Patents by Inventor John T. Flower

John T. Flower 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: 6810161
    Abstract: An integrating optical system for measuring optical radiation. The system has a first sphere (forming a “primary” integrating cavity) and a second sphere (forming a “secondary” integrating cavity). An optical fiber interfaces to an input aperture of the first sphere so that light from the fiber enters the first sphere. A detector interfaces with the second sphere such that light from the first sphere couples to the detector by scattering within the first and second spheres and without a direct line of sight between the detector and the input aperture. The secondary integrating cavity has a smaller volume than the primary integrating cavity. The secondary integrating cavity is made smaller so as to decrease losses incurred by light scattering transmission through the first and second spheres. The detector is preferably configured so that it does not receive “specular” radiation (i.e., radiation from a single reflection) from the walls of the primary cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: ILX Lightwave Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Flower, Christopher S. Wood, Shirley Thorkelson
  • Patent number: 6741786
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical fiber holder apparatus for aligning and positioning an optical fiber such that a user can perform various testing and manipulation of the fiber. The apparatus comprises first and second sides coupled together along a common axis, each having a face containing a plurality of fiber engaging protrusions extending along the face. The fiber engaging protrusions of each side have a longitudinal groove formed therein for accepting an optical fiber. To capture and correctly position the fiber, the first and second sides are coupled together such that the fiber engaging protrusions of each side are interleaved with each other to gradually and repeatedly move an optical fiber placed therein towards the longitudinal groove of each side as the sides are rotated together in a mating relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: ILX Lightwave Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Flower, Joseph G. Long, Jeffrey V. Meuli
  • Publication number: 20030152311
    Abstract: An integrating optical system for measuring optical radiation. The system has a first sphere (forming a “primary” integrating cavity) and a second sphere (forming a “secondary” integrating cavity). An optical fiber interfaces to an input aperture of the first sphere so that light from the fiber enters the first sphere. A detector interfaces with the second sphere such that light from the first sphere couples to the detector by scattering within the first and second spheres and without a direct line of sight between the detector and the input aperture. The secondary integrating cavity has a smaller volume than the primary integrating cavity. The secondary integrating cavity is made smaller so as to decrease losses incurred by light scattering transmission through the first and second spheres. The detector is preferably configured so that it does not receive “specular” radiation (i.e., radiation from a single reflection) from the walls of the primary cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: John T. Flower, Christopher S. Wood, Shirley Thorkelson
  • Publication number: 20020131753
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical fiber holder apparatus for aligning and positioning an optical fiber such that a user can perform various testing and manipulation of the fiber. The apparatus comprises first and second sides coupled together along a common axis, each having a face containing a plurality of fiber engaging protrusions extending along the face. The fiber engaging protrusions of each side have a longitudinal groove formed therein for accepting an optical fiber. To capture and correctly position the fiber, the first and second sides are coupled together such that the fiber engaging protrusions of each side are interleaved with each other to gradually and repeatedly move an optical fiber placed therein towards the longitudinal groove of each side as the sides are rotated together in a mating relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: John T. Flower, Joseph G. Long, Jeffrey V. Meuli