Patents by Inventor Boon K. Lee
Boon K. Lee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11906793Abstract: An optical connector assembly (100) includes a housing (110), an optical ferrule (140); and an optical fiber array (150). The housing (110) has a mating end (111) and an opposite cable end (112) and includes: a first housing portion (120) including a front support (122) proximate the mating end (111) and a rear support (124) disposed between the front support (122) and the cable end (112); and a second housing portion (130) assembled to the first housing portion (120) and including a middle support (133) disposed between the front and rear supports (122,124). The ferrule (140) is supported by the front support (122). Front ends of optical fibers of the optical fiber array (150) are received by and attached to an attachment area of the ferrule (140). When the second housing portion (130) is assembled to the first housing portion (120), the middle support (133) of the second housing portion (130) contacts and bends the optical fiber array (150) about the middle support (133).Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Cheng Tang, Shiwen Chen, Changbao Ma, Bing Hao, Boon K. Lee
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Publication number: 20220146760Abstract: An optical connector assembly (100) includes a housing (110), an optical ferrule (140); and an optical fiber array (150). The housing (110) has a mating end (111) and an opposite cable end (112) and includes: a first housing portion (120) including a front support (122) proximate the mating end (111) and a rear support (124) disposed between the front support (122) and the cable end (112); and a second housing portion (130) assembled to the first housing portion (120) and including a middle support (133) disposed between the front and rear supports (122,124). The ferrule (140) is supported by the front support (122). Front ends of optical fibers of the optical fiber array (150) are received by and attached to an attachment area of the ferrule (140). When the second housing portion (130) is assembled to the first housing portion (120), the middle support (133) of the second housing portion (130) contacts and bends the optical fiber array (150) about the middle support (133).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventors: Cheng Tang, Shiwen Chen, Changbao Ma, Bing Hao, Boon K. Lee
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Publication number: 20210389527Abstract: Each optical cable includes an array of at least one optical waveguide and at least one optical ferrule attached to the array of optical waveguides. The housing includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion engaged with the first housing portion. The second housing portion comprises at least one carrier and one frame. The carrier and frame of the second housing portion are configured to support the one or more optical cables. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion with the second housing portion moves the carrier relative to the frame. Movement of the carrier relative to the frame causes a bend in each optical waveguide and rotation of each ferrule. The bend provides a predetermined spring force of the optical waveguides at a predetermined angle of the ferrule.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Daniel F. Cronch, Sergio D. Carranza, Boon K. Lee, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 11131813Abstract: An optical connector (100) comprises one or more optical cables (110) disposed within a housing (120). Each optical In cable (110) includes an array of at least one optical waveguide (111) and at least one optical ferrule (112) attached to the array of optical waveguides (111). The housing (120) includes a first housing portion (121) and a second housing portion (122) engaged with the first housing portion (121). The second housing portion (122) comprises at least one carrier (130) and one frame (140). The carrier (130) and frame (140) of the second housing portion (122) are configured to support the one or more optical cables (110). The first housing portion (121) and the second housing portion (122) are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion (121) with the second housing portion (122) moves the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140). Movement of the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140) causes a bend in each optical waveguide (111) and rotation of each ferrule (112).Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Daniel F. Cronch, Sergio D. Carranza, Boon K. Lee, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 11099331Abstract: An optical adaptor for inspection of a desired surface of an optical ferrule is provided. The optical ferrule is disposed in, and has a first position relative to, a housing of the optical ferrule. The optical adaptor includes a front portion including an open front end for insertion into the housing of the optical ferrule from an open mating end of the housing and for receiving at least a portion of the desired surface of the optical ferrule. The front portion includes a receiving surface for receiving at least a portion of the optical ferrule and causing the optical ferrule to change its position from the first position to a different second position. An image forming surface forms an image of the desired surface of the optical ferrule, thereby allowing a viewing of the optical ferrule from an open rear end of the optical adaptor.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Boon K. Lee, Alberto DeLosSantos, Bing Hao
