presentation. The CPE device can perform DRM authorizations with the content provider or a third-party DRM provider. | 11-14-2013 |
20140237505 | NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER PLAYBACK ADAPTER - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to a network-based digital video recorder playback adapter. In some embodiments, a request for digital content may be received from a customer device. A plurality of segments associated with the digital content may be received. A content stream may be generated based at least in part on the plurality of segments associated with the digital content. The content stream may be transmitted. | 08-21-2014 |
20140282918 | FEDERATED SERVICES - Aspects of the disclosure relates to managed access to content and/or services. In certain aspects, tokens or other artifacts can be utilized for authentication and authorization. | 09-18-2014 |
20140282982 | Managed Access to Content and Services - Aspects of the disclosure relates to managed access to content and/or services in a network environment. In certain aspects, tokens or other artifacts can be utilized for authentication and authorization. | 09-18-2014 |
20140325221 | NETWORK TOKEN AUTHENTICATION SCHEME - Aspects of the disclosure relates to managed access to content and/or services. In certain aspects, tokens or other artifacts can be utilized for authentication and authorization. | 10-30-2014 |
20150256602 | Content Shaping and Distribution at a Content Platform - Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided. | 09-10-2015 |
20150256864 | Content Customization at a Content Platform - Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided. | 09-10-2015 |
20150256865 | Thematic Programming Channel - Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided. | 09-10-2015 |
20150256866 | Content Consumption and Interactivity at a Device - Aspects of the disclosure relate to configuration of content and consumption thereof content in a networked environment. In certain aspects, the consumed content can be coordinated or otherwise synchronized between disparate consumption devices, which may be served content via different content platforms. In another aspect, the consumed content can be customized for a specific device and/or an end-user thereof. In yet another aspect, recommendations for content and/or products associated with at least a portion of the content can be provided. | 09-10-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120023525 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING APPLICATIONS WITH AN ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE - Systems and methods for associating applications with an electronic program guide are provided. An electronic program guide that includes television schedule information organized in a grid by time and channel may be generated. The electronic program guide may be configured for presentation to a user by an electronic program guide application executed by a programming processing component associated with the user. A second application different from the electronic program guide application may be associated with an entry in the grid of the electronic program guide. The second application may be configured for execution by the programming processing component based at least in part upon the user selecting the entry. Once generated, the electronic program guide may be output for receipt by the programming processing component. | 01-26-2012 |
20120023590 | Systems and Methods Providing a Separable Digital Rights Management Application - Systems and methods providing content having digital rights management (DRM) applications separable from other authorization applications are provided. A system may include a distribution service provider system in communication with a content provider system and consumer premise equipment (CPE) for the transmission of content from the content provider system to the CPE device. The distribution service provider system may: receive A/V content provided by the content provider system, wherein the A/V content includes a DRM application; apply a conditional access system (CAS) application to the A/V content that is independent of the DRM application; and transmit the A/V content including the CAS and the DRM applications to the CPE for presentation. The CPE device can perform DRM authorizations with the content provider or a third-party DRM provider. | 01-26-2012 |
20120041829 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING RIGHTS TO BROADBAND CONTENT - Systems and methods for managing rights to broadband content are provided. A request for broadband content may be received by a server. The received request may include a client identifier associated with a customer device from which the request is received and a content identifier associated with the requested broadband content. Based at least in part upon the client identifier, a billing account associated with the customer device may be identified, and one or more users associated with the billing account may be identified. A set of access rights for the one or more users may be determined and, based upon an analysis of the set of access rights, a determination may be made as to whether access to the broadband content is authorized. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041830 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING PURCHASES OF BROADBAND CONTENT AND SERVICES - Systems and methods for facilitating purchases of broadband content and services are provided. A request to purchase broadband content or a broadband service may be received by a server from a customer device. A transaction associated with the received purchase request may be completed in real-time. Based upon the completion of the transaction, one of (i) access rights associated with the broadband content or (ii) a feature set associated with the broadband service may be altered. The requested broadband content or broadband service is then made available to the customer. | 02-16-2012 |
20120093157 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE IN AN HFC ARCHITECTURE - Systems and methods for improving performance in an HFC architecture are provided. Incoming data associated with a plurality of signals to be included in a downstream data signal may be received, and the incoming data may be mapped to a plurality of symbols representative of the signals. Data bits for each symbol may be mapped to at least one data register. The contents of the at least one register may be read by one or more digital-to-analog converters to facilitate a direct radio frequency synthesis, and the output of the one or more digital-to-analog converters may be provided to one or more electro-optic conversion devices configured to output a downstream data signal. | 04-19-2012 |
