Patents by Inventor Anthony W. Gatica

Anthony W. Gatica 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).

  • Apparatus for selective photosensitization of optical fiber
    Patent number: 6857293
    Abstract: An apparatus that exposes only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process. The apparatus includes a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen hydrogen atmosphere. At least one heating element regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion. The heating element may heat the hydrogen atmosphere to a temperature of at least 250° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, John P. Stedman, James R. Bylander, Gordon Wiegand, Nicholas A. Stacey, Anthony W. Gatica, Dale E. Elder, James F. Brennan, III
  • Method for selective photosensitization of optical fiber
    Patent number: 6763686
    Abstract: A method for increasing the photosensitivity of a selected portion of an optical fiber and for producing a grating in the selected portion of an optical fiber. The method includes the step of placing the selected portion of the optical fiber in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. The volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere immediately surrounding only the selected portion of the optical fiber is heated to a temperature of at least 250° C. Only the selected portion of the optical fiber is exposed to the heated volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 250° C. for a predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, John P. Stedman, James R. Bylander, Gordon Wiegand, Nicholas A. Stacey, Anthony W. Gatica, Dale Elder, James F. Brennan, III, Bryon J. Cronk
  • Optical fiber recoat
    Publication number: 20030138232
    Abstract: A fiber recoating process and a recoated optical fiber formed by the process that comprises the steps of providing an optical fiber having a coating and cutting a first cut boundary spaced from a secondary cut boundary to mark an internal section of the coating that has opposing sides. Removal of the coating from at least one of the opposing sides provides a pared intervening layer and further forms a first transition region opposite a second transition region. Each of the first transition region and the second transition region has a substantially wedge-shaped contour. Solvent treatment of the pared intervening layer weakens the bond between the coating and the optical fiber between the first cut boundary and the second cut boundary before displacing the coating from the optical fiber to provide the stripped optical fiber. The stripped optical fiber includes a section of optical fiber, the first transition region and the second transition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shinichi Abe, Akihiko Yazaki, John T. Cowher, William V. Dower, Anthony W. Gatica, Jason D. Kordecki
  • Apparatus for selective photosensitization of optical fiber
    Publication number: 20030115911
    Abstract: An apparatus that exposes only a selected portion of a length of optical fiber to a hydrogen atmosphere loading process. The apparatus includes a loading chamber that encloses at least the selected portion of the optical fiber and contains a hydrogen hydrogen atmosphere. At least one heating element regionally heats the hydrogen atmosphere surrounding the selected portion. The heating element may heat the hydrogen atmosphere to a temperature of at least 250° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, John P. Stedman, James R. Bylander, Gordon Wiegand, Nicholas A. Stacey, Anthony W. Gatica, Dale E. Elder, James F. Brennan
  • Method of recoating an optical fiber
    Patent number: 6549712
    Abstract: A fiber recoating process and a recoated optical fiber formed by the process that comprises the steps of providing an optical fiber having a coating and cutting a first cut boundary spaced from a secondary cut boundary to mark an internal section of the coating that has opposing sides. Removal of the coating from at least one of the opposing sides provides a pared intervening layer and further forms a first transition region opposite a second transition region. Each of the first transition region and the second transition region has a substantially wedge-shaped contour. Solvent treatment of the pared intervening layer weakens the bond between the coating and the optical fiber between the first cut boundary and the second cut boundary before displacing the coating from the optical fiber to provide the stripped optical fiber. The stripped optical fiber includes a section of optical fiber, the first transition region and the second transition region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Shinichi Abe, Akihiko Yazaki, John T. Cowher, William V. Dower, Anthony W. Gatica, Jason D. Kordecki
  • Optical fiber recoat
    Publication number: 20020186947
    Abstract: A fiber recoating process and a recoated optical fiber formed by the process that comprises the steps of providing an optical fiber having a coating and cutting a first cut boundary spaced from a secondary cut boundary to mark an internal section of the coating that has opposing sides. Removal of the coating from at least one of the opposing sides provides a pared intervening layer and further forms a first transition region opposite a second transition region. Each of the first transition region and the second transition region has a substantially wedge-shaped contour. Solvent treatment of the pared intervening layer weakens the bond between the coating and the optical fiber between the first cut boundary and the second cut boundary before displacing the coating from the optical fiber to provide the stripped optical fiber. The stripped optical fiber includes a section of optical fiber, the first transition region and the second transition region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Shinichi Abe, Akihiko Yazaki, John T. Cowher, William V. Dower, Anthony W. Gatica, Jason D. Kordecki
  • Method for selective photosensitization of optical fiber
    Publication number: 20020121115
    Abstract: A method for increasing the photosensitivity of a selected portion of an optical fiber and for producing a grating in the selected portion of an optical fiber. The method includes the step of placing the selected portion of the optical fiber in a hydrogen containing atmosphere. The volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere immediately surrounding only the selected portion of the optical fiber is heated to a temperature of at least 250° C. Only the selected portion of the optical fiber is exposed to the heated volume of the hydrogen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of at least 250° C. for a predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James B. Carpenter, John P. Stedman, James R. Bylander, Gordon Wiegand, Nicholas A. Stacey, Anthony W. Gatica, Dale Elder, James F. Brennan, Bryon J. Cronk