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Patent number: 10989881Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing with a bottom wall defining a window therein, and an optical ferrule disposed in the housing and comprising opposing major top and bottom surfaces. The major bottom surface of the optical ferrule faces the bottom wall of the housing. The major top surface includes a groove and a light redirecting surface configured to receive light along a first direction from an optical fiber received and secured in the groove, and redirect the received light along a different second direction. The redirected light exits the optical ferrule though the bottom surface and exits the housing through the window, such that, when the optical connector mates with a mating optical connector including a mating optical ferrule, the mating optical ferrule prevents any of the light exiting the optical ferrule from exiting the housing of the optical connector.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Changbao Ma, Boon K. Lee, Bing Hao, Stephen Paul LeBlanc
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Publication number: 20210018694Abstract: An optical adaptor for inspection of a desired surface of an optical ferrule is provided. The optical ferrule is disposed in, and has a first position relative to, a housing of the optical ferrule. The optical adaptor includes a front portion including an open front end for insertion into the housing of the optical ferrule from an open mating end of the housing and for receiving at least a portion of the desired surface of the optical ferrule. The front portion includes a receiving surface for receiving at least a portion of the optical ferrule and causing the optical ferrule to change its position from the first position to a different second position. An image forming surface forms an image of the desired surface of the optical ferrule, thereby allowing a viewing of the optical ferrule from an open rear end of the optical adaptor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Boon K. Lee, Alberto DeLosSantos, Bing Hao
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Publication number: 20200355873Abstract: An optical connector includes multiple optical subconnectors, wherein each optical subconnector comprises a subconnector housing and one or more optical cable assemblies. The optical connector has two or more housing components, including at least a first housing component and a second housing component. Control of x, y, and z translation of the multiple optical subconnectors is distributed between the first and second housing components such that each housing component controls movement of the optical subconnectors along at least one but not all of the x, y, and z axes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Daniel F. Cronch, Nicholas A. Lee, Boon K. Lee, Michael A. Haase, Changbao Ma
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Publication number: 20200278501Abstract: An optical connector includes a housing with a bottom wall defining a window therein, and an optical ferrule disposed in the housing and comprising opposing major top and bottom surfaces. The major bottom surface of the optical ferrule faces the bottom wall of the housing. The major top surface includes a groove and a light redirecting surface configured to receive light along a first direction from an optical fiber received and secured in the groove, and redirect the received light along a different second direction. The redirected light exits the optical ferrule though the bottom surface and exits the housing through the window, such that, when the optical connector mates with a mating optical connector including a mating optical ferrule, the mating optical ferrule prevents any of the light exiting the optical ferrule from exiting the housing of the optical connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Changbao Ma, Boon K. Lee, Bing Hao, Stephen Paul LeBlanc
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Publication number: 20200088953Abstract: An optical connector (100) comprises one or more optical cables (110) disposed within a housing (120). Each optical In cable (110) includes an array of at least one optical waveguide (111) and at least one optical ferrule (112) attached to the array of optical waveguides (111). The housing (120) includes a first housing portion (121) and a second housing portion (122) engaged with the first housing portion (121). The second housing portion (122) comprises at least one carrier (130) and one frame (140). The carrier (130) and frame (140) of the second housing portion (122) are configured to support the one or more optical cables (110). The first housing portion (121) and the second housing portion (122) are configured such that mechanical engagement of the first housing portion (121) with the second housing portion (122) moves the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140). Movement of the carrier (130) relative to the frame (140) causes a bend in each optical waveguide (111) and rotation of each ferrule (112).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2017Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Daniel F. Cronch, Sergio D. Carranza, Boon K. Lee, Michael A. Haase, Terry L. Smith
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Patent number: 8590385Abstract: The present application provides a fiber optic sensor system. The fiber optic sensor system may include a small diameter bellows, a large diameter bellows, and a fiber optic pressure sensor attached to the small diameter bellows. Contraction of the large diameter bellows under an applied pressure may cause the small diameter bellows to expand such that the fiber optic pressure sensor may measure the applied pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Renato Guida, Hua Xia, Boon K. Lee, Sachin N. Dekate
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Publication number: 20130145852Abstract: The present application provides a fiber optic sensor system. The fiber optic sensor system may include a small diameter bellows, a large diameter bellows, and a fiber optic pressure sensor attached to the small diameter bellows. Contraction of the large diameter bellows under an applied pressure may cause the small diameter bellows to expand such that the fiber optic pressure sensor may measure the applied pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Renato Guida, Hua Xia, Boon K. Lee, Sachin N. Dekate