20120124632 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZING CHANNEL MAPS - Systems and methods for modifying channel maps are provided. A predetermined channel map for a customer of a service provider may be identified. The predetermined channel map may include information mapping at least one of frequencies and program identifiers included in a broadband communications signal to a plurality of channels. The broadband communications signal may be output by the service provider. Based upon information associated with the customer, the predetermined channel map may be modified. Information associated with the modified channel map may then be output for communication via a service provider network to a programming processing component associated with the customer. | 05-17-2012 |
20120151509 | System, Method and Device for Providing a Mobile Application Across Smartphone Platforms to Enable Consumer Connectivity and Control of Media - A system, method and device for providing a mobile application across smart phone platforms to enable consumer connectivity and control of media. The viewing experience of the individual is improved by the added control and the advertising experience is enhanced by ensuring advertisements are relevant and actionable. A system for providing interactivity between a mobile device and content includes a content provider providing content for presentation on a display device and a mobile device configured with a media management module communicating to provide user interactivity with the content. The media management module enables individualized consumer media services for the mobile device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120180082 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SESSION BASED ENCRYPTION FROM A VIDEO PUMP - A system includes a session and resource manager and a video pump. The session and resource manager negotiates encryption keys from a headend controller and provides the encryption keys to a video pump. The video pump uses the encryption keys form the session and resource manager to encrypt content. Thus, the video pump uses encryption keys to encrypt the content so that it is encrypted right from the video pump prior to transmission over the entire transport system. A generic modulation device may thus be used to modulate the encrypted content over the delivery network. | 07-12-2012 |
20120213496 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR RECORDING TIME DELAYED BROADBAND CONTENT - Systems, methods, and apparatus for recording time delayed broadband content are provided. Desired content to be recorded may be identified by a programming processing component configured to receive broadband content output by a service provider. A channel associated with the desired content and an amount of delay associated with the channel may be determined. Based at least in part upon the determined amount of delay, the recording of the desired content may be scheduled by the programming processing component. | 08-23-2012 |
20120220240 | RADIO FREQUENCY SELF-CERTIFICATION DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Radio frequency self-certification devices and methods of using the same are provided. A device for testing a radio frequency connection may include at least one radio frequency communications interface, at least one memory, and at least one processor. The at least one memory may be configured to store computer-executable instructions. The at least one processor may be configured to access the at least one memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to (i) scan through a plurality of downstream frequencies received by the communications interface, (ii) collect, based at least in part upon the scan, information associated with a plurality of downstream channels and information associated with available upstream channels, (iii) identify one or more upstream channels that facilitate communication with a host server, and (iv) verify, via the one or more identified upstream channels, the availability of one or more client applications. | 08-30-2012 |
20120260286 | Creating Client-Based Playlists with Scheduling Functionality - Content scheduling may be provided. First, a media guide may be displayed. Next, a plurality of asset selection input data respectively corresponding to a plurality of assets selected from the displayed media guide may be received. Then the plurality of asset selection input data may be stored in a playlist database. The playlist database may then be executed. | 10-11-2012 |
20130091284 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING CLOUD COMPUTING RESOURCES - Systems and methods for managing cloud computing resources are provided. A plurality of available cloud computing servers may be identified by a cloud computing resource manager (“CCRM”). The CCRM may include one or more computers. The initiation of one or more processes on one or more servers included in the plurality of cloud computing servers may be directed by the CCRM. Operational data associated with the operation of the one or more processes and network data associated with network timing delays between the one or more servers and one or more client devices in communication with the one or more servers may be obtained by the CCRM. Based at least in part upon the operational data and the network data, the distribution of resources among the plurality of cloud computing servers may be managed by the CCRM. | 04-11-2013 |
20130276015 | VIRTUAL SET-TOP BOXES - Systems and methods for providing virtual set-top boxes are described. A virtual set-top box associated with at least one of a customer of a service provider or a customer account with the service provider may be established by a service provider system. A communications session with a customer device may be established by the service provider system via a wide area network. Based upon the established communications session, the virtual set-top box may be initiated by the service provider system. One or more parameters for communicating content from the virtual set-top box to the customer device may be identified, and the content may be communicated by the service provider system to the customer device based at least in part upon the identified one or more parameters. | 10-17-2013 |
