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: 8425125Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Joen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
-
Publication number: 20110271525Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
-
Patent number: 7988367Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 21, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
-
Patent number: 7942591Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 7, 2009Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Eric James Hopkins, Robert Carl Briggs, Stephen James Miller
-
Publication number: 20100254663Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Eric James Hopkins, Robert Carl Briggs, Stephen James Miller
-
Patent number: 7758256Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 20, 2010Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, David Donald Erdman
-
Publication number: 20100080515Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: ERIC JAMES HOPKINS, Douglas Harold Rohde, David Donald Erdman
-
Publication number: 20090185779Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2008Publication date: July 23, 2009Applicant: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, David Donald Erdman, Eric James Hopkins, Douglas Harold Rohde, Koen Verweyen, Daniel Daems
-
Patent number: 7553089Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Michael Lawrence Gurreri, Douglas Harold Rohde, Eric James Hopkins, David Donald Erdman
-
Patent number: 6891735Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Antonius Hultermans, Jacob Arie Elenbaas, Jeffrey Dean Shipe, Eric James Hopkins
-
Patent number: 6788846Abstract: 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 porType: GrantFiled: May 1, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Ronald Allan Hileman, Eric James Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Shipe
-
Publication number: 20040028368Abstract: 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 porType: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: Tyco ElectronicsInventors: Ronald Allan Hileman, Eric James Hopkins, Jeffrey Dean Shipe
-
Publication number: 20030147230Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Antonius Hultermans, Jacob Arie Elenbaas, Jeffrey Dean Shipe, Eric James Hopkins