Patents by Inventor Frank J Flens

Frank J Flens 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: 10784956
    Abstract: A transmitter can include: at least one primary laser emitter configured to emit primary laser light; at least one primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the at least one primary laser emitter; and at least one spare laser emitter configured to emit spare laser light. Each spare laser emitter can be adjacent with a corresponding primary laser emitter such that a first primary laser emitter and a first spare laser emitter pair are directed through an optical system and out a common optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: II-VI Delaware Inc.
    Inventor: Frank J. Flens
  • Patent number: 10594402
    Abstract: An optically enabled multi-chip module has an optical engine transceiver and a host system chip. The optical engine transceiver has an optical engine front-end and an optical engine macro. The optical engine front-end has multiple laser diodes, laser driver circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the laser diodes, multiple photodiodes, amplifier circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the photodiodes, and at least one optical element optically positioned between the laser diodes and at least one optical fiber and between the photodiodes and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical element optically interfaces the laser diodes and photodiodes with the optical fiber. The optical engine macro is both electrically interfaced with and physically segregated from the optical engine front-end. The optical engine macro provides a subset of optical transceiver functionality to the optical engine front-end. The host system chip is electrically interfaced with the optical engine transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Flens, Daniel Mahgerefteh, The' Linh Nguyen, Jimmy Alan Tatum
  • Patent number: 10582611
    Abstract: An example embodiment includes optoelectronic module. The optoelectronic module may include a lens assembly, a module board, heat-generating components, and a thermally conductive plate. The lens assembly may be secured to the module board. The module board may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat-generating components may be mounted to the PCB. The thermally conductive plate may be secured to a surface of the module board. The thermally conductive plate may define an opening that receives at least a portion of the lens assembly. The thermally conductive plate may be configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy generated during operation of the heat-generating components and to transfer the thermal energy away from the heat-generating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Cindy H. Hsieh, Frank J. Flens, Ziv Lipkin
  • Patent number: 10551578
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate and a lens component. The substrate may include pads and solder protuberances. Each solder protuberance may be located on a pad. The lens component may define grooves sized to receive at least a portion of the solder protuberances. The lens component may be positioned relative to the substrate such that at least a portion of each solder protuberance is positioned within the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Darin James Douma, Frank J. Flens
  • Publication number: 20190312636
    Abstract: A transmitter can include: at least one primary laser emitter configured to emit primary laser light; at least one primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the at least one primary laser emitter; and at least one spare laser emitter configured to emit spare laser light. Each spare laser emitter can be adjacent with a corresponding primary laser emitter such that a first primary laser emitter and a first spare laser emitter pair are directed through an optical system and out a common optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank J. FLENS
  • Patent number: 10361776
    Abstract: A transceiver can include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include: a primary laser emitter; a primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the laser emitter; a spare laser emitter; and a transmitter integrated circuit having a primary channel operably coupled with the primary laser emitter; a spare channel operably coupled with the spare laser emitter; a switch on the primary channel; and a secondary channel operably coupled with the switch and the spare channel. The receiver can include: a primary detector photodiode; a spare detector photodiode; and a receiver integrated circuit a primary receiver channel operably coupled with the at least one primary detector photodiode; a spare receiver channel operably coupled with the spare detector photodiode; a receiver switch on the spare receiver channel; and a secondary receiver channel operably coupled with the receiver switch and the primary receiver channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank J. Flens
  • Publication number: 20180219629
    Abstract: A transceiver can include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include: a primary laser emitter; a primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the laser emitter; a spare laser emitter; and a transmitter integrated circuit having a primary channel operably coupled with the primary laser emitter; a spare channel operably coupled with the spare laser emitter; a switch on the primary channel; and a secondary channel operably coupled with the switch and the spare channel. The receiver can include: a primary detector photodiode; a spare detector photodiode; and a receiver integrated circuit a primary receiver channel operably coupled with the at least one primary detector photodiode; a spare receiver channel operably coupled with the spare detector photodiode; a receiver switch on the spare receiver channel; and a secondary receiver channel operably coupled with the receiver switch and the primary receiver channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventor: Frank J. Flens