20130291002 | Systems and Methods for Delivery of Media Content - Systems and methods for receiving from a first server a client specific information, transmitting a manifest request to a second server, the manifest request incorporating the client specific information, and receiving from the second server a manifest file. The manifest file may be associated with programming content divided into a plurality of segments. At least one of the plurality of segments may be based in part on the client specific information. | 10-31-2013 |
20140237520 | CONTENT MANAGEMENT IN A CLOUD-ENABLED NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to content management in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder. In some embodiments, a request to view a listing of content assets associated with a user account may be received from a user device. One or more content assets associated with the user account may be identified. The listing of content assets may be generated based at least in part on the identified one or more content assets. The listing of assets may be transmitted to the user device. | 08-21-2014 |
20140237521 | ENTITLEMENT VALIDATION AND QUALITY CONTROL OF CONTENT IN A CLOUD-ENABLED NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - This disclosure describes system and methods related to entitlement validation and quality control of content in a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording system. In some embodiments, whether a record event exists may be determined. The record event may indicate an entitlement check associated with a content asset needs to be completed. A determination may be made as to whether a user account is authorized to access the content asset. An asset record associated with the content asset may be modified to prevent future recording of the content asset. A record to delete the content asset may be generated in association with the user account in response to determining the user account is not authorized to access the content asset. The record event may be removed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140237522 | CLOUD-ENABLED NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to a cloud-enabled network-based digital video recorder. In some embodiments, a request to record an asset may be received from a client device. An asset record associated with the request may be created. A first record event for generation of a manifest file may be created. A second record event for entitlement validation of an asset may be created. A third record event for quality control for the asset may be created based at least in part on the asset record. A manifest file associated with the asset may be generated based at least in part on the asset record. | 08-21-2014 |
20140237525 | STORAGE OPTIMIZATION IN A CLOUD-ENABLED NETWORK-BASED DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER - This disclosure describes systems and methods related to cloud-enabled network-based digital video recording. In some embodiments, a request to copy a file to a plurality of target file locations may be received. A file may be retrieved and processed. The processing may include apportioning the file into a plurality of data blocks. At least one of the plurality of data blocks may be stored. A plurality of references pointers associated with each of the plurality of data blocks may be generated. The plurality of reference pointers may be stored to each of the plurality of file locations. | 08-21-2014 |
20140280761 | EXCHANGE OF CONTENT CONSUMPTION-RELATED INFORMATION BETWEEN NETWORKED DEVICES - Content information networks may be provided that may each include a plurality of content consumption devices. One or more of the content consumption devices within a content information network may be capable of serving as a content consumption hub device that coordinates the receipt and dissemination of content consumption event information pertaining to content consumption events from and to various content consumption devices within the content information network. The content consumption hub device may further communicate, to various content consumption devices within its network, content-related information relating to content consumed on content consumption devices within its network and/or devices outside of its network. The content consumption hub device may be configured to receive content-related information from one or more content information hubs. The content consumption hub device may also receive content consumption event information from a content consumption platform. | 09-18-2014 |
20140280762 | EXCHANGE OF CONTENT CONSUMPTION-RELATED INFORMATION BETWEEN NETWORKED DEVICES - Content information networks may be provided that may each include a plurality of content consumption devices. One or more of the content consumption devices within a content information network may be capable of serving as a content consumption hub device that coordinates the receipt and dissemination of content consumption event information pertaining to content consumption events from and to various content consumption devices within the content information network. The content consumption hub device may further communicate, to various content consumption devices within its network, content-related information relating to content consumed on content consumption devices within its network and/or devices outside of its network. The content consumption hub device may be configured to receive content-related information from one or more content information hubs. The content consumption hub device may also receive content consumption event information from a content consumption platform. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090321434 | MULTIPURPOSE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD - A convertible device that converts between an activity mat and a storage container to capture and store numerous articles. Upon reclosing the activity mat, the articles are recaptured into the storage container. The device includes walls and a base, webbing connected between each adjacent wall pair, and a joint connected between the base and walls so that they are foldable into a third configuration wherein the footprint of the folded device is roughly the size of the base. In the third configuration, the walls are stacked relative to the base. The convertible device may further include attachment means for releasably holding the walls in a rigid and upright position in the first configuration. The webbing can be inwardly biased such that when the walls are urged from the second to the first configuration, the webbing folds toward the interior of the convertible device. | 12-31-2009 |
