Patents by Inventor Eric James Hopkins

Eric James Hopkins 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: 8425125
    Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, a clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the method comprising covering the ferrule with a cap, inserting a fiber into the clamping mechanism from the rear of the connector, and while the cap is on the ferrule, actuating the clamping mechanism to secure the fiber to the connector by urging the cap rearward relative to the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Joen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
  • Publication number: 20110271525
    Abstract: A method of terminating a fiber in a connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, a clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the method comprising covering the ferrule with a cap, inserting a fiber into the clamping mechanism from the rear of the connector, and while the cap is on the ferrule, actuating the clamping mechanism to secure the fiber to the connector by urging the cap rearward relative to the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
  • Patent number: 7988367
    Abstract: A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
  • Patent number: 7942591
    Abstract: A connector having a front and back orientation and comprising: (a) a cable having at least a jacket and an optical fiber; (b) a ferrule assembly comprising a rear portion for attachment to said jacket, and a ferrule defining a bore hole for containing said optical fiber; (c) a housing having a front portion configured for mating with a mating structure and a back portion configured for attachment to a boot; (d) a spring biasing said ferrule assembly forward in said housing; and (e) a boot secured to said back portion of said housing and extending rearward around said tight-jacketed cable, said boot having an internal channel large enough to allow axial movement of said ferrule assembly relative to said boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hopkins, Robert Carl Briggs, Stephen James Miller
  • Publication number: 20100254663
    Abstract: A connector having a front and back orientation and comprising: (a) a cable having at least a jacket and an optical fiber; (b) a ferrule assembly comprising a rear portion for attachment to said jacket, and a ferrule defining a bore hole for containing said optical fiber; (c) a housing having a front portion configured for mating with a mating structure and a back portion configured for attachment to a boot; (d) a spring biasing said ferrule assembly forward in said housing; and (e) a boot secured to said back portion of said housing and extending rearward around said tight-jacketed cable, said boot having an internal channel large enough to allow axial movement of said ferrule assembly relative to said boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hopkins, Robert Carl Briggs, Stephen James Miller
  • Patent number: 7758256
    Abstract: A field-installable optical connector for terminating an optical cable, said connector comprising: (a) a housing having a front and back orientation; (b) a rear body attached to the back of said connector housing; (c) a ferrule assembly disposed in said connector housing, said ferrule assembly comprising at least a ferrule adapted for receiving a fiber of said cable, and a clamping mechanism to the rear of said ferrule, said clamping mechanism comprising at least a platform defining a fiber-receiving channel for receiving said fiber, a first member adjacent to the fiber-receiving channel and having at least one cam surface, and a second member having a second cam surface, said first and second cam surfaces cooperating such that relative movement between said first and second members causes said first member to move toward said fiber-receiving channel; (d) an actuator operatively connected to said second member to cause said second member to move relative said first member upon axial movement of said actuator,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, David Donald Erdman
  • Publication number: 20100080515
    Abstract: A field-installable optical connector for terminating an optical cable, said connector comprising: (a) a housing having a front and back orientation; (b) a rear body attached to the back of said connector housing; (c) a ferrule assembly disposed in said connector housing, said ferrule assembly comprising at least a ferrule adapted for receiving a fiber of said cable, and a clamping mechanism to the rear of said ferrule, said clamping mechanism comprising at least a platform defining a fiber-receiving channel for receiving said fiber, a first member adjacent to the fiber-receiving channel and having at least one cam surface, and a second member having a second cam surface, said first and second cam surfaces cooperating such that relative movement between said first and second members causes said first member to move toward said fiber-receiving channel; (d) an actuator operatively connected to said second member to cause said second member to move relative said first member upon axial movement of said actuator,
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: ERIC JAMES HOPKINS, Douglas Harold Rohde, David Donald Erdman
  • Publication number: 20090185779
