Patents Represented by Attorney Melanie G. Gover
  • Patent number: 6984073
    Abstract: A connector alignment system includes a base for mounting on a first substrate, and a housing movably engaged with the base. The housing secures an opto-electronic termination. The housing has longitudinal, lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion with respect to the base. When the housing is in an unmated position, various combinations of the lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion are less than the respective ranges of motion when the housing is in a mated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 6973242
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for guiding at least one fiber optic ribbons into a ferule. The ferrule has front and rear faces, a longitudinal axis and at least one guide pin channel disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus comprises: (a) a cover; and (b) a base having first and second surfaces and comprising (i) a channel spanning from the first to the second surface, the channel being defined by a Cartesian coordinate system x, y, and z and having an x-dimension that coincides with the width of the fiber optic ribbon, and (ii) means for aligning said apparatus with said ferrule. When the cover is disposed on the base, a pocket is formed between the cover and the base. The height of the pocket coincides with the cumulative thickness of the number of fiber optic ribbons used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Lizhang Yang, Edward B. Lurie
  • Patent number: 6953287
    Abstract: An anchored fiber optic cable and housing assembly. The fiber optic cable includes a strength member and a jacket around the strength member. The anchor is mounted on the cable. The anchor includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The strength member extends from the end of the cable and is structurally engaged with the anchor. The housing includes an anchor cavity and a cable inlet. The anchor cavity includes a first shoulder for engaging with the anchor. The anchor is mounted in the housing cavity and the cable extends through the cable inlet. The anchor cavity shoulder is engaged with the anchor to prevent the anchor from exiting the housing through the cable inlet. An anchored cable is also described, as are methods for anchoring the cable and for mounting the anchored cable in the housing. The fiber optic cable may include an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 6939056
    Abstract: An anchored fiber optic cable assembly. The assembly comprises: a plurality of fiber optic cables and an anchor. Each of the cables comprises a strength member, and a jacket around the strength member. The cable includes a first end and a second end. The anchor includes a first end and a second end, and a plurality of passages extending through the anchor from the first end to the second end. Each of said cables is mounted in a respective one of the passages such that the strength member is bonded to the anchor. An anchored cable assembly mounted in a housing is also described, as are methods of anchoring the cables and methods of mounting the anchored cables in a housing. Each of the cables may include an optical fiber in the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 6923919
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Rui Yang, Guoping Mao
  • Patent number: 6908318
    Abstract: A batch electrically connecting sheet makes it possible to form an electric connection with mechanical, thermal, and electrical stability at plural points of contact. A batch electrically connecting sheet comprises a heat-resistant sheet having plural perforations, conductive blocks, inserted in the perforations, having ridges including indentations and projections; the projections are outstanding from the perforations, and the conductive blocks are thicker than the heat-resistant sheet, and the heat-resistant sheet has an adhesive layer composed of a heat curable adhesive agent applied on at least one surface thereof, covering the projections of the conductive blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kohichiro Kawate
  • Patent number: 6880979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connectible termination having a terminated fiber optic connector and a means for actuating the connector from a coupling. The terminated fiber optic connector comprises a ferrule housing having first and second portions and at least one optical fibers mounted in a ferrule and disposed in the first portion of the ferrule housing, a body comprising a front and back portions, the second portion of the ferrule housing disposed on the front portion of the body, and a latch disposed on the back portion of the body and comprising a pair of ears. One means for disengaging the connector is a collar disposed on the latch and enclosing the pair of ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Larry R. Cox, Mark D. Matthies, Curtis L. Shoemaker, James G. Vana, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6873781
    Abstract: An optical fiber wiring board is formed including a first flexible adhesive layer and a second flexible adhesive layer, each of the flexible adhesive layers having a contact surface and an opposing surface. Optical fibers are laid in a predetermined pattern on a contact surface of the first adhesive layer, and then pressed into the contact surface of the second adhesive layer which has been coated with a primer whereby both contact surfaces adhere to each other and said optical fibers become embedded in both the first and the second flexible adhesive layers to at least a radius depth of the optical fibers, the contact surfaces of the first and the second adhesive layers being chemically bonded to each other at ambient temperature by means of the primer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Makoto Sumide
  • Patent number: 6863080
