Patents by Inventor Darrell Childers

Darrell Childers 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).

  • Method and apparatus for positioning an optical fiber
    Publication number: 20040047567
    Abstract: Eccentricity of a optical fiber installed in a passageway of a ferrule is minimized by imposing a force on the end of the optical fiber projecting from the passageway at the ferrule end face to push the optical fiber to a desired position in the passageway, prior to curing an adhesive used for fixing the optical fiber in the passageway, so as to compensate for eccentricity of the passageway. In one embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by hanging a weight on the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by using a pressurized jet of fluid. The point of application of the force, the magnitude of the force, and the viscosity of the adhesive are selected such that minimal optical fiber bending occurs, thereby assuring that the optical fiber is positioned at the desired position in the passageway for an appreciable distance from the ferrule end face along the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Brian J. Gimbel, James P. Luther, Thomas Theuerkorn, Hieu V. Tran, Darrell Childers, Dennis M. Knecht
  • Method and apparatus for positioning an optical fiber
    Patent number: 6672772
    Abstract: Eccentricity of a optical fiber installed in a passageway of a ferrule is minimized by imposing a force on the end of the optical fiber projecting from the passageway at the ferrule end face to push the optical fiber to a desired position in the passageway, prior to curing an adhesive used for fixing the optical fiber in the passageway, so as to compensate for eccentricity of the passageway. In one embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by hanging a weight on the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by using a pressurized jet of fluid. The point of application of the force, the magnitude of the force, and the viscosity of the adhesive are selected such that minimal optical fiber bending occurs, thereby assuring that the optical fiber is positioned at the desired position in the passageway for an appreciable distance from the ferrule end face along the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brian J. Gimbel, James P. Luther, Thomas Theuerkorn, Hieu V. Tran, Darrell Childers, Dennis M. Knecht
  • Method and apparatus for positioning an optical fiber
    Publication number: 20030081910
    Abstract: Eccentricity of a optical fiber installed in a passageway of a ferrule is minimized by imposing a force on the end of the optical fiber projecting from the passageway at the ferrule end face to push the optical fiber to a desired position in the passageway, prior to curing an adhesive used for fixing the optical fiber in the passageway, so as to compensate for eccentricity of the passageway. In one embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by hanging a weight on the optical fiber. In another embodiment, the force is imposed on the optical fiber by using a pressurized jet of fluid. The point of application of the force, the magnitude of the force, and the viscosity of the adhesive are selected such that minimal optical fiber bending occurs, thereby assuring that the optical fiber is positioned at the desired position in the passageway for an appreciable distance from the ferrule end face along the passageway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Brian J. Gimbel, James P. Luther, Thomas Theuerkorn, Hieu V. Tran, Darrell Childers, Dennis M. Knecht