  • Publication number: 20180124914
    Abstract: An example embodiment includes optoelectronic module. The optoelectronic module may include a lens assembly, a module board, heat-generating components, and a thermally conductive plate. The lens assembly may be secured to the module board. The module board may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat-generating components may be mounted to the PCB. The thermally conductive plate may be secured to a surface of the module board. The thermally conductive plate may define an opening that receives at least a portion of the lens assembly. The thermally conductive plate may be configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy generated during operation of the heat-generating components and to transfer the thermal energy away from the heat-generating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Cindy H. Hsieh, Frank J. Flens, Ziv Lipkin
  • Publication number: 20180120523
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate and a lens component. The substrate may include pads and solder protuberances. Each solder protuberance may be located on a pad. The lens component may define grooves sized to receive at least a portion of the solder protuberances. The lens component may be positioned relative to the substrate such that at least a portion of each solder protuberance is positioned within the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Darin James Douma, Frank J. Flens
  • Patent number: 9900085
    Abstract: A transceiver can include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include: a primary laser emitter; a primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the laser emitter; a spare laser emitter; and a transmitter integrated circuit having a primary channel operably coupled with the primary laser emitter; a spare channel operably coupled with the spare laser emitter; a switch on the primary channel; and a secondary channel operably coupled with the switch and the spare channel. The receiver can include: a primary detector photodiode; a spare detector photodiode; and a receiver integrated circuit a primary receiver channel operably coupled with the at least one primary detector photodiode; a spare receiver channel operably coupled with the spare detector photodiode; a receiver switch on the spare receiver channel; and a secondary receiver channel operably coupled with the receiver switch and the primary receiver channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Frank J. Flens
  • Patent number: 9857541
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate and a lens component. The substrate may include pads and solder protuberances. Each solder protuberance may be located on a pad. The lens component may define grooves sized to receive at least a portion of the solder protuberances. The lens component may be positioned relative to the substrate such that at least a portion of each solder protuberance is positioned within the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darin James Douma, Frank J. Flens
  • Patent number: 9788417
    Abstract: An example embodiment includes optoelectronic module. The optoelectronic module may include a lens assembly, a module board, heat-generating components, and a thermally conductive plate. The lens assembly may be secured to the module board. The module board may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat-generating components may be mounted to the PCB. The thermally conductive plate may be secured to a surface of the module board. The thermally conductive plate may define an opening that receives at least a portion of the lens assembly. The thermally conductive plate may be configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy generated during operation of the heat-generating components and to transfer the thermal energy away from the heat-generating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cindy H. Hsieh, Frank J. Flens, Ziv Lipkin
  • Publication number: 20170237496
    Abstract: An optically enabled multi-chip module has an optical engine transceiver and a host system chip. The optical engine transceiver has an optical engine front-end and an optical engine macro. The optical engine front-end has multiple laser diodes, laser driver circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the laser diodes, multiple photodiodes, amplifier circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the photodiodes, and at least one optical element optically positioned between the laser diodes and at least one optical fiber and between the photodiodes and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical element optically interfaces the laser diodes and photodiodes with the optical fiber. The optical engine macro is both electrically interfaced with and physically segregated from the optical engine front-end. The optical engine macro provides a subset of optical transceiver functionality to the optical engine front-end. The host system chip is electrically interfaced with the optical engine transceiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Frank J. Flens, Daniel Mahgerefteh, The' Linh Nguyen, Jimmy Alan Tatum
  • Patent number: 9726838
    Abstract: An optical fiber securing device may include a passage, an optical fiber seat, and a boundary portion. The passage may have an entrance and an exit, the passage configured to receive therein an optical fiber inserted through the entrance, as well as an epoxy. An epoxy path may be provided as a pathway between an epoxy well and the passage. The optical fiber seat may be configured to receive at least a portion of the optical fiber, the optical fiber seat configured to position an end of the optical fiber in optical alignment with a lens. The boundary portion may define an upper boundary of the passage at the exit of the passage, and is configured to restrain epoxy received within the passage such that the epoxy does not become interposed between the end of the optical fiber and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Lee, Daniel Kossowski, Frank J. Flens, William H. Wang, Michael Joseph McReynolds, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170023749