20110011856 | MULTIPURPOSE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD - A convertible device that converts between an activity mat and a storage container to capture and store numerous articles. Upon reclosing the activity mat, the articles are recaptured into the storage container. The device includes walls and a base, webbing connected between each adjacent wall pair, and a joint connected between the base and walls so that they are foldable into a third configuration wherein the footprint of the folded device is roughly the size of the base. In the third configuration, the walls are stacked relative to the base. The convertible device may further include two zippers for releasably holding the walls in a rigid and upright position in the first configuration. The webbing can be inwardly biased such that when the walls are urged from the second to the first configuration, the webbing folds toward the interior of the convertible device. | 01-20-2011 |
20140262862 | MULTIPURPOSE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD - A convertible device that converts between an activity mat and a storage container to capture and store numerous articles. Upon reclosing the activity mat, the articles are recaptured into the storage container. The device includes walls and a base, webbing connected between each adjacent wall pair, and a joint connected between the base and walls so that they are foldable into a third configuration wherein the footprint of the folded device is roughly the size of the base. In the third configuration, the walls are stacked relative to the base. The convertible device may further include two zippers for releasably holding the walls in a rigid and upright position in the first configuration. The webbing can be inwardly biased such that when the walls are urged from the second to the first configuration, the webbing folds toward the interior of the convertible device. | 09-18-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100047916 | DETECTION OF MATERIALS VIA NITROGEN OXIDE - Methods and devices for detecting the presence of a NO forming material (e.g., a material that can form, or is, a nitrogen monoxide molecule) are disclosed based on detection of fluorescence exhibited by NO molecules in a first vibrationally excited state of a ground electronic state. Such excited NO molecules can be formed, for example, when small amounts of explosives are photodissociated. By inducing fluorescence of the material, a distinct signature of the explosive can be detected. Such techniques can be performed quickly and with a significant standoff distance, which can add to the invention's utility. In another aspection of the invention, methods and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. Such methods and apparatus can be used in conjunction with any detection method disclosed herein. | 02-25-2010 |
20110075263 | Optical limiting using plasmonically enhancing nanoparticles - There is provided an optical limiter device for protecting an object from incident light having a wavelength in the visible, infrared or ultraviolet spectrum. The device comprises a plurality of nanoparticles of a metallic material including free electrons that undergo collective oscillations when exposed to the incident light. The plurality of nanoparticles of the metallic material include a plurality of nanoparticles of a non-spherical particle geometry, which may include a geometry having a plurality of sharp protrusions on a spherical body. The metallic material may include gold, silver, aluminum, indium or copper. The device further comprises a structurally rigid transparent medium in which the plurality of nanoparticles of the metallic material are embedded; and a mechanical support mounting the transparent medium between the incident light and the object. | 03-31-2011 |
20110233428 | DETECTION OF MATERIALS VIA NITROGEN OXIDE - Methods and devices for detecting the presence of a NO forming material (e.g., a material that can form, or is, a nitrogen monoxide molecule) are disclosed based on detection of fluorescence exhibited by NO molecules in a first vibrationally excited state of a ground electronic state. Such excited NO molecules can be formed, for example, when small amounts of explosives are photodissociated. By inducing fluorescence of the material, a distinct signature of the explosive can be detected. Such techniques can be performed quickly and with a significant standoff distance, which can add to the invention's utility. In another aspection of the invention, methods and apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. Such methods and apparatus can be used in conjunction with any detection method disclosed herein. | 09-29-2011 |
20120140224 | RETROREFLECTORS FOR REMOTE DETECTION - A detection system includes a retroreflector and a layer of material over the retroreflector, the material being subject to change in transmission with respect to an optical property of radiation, e.g. wavelength or polarization, with exposure to a phenomenon. The retroreflector and layer are illuminated from a radiation source of multiple aspects of the optical property. A sensor senses radiation retroreflected back through the layer. The retroreflector may, for example, be an array of or individual prisms or an array of or individual cat's eye microspheres. The layer of material above the retroreflector can include a colorimetric dye. In an embodiment, the retroreflector and layer are on the surface of a carrier that moves through a medium, e.g. a projectile or vehicle moving through the air. In a method of detecting a phenomenon, retroreflective elements are distributed in an array, as in the atmosphere or across a region of ground. | 06-07-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090175412 | Radiation Threat Detection - Systems and methods for detecting clandestine fissile or radioactive material on the basis of emitted radiation and particles (such as neutrons and alpha particles) arising from within the material. Emission by the fissile or radioactive material is detected in conjunction with a conventional x-ray imaging system that includes an external source of illuminating penetrating radiation, at least one detector configured to detect at least the penetrating radiation and to generate a detector signal, and a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered by an origin other than illuminating penetrating radiation. Active and passive modes of detection are described by some embodiments. Other embodiments are directed toward neutron detection, gamma ray detection with energy resolution, and designs of detectors to enhance the detection of clandestine nuclear material. | 07-09-2009 |
