Patents by Inventor Brian J. Pike

Brian J. Pike 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).

  • Patent number: 8769995
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, two or more inner cores, a cladding surrounding the two or more inner cores, and one or more side holes for reducing the bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the large diameter optical waveguide. The method features the steps of: assembling a preform for drawing a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, by providing an outer tube having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters and arranging two or more preform elements in relation to the outer tube; heating the preform; and drawing the large diameter optical waveguide from the heated preform. In one embodiment, the method also includes the step of arranging at least one inner tube inside the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Dowd, Joseph J. Baraglia, Andrew S. Kuczma, Brian J. Pike, Thomas W. Engel, Martin A. Putnam
  • Patent number: 8712202
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Brian J. Pike
  • Publication number: 20110091175
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: PAUL E. SANDERS, Eward M. Dowd, Brian J. Pike
  • Patent number: 7907807
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for birefringent waveguides suitable for optical systems exhibiting polarization dependence such as interferometer sensors including Sagnac interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOG). The waveguides, for some embodiments, may offer single polarization performance over lengths of about a kilometer or more due to polarization dependent attenuation. According to some embodiments, the waveguides incorporate a pure silica core for resistance to radiation-induced attenuation (RIA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Andrew S. Kuczma, Trevor W. MacDougall, Brian J. Pike
  • Patent number: 7805039
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Brian J. Pike
  • Patent number: 7690362
    Abstract: A flange assembly 10 is provided for a fuel supply unit of a vehicle. The assembly 10 includes a flange 12 constructed and arranged to cover an opening in a fuel tank. The flange has an interior portion constructed and arranged to be exposed to fuel. The interior portion is in communication with an outlet 15 provided at an exterior of the flange. A plastic manifold 16 is mounted to the interior portion of the flange so as to communicate with the outlet. The manifold is constructed and arranged to mount at least one fuel supply component 22 thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Pike, Stephen J. Anderson, Paul F. Briggs
  • Publication number: 20090310925
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for birefringent waveguides suitable for optical systems exhibiting polarization dependence such as interferometer sensors including Sagnac interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOG). The waveguides, for some embodiments, may offer single polarization performance over lengths of about a kilometer or more due to polarization dependent attenuation. According to some embodiments, the waveguides incorporate a pure silica core for resistance to radiation-induced attenuation (RIA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: PAUL E. SANDERS, Edward M. Dowd, Andrew S. Kuczma, Trevor W. MacDougall, Brian J. Pike
  • Publication number: 20080273849
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Brian J. Pike
  • Patent number: 7437044
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for birefringent waveguides suitable for optical systems exhibiting polarization dependence such as interferometer sensors including Sagnac interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOG). The waveguides, for some embodiments, may offer single polarization performance over lengths of about a kilometer or more due to polarization dependent attenuation. According to some embodiments, the waveguides incorporate a pure silica core for resistance to radiation-induced attenuation (RIA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Andrew S. Kuczma, Trevor W. MacDougall, Brian J. Pike
  • Publication number: 20080151254
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for birefringent waveguides suitable for optical systems exhibiting polarization dependence such as interferometer sensors including Sagnac interferometric fiber optic gyroscopes (IFOG). The waveguides, for some embodiments, may offer single polarization performance over lengths of about a kilometer or more due to polarization dependent attenuation. According to some embodiments, the waveguides incorporate a pure silica core for resistance to radiation-induced attenuation (RIA).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Paul E. Sanders, Edward M. Dowd, Andrew S. Kuczma, Trevor W. MacDougall, Brian J. Pike
  • Patent number: 7080529
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, two or more inner cores, a cladding surrounding the two or more inner cores, and one or more side holes for reducing the bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the large diameter optical waveguide. The method features the steps of: assembling a preform for drawing a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, by providing an outer tube having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters and arranging two or more preform elements in relation to the outer tube; heating the preform; and drawing the large diameter optical waveguide from the heated preform. In one embodiment, the method also includes the step of arranging at least one inner tube inside the outer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Dowd, Joseph J. Baraglia, Andrew S. Kuczma, Brian J. Pike, Thomas W. Engel, Martin A. Putnam
  • Patent number: 6857859
    Abstract: A fuel supply unit 10 includes a fuel reservoir 22 for holding fuel, a fuel pump 18 within the reservoir for pumping fuel from the reservoir, a jet pump assembly 16 within the reservoir for drawing fuel from a fuel tank into the reservoir, and a gasket 24 operatively coupled with a portion of the jet pump assembly and disposed between the portion of the jet pump assembly and an interior surface of the reservoir so as to decouple the jet pump assembly from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Herbers, Brian J. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040161342
    Abstract: A fuel supply unit 10 includes a fuel reservoir 22 for holding fuel, a fuel pump 18 within the reservoir for pumping fuel from the reservoir, a jet pump assembly 16 within the reservoir for drawing fuel from a fuel tank into the reservoir, and a gasket 24 operatively coupled with a portion of the jet pump assembly and disposed between the portion of the jet pump assembly and an interior surface of the reservoir so as to decouple the jet pump assembly from the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Herbers, Brian J. Pike
  • Publication number: 20040050111
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, two or more inner cores, a cladding surrounding the two or more inner cores, and one or more side holes for reducing the bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the large diameter optical waveguide. The method features the steps of: assembling a preform for drawing a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, by providing an outer tube having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters and arranging two or more preform elements in relation to the outer tube; heating the preform; and drawing the large diameter optical waveguide from the heated preform. In one embodiment, the method also includes the step of arranging at least one inner tube inside the outer tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: CiDRA Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Dowd, Joseph J. Baraglia, Andrew S. Kuczma, Brian J. Pike, Thomas W. Engel, Martin A. Putnam