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| 20090165928 | Tire Patch Applicator - Methods and apparatus for applying a patch to an interior surface of a tire, the apparatus comprising a patch holder having the top surface shaped to a contour of the interior surface of the tire, the patch holder comprising a patch receptacle and a plurality of orifices extending there through in fluid communication with a vacuum source, and, an adhesive barrier surrounding the patch receptacle. The steps of a method include placing a patch into a patch receptacle in a tire patch holder, the patch holder having the top surface shaped to a contour of the interior tire surface, directing the patch holder to obliquely contact the interior surface of the tire, and, pressing the patch into substantial adhesive contact with the interior tire surface. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20130099123 | TIRE SURFACE ANOMALY DETECTION - A tire surface anomaly detection system and method are disclosed. The system and method are generally based on the principle that a tire surface anomaly will have a different heat transfer rate than that of the uniform mass surrounding the tire surface anomaly. Embodiments of the present disclosure apply thermal energy to the surface of a tire and monitor the infrared energy at the surface of the tire to generate one or more infrared images of the surface of the tire. The infrared images are analyzed by an image processing system to determine and locate thermal gradients on the surface of the tire. The presence of a thermal gradient in the infrared images generally indicates the presence of an anomaly in the surface of the tire. In this manner, the present disclosure provides an objective technique for identifying, locating, and classifying tire surface anomalies. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130162265 | HIGH VOLTAGE PROBE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TIRE INNER SURFACE ANOMALY DETECTION - A tire testing apparatus and method for detecting anomalies in the surface of a tire is disclosed. A high voltage probe having a conductive spring electrode is placed adjacent a portion of a tire surface such that the conductive spring electrode is compressed against the surface of the tire. Relative motion is imparted between the high voltage probe and the surface of the tire. An electrical discharge occurs between the high voltage probe and a reference electrode at the location of an anomaly on the surface of the tire. The apparatus and method are configured to determine a precise azimuthal and radial position on the tire of the electrostatic discharge. The conductive spring electrode can have a length sufficient to ensure contact with a given point on the tire surface during a charge cycle for the high voltage probe at increased tire surface speeds. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130174657 | TIRE INNER LINER ANOMALY PROBE GROUNDING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for high voltage discharge testing of a tire is disclosed. In particular embodiments, a high voltage probe is maintained against the surface of a tire. The high voltage probe is energized and relative motion is provided between the surface of the tire and the high voltage probe. At the presence of an anomaly that penetrates the insulating material of the tire surface, an electrical discharge will occur between the conductive spring electrode and a reference electrode. The reference electrode is positioned adjacent the bead portion of the tire such that the electrical discharge will travel from the high voltage probe through the anomaly in the surface of the tire to one or more carcass plies in the tire. The carcass plies will carry the electrical discharge to the bead portion of the tire, where the electrical discharge will pass to the reference electrode. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20150191057 | Flexible Sensor Support for Tire Inspection - A sensor support is provided for tire inspection or testing that can be used over a range of tire profiles and widths to place one or more sensors at a surface of the tire. The shape or profile of the sensor support is adjustable to accommodate tire surfaces of different shapes or profiles. A locking feature can be provided to maintain the shape of the sensor support during use. | 07-09-2015 |
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| 20090261859 | RECEIVER CIRCUITRY FOR RECEIVING REDUCED SWING SIGNALS FROM A CHANNEL - A receiver for receiving a reduced swing signal from a transmission channel is disclosed, in which the swing of the reduced swing signal is less than the power supply of the receiver and possibly is less than the power supply of the transmitter. The receiver comprises a level shifter for offsetting the reduced swing signal, and an amplifier which receives both the reduced swing signal and its offset to produce a full swing signal output referenced to the power supply of the receiver. The full swing signal can thereafter be buffered, and eventually can be captured by a clock. Optionally, the disclosed reduced swing receiver also contains calibration circuitry for improving the integrity of the full swing signal output, and in particular for countering the effects of process, and in some embodiments temperature, variations, which alter the characteristics of the transistors which make up the receiver circuitry. More particularly, the calibration circuitry compensates for the unbalanced way in which process and temperature variations impact transistors of differing polarities (e.g., n-type and p-type). | 10-22-2009 |
