Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Alan Ball
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Patent number: 6784416Abstract: A polarization transformer can be constructed using a continuously adjustable polarization transforming device and a limited-range adjustable polarization transforming device. In general, the response time of the limited-range adjustable polarization transforming device is faster than that of the continuously adjustable polarization transforming device. When the two devices are properly controlled using error signals derived from a transformed optical signal, the polarization state of the optical signal can be adjusted with sufficient speed and without the loss of control associated with reset cycles.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Levent Biyikli
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Patent number: 6783597Abstract: A filament coating apparatus comprising a frame for releasably securing a filament, and a carriage mounted on the frame to oscillate between a first position and a second position. There is a first filament holding fixture mounted on the carriage and a second filament holding fixture also mounted on the carriage in axial alignment with the first filament holding fixture to secure a measured filament portion, preferably of an optical fiber, including a bare portion thereof, located inside a first boundary and a second boundary, between the first filament holding fixture and the second filament holding fixture. At least one spray head is attached to the frame at the first position with at least one radiation source attached to the frame at the second position.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bryon James Cronk, David L. Kordecki, Christopher B. Walker, Jr., Brian John Gates
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Patent number: 6742937Abstract: A connector assembly for securing and optically aligning one or more optical fiber arrays, each optical fiber array having a plurality of optical fibers having an outer surface. The connector assembly includes a base having fiber receiving features configured to receive and align the plurality of optical fibers; and a retaining element that covers at least a portion of the alignment features and secures the plurality of optical fibers against the alignment features. The retaining element has a first contact surface that contacts the plurality of optical fibers, where the contact surface is able to conform to the outer surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nicholas A. Lee, Harry A. Loder, Larry R. Cox
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Patent number: 6742939Abstract: A fusion splice including a first optical fiber having a first MFD and a first MFD expansion rate. The splice further includes a second fiber having a second MFD and a second MFD expansion rate, wherein the second MFD is lower than the first MFD. The second fiber comprises a core, a cladding radially surrounding the core, and a zone of high-concentration of fluorine between the core and the cladding. The rate of MFD expansion of the first fiber is less than the rate of MFD expansion of the second fiber during the fusion splicing operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Craig R. Sykora, James R. Onstott, Mark T. Anderson, Craig R. Schardt, Lawrence J. Donalds, Alessandra O. Chiareli
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Patent number: 6728459Abstract: A filament organizer comprises a filament container to hold a major portion of a filament. A filament clamp, having a spaced-apart relationship from the container; retains one or more filaments extending from the container. The filaments extend in a substantially parallel array over a frame between the container and the clamp. One embodiment of the present invention also includes a filament positioning frame comprising a first gripping plate attached in opposing relationship to a second gripping plate. The filament clamp is also held in spaced-apart relationship to the first gripping plate and the second gripping plate using the frame to join at least the first gripping plate to the filament clamp.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Martin G. Afflerbaugh
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Patent number: 6724972Abstract: An optical waveguide including a core having silica, Al, a non-fluorescent rare-earth ion, Ge, Er, and Tm. The non-fluorescent rare-earth ion may be La. Exemplary compositions concentrations are Er is from 15 ppm to 3000 ppm, Al is from 0.5 mol % to 12 mol %, La is less than or equal to 2 mol %, Tm is from 15 ppm to 10,000 ppm; and the Ge is less than or equal to 15 mol %. The core may further include F. An exemplary concentration of F is less than or equal to 6 anion mol %.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark T. Anderson, Craig R. Schardt, James R. Onstott, Kenton D. Budd
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Patent number: 6721467Abstract: A method of aligning the polarization axis of a polarization maintaining optical fiber to the polarization of a light source comprising passing a well-polarized uniform beam through a polarization maintaining optical fiber; sending the beam through a polarizer; ascertaining the beam with a detector; and rotating the polarization of the beam such that the polarization output is substantially independent of wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2001Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Grieg A. Olson
