Patents by Inventor Yukihiro Yokomachi

Yukihiro Yokomachi 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).

  • Publication number: 20200162162
    Abstract: Optical fiber networks, devices, and related methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, an optical fiber network includes network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data. In the network, 100% of the optical fibers are utilized end-to-end across the plurality of network devices. Networks herein are also devoid of converters and include only a single direction connection between fibers at interconnect points between devices. Network devices may include ferrules, where at least some of the ferrules are devoid of an optical fiber. A method for providing an optical fiber network includes providing network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data and transmitting data using 100% of the optical fibers end-to-end across the network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Tsutomu Watanabe, William Dmytro Charuk, Jamie Joshue Seawell, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 10591693
    Abstract: A termination unit located on a rack part of an optical fiber rack includes a housing a plurality of first optical fibers located in the housing, the plurality of first optical fibers being fusion spliced to a multi fiber cable introduced from an outside of the optical fiber rack, an adapter group including a plurality of adapters in a line in the housing, the plurality of adapters being respectively connected to the plurality of first optical fibers on an inside of the housing and being respectively connected to a plurality of second optical fibers on an outside of the housing, and an optical fiber passing part through which at least one optical fiber is configured to pass, the optical fiber passing part being located in at least one of: the adapter group, and between the housing and the adapter group in an arrangement direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu Yamauchi, Tomohiko Ueda, Junji Fukui, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Tomoyuki Yokokawa, Takayuki Yokochi, Masanori Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 10541754
    Abstract: Optical fiber networks, devices, and related methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, an optical fiber network includes network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data. In the network, 100% of the optical fibers are utilized end-to-end across the plurality of network devices. Networks herein are also devoid of converters and include only a single direction connection between fibers at interconnect points between devices. Network devices may include ferrules, where at least some of the ferrules are devoid of an optical fiber. A method for providing an optical fiber network includes providing network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data and transmitting data using 100% of the optical fibers end-to-end across the network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Watanabe, William Dmytro Charuk, Jamie Joshue Seawell, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20190064468
    Abstract: A termination unit located on a rack part of an optical fiber rack includes a housing a plurality of first optical fibers located in the housing, the plurality of first optical fibers being fusion spliced to a multi fiber cable introduced from an outside of the optical fiber rack, an adapter group including a plurality of adapters in a line in the housing, the plurality of adapters being respectively connected to the plurality of first optical fibers on an inside of the housing and being respectively connected to a plurality of second optical fibers on an outside of the housing, and an optical fiber passing part through which at least one optical fiber is configured to pass, the optical fiber passing part being located in at least one of: the adapter group, and between the housing and the adapter group in an arrangement direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayasu YAMAUCHI, Tomohiko UEDA, Junji FUKUI, Yukihiro YOKOMACHI, Tomoyuki YOKOKAWA, Takayuki YOKOCHI, Masanori YAMANAKA
  • Patent number: 9360633
    Abstract: To provide a method for assembling an optical connector with which the optical connector can be easily assembled. An optical connector is assembled by preparing a holding cap that holds a frame member and a plug housing while maintaining a relative positional relationship between the frame member and the plug housing, inserting a ferrule into the frame member, and connecting the plug housing and the rear housing to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignees: SEI OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20150326316
    Abstract: Optical fiber networks, devices, and related methods are disclosed herein. In some aspects, an optical fiber network includes network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data. In the network, 100% of the optical fibers are utilized end-to-end across the plurality of network devices. Networks herein are also devoid of converters and include only a single direction connection between fibers at interconnect points between devices. Network devices may include ferrules, where at least some of the ferrules are devoid of an optical fiber. A method for providing an optical fiber network includes providing network devices having optical fibers for transmitting and receiving data and transmitting data using 100% of the optical fibers end-to-end across the network devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC LIGHTWAVE CORP.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Watanabe, William Dmytro Charuk, Jamie Joshue Seawell, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 9110253
    Abstract: An optical connector and a method for assembling the optical connector with which the optical connector can be easily assembled are provided. An optical connector includes a ferrule assembly including a ferrule that holds an embedded fiber, a sleeve that holds the ferrule assembly, and a rear housing that is connected to the sleeve and through which an optical fiber that is connected to the embedded fiber is inserted. The ferrule assembly is fixed to the sleeve by threadably engaging a male screw of the ferrule assembly with a female screw of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 9075204
