Patents by Inventor Derek C. Willetts

Derek C. Willetts 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).

  • Internal power re-routing by reverse powering to overcome fault scenarios in submarine cable systems
    Patent number: 7245046
    Abstract: System and method for re-routing internal power for reducing voltage requirements of a submarine transmission system. A power supply supplies power to a bridge rectifier circuit (10) the latter biasing a plurality of Zener diodes (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16) which are connected in parallel arrangement with respective optical amplifiers (21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26). The bridge rectifier circuit (10) is arranged such that a first predetermined number of Zener diodes (23; 24; 25; 26) are biased in forward bias direction thus operating as normal diodes with a low voltage drop, whereas a second predetermined number of Zener diodes (21; 22) are biased in reverse or powering direction thus powering respective optical amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Derek C. Willetts
  • Internal power re-routing by reverse powering to overcome fault scenarios in submarine cable systems
    Publication number: 20040160127
    Abstract: System and method for re-routing internal power for reducing voltage requirements of a submarine transmission system. A power supply supplies power to a bridge rectifier circuit (10) the latter biasing a plurality of Zener diodes (11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16) which are connected in parallel arrangement with respective optical amplifiers (21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26). The bridge rectifier circuit (10) is arranged such that a first predetermined number of Zener diodes (23; 24; 25; 26) are biased in forward bias direction thus operating as normal diodes with a low voltage drop, whereas a second predetermined number of Zener diodes (21; 22) are biased in reverse or powering direction thus powering respective optical amplifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventor: Derek C. Willetts
  • Supervisory signalling for optical communications equipment
    Publication number: 20030142976
    Abstract: The present invention relates to supervisory signalling for optical communications equipment. More particularly, it relates to a method and apparatus for supervisory signalling relating to submarine optical communications equipment on a submarine optical communications system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Anthony John Evans, Derek C. Willetts