| 20100231260 | Receiver Circuitry for Receiving Reduced Swing Signals From a Channel - A receiver for receiving a reduced swing signal from a transmission channel is disclosed, in which the swing of the reduced swing signal is less than the power supply of the receiver and possibly is less than the power supply of the transmitter. The receiver comprises a level shifter for offsetting the reduced swing signal, and an amplifier which receives both the reduced swing signal and its offset to produce a full swing signal output referenced to the power supply of the receiver. The full swing signal can thereafter be buffered, and eventually can be captured by a clock. Optionally, the disclosed reduced swing receiver also contains calibration circuitry for improving the integrity of the full swing signal output, and in particular for countering the effects of process, and in some embodiments temperature, variations, which alter the characteristics of the transistors which make up the receiver circuitry. More particularly, the calibration circuitry compensates for the unbalanced way in which process and temperature variations impact transistors of differing polarities (e.g., n-type and p-type). | 09-16-2010 |
| 20130043900 | ADJUSTABLE DATA DRIVERS AND METHODS FOR DRIVING DATA SIGNALS - Apparatuses and methods for driving input data signals onto signal lines as output data signals are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a detection circuit, a driver adjust circuit, and a data driver. The detection circuit is configured to detect a characteristic(s) of a group of input data signals to be driven onto adjacent signal lines. A characteristic could be, for example, a particular combination of logic levels and/or transitions for, the group of input data signals. The driver adjust circuit is configured to provide a driver adjustment signal based at least in part on a detection signal, that is provided by the detection circuit. A data driver is configured to drive a respective one of the group of input data signals as a respective one of the output data signals, wherein the data driver is adjusted based at least in part on the driver adjustment signal. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130307583 | ADJUSTABLE DATA DRIVERS AND METHODS FOR DRIVING DATA SIGNALS - Apparatuses and methods for driving input data signals onto signal lines as output data signals are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a detection circuit, a driver adjust circuit, and a data driver. The detection circuit is configured to detect a characteristic(s) of a group of input data signals to be driven onto adjacent signal lines. A characteristic could be, for example, a particular combination of logic levels and/or transitions for the group of input data signals. The driver adjust circuit is configured to provide a driver adjustment signal based at least in part on a detection signal, that is provided by the detection circuit. A data driver is configured to drive a respective one of the group of input data signals as a respective one of the output data signals, wherein the data driver is adjusted based at least in part on the driver adjustment signal. | 11-21-2013 |
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| 20100014092 | GYROSCOPE MODE SHIFT DETECTION AND SCALE FACTOR COMPENSATION - A method for maintaining measurement accuracy of a ring laser gyroscope is disclosed. The method involves periodically measuring a path length control voltage in the ring laser gyroscope over a prescribed temperature range. When a first path length controlled by the path length control voltage deviates at least one wavelength from a nominal path length, the method detects the change in the path length as a mode shift. For each mode shift, the method applies a path length correction to maintain the first path length at a target path length over the prescribed temperature range. The method can apply a correction to a measurement signal output of the ring laser gyroscope by adjusting a calibrated scale factor depending on an actual integer number of wavelengths achieved during a mode shift. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20110274133 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED RING LASER GYROSCOPE DEVICES THROUGH MIX RATIO OPTIMIZATION - Systems and methods for improved ring laser gyroscope devices through mix ratio optimization are provided. In one embodiment, a ring laser gyroscope device comprises: a laser block assembly having a cavity therein that defines a ring shaped laser beam path around the laser block assembly, the cavity containing a fill gas mixture comprising Helium and Neon, wherein the laser block assembly is characterized as having a Neon depletion life limiter; and a readout assembly optically coupled to the laser block assembly. The readout assembly outputs a laser intensity monitor (LIM) voltage that represents optical energy within the cavity. The fill gas mixture has a Helium to Neon ratio richer in Neon than a ratio that would produce a peak LIM voltage from the readout assembly. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20130061655 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GETTERING AN ATOMIC SENSOR - Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for providing an atomic sensor device. In one embodiment, the device comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing an atomic sensor, wherein the sensor body contains a gas evacuation site located on the sensor body, the gas evacuation site configured to connect to a gas evacuation device. The device also comprises a getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, an opening in the getter container coupled to an opening in the sensor body, such that gas within the sensor body can freely enter the getter container. The device further comprises an evaporable getter enclosed within the getter container, the evaporable getter facing away from the sensor body. | 03-14-2013 |