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate and a lens component. The substrate may include pads and solder protuberances. Each solder protuberance may be located on a pad. The lens component may define grooves sized to receive at least a portion of the solder protuberances. The lens component may be positioned relative to the substrate such that at least a portion of each solder protuberance is positioned within the grooves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Darin James Douma, Frank J. Flens
  • Patent number: 9515746
    Abstract: An optically enabled multi-chip module has an optical engine transceiver and a host system chip. The optical engine transceiver has an optical engine front-end and an optical engine macro. The optical engine front-end has multiple laser diodes, laser driver circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the laser diodes, multiple photodiodes, amplifier circuitry electrically interfaced with each of the photodiodes, and at least one optical element optically positioned between the laser diodes and at least one optical fiber and between the photodiodes and the at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical element optically interfaces the laser diodes and photodiodes with the optical fiber. The optical engine macro is both electrically interfaced with and physically segregated from the optical engine front-end. The optical engine macro provides a subset of optical transceiver functionality to the optical engine front-end. The host system chip is electrically interfaced with the optical engine transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank J. Flens, Daniel Mahgerefteh, The′ Linh Nguyen, Jimmy Alan Tatum
  • Publication number: 20160285557
    Abstract: A transceiver can include a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter can include: a primary laser emitter; a primary monitor photodiode optically coupled with the laser emitter; a spare laser emitter; and a transmitter integrated circuit having a primary channel operably coupled with the primary laser emitter; a spare channel operably coupled with the spare laser emitter; a switch on the primary channel; and a secondary channel operably coupled with the switch and the spare channel The receiver can include: a primary detector photodiode; a spare detector photodiode; and a receiver integrated circuit a primary receiver channel operably coupled with the at least one primary detector photodiode; a spare receiver channel operably coupled with the spare detector photodiode; a receiver switch on the spare receiver channel; and a secondary receiver channel operably coupled with the receiver switch and the primary receiver channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventor: Frank J. Flens
  • Publication number: 20160170161
    Abstract: An optical fiber securing device may include a passage, an optical fiber seat, and a boundary portion. The passage may have an entrance and an exit, the passage configured to receive therein an optical fiber inserted through the entrance, as well as an epoxy. An epoxy path may be provided as a pathway between an epoxy well and the passage. The optical fiber seat may be configured to receive at least a portion of the optical fiber, the optical fiber seat configured to position an end of the optical fiber in optical alignment with a lens. The boundary portion may define an upper boundary of the passage at the exit of the passage, and is configured to restrain epoxy received within the passage such that the epoxy does not become interposed between the end of the optical fiber and the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: David Lee, Daniel Kossowski, Frank J. Flens, William H. Wang, Michael Joseph McReynolds, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9354407
    Abstract: An example embodiment includes a communication module. The communication module includes a shell, a printed circuit board assembly (“PCBA”) at least partially positioned within the shell, an optical transmitter electrically coupled to the PCBA, an optical receiver electrically coupled to the PCBA, and a biasing assembly. The biasing assembly includes a latch cover configured to be attached to the shell, a slider, and a spring. The slider is configured to operate a latching mechanism that releasably connects the module to a host device through a mechanical connection. The slider includes a main body including a first end, an arm extending from the first end, and a stopper feature extending from the arm. The spring is positioned between the latch cover and the stopper feature to bias the latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tat Ming Teo, Chris K. Togami, Frank J. Flens
  • Publication number: 20150282303
    Abstract: An example embodiment includes optoelectronic module. The optoelectronic module may include a lens assembly, a module board, heat-generating components, and a thermally conductive plate. The lens assembly may be secured to the module board. The module board may include a printed circuit board (PCB). The heat-generating components may be mounted to the PCB. The thermally conductive plate may be secured to a surface of the module board. The thermally conductive plate may define an opening that receives at least a portion of the lens assembly. The thermally conductive plate may be configured to absorb at least a portion of thermal energy generated during operation of the heat-generating components and to transfer the thermal energy away from the heat-generating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cindy H. Hsieh, Frank J. Flens, Ziv Lipkin