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Patent number: 6696163Abstract: A process for providing a metal-seeded liquid crystal polymer comprising the steps of providing a liquid crystal polymer substrate to be treated by applying an aqueous solution comprising an alkali metal hydroxide and a solubilizer as an etchant composition for the liquid crystal polymer substrate. Further treatment of the etched liquid crystal polymer substrate involves depositing an adherent metal layer on the etched liquid crystal polymer substrate. An adherent metal layer may be deposited using either electroless metal plating or vacuum deposition of metal such as by sputtering. When using electroless metal plating, a tin(II) solution applied to the liquid crystal polymer provides a treated liquid crystal polymer substrate to which the application of a palladium(II) solution provides the metal-seeded liquid crystal polymer. The etchant composition comprises a solution in water of from 35 wt. % to 55 wt. % of an alkali metal salt, and from 10 wt. % to 35 wt.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2002Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Rui Yang
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Patent number: 6690868Abstract: An optical article including a core; at least one cladding layer; and a narrow fluorine reservoir between the core and the cladding layer. The fluorine reservoir has a higher concentration of fluorine than either the cladding layer or the core. One particular embodiment includes a core including a halide-doped silicate glass that comprises approximately the following in cation-plus-halide mole percent 0.25-5 mol % Al2O3, 0.05-1.5 mol % La2O3, 0.0005-0.75 mol % Er2O3, 0.5-6 mol % F, 0-1 mol % Cl.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2001Date of Patent: February 10, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Mark T. Anderson, Craig R. Schardt, James R. Onstott, Lawrence J. Donalds, Alessandra O. Chiareli
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Patent number: 6683258Abstract: A detachable binding device comprising a bracket including a base portion and a slotted projection having a first slot and a second slot aligned in parallel with the first slot between the first slot and the base portion. The binding device further includes a self-gripping fastening strip. The fastening strip passes through the first slot to form a first wrap around a length of a cable to hold the cable against the slotted projection. The fastening strip then passes through the second slot to form a second wrap over the first wrap and the length of the cable for secure retention of the cable against the slotted projection by setting the fastening strip into a self-gripping arrangement. After formation, the binding device may be detached from the length of the cable and the bracket by disrupting the self-gripping arrangement of the fastening strip and withdrawing the fastening strip from the second slot and the first slot to release the length of the cable from contact with the slotted projection.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2003Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David Alan Tracy, Gregory Leighton Rutherford
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Patent number: 6666984Abstract: An apparatus for forming a loop in a filament comprising a first wall having a first guide slot formed therein and a second wall having a second guide slot formed therein coplanar and parallel to the first guide slot. The first wall is opposite the second wall and each of the guide slots has opposing ends. A first gripper holds a filament at a first location. The first gripper is mounted from the first wall to the second wall at an end of each of the first guide slot and the second guide slot. The apparatus also includes a movable gripper to hold the filament at a second location. The movable gripper has a separation from the first gripper and is mounted from the first wall to the second wall adjacent to the other end of each of the first guide slot and the second guide slot for movement towards the first gripper to reduce the separation between them. This produces a loop of filament between the first gripper and the moveable gripper.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Inventors: Anthony William Gatica, Peter Henry Bruhn
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Patent number: 6668126Abstract: A temperature stabilization package comprises a hollow external housing of a thermally insulating material. The hollow external housing includes a holder and a lid to cover the holder. The holder includes a floor having at least one projection and a separating wall around the projection. An internal surface of the lid has at least one post formed therein. The housing surrounds a container that includes a base and a cover over the base to form an internal cavity inside the container. An outer face of the base has at least one lower socket. The cover includes at least one upper collar so that the container may be coupled inside the hollow external housing by engagement of a lower socket with a projection and an upper collar with a post to hold the container substantially surrounded by, but spaced from, the wall and the hollow external housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: George J. Knox, James F. Brennan, III
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Patent number: 6665483Abstract: A method and article for applying tension to a filament using a filament tensioning apparatus comprising a tensioning holder including at least one support bar. A first carriage is mounted at a first location on a support bar. The first carriage has a first clamp and a voice coil mounted thereon for movement relative to a support bar. A second carriage mounted at a second location on a support bar provides a separation between the first location and the second location. The second carriage has a second clamp and a load cell mounted thereon for movement relative to a support bar. A guide bar extends from the voice coil for contact with the load cell to adjust the separation of the first location from the second location to apply tension to a filament held between the first clamp and the second clamp.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Anthony William Gatica
