Patents Examined by Son V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6577803
    Abstract: An optical fiber array is provided which allows each optical fiber to be rarely sheared down by the action of a stress and inhibits the reflection of an optical signal on the interface at its joint and a method of fabricating the optical fiber array is also provided. The angle between the imaginary line L which extends linearly along the proximal end of straight grooves (7)for clamping the stripped end portion (2a) of the optical fibers (2) provided in a fiber clamping member (2) to align the distal ends of the optical fibers (2) at uniform pitch and the axes of the straight grooves (7) ranges from 45 degrees to 85 degrees. Also, the front end (1a) of the fiber clamping member (1) which serves as a joining end is arranged in parallel with the imaginary line L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Matsumoto, Masashi Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 6572388
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a socket for testing an integrated circuit utilizing an improved contact pin structure. In the test socket of the present invention, the length of the electrical path between the leads of tested IC and terminals of PCB is minimized and the contact pin may maintain wiping action in a wide area of contact portions. Further, as the contact pin may accommodate the pressure applied by the IC leads with great elasticity and provides sufficient floating suspension when the pressure is removed, the invention may efficiently prevent damages to the leads of IC being tested and extend the life of the contact pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Wooyoung Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 6572277
    Abstract: In a plug arrangement for optical waveguides, there is mounted on the end of the cable accommodating the optical waveguide a cable fixing sleeve that is bonded to the outside of the cable. The ends of the plastic fibers of the optical waveguide cladding are brought out of the cable end and laid back onto the external surface of the bonded-on cable fixing sleeve and a further sleeve being pushed onto said cable fixing sleeve, with the plastic fibers of the optical waveguide cladding being clamped and bonded between the two sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: W. W. Fischer SA
    Inventors: Michel Ritter, Armin Reicharz, Josef Warislohner, Michael Steinhauser, Stephan Buchmann
  • Patent number: 6567596
    Abstract: An optical fiber that can sufficiently suppress the generation of four-wave mixing and that can widen the bandwidth of wavelength of signal light. The optical fiber of the present invention has (a) a chromatic dispersion whose absolute value is not less than 8 ps·nm−1·km−1 and not more than 15 ps·nm−1·km−1 at a wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m and (b) a dispersion slope whose absolute value is not more than 0.05 ps·nm−2·km−1 at a wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m. It is more desirable that the optical fiber have (a) a chromatic dispersion whose absolute value is not less than 8 ps·nm−1·km−1 and not more than 12 ps·nm−1·km−1 at a wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m, (b) a dispersion slope whose absolute value is not more than 0.03 ps·nm−2·km−1 at a wavelength of 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takatoshi Kato, Masashi Onishi, Yuji Kubo
  • Patent number: 6565375
    Abstract: A modified connector module having integrated push caps for wire termination. The integrated push caps simplify the operation of and allows connection or rearrangement of a single pair of conductors. The modified connector module having alternating height teeth and a plurality of insulation displacement connectors placed therebetween. Each integrated push cap having a pair of ribs for snubbing and seating a pair of conductors into the insulation displacement connectors and one or more pair of chambers for isolating and gripping the ends of the conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Bassel Hage Daoud, Christopher M. Helmstetter
  • Patent number: 6565265
    Abstract: An optical connector comprising a ferrule including an optical fiber, wherein a hollow portion for optical fiber protrusion is formed on a front end face of the ferrule, the optical fiber is inserted into an optical fiber positioning hole extended from an optical fiber protrusion port provided on a bottom face of the hollow portion toward an inside of the ferrule, and a tip face of the optical fiber is drawn in the hollow portion. This makes it possible to provide an optical connector which can shorten a time for assembly and can be assembled easily and inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Ohtsuka, Takahisa Yamaguchi, Tomohiko Ueda, Toshiaki Kakii
  • Patent number: 6560394