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| 20130194046 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTERNAL FRIT MOUNTED COMPONENTS - Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for external frit mounted components on a sensor device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a sensor device comprises securing at least one component stack on a sensor body over at least one opening in the sensor body, wherein the at least one component stack comprises a plurality of components and applying a frit to the plurality of components in the at least one component stack and the sensor body. The method further comprises heating the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the frit melts and cooling the frit, the at least one component stack, and the sensor body such that the at least one component stack is secured to the sensor body. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130320231 | ATOMIC SENSOR PHYSICS PACKAGE WITH INTEGRATED TRANSMISSIVE AND REFLECTIVE PORTIONS ALONG LIGHT PATHS - In one embodiment, a block for a physics package of an atomic sensor is provided. The block comprises one or more sections of optically transparent material defining a vacuum sealed chamber, and including a plurality of transmissive and reflective surfaces to define a plurality of light paths intersecting the vacuum sealed chamber. The one or more sections of optically transparent material include a first monolithic section defining at least a portion of the vacuum sealed chamber. The first monolithic section includes a first portion disposed across a first light path of the plurality of light paths such that light in the first light path is incident on the first portion of the first monolithic section. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140076602 | HERMETIC SEALING OF ATOMIC SENSOR USING SOL-GEL TECHNIQUE - A method of forming a physics package for an atomic sensor comprises providing a plurality of panels, with each of the panels having multiple edges, and assembling the panels in a three-dimensional multi-faced geometric configuration such that the edges of adjacent panels are aligned with each other. A sol-gel material is applied to the edges of the panels, and the sol-gel material is cured to hermetically seal adjacent panels together. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140085014 | HERMETICALLY SEALED ATOMIC SENSOR PACKAGE MANUFACTURED WITH EXPENDABLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE - A method of forming a physics package for an atomic sensor comprises providing an expendable support structure having a three-dimensional configuration, providing a plurality of optical panels, and assembling the optical panels on the expendable support structure such that edges of adjacent panels are aligned with each other. The edges of adjacent panels are sealed together to form a physics block having a multifaced geometric configuration. The expendable support structure is then removed while leaving the physics block intact. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140096607 | ATOMIC SENSOR PHYSICS PACKAGE WITH METAL FRAME - One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a frame composed of metal and including a plurality of slender support members extending between one another in a three dimensional structure. The support members define boundaries between adjacent apertures defined in the frame. The plurality of support members include a plurality of mounting surfaces adjacent to the apertures. The physics package also includes a plurality of panes attached to the mounting surfaces of the frame. The plurality of panes cover the apertures such that the frame and the plurality of panes define a vacuum chamber and provide three light paths that cross within the vacuum chamber at 90 degree angles with respect to one another. The physics package also includes a chamber evacuation structure for evacuating the vacuum chamber. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20150022816 | ATOMIC SENSOR PHYSICS PACKAGE HAVING OPTICALLY TRANSPARENT PANES AND EXTERNAL WEDGES - One embodiment is directed towards a physics package of an atomic sensor. The physics package includes a plurality of panes of optically transparent material enclosing a vacuum chamber and one or more wedges attached to an external surface of one or more of the panes. The physics package also includes at least one of a light source, photodetector, or mirror attached to the one or more wedges, the light source configured to generate an input light beam for the vacuum chamber, the photodetector configured to detect an output light beam from the vacuum chamber, and the mirror configured to reflect a light beam from the vacuum chamber back into the vacuum chamber, wherein the wedge is configured to oriented such a light source, photodetector, or mirror such that a respective light beam corresponding thereto transmits through a corresponding pane at an acute angle with respect to the corresponding pane. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150192417 | RING LASER GYROSCOPE WITH INTEGRATED POLARIZATION - A ring laser gyroscope comprises a laser block that defines an optical closed loop pathway configured to contain a lasing gas. A plurality of mirror structures are respectively mounted on the laser block, with each of the mirror structures having a respective reflective surface that is in optical communication with the optical closed loop pathway. A plurality of electrodes are coupled to the laser block, with the electrodes configured to generate a pair of counter-propagating laser beams from the lasing gas in the optical closed loop pathway. At least one optical sensor is coupled to one of the mirror structures, with the optical sensor in optical communication with the closed loop pathway. A polarizer is in optical communication with the optical sensor. The polarizer is configured to pass laser light having substantially one polarization mode to the optical sensor. | 07-09-2015 |
| 20150354960 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A GLASS-CERAMIC BARRIER COATING - Systems and methods for a glass-ceramic barrier coating are provided. In certain embodiments, a sensor comprises a sensor body, the sensor body enclosing a desired environment within a volume, wherein the sensor body is fabricated from a glass-ceramic; and a barrier coating formed on at least one surface of the sensor body, wherein the barrier coating vacuum seals the desired environment within the volume from an environment external to the volume. | 12-10-2015 |