    Abstract: A cap for a field-installable optical connector having a front and rear orientation, a housing, an axially-actuated clamping mechanism in the housing, and a ferrule assembly forward of the clamping mechanism and forwardly biased in the housing, the ferrule assembly comprising a holder and a ferrule extending from the holder, the cap comprising a front end defining a cavity for receiving the ferrule and having an outer surface defining at least part of a front-end geometry, a back end defining an opening through which the ferrule is received and a perimeter around the opening, the perimeter configured to contact the holder when the cap is pushed rearward in the housing, the front and back ends being unitary such that any rearward force on the front end is transferred to the back end and through the perimeter to the holder and a retention portion for contacting the housing to secure the cap to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
  • Patent number: 7553089
    Abstract: An optical connector which is suitable for connection to jacketed cable includes a housing and a ferrule assembly. The ferrule assembly includes a front portion having a first geometry, and the housing includes a receiving portion having a second geometry that mates with the first geometry to prevent rotation of the ferrule assembly relative to the housing. A spring biases the ferrule assembly forward to assist mating of the first and second geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, Douglas Harold Rohde, Eric James Hopkins, David Donald Erdman
  • Patent number: 6891735
    Abstract: An adapter using an electrically-conductive wall within the adapter to channel EMI emissions to ground. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter comprises: (a) an elongated housing having a first and second end and defining a first passageway extending axially from the first end toward the second end, and a second passageway extending axially from the second end toward the first end, each passageway configured to receive an optical connector plug; (b) an electrically-conductive wall traversing the adapter between the first and second passageways, the wall being sized to cover a substantial portion of the opening when the adapter is mounted to the chassis; and (c) at least one portion of the wall extending outside of the housing to electrically couple with the chassis of the computer system when the adapter is mounted to the chassis forming an electrically-conductive path between a point on the wall and the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Antonius Hultermans, Jacob Arie Elenbaas, Jeffrey Dean Shipe, Eric James Hopkins
  • Patent number: 6788846
    Abstract: A modular fiber management system that comprises: (a) a tray defining a set of first ports, a set of second ports, and paths interconnecting at least a portion of the first and second ports, the paths being configured to limit the bend radius of one or more fibers contained therein to no less than the minimum bend radius of the fibers; (b) one or more first connectors and one or more second connectors, each first connector being disposed in a first port, and each second connector being disposed in a second port, each connector having an x, y and z orientation such that the z axis is along the optical axis of the connector; (c) a plurality of fibers interconnecting at least a portion of the first and second connectors and lying in the paths, each fiber having a certain amount of slack between the first connector and the second connector; and (d) wherein each connector is limited in movement along its x y and z axes relative to the tray, each connector being limited in movement along its x and y axes by the por
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald Allan Hileman, Eric James Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Shipe
  • Publication number: 20040028368
    Abstract: A modular fiber management system that comprises: (a) a tray defining a set of first ports, a set of second ports, and paths interconnecting at least a portion of the first and second ports, the paths being configured to limit the bend radius of one or more fibers contained therein to no less than the minimum bend radius of the fibers; (b) one or more first connectors and one or more second connectors, each first connector being disposed in a first port, and each second connector being disposed in a second port, each connector having an x, y and z orientation such that the z axis is along the optical axis of the connector; (c) a plurality of fibers interconnecting at least a portion of the first and second connectors and lying in the paths, each fiber having a certain amount of slack between the first connector and the second connector; and (d) wherein each connector is limited in movement along its x y and z axes relative to the tray, each connector being limited in movement along its x and y axes by the por
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Tyco Electronics
    Inventors: Ronald Allan Hileman, Eric James Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Shipe
  • Publication number: 20030147230
    Abstract: An adapter using an electrically-conductive wall within the adapter to channel EMI emissions to ground. In a preferred embodiment, the adapter comprises: (a) an elongated housing having a first and second end and defining a first passageway extending axially from the first end toward the second end, and a second passageway extending axially from the second end toward the first end, each passageway configured to receive an optical connector plug; (b) an electrically-conductive wall traversing the adapter between the first and second passageways, the wall being sized to cover a substantial portion of the opening when the adapter is mounted to the chassis; and (c) at least one portion of the wall extending outside of the housing to electrically couple with the chassis of the computer system when the adapter is mounted to the chassis forming an electrically-conductive path between a point on the wall and the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Antonius Hultermans, Jacob Arie Elenbaas, Jeffrey Dean Shipe, Eric James Hopkins