Patents by Inventor Darrell R. Childers

Darrell R. 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).

  • Patent number: 12019278
    Abstract: A multi-fiber ferrule has a main body with a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion includes a top cut-out therein to form a first forward facing surface to engage a housing of a fiber optic connector. The top cut-out extends rearwardly from the front end. The bottom portion also has a bottom cut-out portion forming a second forward facing surface to engage the housing of the fiber optic connector, the bottom cut-out also extending rearwardly from the front end. The multi-fiber ferrule also includes an end face at a front end of the main body, and a rear face at a rear end of the main body. There is a rear central opening that extends into the main body from the rear end face and configured to receive at least three optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Kurtz, Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers, Sherri Reed, Craig M. Conrad, Jillcha F. Wakjira
  • Patent number: 12013580
    Abstract: A new boot for a fiber optic connector has a ribbed back portion, a center portion, and a forward extending portion that can be used to insert and remove the fiber optic connector to receptacle. The ribbed back portion has grasping elements and is connected to the center portion. The center portion is removably connected to a crimp body that is in turn connected to the connector housing. The front extension is connected to the fiber optic connector and also provides a keying feature depending on the side of the fiber optic connector on which it is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers, Mitchell Cloud, Jillcha F. Wakjira
  • Publication number: 20240192448
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule receiver includes a main body that has an opening extending between the front end and the rear end and being defined at least by a portion of internal surfaces of the four sides. A first side in the opening has first tapered surface and a second tapered surface, the first tapered surface reducing the opening between the rear end and a first position and the second tapered surface increasing the opening between the first position and the front end. There is also a second side in the opening and across the opening from the first side, the second side has a third tapered surface and a fourth tapered surface, the third tapered surface reducing the opening between the rear end and a second position and the second tapered surface increasing the opening between the second position and the front end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers, Craig M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 12007608
    Abstract: A multi-fiber ferrule has lenses that have different prescriptions to disperse the light emitted from the multi-fiber ferrule. Alternatively, the lens for each individual optical fiber can be moved relative to the optical fiber or the optical fiber opening in the multi-fiber ferrule to cause the laser beam exiting the multi-fiber ferrule to be redirected into a structure that absorbs or blocks the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes, Daniel D. Kurtz
  • Publication number: 20240168240
    Abstract: An adapter to mate fiber optic ferrules to respective fiber optic ferrules in a fiber optic connector housing includes a main body having ferrule-side openings and connector-side openings to receive the fiber optic connectors. The adapter includes columns that extend between a top side and a bottom side of the main body, a plurality of triggers attached to the adapter, each of the plurality of triggers having a pair of trigger legs, the trigger legs positioned inside respective columns on opposing sides. There is also a holder extension groove oriented longitudinally in each column and configured to receive a holder extension of a fiber optic ferrule holder and a pair of ferrule stop pedestals on each column on opposite sides of each holder extension groove configured to seat the fiber optic ferrule when the fiber optic ferrule holder is fully inserted into the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers
  • Publication number: 20240168243
    Abstract: A new fiber optic connector provides a smaller form factor by including two ferrule assemblies in a housing. The housing accepts a push-pull mechanism that allows for insertion and removal from a carrier as well as an adapter. The push-pull mechanism may also include a flexure member to return the push-pull mechanism. Polarity of the fiber optic connector may also be selected by use of the push-pull mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Jillcha F. Wakjira, Mitchell Cloud, Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes
  • Publication number: 20240168247
    Abstract: An optical connector assembly (OCA) includes a connector housing to maintain alignment between optical components housed within the OCA and photoelectric converters on an optoelectronic substrate (OES) assembly. The optical components include a ferrule and an optical cable. The ferrule is optically coupled to the optical cable. The OCA includes a ferrule holder to hold the ferrule within the OCA, and a spring located between the connector housing and the ferrule holder. The spring is to apply a separating force between the ferrule holder and the connector housing. The OCA includes a gasket coupled to the connector housing. The coupling of the connector housing to a socket compresses the gasket to provide a seal between the connector housing and the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Paul Kessler Rosenberg, George Panotopoulos, Kent Devenport, Darrell R. Childers, Daniel D. Kurtz, Cecil D. Hastings, JR.