20120093288 | Remotely-Aligned Arcuate Detector Array for High Energy X-ray Imaging - A scanning system and methods for inspecting contents of a container. High-energy penetrating radiation collimated into a fan beam illuminates an inspected container from one side, while a plurality of detector plates are disposed on the opposite side of the container. Each detector plate has a plurality of detector modules, each of which, in turn, is disposed on a remotely activated alignment and has multiple detector elements. A controller governs the orientation of each of the plurality of detector plates based at least on the detector signal generated by its detector elements such that each detector element of each detector module of each detector plate may be aligned to within a specified fraction of the transverse dimension of the fan beam as measured at the exit slot. | 04-19-2012 |
20120201356 | Backscatter Energy Analysis for Classification of Materials based on Positional Non-Commutativity - A system and methods for characterizing regions within, or on, an inspected object, wherein a lower-Z scattering material and a higher-Z material may both lie along a common line of sight. The inspected object is scanned with penetrating radiation characterized by an energy distribution, and penetrating radiation scattered by the inspected object is detected in a manner that generates two detector signals that distinguish between materials of higher and lower effective atomic number under distinct sets of conditions with respect to the energy distribution of the penetrating radiation. An image is generated, based on a function of the two detector signals, as is a differential image, so as to allow distinction of higher-Z and lower-Z materials. | 08-09-2012 |
20130195248 | Hand-Held X-Ray Backscatter Imaging Device - Apparatus for imaging items behind a concealing barrier. A source of penetrating radiation is contained entirely within a housing. A spatial modulator forms the penetrating radiation into a beam and sweeps the beam to irradiate an inspected object. A detector generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by contents of the inspected object, and a sensor senses motion relative to a previous position of the apparatus with respect to the inspected object. A processor receives the scatter signal and generates an image of the contents of the inspected object based at least on the scatter signal. The housing may be adapted for singled-handed retention by an operator | 08-01-2013 |
20130208857 | X-Ray Inspection using Wavelength-Shifting Fiber-Coupled Scintillation Detectors - A detector and methods for inspecting material on the basis of scintillator coupled by wavelength-shifting optical fiber to one or more photo-detectors, with a temporal integration of the photo-detector signal. An unpixelated volume of scintillation medium converts energy of incident penetrating radiation into scintillation light which is extracted from a scintillation light extraction region by a plurality of optical waveguides. This geometry provides for efficient and compact detectors, enabling hitherto unattainable geometries for backscatter detection and for energy discrimination of incident radiation. Additional energy-resolving transmission configurations are enabled as are skew- and misalignment compensation. | 08-15-2013 |
20130230140 | Methods for High Energy X-ray Imaging Using Remotely-Aligned Arcuate Detector Array - Methods for inspecting contents of a container. High-energy penetrating radiation collimated into a fan beam illuminates an inspected container from one side, while a plurality of detector plates are disposed on the opposite side of the container. Each detector plate has a plurality of detector modules, each of which, in turn, is disposed on a remotely activated alignment and has multiple detector elements. A controller governs the orientation of each of the plurality of detector plates based at least on the detector signal generated by its detector elements such that each detector element of each detector module of each detector plate may be aligned to within a specified fraction of the transverse dimension of the fan beam as measured at the exit slot. | 09-05-2013 |
20130235977 | Electromagnetic Scanning Apparatus for Generating a Scanning X-ray Beam - An apparatus for generating a scanned beam of penetrating electromagnetic radiation. An electron beam is incident on a succession of specific locations on a concave anode which emits electromagnetic waves in response thereto, in such a way that electromagnetic waves exiting from an aperture scan over a range of angles within a scan plane in response to angular scanning of the electron beam. The x-ray beam is extracted from the apparatus via one or more exit apertures in the back hemisphere, on the side of the anode onto which the electron beam impinges. | 09-12-2013 |
20130287176 | X-Ray Tube with Rotating Anode Aperture - An x-ray tube for generating a sweeping x-ray beam. A cathode is disposed within a vacuum enclosure and emits a beam of electrons attracted toward an anode. The anode is adapted for rotation with respect to the vacuum enclosure about an axis of rotation. At least one collimator opening corotates with the anode within the vacuum enclosure, such that a swept x-ray beam is emitted. | 10-31-2013 |
20150303023 | X-Ray Tube with Rotating Anode Aperture - An x-ray tube for generating a sweeping x-ray beam. A cathode is disposed within a vacuum enclosure and emits a beam of electrons attracted toward an anode. The anode is adapted for rotation with respect to the vacuum enclosure about an axis of rotation. At least one collimator opening corotates with the anode within the vacuum enclosure, such that a swept x-ray beam is emitted. | 10-22-2015 |