Patents by Inventor Charles Matthew Erwin

Charles Matthew Erwin 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: 10122092
    Abstract: A satellite communications assembly has a foldable antenna that has a flexible reflector member and a flexible tension member. The assembly further has a feed assembly centrally disposed with respect to the foldable antenna and a plurality of reflector supports that extend radially from the feed assembly and coupled to the reflector member. Additionally, the assembly has a hub coupled to the feed assembly, the hub coupled to ends of a plurality of ground support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Clayton, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Publication number: 20180261927
    Abstract: A satellite communications assembly has a foldable antenna that has a flexible reflector member and a flexible tension member. The assembly further has a feed assembly centrally disposed with respect to the foldable antenna and a plurality of reflector supports that extend radially from the feed assembly and coupled to the reflector member. Additionally, the assembly has a hub coupled to the feed assembly, the hub coupled to ends of a plurality of ground support legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Clayton, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Patent number: 9912070
    Abstract: A satellite communications assembly has a foldable antenna that has a flexible reflector member and a flexible tension member. The assembly further has a feed assembly centrally disposed with respect to the foldable antenna and a plurality of reflector supports that extend radially from the feed assembly and coupled to the reflector member. Additionally, the assembly has a hub coupled to the feed assembly, the hub coupled to ends of a plurality of ground support legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cubic Corporation
    Inventors: William R. Clayton, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Publication number: 20170025745
    Abstract: A satellite communications assembly has a foldable antenna that has a flexible reflector member and a flexible tension member. The assembly further has a feed assembly centrally disposed with respect to the foldable antenna and a plurality of reflector supports that extend radially from the feed assembly and coupled to the reflector member. Additionally, the assembly has a hub coupled to the feed assembly, the hub coupled to ends of a plurality of ground support legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: William R. Clayton, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Patent number: 6959139
    Abstract: A fiber bending apparatus for bending an optical fiber in a networking device and an optical fiber management system and method are provided. The fiber bender has an arcuate main body which is attached to the end of an optical fiber above the male connector and partially including the connector boot, bending the fiber substantially orthogonal to a direction from which the fiber is connected to a line module of the networking device, i.e., substantially parallel to the faceplate of the line module. In this way, the optical fibers are made to bend away from the chassis of the networking device, thereby preventing them from being crushed when the door of the chassis is closed. The optical fibers are also shielded from inadvertent impacts when a technician is working on the networking device. By enabling the optical fibers to be easily directed and managed, the overall fiber density of the networking device may be increased, thereby increasing its bandwidth and information processing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Matthew Erwin, Gary Curtis Gehrke, Narasinha Chandrakant Parasnis
  • Patent number: 6944029
    Abstract: An electrical circuit pack ejector system provides a preemptive warning to the circuit pack that allows redirection and disabling of circuit pack functionality prior to ejection and subsequent disconnection of power and input/output signal contacts. The ejector system is based on proximity detection that measures the distance between a Hall-effect sensor and a magnet affixed to an ejector arm. The magnetic field strength increases as the magnet approaches the sensor. Once the sensor threshold is reached, a logical bit from the sensor is flipped and a positive ejector engagement is surmised. As the ejector arm rotates away from the sensor, the magnetic field strength around the sensor is reduced. Once the sensor threshold is reached, a logical bit from the sensor is flipped and a negative ejector engagement is surmised. The circuit pack then redirects and disables functions prior to the power and signal connectors physical disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Ciena
    Inventors: John Robert Marcolina, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Patent number: 6910267
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for servicing a telecommunications device that utilizes pin connectors connecting electronic modules to the backplane. A catch basin module is insertable into a slot in the telecommunications device in which at least one of the electronic modules would normally be disposed. The catch basin module includes a rear wall having a window, the window being dimensioned to surround a group of pin connectors disposed on the backplane. The catch basin module also includes a bottom surface disposed below the window which projects out from the catch basin module and abuts the backplane under the pin connectors when the catch basin module is inserted into the slot. When pins in the pin connectors are pushed out of the pin connectors from a rear side of the backplane, the pins fall onto the bottom surface of the catch basin module and do not fall into the chassis of the telecommunications device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: CIENA Corporation
    Inventor: Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Patent number: 6880239
    Abstract: A tool kit for servicing a telecommunications device that utilizes pin connectors connecting electronic modules to the backplane. The tool kit includes one or more pin insertion tools for inserting new pins into pin connectors disposed on the backplane. One or more guide shrouds attachable to the backplane which isolate specified portions of the backplane to make pin insertion easier. The head of the pin insertion tool is preferably fittable into the frame of the shroud. Preferably, all of the components of the tool kit are asymmetric so that only one pin insertion tool may be fitted into only one shroud in only one orientation, to insure proper pin placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Mack Jennings, Charles Matthew Erwin
  • Publication number: 20040165852
    Abstract: A fiber bending apparatus for bending an optical fiber in a networking device and an optical fiber management system and method are provided. The fiber bender has an arcuate main body which is attached to the end of an optical fiber above the male connector and partially including the connector boot, bending the fiber substantially orthogonal to a direction from which the fiber is connected to a line module of the networking device, i.e., substantially parallel to the faceplate of the line module. In this way, the optical fibers are made to bend away from the chassis of the networking device, thereby preventing them from being crushed when the door of the chassis is closed. The optical fibers are also shielded from inadvertent impacts when a technician is working on the networking device. By enabling the optical fibers to be easily directed and managed, the overall fiber density of the networking device may be increased, thereby increasing its bandwidth and information processing capabilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Charles Matthew Erwin, Gary Curtis Gehrke, Narasinha Chandrakant Parasnis
  • Patent number: 6674951
    Abstract: A fiber bending apparatus for bending an optical fiber in a networking device and an optical fiber management system and method are provided. The fiber bender has an arcuate main body which is attached to the end of an optical fiber above the male connector and partially including the connector boot, bending the fiber substantially orthogonal to a direction from which the fiber is connected to a line module of the networking device, i.e., substantially parallel to the faceplate of the line module. In this way, the optical fibers are made to bend away from the chassis of the networking device, thereby preventing them from being crushed when the door of the chassis is closed. The optical fibers are also shielded from inadvertent impacts when a technician is working on the networking device. By enabling the optical fibers to be easily directed and managed, the overall fiber density of the networking device may be increased, thereby increasing its bandwidth and information processing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Matthew Erwin, Gary Curtis Gehrke, Narasinha Chandrakant Parasnis