Patents by Inventor Keith Frank Tharp

Keith Frank Tharp 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).

  • Publication number: 20150187461
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and electrical cable for high-speed connections. The apparatus can include an electrical cable, a wire sorter, an electrical mating paddle, and a cable assembly. The wire sorter can be coupled to an end of the electrical cable, and configured to receive wires extending from the end of the electrical cable and position the wires relative to one another in a predetermined arrangement to yield sorted wires. The electrical mating paddle card can then be coupled to the sorted wires according to the predetermined arrangement. The cable assembly can be configured to house the wire sorter and at least a portion of the wires. Moreover, the cable assembly can include a hot-melt injection chamber configured to at least partially immobilize the wires relative to the cable assembly when hot-melt is injected into the hot-melt injection chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jason Potterf, George Edward Curtis, William Frank Edwards, Gregory Scott Lovelace, Keith Frank Tharp
  • Publication number: 20150179328
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates improved common mode choke (CMC) and integrated connector module (ICM) designs for Ethernet applications. Some aspects provide an improved CMC component, including an upper chassis element having a first plurality of comb structures vertically protruding from an edge of the upper chassis element, and a lower chassis element comprising a second plurality of comb structures vertically protruding from an edge of the lower chassis element, the second plurality of comb structures configured to interlock with the first plurality of comb structures to form an enclosure when the upper chassis element is mechanically coupled with the lower chassis element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: William F. Edwards, George Edward Curtis, Ki Yuen Chau, Sandeep Arvindkumar Patel, Keith Frank Tharp, Robin Carol Johnson, Yu Liu, Billie Alton Hudson
  • Publication number: 20150172221
    Abstract: Power Over Ethernet (POE)/universal power over Ethernet (UPoE) may be enabled at multigigabit port-channel connections. This may allow for additional speed support in auto-negotiation messages while employing multigigabit speeds. An integrated connector module (referred to herein as a “ICM”) compatible with UPoE with a modified local physical layer (PHY) circuit may be capable of supporting multi-gigabit data rates (such as between 1 G to 10 G, e.g., 2.5 G and 5 G) as to not limit the data rates to 1 G. The ICM may provide multi-gig data transmission through a first plurality of pins comprising a multi-gig data pin area. Furthermore, the ICM may provide UPoE power to support the multi-gig transmission through a second plurality of pins comprising a UPoE power pin area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: William Frank Edwards, Keith Frank Tharp, Ken Naumann, Amrik Bains, Clark Carty, Alan Yee, Arvind Kansal, Samir Bouadjel
  • Publication number: 20150172110
    Abstract: Adjustable data rate data communications may be provided. First, a plurality of remote data rates at which a remote device is configured to operate may be received. Then, a plurality of local data rates at which a local device is configured to operate may be received. A greatest one of the plurality of local data rates may comprise a cable data rate comprising a greatest rate supported by a length of cable connecting the local device and the remote device. Next, an operating data rate may be determined. The operating data rate may comprise a highest one of the plurality of local data rates that has a corresponding equivalent within the plurality of remote data rates. The local device may then be operated at the operating data rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Frank Edwards, Keith Frank Tharp, Ken Naumann, Amrik Bains, Clark Carty, Alan Yee, Arvind Kansal, Samir Bouadjel
  • Publication number: 20150003032
    Abstract: An apparatus may be provided. The apparatus may comprise a circuit board. In addition, the apparatus may comprise an integrated connector mounted to the circuit board. A choke, external to the integrated connector, may be included in the apparatus. The choke may be electrically connected to the integrated connector through the circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: William Frank Edwards, George Edward Curtis, Ki Yuen Chau, Sandeep A. Patel, Keith Frank Tharp
  • Publication number: 20140295704
    Abstract: An integrated connector may be provided. The integrated connector may comprise a top portion, a front portion, and a side portion. The top portion may comprise a plurality of top fingers. The front portion may comprise a plurality of receptacles and a plurality of receptacle tabs respectively corresponding to the plurality of receptacles. The side portion may comprise at least one side finger comprising a main portion, a connector portion connected to the side portion, a tail portion, a top curved portion, and a bottom curved portion. The top fingers, the plurality of receptacle tabs, and the at least one side finger may be in electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: George Edward Curtis, Keith Frank Tharp, William Frank Edwards
  • Patent number: 6174190
    Abstract: A latch release is provided for engaging a latching mechanism of a connector. The latch release includes a housing cooperatively associated with the connector having a passageway that defines a first open end and a second open end. The second open end of the passageway is positioned adjacent to an operative portion of the latching mechanism. A rail is slidably positioned within the passageway and includes a front end that projects outwardly from the second open end of the passageway adjacent to the operative portion of the latching mechanism. A rear end of the rail projects outwardly from the first open end of the passageway so that when the rail is slid through the passageway, the front end of the rail engages the operative portion of the latching mechanism thereby releasing the connector. A method of unlatching a connector is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Inventors: Keith Frank Tharp, Brian Todd Mincemoyer