    Abstract: A fiber management frame and a closure are provided that are adapted to be utilized in a universal manner for both FTTH and FTTC applications. The closure includes a housing and the fiber management frame disposed within the housing. The fiber management frame includes a back panel attached to the housing and four separate compartments for routing optical fibers and, in FTTC applications, electrical conductors. In FTTH applications, the first compartment receives express optical fibers of the fiber optic feeder cable, while in FTTC applications, the first compartment receives at least one electrical conductor of the electrical feeder cable. The second compartment is proximate the first compartment. In FTTH applications, the second compartment stores at least one coupler tray that splits a first optical fiber of the fiber optic feeder cable into a plurality of second optical fibers. In FTTC applications, the second compartment receives express optical fibers of the fiber optic feeder cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer A. Battey, Steve A. Fontaine
  • Patent number: 6554643
    Abstract: An electrical connector apparatus and method adapted for locating and mechanically supporting a connector to a substrate, such as a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), in a manner that allows for a nominal insertion force, while at the same time a sufficient retention force to hold the connector on the PCB. The connector has a plurality of mounting projections extending downward from a bottom mounting surface of the connector housing that are adapted for connection to a corresponding plurality of holes formed in the PCB. The projections have one or more ribs extending outward along the longitudinal length of the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: FCI Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David E. Whiting
  • Patent number: 6556762
    Abstract: A cable management bar and bracket assembly is mounted within an equipment enclosure. The brackets are supported on and movable along the bar to present cable support positions at various transverse locations. The brackets are of generally U-shaped configuration with cable supporting hooks formed in one depending flange and with inwardly projecting tabs formed in the other depending flange which extend beneath the bar to make the bracket captive on the bar. Slots formed in the bar at one axial location permit the bracket to be assembled to and removed from the bar when the tabs are aligned with and passed through the slots. The assembly also includes mounting brackets at each end of the bar which are formed integral with the bar of a single piece of material while the bar portion is formed as a downwardly opening U-shaped channel element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ricky Dean Erickson, David George Lund, Aleksander Miroslaw Mustwillo, Christopher Lee Tuma
  • Patent number: 6556753
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber package for use in an optical communication device, is comprised the steps of: preparing a ribbon-type fiber stack having a pair of sheared sides, the ribbon-type fiber stack being provided with a plurality of fragmental optical fibers, each of fragmental optical fibers including a core surrounded by a cladding; partially peeling the claddings from the fragmental optical fibers to expose the cores; forming gratings into the exposed cores; and installing a pair of side connections on the pair of sheared sides in the ribbon-type fiber stack, thereby forming a fiber package. In the invention method, the ribbon-type fiber stack and a pair of side connections are utilized, which can remove a need for the step of packing the optical fiber(s), simplifying the formation of the fiber stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Korea Telecom
    Inventors: Young Tark Lee, Tae Sang Park, Ki Tae Jeong, Han Kyo Seo, Jeong U Jeon, Seok Bong Ko
  • Patent number: 6547455
    Abstract: An optical module includes a semiconductor light-emitting device and a lens structure, which are held by a housing while being optically aligned with each other. A ferrule of an optical plug to which the optical module is to be coupled is fittingly received by the housing. The lens structure includes a pair of cylindrical lens portions, which are oriented orthogonal to each other and located at positions spaced from each other in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6547447
    Abstract: Automated manufacturing in the fiber optics industry has introduced a series of new problems due to the small size of the parts being assembled and the precise optical alignments required. However, processes requiring the manual assembly of parts using glue are slowly being replaced by automated processes involving the laser welding of metallically encased optical parts. Unfortunately, almost every step in the process causes a small degree of misalignment, which may cause the device to fall below transmission standards. The present invention provides a method of assembling an optical device which includes special steps that involve re-aligning the elements in the optical device after other steps in the method have caused a misalignment. In particular, the method of the present invention includes testing the alignment of the optical elements at several stages throughout the assembly process, and applying addition asymmetric welds to the finished product to improve the transmission results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.