    Abstract: A portable, self-contained spray device and method for reaching and cleaning at least one optical surface having limited access. The spray device includes a fluid reservoir and a cover tube having an inner wall, an outer wall, a first end and a second end. A nozzle assembly at the first end of the cover tube includes a seal to provide substantially fluid-tight contact between the spray device and an optical surface. A delivery tube is located inside the inner wall of the cover tube, coaxial with the cover tube. The delivery tube coupled to the fluid reservoir directs fluid towards the nozzle assembly. An absorbent mounted adjacent to the outer wall of at least a portion of the cover tube collects liquid residues after application of fluid to an optical surface. The absorbent may be included in an absorbent cartridge that includes a detachable jacket surrounding the absorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William J. Clatanoff, Larry R. Cox
  • Patent number: 6864577
    Abstract: A circuit includes a substrate having a dielectric layer with a first surface and a second surface. A conductive layer is formed on the first surface. A beveled via is formed in a dielectric layer of the substrate. The via has a first opening of a first width in the first surface, and a second opening of a second width in the second surface, the second width being greater than the first width. A conductive plug is connected to the conductive layer. The plug is formed in the via and extends from adjacent the first opening toward the second opening, and terminates adjacent the second opening at a plug interface surface. A conductive solder ball is connected to the plug interface surface and extends to protrude from the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: William J. Clatanoff, Gayle R. T. Schueller, Robert J. Schubert, Yusuke Saito, Hideo Yamazaki, Hideaki Yasui
  • Patent number: 6854152
    Abstract: An article and process for cleaning relatively inaccessible and recessed surfaces, including a shaft having a first end opposite a second end with a cleaning head assembly, including a movable strip of buffing material, at the first end of the shaft. The article has an actuator at the second end of the shaft; and a connector coupling the cleaning head assembly to the actuator to move the movable strip during positional change of the actuator. Repeated positional change of the actuator produces reciprocatory movement in the movable strip of buffing material to produce a rubbing, cleaning action of the material against a recessed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Harry A. Loder, Curtis L. Shoemaker
  • Patent number: 6849799
    Abstract: The amount of air dielectric in air core coaxial and twinaxial cables is increased by spacer structures installed between the center conductor and the outer shield which have provision for air voids or pockets running lengthwise. The extra air space provides lower effective dielectric constant for the cable. In one embodiment, a single-element extruded spacer is formed with air cavities or voids that run continuously throughout the length of the spacer. Several spacer “profiles” or cross-sections are disclosed that place less solid dielectric mass in proximity to the center conductor. The result is a greater volume of air dielectric, and hence a lowered cable dielectric constant. In a further embodiment the spacer is a circular cross-sectioned element consisting of a central dielectric strength member surrounded with foamed material. Strength strands such as Kevlar® may be added to the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Denis D. Springer, Harry A. Loder
  • Patent number: 6847527
    Abstract: An interconnect module for an integrated circuit chip incorporates a thin, high dielectric constant embedded capacitor structure to provide reduced power distribution impedance, and thereby promote higher frequency operation. The interconnect module is capable of reliably attaching an integrated circuit chip to a printed wiring board via solder ball connections, while providing reduced power distribution impedance of less than or equal to approximately 0.60 ohms at operating frequencies in excess of 1.0 gigahertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Mark F. Sylvester, David A. Hanson, William G. Petefish
  • Patent number: 6832032
    Abstract: A three dimensional optical circuit featuring an optical manifold for organizing, guiding and protecting individual optical fibers is shown. One aspect of the present invention is a three dimensional manifold which may be constructed using a rapid prototyping process such as, but not limited to, stereolithography (“SLA”), fused deposition modeling (“FDM”), selective laser sintering (“SLS”), and the like. The manifold has a number of input openings in a first ordered arrangement at one end connected by passageways to a number of output openings in a second ordered arrangement at the opposite end. A plurality of optical fibers may be directed through the passageways of the manifold to produce a three dimensional optical circuit such as a shuffle. Moreover, the optical manifold may be used in conjunction with a number of connections or terminations to form a various optical modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Simmons, Curtis L. Shoemaker, Kenneth L. Kornele, Harry A. Loder, Edward B. Lurie
  • Patent number: 6832034
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical waveguide having an optical confinement layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Michael Albert Haase, Jun-Ying Zhang
  • Patent number: D500476
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: D500987
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tatsuyoshi Shimizu, Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: D502923
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David L. Thompson, Garry L. Sjolander, Janette M. Moré, Melanie G. Gover
  • Patent number: D503386
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: D505115
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tatsuyoshi Shimizu, Hiroyuki Matsuoka