  • Patent number: 11988879
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule and a fiber optic connector housing make contact only along two sides of the fiber optic ferrule when in an unmated condition. One of the fiber optic ferrule and the fiber optic connector housing have been modified such that only two of the surfaces engage one another. The shoulders can be shortened, lengthened, or have a projection added to the current surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Jillcha F. Wakjira, Darrell R. Childers
  • Publication number: 20240159973
    Abstract: An adapter with novel alignment features engages alignment features on a plug, providing general alignment of the ferrule holders and ferrules in the plug. After the plug engages the adapter, the ferrule holders engage a second set of alignment features in the adapter to provide fine alignment for the ferrules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Hiep V. Nguyen, Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes, Jillcha Fekadu Wakjira, Joseph P. Howard
  • Publication number: 20240159974
    Abstract: An adapter with novel alignment features engages alignment features on a plug, providing general alignment of the ferrule holders and ferrules in the plug. After the plug engages the adapter, the ferrule holders engage a second set of alignment features in the adapter to provide fine alignment for the ferrules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2024
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventors: Hiep V. Nguyen, Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes, Jillcha Fekadu Wakjira, Joseph P. Howard
  • Publication number: 20240142715
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter assembly includes an adapter body, a spring clip and a retention cap attached to the adapter body enclosing each of the spring clip and two shutters. The adapter body has a main opening and a plurality of pivot arms extending away from the main opening and two latch arms, each of the latch arms disposed between a pair of the pivot arms causing gaps between the latch arms and the pivot arms, which are sealed by the retention cap. The spring clip has a plurality of fingers moveably contacting each of shutters, which pivot between a first and second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers, Craig M. Conrad
  • Patent number: 11971584
    Abstract: A two-piece fiber optic connector and a corresponding two-piece adapter allow for the tripling of the optical fibers that can be used with a standard fiber-optic cassette. The two-piece fiber optic connector has a fold-over latch to engage the adapter. The two-piece adapter has at least one latch to engage the standard fiber-optic cassette to retain the two-piece adapter and the fiber optic connectors in the adapter within the cassette. This allows for the retrofitting and/or continued use of the standard fiber-optic cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers
  • Patent number: 11971583
    Abstract: An adapter holds a multi-fiber ferrule in position to mate with a multi-fiber ferrule in a fiber optic connector. The adapter includes an adapter body that has a first opening in a first side of the adapter body that receives the multi-fiber ferrule and a second opening in the second side of the adapter body to removably receive the fiber optic connector. The adapter also includes a pair of latches connected to the adapter and disposed adjacent the first opening to engage and hold the multi-fiber ferrule in the adapter. The pair of latches are connected to the adapter body along longer edges of the first opening and extend in a direction away from the first and the second openings, the pair of latches having a terminal end and a non-uniform thickness between the adapter body and terminal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiep V. Nguyen, Darrell R. Childers, Shelly Ann Buchter
  • Patent number: 11971588
    Abstract: A new fiber optic connector provides a smaller form factor by including two ferrule assemblies in a housing. The housing accepts a push-pull mechanism that allows for insertion and removal from a carrier as well as an adapter. The push-pull mechanism may also include a flexure member to return the push-pull mechanism. Polarity of the fiber optic connector may also be selected by use of the push-pull mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Darrell R. Childers, Jillcha F. Wakjira, Jason Higley, Michael E. Hughes, Mitchell Cloud
  • Publication number: 20240126022
    Abstract: An assembly of two fiber optic ferrules allows for the mating of a CWDM fiber optic ferrule with a non-CWDM fiber optic ferrule. The CWDM fiber optic ferrule has optical fibers that carry optical beams with at least two different wavelengths, which the non-CWDM ferrule has optical fibers that carry only one wavelength. The CWDM fiber optic ferrule and the non-CWDM fiber optic ferrule have optical fibers that are inserted along parallel axes. The non-CWDM fiber optic ferrule has a lens pitch that matches the CWDM ferrule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Applicant: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitchell Cloud, Darrell R. Childers, DJ Hastings
  • Publication number: 20240118499
    Abstract: A dust plug for use in a pre-populated adapters has a main body having a top wall, a bottom wall, and two opposing side walls extending between the top wall and bottom wall. The dust plug also includes at least one pair of latches in a front portion of the main body and each of the at least one pair of latches may have an increased thickness at a forward end thereof. The area of increased thickness is sized to engage a receptacle in an inner surface of the housing when the dust plug is attached to the housing. Other versions contemplate not having the increased thickness. The dust plug preferably includes a grip at the back end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Mitchell Cloud, Darrell R. Childers
  • Patent number: 11953739
    Abstract: A new fiber optic ferrule has an alignment structure on a surface through which light passes. The alignment structure is preferably in the shape of a dog bone, allowing the alignment structure to align the fiber optic ferrule in a receptacle while reducing the influence of temperature on the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Daniel D. Kurtz, Darrell R. Childers, Brent D. Henley
  • Publication number: 20240111105
    Abstract: A new fiber optic connector provides a smaller form factor by including two ferrule assemblies in a housing. The housing accepts a push-pull mechanism that allows for insertion and removal from a carrier as well as an adapter. The push-pull mechanism may also include a flexure member to return the push-pull mechanism. Polarity of the fiber optic connector may also be selected by use of the push-pull mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Jillcha F. Wakjira, Mitchell Cloud, Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes
  • Patent number: D1030682
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec, Ltd
    Inventors: Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers
  • Patent number: D1031670
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: US Conec Ltd.
    Inventors: Scott Mendenhall, Jason Higley, Darrell R. Childers