Patents by Inventor Dennis McLain
Dennis McLain 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).
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Patent number: 7941918Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, LLCInventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 7814653Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2004Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 7669323Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for electrically connecting a stinger into a network node may include installing a non-conductive force exerting means through a port of a closed node housing of a network node. The method may include extending the force exerting means from outside the node housing to within the interior of the network node and adjusting the force exerting means without accessing the interior of the node housing to exert a force on the conductor of a stinger installed within the interior of the network node to contact and forcibly bring the conductor of the stinger into electrical contact with an interface means installed within the interior of the network node to establish an electrical interface and seize the conductor of the stinger within the interior of the network node.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Publication number: 20080250638Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: October 16, 2008Inventors: Steven C. PFISTER, Dennis MCLAIN, Lai HOANG
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Publication number: 20060196048Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2006Publication date: September 7, 2006Inventors: Steven Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Publication number: 20050085135Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2004Publication date: April 21, 2005Inventors: Steven Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 6811447Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Scientific Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang
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Patent number: 6788868Abstract: A slidable planer window cover that secures an optical connector in a fiber optic module. The cover is notched to form a rectangular opening, the notch defining two adjoining sides of the rectangle, a base and a base cover forming the other two sides. The window cover is slotted to allow a screw to pass through from the outside—with respect to the module—and be secured to the base on the other side. When the screw is tightened against the window cover, sliding motion is restrained. Flexible clips on opposing sides of the connector retain the connector within the rectangular opening when the window cover is secured by the screw in a closed position. When the screw is loosened, a removal tab on the window cover facilitates sliding the cover to the extent allowed by the screw, to enlarge the opening thereby facilitating removal of the connector.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.Inventors: Dennis McLain, Frank F. Eichenlaub, Jr.
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Publication number: 20040022514Abstract: A slidable planer window cover that secures an optical connector in a fiber optic module. The cover is notched to form a rectangular opening, the notch defining two adjoining sides of the rectangle, a base and a base cover forming the other two sides. The window cover is slotted to allow a screw to pass through from the outside—with respect to the module—and be secured to the base on the other side. When the screw is tightened against the window cover, sliding motion is restrained. Flexible clips on opposing sides of the connector retain the connector within the rectangular opening when the window cover is secured by the screw in a closed position. When the screw is loosened, a removal tab on the window cover facilitates sliding the cover to the extent allowed by the screw, to enlarge the opening thereby facilitating removal of the connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Dennis McLain, Frank F. Eichenlaub
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Publication number: 20030142031Abstract: A spring-loaded device is installed into a node housing at a predetermined location. The predetermined location is selected to correspond to another predetermined location into which a stinger may be installed. These predetermined locations on the node housing are selected to further correspond to a predetermined internal location of an RF interface connector. A conducting pin of the RF interface extends through a dielectric between a nail head shaped end, which provides electrical connection with the stinger projection, and an end soldered to a PCB of the amplifier. The amplifier may be installed and the node housing closed before the stinger and spring-loaded device are installed into the housing. This facilitates installation of the stinger into the housing without having to open the housing and remove the amplifier. External threads on the spring-loaded device facilitate installation thereof, but a unique torque is not required therefor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2002Publication date: July 31, 2003Inventors: Steven C. Pfister, Dennis McLain, Lai Hoang