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Patent number: 6651814Abstract: A carrier for coiled filaments comprises a longitudinal base having a first end including a reinforced edge, a second end, and a first ledge opposite a second ledge. There is a raised platform between the first ledge and the second ledge. The raised platform has a first row of projections extending above the raised platform adjacent to the first ledge of the base. A second row of projections extends above the platform adjacent to the second ledge of the base, in parallel relationship to the first row of projections. The raised platform accommodates a plurality of rectangular envelopes each sized to mount in overlapping relationship between the first row of projections and the second row of projections. Each envelope contains a filament so that the ends of the filament extend out of the envelope from openings in the corners of the envelope. A first rail of resilient material mounted on the first ledge includes a plurality of slits each to receive one end of a filament.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Thomas A. Higbee, Martin G. Afflerbaugh
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Patent number: 6643440Abstract: A coated optical fiber adjusted to operate at a predetermined temperature range. The coated fiber includes an optical fiber, a first polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the optical fiber and a second polymer coating generally concentrically surrounding the first polymer coating, wherein the first polymer coating includes substantially no coefficient of thermal expansion stresses when the optical fiber is placed at a lower end of the temperature range.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Thomas Martin Lynch, Brian Kenneth Nelson, James Craig Novack, James Robert Onstott
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Patent number: 6600866Abstract: A filament organizer comprises a support having a first surface opposite a second surface and further includes a lockable spool and a rotary spool adjacent to the first surface of the support. The organizer has a tensioner attached to the second surface of the support for attachment to the rotary spool by a tension wire to apply tension thereto to transmit tension to a filament disposed between the lockable spool and the rotary spool. Selective reduction in tension on a filament is possible using a tension relief assembly attached to the support. A stacked configuration of a plurality of filament organizers may be formed by suitable alignment of supports.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Anthony William Gatica, Dwayne L. LaBrake
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Patent number: 6591054Abstract: A filament organizer, for attaching an accessory to a section of filament, comprises a frame including a plurality of filament guides. The frame accommodates an accessory positioner adapted for sliding engagement therewith. A pair of spools, attached to the accessory positioner, has a section of filament extending from one to the other so that the filament passes around the plurality of filament guides of the frame to selectively position the section of filament. The accessory positioner includes an accessory cradle that moves from a retracted position to a proximate position. In its retracted position the accessory cradle receives an accessory to be placed in axial alignment with the section of filament. The accessory cradle then moves into the proximate position to attach the accessory to the filament section.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Martin G. Afflerbaugh, Bryon J. Cronk, Patrick Charles Howard, Gordon Wiegand
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Patent number: 6577792Abstract: A device including a chirped Bragg grating, said grating having (a) a reflection bandwidth having a full-width at half maximum that is greater than 6 nm, and (b) a reflection delay ripple amplitude of less than ±50 ps.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James F. Brennen, III, Edward Hernandez, John A. Valenti, Pranay G. Sinha, Michael R. Matthews, Dale E. Elder, Gerad A. Beauchesne, Chad H. Byrd
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Patent number: 6576841Abstract: A molded article for protecting a transition section of a multi-wire cable. The article includes a transition cover having an elastomeric skin and further including a cable receiving tube, having an open channel therein. The cable receiving tube has intersection with each of a plurality of wire cover sleeves to provide passage openings from the open channel of the cable receiving tube to each of the plurality of wire cover sleeves for insertion of at least one wire of the multi-wire cable therein. A stress relief pocket formed in the elastomeric skin, adjacent to at least a portion of each intersection, extends towards the open channel and includes at least one crease to accommodate expansion of the stress relief pocket from a partially folded condition to reduce the concentration of stress at an intersection during movement of the transition cover from a relaxed condition to a stretched condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Office of Intellectual Property Counsel 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Brannan, Jacqueline A. Campbell, Christopher J. Evoniuk, Donald R. Gilde, Ernest A. Hopcus
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Patent number: 6572743Abstract: An electrode assembly for electroplating conducting portions of nonconductors comprises an insulating frame having a first projection opposite a second projection. Preferably the insulating frame comprises a resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, polyvinyl chloride resins and polycarbonate resins. A metal filament, for connection to the negative pole of a source of electrical energy, extends from the first projection to the second projection. Adjacent to the metal filament a first conductive plate is attached to the insulating frame at a first distance from the metal filament. A second conductive plate attaches to the insulating frame at a second distance from the metal filament. The first plate and the second plate are adapted for connection to the positive pole of a source of electrical energy.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael N. Miller, Steven Y. Yu, David J. Lentz