Patents by Inventor Donald V. Couden

Donald V. Couden 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).

  • Optical fiber connection utilizing photodiode means
    Patent number: 4941724
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for tapping fiber optic devices is provided. An input optical fiber is connected to a graded index lense which will collimate light from the input fiber. A second graded index lense is provided in optical alignment with the first lense, which receives and decollimates the light collimated by the first lense. A sensor, such as a photodiode, is interposed between the lenses to intercept a minor portion of the light being transmitted to the second lense, and convert the sensed light to a signal indicative of a selected characteristic of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Donald V. Couden, Paul C. Karr, Layton Balliet