    Abstract: There is provided an optical connector construction tool, which is constructed as a single component, and is compact in size and simple, wherein the construction tool allows an operation of withdrawing a wedge to be more reliably performed, and a manufacturing costs to be reduced. The optical connector construction tool comprises a base plate, a wedge provided to a bottom surface of the base plate and inserted into a mechanical splice part of an optical connector, a pair of arms extending from both sides of the base plate, and protrusions projecting from the arms toward the base plate, the protrusions engaging with the bottom of the base plate and deflecting the base plate upward as a result of the arms being laterally brought together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daizo Nishioka, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Yoshinobu Toda, Yoshio Ukita
  • Patent number: 8985876
    Abstract: A ferrule holder is provided as one capable of improving convenience in a fusion splice between a built-in fiber and an optical fiber. The ferrule holder 1 is provided with a main body 2 and a lid 3. The main body 2 has a mount portion 4 on which a ferrule body is to be mounted, and the mount portion 4 is provided with a first mount surface 8, and a second mount surface 9 provided through a step portion 11 on the rear side of the first mount surface 8. This allows, for example, the ferrule body with a dust cap thereon to be mounted on the first mount surface 8 in the fusion splice in the case of an SC connector; it also allows the ferrule body with a dust cap thereon to be mounted on the second mount surface 9 in the fusion splice in the case of an LC connector. Therefore, there is no need for preparing a plurality of ferrule holders according to types of connectors, which can achieve improvement in convenience in the fusion splice between the built-in fiber and the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 8763246
    Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber connection method for using an optical fiber connector which includes a mechanical splice designed to connect a first optical fiber having a coating diameter D to mechanically connect two optical fibers that include a second optical fiber having a coating diameter d smaller than the coating diameter D. This method includes a first step of inserting the second optical fiber into a tube (30) to obtain a tubed optical fiber (31); a second step of fixing the tubed optical fiber (31) in a fiber holder (15); a third step of inserting the tubed optical fiber (31) into the mechanical splice (2) and placing distal ends of the two optical fibers including the tubed optical fiber (31) end to end; and a fourth step of fixing the tubed optical fiber (31) in the mechanical splice (2) in a state in which the distal ends of the two optical fibers are placed end to end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daizo Nishioka, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 8740479
    Abstract: An optical connector to which an optical fiber cord including an optical fiber ribbon and a sheath is to be attached includes: a ferrule member a fusion splice protection sleeve, housing and a fixing member. The ferrule member holds a plurality of embedded fibers which are to be fusion-spliced respectively to a plurality of optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon. The fusion splice protection sleeve protects a fusion-spliced portion. The housing houses the ferrule member and the fusion splice protection sleeve. The housing has, at the rear end, a recess for receiving a bifurcated portion of the sheath. The fixing member fixes the sheath to the housings and by holding it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Shitama, Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Yoshio Ukita, Motoyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8690454
    Abstract: The optical connector in accordance with an embodiment comprises a ferrule for holding a built-in fiber to be coupled to a coated optical fiber of an optical cord, a first housing for containing the ferrule, a second housing arranged behind the first housing, and a sheath pressing member and a securing member which are mounted to the second housing. The sheath pressing member presses a sheath of the optical cord against the second housing. The securing member secures a tension fiber of the optical cord to the second housing so as to contain the sheath pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20130276290
    Abstract: To provide a method for assembling an optical connector with which the optical connector can be easily assembled. An optical connector is assembled by preparing a holding cap that holds a frame member and a plug housing while maintaining a relative positional relationship between the frame member and the plug housing, inserting a ferrule into the frame member, and connecting the plug housing and the rear housing to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20130266279
    Abstract: In an optical connector of the invention, the rotation in a conventional angle polish connector can be prevented, while external force acting on the connector can be prevented from affecting a ferrule. The optical connector includes a ferrule 15, which has an angle-polished front portion and is accommodated in a housing 19 in a state where pressing force is applied in a coupling-forward direction by an elastic means so as to enable the ferrule 15 to move in the axial direction. A key groove 21 and a key 23 which are provided between the housing 19 and the ferrule 15 are engaged so as to make their relative movement possible in the movement direction. The clearance C between the groove width W of the key groove 21 and the key 23 increases along the direction in which the ferrule 15 retreats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Daizo Nishioka, Shinji Ogawa, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 8539796
