Patents by Inventor Joseph N. Forkey

Joseph N. Forkey 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: 11906796
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector is provided. A receptacle has an angled interior surface that acts to guide an optical fiber into the correct position as a jack is inserted into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Forkey, Bruce M. Radl
  • Publication number: 20230185032
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector is provided. A receptacle has an angled interior surface that acts to guide an optical fiber into the correct position as a jack is inserted into the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph N. Forkey, Bruce M. Radl
  • Patent number: 11598925
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector is provided. A receptacle has an angled interior surface that acts to guide an optical fiber into the correct position as a jack is inserted into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Forkey, Bruce M. Radl
  • Publication number: 20220197008
    Abstract: Treated ends of optical fibers for use in an endoscope are disclosed. An end of an optical fiber, either raw cut or polished, is coated with an optical material that enables the end to be aligned without the need for conventional flush mounting techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph N. Forkey, Bruce M. Radl, David E. Chambers
  • Publication number: 20210239916
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector is provided. A receptacle has an angled interior surface that acts to guide an optical fiber into the correct position as a jack is inserted into the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Joseph N. Forkey, Bruce M. Radl
  • Patent number: 10935781
    Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes an outer tube with an internal cavity, an insert, first and second image forming assemblies, first and second optical fiber bundles, and a first adapter. The insert is positioned within the outer tube and has a first side and a second side each including a concave outer surface. The insert holds the first and second image forming assemblies in a parallel relationship. Each optical fiber bundle substantially fills a non-circular void in the outer tube defined as a cross- sectional area between a respective side of the insert and a respective portion of an inner surface of the outer tube. The first adapter is configured to connect at least one of the first optical fiber bundle and the second optical fiber bundle to an illumination source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Patent number: 10620424
    Abstract: An objective element for use in an endoscope is provided. The objective element comprises a flat glass plate that is in contact with the plano side of a plano-convex lens. The side of the flat glass plate in contact with the plano-convex lens is coated with an opaque material other than an aperture that is in line with the axis of the plano-convex lens. Alternatively, the plano side of a plano-convex lens may be coated with an opaque material other than an aperture that is in line with the axis of the plano-convex lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian E. Volk, Joseph N. Forkey
  • Patent number: 10162146
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical assembly including a housing and an internally supported optical element, such as a lens, mounted along an axis. At least one of the housing and optical element includes a radially extending chamber. Adhesive disposed in the chamber interacts with the housing and the optical element to prevent axial motion between the optical element and housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S Breidenthal, Richard Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N Forkey, Robert N Ross, Brian E Volk
  • Publication number: 20180329199
    Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes a proximal main body, an outer tube extended to a distal end of the endoscope and a pair of optical train subassemblies. Distal and proximal inserts in the distal and proximal ends of the outer tube, respectively, support the optical train subassemblies. First and second optical fiber bundles substantially fill all of the voids between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surfaces of the inserts and the optical train subassemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Patent number: 10031330
    Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes a proximal main body, an outer tube extended to a distal end of the endoscope and a pair of optical train subassemblies. Distal and proximal inserts in the distal and proximal ends of the outer tube, respectively, support the optical train subassemblies. First and second optical fiber bundles substantially fill all of the voids between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surfaces of the inserts and the optical train subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Patent number: 9696537
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical device, such as a lens cell, includes a housing having an axially extending chamber and an intermediate internal spacer that positions a sharp-edged lens in the chamber. The sharp-edged lens has first and second optical surfaces that intersect in a circumferential sharp edge. The housing positions an image sensor proximal to the sharp-edged lens for processing light therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operationas, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Richard G. Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Publication number: 20150241688
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical device, such as a lens cell, includes a housing having an axially extending chamber and an intermediate internal spacer that positions a sharp-edged lens in the chamber. The sharp-edged lens has first and second optical surfaces that intersect in a circumferential sharp edge. The housing positions an image sensor proximal to the sharp-edged lens for processing light therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Richard G. Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Patent number: 9036281
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical device, such as a lens cell, includes a housing having an axially extending chamber and an intermediate internal spacer that positions a sharp-edged lens in the chamber. The sharp-edged lens has first and second optical surfaces that intersect in a circumferential sharp edge. The housing positions an image sensor proximal to the sharp-edged lens for processing light therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S Breidenthal, Richard Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N Forkey, Robert N Ross, Brian E Volk
  • Publication number: 20130301149
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical device, such as a lens cell, includes a housing having an axially extending chamber and an intermediate internal spacer that positions a sharp-edged lens in the chamber. The sharp-edged lens has first and second optical surfaces that intersect in a circumferential sharp edge. The housing positions an image sensor proximal to the sharp-edged lens for processing light therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Richard Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Publication number: 20130301148
    Abstract: An opto-mechanical assembly including a housing and an internally supported optical element, such as a lens, mounted along an axis. At least one of the housing and optical element includes a radially extending chamber. Adhesive disposed in the chamber interacts with the housing and the optical element to prevent axial motion between the optical element and housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Richard Cyr, David Chambers, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Publication number: 20120212592
    Abstract: An adjustment system for use in a stereoscopic imaging system for adjusting the dipvergence and/or convergence of a displayed stereo image pair. A plano-plano window is mounted for tilting in one of the image paths thereby to enable the correction of dipvergence shifts, the adjustment of convergence or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Publication number: 20120212813
    Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes a proximal main body, an outer tube extended to a distal end of the endoscope and a pair of optical train subassemblies. Distal and proximal inserts in the distal and proximal ends of the outer tube, respectively, support the optical train subassemblies. First and second optical fiber bundles substantially fill all of the voids between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surfaces of the inserts and the optical train subassemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: PRECISION OPTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Joseph N. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk
  • Patent number: 7715105
    Abstract: A lens structure and method for manufacture of such a lens. A lens element has multiple sawn planar faces between image forming surfaces so the lens element has a polygonal cross section. The manufacture includes the step of utilizing oversized conventional cylindrical lens elements and other optical elements formed into lens systems. The faces are sawn to reduce the overall size. The sawing can be applied to integral lens elements or assemblies or lens arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Forkey, Richard G. Cyr, Robert N. Ross, Joseph N. Forkey
  • Patent number: 7699773
    Abstract: A rigid endoscope includes an outer housing subassembly that supports an optics subassembly. The outer housing subassembly includes concentric tubes with optical fiber for providing object illumination. The optics subassembly includes a tubular sheath sealed at both ends for carrying lenses and other optical elements. A slow-curing adhesive material fills an annular gap between the optics and outer housing subassemblies. The adhesive material has a tear strength that seals and positions the optics subassembly for normal use and that enables the optics subassembly to be withdrawn from the outer housing subassembly for repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard E. Forkey, William P. Barnes, Robert N. Ross, Joseph N. Forkey
  • Patent number: 7621868
    Abstract: A convergence prism assembly with a housing and a prism structure having a plurality of prisms mounted in a unitary assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Precision Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Breidenthal, Richard G. Cyr, Christopher David, Joseph N. Forkey, Richard E. Forkey, Robert N. Ross, Brian E. Volk