    Inventors: Henry J. Lake, William Thomas Moore, Robert Langer, Wendy Cipera, Abdul Jaleel J. Moidu
  • Patent number: 6547452
    Abstract: Alignment systems for optoelectronic modules with overmolded chip carriers include drilled or milled substrate corners for engaging dowel pins to precisely align the substrate in a mold for molding an overmold frame on the substrate. The overmold frame includes slot and trilobe holes for receiving retainer posts to precisely align a retainer assembly on the overmold frame. Cooperating standoff pads on the overmold frame and on the retainer assembly stabilize the assembly of these components and provide a precise gap for receiving an adhesive to permanently attach these two components. The retainer assembly carries optoelectronic components that include a flexible circuit, and a distal end portion of this flexible circuit and walls of a receiving cavity in the overmold frame have cooperating features for precisely aligning distal electrical leads of the flexible circuit with an array of electrical pads on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benson Chan, Paul F. Fortier, Francois M. Guindon, Glen W. Johnson, Martial A. Letourneau, John H. Sherman, Real Tetreault
  • Patent number: 6544065
    Abstract: An electrical socket for supporting an integrated circuit chip on a circuit board mainly includes a dielectric base, a number of conductive contacts retained in the base, a cover and an actuation member for movably attaching to the cover with respect to the base. The actuation member includes a cam shaft whose one end has a step-shaped face and forms an upper portion and a lower portion. The base defines a receiving hole for receiving the end of the cam shaft. The receiving hole has a step-shaped mating face forming an upper portion and a lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David Gregory Howell, Yao-Chi Huang
  • Patent number: 6544056
    Abstract: The invention solves the task of creating a temperature-controlled wire holder that enables a reliable and controlled release. This task is solved by the invention in that the wire holder (1) is produced from a shape memory material, and that the wire (14) is clamped in an aperture (2) of the wire holder (1) by compression of the aperture (2), and that the compressed aperture (2) opens by itself when the wire holder (1) is heated to a specific operating temperature, thus releasing the wire. The invention may be used in a temperature-controlled wire holder that releases a secured wire (14) under mechanical tension when a specific operating temperature is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eads Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Roth, Andreas Schuster, Heinz Voggenreiter, Harald Vorbrugg, Markus Reindl
  • Patent number: 6540541
    Abstract: A ZIF socket assembly used with a chip (6) comprises a ZIF socket (5), an external actuating tool (8) and a protector (7). The socket comprises a base (51) and a sliding cover (53). The base comprises a recess (514) on an end thereof. The sliding cover is movably assembled on the base for receiving the chip and comprises a slot (514) in alignment with the recess. The protector is placed upon the chip and comprises a number of legs (71) extendingdownwardly for pressing against the chip and a rib (72) projecting downwardly from a bottom face thereof for heightening the protector with respect to the chip. The actuating tool is inserted into the recess through the slot and drives the cover, the chipand the protector to move with respect to the base, thereby achieving an electrical connection between the chip and the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hao-Yun Ma
  • Patent number: 6540538
    Abstract: A socket of the invention includes a socket body, a plurality of contacts respectively having a movable piece and a stationary piece, a slidable contact moving member and a lever having a pushing portion and a pressing member. A plurality of contact displacing portions of the contact moving member are respectively positioned between the movable and stationary piece of each contact. The contact moving member is urged to prevent the contact displacing portion from moving each movable piece. The pressing member includes a curved fulcrum portion and an operating portion curved oppositely to the fulcrum portion. A first restricting portion of the socket body is in contact with the fulcrum portion and a second restricting portion of the contact moving member can be in contact with the fulcrum portion. The operating portion of the pressing member abuts to the contact moving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaichi Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Nakano, Ryo Ujike
  • Patent number: 6537095
    Abstract: A low insertion force terminal comprising a female terminal (12) and a male terminal (11), the female terminal 12 being provided with a bottom (14) soldered to wiring, and a pair of opposing upright parts (15,16) extending from said bottom (14) in a cantilevered beam shape; and wherein an extended part (19) that projects on the distal end (16a) of one of said upright parts (16) farther than the distal end part (15a) of the other upright part (15) in the widthwise direction is provided, and a male terminal supporting part (18) that grasps and supports the male terminal (11) is provided at a position in proximity to said extended part (19) of said pair of upright parts (15,16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Berg Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eddie A. Azuma
  • Patent number: 6536959
    Abstract: A coupling configuration for connecting an optical fiber provided with a coupling end face at one end to an optoelectronic element is described. A coupling element is disposed between the end of the optical fiber and the optoelectronic element in order to reduce back-reflections. The coupling element, which is made of an optically transmissive material, is in physical contact with the coupling end face of the optical fiber, and its side facing the optoelectronic element has a surface region which reduces back-reflections. To simplify and shorten the coupling housing, the coupling element is of lens-like configuration, for example in the form of a ball, and is held directly in the coupling housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gerhard Kuhn, Alfred Hartl, Joachim Schulze
  • Patent number: 6535683
    Abstract: A cable exit trough with pivoting cover. The cover having a cover plate and a pivot plate hingedly mounted thereto for easy access to the trough. The exit trough may define an insert aperture for receiving modular cable management inserts. The modular insert providing an additional cable management device such as a curved guidewall. The cable management device may alternatively be fixed to the cable exit trough. Removable snap-mounted flanges may also be included in the exit trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Johnson, Brian L. Johnson, Thomas W. Kampf, Alex Watts, Michael J. Wentworth