    Abstract: An optical connector assembling method capable of preventing workability from worsening is provided. First, when assembling the optical connector, an optical cord (2) is passed through a rear housing (8), an outer jacket holding member (9), a securing member (10), and a boot (11), and an outer jacket (4) is removed from a leading end portion of the optical cord (2), so as to expose a coated optical fiber (3) and a tension-resistant fiber (5). A handled dust cap (16A) is mounted to a ferrule member (6) holding a built-in fiber. Then, a fusion splicer fusion-splices the built-in fiber and the coated optical fiber (3) to each other. Thereafter, while the ferrule member (6) keeps the handled dust cap (16A) mounted thereto, a plug housing (7) is assembled to the rear housing (8). Then, the outer jacket holding member (9) and securing member (10) secure the outer jacket (4) and tension-resistant fiber (5) to the rear housing (8), and the boot (11) is mounted to the securing member (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignees: SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Publication number: 20130230284
    Abstract: An optical connector and a method for assembling the optical connector with which the optical connector can be easily assembled are provided. An optical connector includes a ferrule assembly including a ferrule that holds an embedded fiber, a sleeve that holds the ferrule assembly, and a rear housing that is connected to the sleeve and through which an optical fiber that is connected to the embedded fiber is inserted. The ferrule assembly is fixed to the sleeve by threadably engaging a male screw of the ferrule assembly with a female screw of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yuji Suzuki, Yukihiro Yokomachi
  • Patent number: 8478100
    Abstract: An optical cable gripping member which prevents the kinds of splicing devices from being diversified, thereby enabling reduction of the labor of component management and lowering of the production cost to be realized is obtained. In a cable gripping member 5 which is to be attached to a splicing device 1 to hold an optical fiber cable 121 from its outer sheath, a spacer 17 which fills a gap between one inner wall surface 15a of a tubular space 15 through which the optical fiber cable 121 is to be passed, and the spacer 17 in the tubular space 15 is formed monolithically with one end of the one inner wall surface 15a in a manner that the spacer 17 is attachable to and detachable from the one inner wall surface 15a. The spacer 17 is attached to or detached from the one inner wall surface 15a, thereby enabling a plurality of optical fiber cables of different sizes to be held.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Toda, Daizo Nishioka, Takayasu Yamauchi, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Kenichiro Ohtsuka, Keiichiro Sugimoto, Shinichi Niwa
  • Publication number: 20130121653
    Abstract: An optical connector to which an optical fiber cord including an optical fiber ribbon and a sheath is to be attached includes: a ferrule member a fusion splice protection sleeve, housing and a fixing member. The ferrule member holds holding a plurality of embedded fibers which are to be fusion-spliced respectively to a plurality of optical fibers constituting the optical fiber ribbon. The fusion splice protection sleeve protects a fusion-spliced portion. The housing houses the ferrule member and the fusion splice protection sleeve. The housing has, at the rear end, a recess for receiving a bifurcated portion of the sheath. The fixing member for fixing fixes the sheath to the housings and by holding it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SEI OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Shitama, Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Yoshio Ukita, Motoyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8401356
    Abstract: An optical connector assembling jig and an optical connector assembling method includes an optical connection. The optical connector assembling jig includes a base and a guide. The base is provided in a longitudinal direction with an accommodation groove for accommodating an optical fiber, and a rear pressing member for restraining a rear part of the optical fiber accommodated in the accommodation groove. The rear part is set apart from an embedded fiber. The guide has a front holding portion for holding a front part of the optical fiber accommodated in the accommodation groove. The front part is near the embedded fiber, and the guide is capable of moving in the longitudinal direction. Moving the base toward the optical connector causes the intermediate section of the optical fiber to separate from the accommodation groove and bend. By moving the base further toward the optical connector, a buffered fiber in the optical fiber can be connected to the embedded fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daizo Nishioka, Takayasu Yamauchi, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Yoshinobu Toda, Yoshio Ukita
  • Patent number: 8317406
    Abstract: An optical connector, which is capable of enhancing fittability into a cabinet, or the like on account of compactification and also avoiding problems of an increase of bead loss, a breakage, etc. of an optical fiber, can be provided. In an optical connector 1 that houses a fusion-spliced portion 13, in which a short optical fiber 5 that is fitted previously to an optical connector ferrule 85 and a coated optical fiber 3 are fusion spliced together and holds the fusion-spliced portion 13 therein, one end of a protection sleeve 87 made of the thermal shrinkage material that externally fixes the fusion-spliced portion 13 is coupled to the optical connector ferrule 85. An air escape hole 7ffor escaping an air, which is confined in the protection sleeve 87 when the protection sleeve 87 is thermally shrunk and adhered closely to the optical connector ferrule 85, to the outside is formed in the optical connector ferrule 85.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikyo Tamekuni, Masahiro Shibata, Yukihiro Yokomachi, Toshihiko Honma, Tsutomu Watanabe