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| 20120098579 | CHARGE-BASED PHASE LOCKED LOOP CHARGE PUMP - Charge-based charge pumps are described which include a switchable capacitor configured for connection to a voltage source, a ground, and a charge pump output. A first pair of switches include a first switch configured to connect the switchable capacitor to ground and a second switch configured to connect the switchable capacitor to the voltage source. A second pair of switches include a third switch configured to connect a first node, between the switchable capacitor and ground, to the charge pump output, and a fourth switch configured to connect a second node, between the switchable capacitor and the voltage source, to the charge pump output. Locked loop designs, such as phase locked loops or delay locked loops, are described that include charge-based charge pumps. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20150070091 | ANALOG AMPLIFIERS AND COMPARATORS - An innovative analog circuit design using digital components is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention includes, but not limited to analog amplifiers and comparators. An amplifier of an embodiment of the present invention includes an inverter, a plurality of switches, offset capacitor and flying capacitor. The one terminal of the offset capacitor is connected to the input of the inverter. During setup phase of clock signals, the switches are configured to connect input and output of the inverter and to connect the flying capacitor to input terminals of the amplifier, respectively, for storing a differential input voltage. Then, during the enable phase of the clock signals, the switches are configured to connect the first terminal of the second capacitor and the first terminal of the first capacitor, and to connect the second terminal of the second capacitor to the output of the inverter. | 03-12-2015 |
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| 20120098579 | CHARGE-BASED PHASE LOCKED LOOP CHARGE PUMP - Charge-based charge pumps are described which include a switchable capacitor configured for connection to a voltage source, a ground, and a charge pump output. A first pair of switches include a first switch configured to connect the switchable capacitor to ground and a second switch configured to connect the switchable capacitor to the voltage source. A second pair of switches include a third switch configured to connect a first node, between the switchable capacitor and ground, to the charge pump output, and a fourth switch configured to connect a second node, between the switchable capacitor and the voltage source, to the charge pump output. Locked loop designs, such as phase locked loops or delay locked loops, are described that include charge-based charge pumps. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120240691 | ELASTOMERIC OPTICAL TACTILE SENSOR - A tactile sensor may include at least one light source and multiple light sensors within a common, protective housing. Each light sensor may be oriented to detect light originating from the light source. The housing may include flexible material that deforms in response to force applied to an external surface of the housing. In turn, this may cause changes in the intensity of light that is detected by the light sensors. A signal processing system may generate information that is representative of the magnitude of the applied force in at least two orthogonal directions based on the intensity of light detected by the light sensors. Each light sensor may be contained within a cavity in the housing. The cavity may be configured such that its geometry affects the sensitivity of the light sensor to the applied force. | 09-27-2012 |
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| 20090009534 | SCALE-DEPENDENT RENDERING OF NATURAL MEDIA STYLES - A method for generating a scale-dependent rendering of natural media styles in a vector-based graphics application is disclosed. A vector-based graphics drawing may be resized such that certain scale-dependent parameters are scaled proportionately, while other scale-independent parameters are not scaled. The result of such resizing is a scaled rendering of the vector-based graphics drawing that closely resemble hand drawn images created using natural media materials. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090184966 | USER-DIRECTED PATH-BASED REGION FILLING - A method for filling closed regions in a drawing using a region filling tool. Rather than selecting individual regions to fill, or filling based on style-by-layer techniques, the user creates a path or an area boundary to identify the regions to be filled. A graphics application may then fill each region that intersects the path or area boundary with a selected color or graphical style. In this manner, multiple regions in the drawing may be identified using one interaction with the region filling tool, allowing the user to more efficiently and intuitively fill regions in the drawing with the selected color or graphical style. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090184973 | AUTO SORTING OF GEOMETRY BASED ON GRAPHIC STYLES - Embodiments of the invention provide an auto layer sorting feature for a computer aided drawing (CAD) application where drawing elements are sorted into different drawing layers based on the graphic style associated with each individual drawing element. Objects added to the drawing may be automatically associated with a layer such that all objects on the layer have the same graphic style. If the user changes the properties of a given graphics style associated with one of the auto-sort layers, the updated style may be applied to each objects on that layer. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20110193869 | SCALE-DEPENDENT RENDERING OF NATURAL MEDIA STYLES - A method for generating a scale-dependent rendering of natural media styles in a vector-based graphics application is disclosed. A vector-based graphics drawing may be resized such that certain scale-dependent parameters are scaled proportionately, while other scale-independent parameters are not scaled. The result of such resizing is a scaled rendering of the vector-based graphics drawing that closely resemble hand drawn images created using natural media materials. | 08-11-2011 |
