Patents by Inventor Richard C. A. Pitwon
Richard C. A. Pitwon 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).
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Patent number: 11280962Abstract: A waveguide includes a segment with a substantially uniform cure profile and related methods and systems for making and using the same. The waveguide is formed by modifying a laser beam used to write the waveguide to provide a substantially uniform cure profile in the waveguide. A marker characteristic of laser writing may be present in the waveguide. A method or system modifies an intensity profile or a shape profile of a laser beam to proactively compensate for exposure convolution based on the characteristics of the laser beam spot profile. A convolution compensator is positioned in the path of the laser beam to modify the beam spot profile during writing to form the one or more segments of the waveguide in a photo-curable layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 10928601Abstract: An apparatus and system that includes a plurality of data devices, a network module, and a chassis. The network module may include an interface defining couplings and channels extending between the couplings defining a network topology for interconnecting data devices. The chassis may be configured to receive data devices and the network module to operably couple the received data devices via the interconnect topology defined by the network module.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, Alexander C. Worrall
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Patent number: 10895684Abstract: A method, and apparatus provided thereby, includes providing a substrate and placing an integrated laser on the substrate. A first cladding layer surrounds the integrated laser and includes a laser optical coupler aligned with an output of the laser. The laser optical coupler includes silicon and the laser includes a III-V compound semiconductor. The output of the laser is spaced apart from the laser optical coupler by a gap of less than or equal to 500 nanometers. An optical waveguide is positioned on the first cladding layer and in optical communication with the laser optical coupler.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Mark A. Gubbins, Richard C. A. Pitwon, Aidan D. Goggin, Marcus B. Mooney, Reyad Mehfuz, Fadi El Hallak, Paula F. McElhinney, Brendan Lafferty, Kelly E. Callan
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Patent number: 10732360Abstract: Optical connectors may include various portions, or structures, to provide a plurality of degrees of movement to optical ferrules. The optical ferrules may be linearly movable along one or more axes and rotationally moveable about one or more axes for alignment and coupling to corresponding optical ferrules. The optical connectors may be integrated with, or in conjunction with, other non-optical connectors such as electrical connectors, e.g., located on a drive carrier.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, Alexander C. Worrall, Myles E. R. Spence, Alistair Allen Miller
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Patent number: 10288808Abstract: A waveguide includes multiple segments having different bend radii with substantially consistent cure profiles and related methods and systems for making and using the same. The waveguide is formed by modifying a laser beam used to write the waveguide to provide the consistent cure profile in the multiple segments. A marker characteristic of laser writing may be present in the waveguide. A method or system modifies an intensity profile or a shape profile of a laser beam to proactively compensate for exposure convolution based on the geometry of each waveguide segment. A convolution compensator is positioned in the path of the laser beam to modify the beam spot profile during writing to form the multiple segments of the waveguide in a photo-curable layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 10261257Abstract: A waveguide includes a segment with a substantially uniform cure profile and related methods and systems for making and using the same. The waveguide is formed by modifying a laser beam used to write the waveguide to provide a substantially uniform cure profile in the waveguide. A marker characteristic of laser writing may be present in the waveguide. A method or system modifies an intensity profile or a shape profile of a laser beam to proactively compensate for exposure convolution based on the characteristics of the laser beam spot profile. A convolution compensator is positioned in the path of the laser beam to modify the beam spot profile during writing to form the one or more segments of the waveguide in a photo-curable layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 10164709Abstract: A system includes a first optical communication interface and a second optical communication interface optically coupled via a free-space communication channel. The interfaces are spaced at variable distances. Each interface includes an optical source to provide a beam of electromagnetic energy and an optical receiver to receive the beam to bi-directionally communicate with the other interface via the channel. The first optical communication interface may be coupled to a sub-chassis. The second optical communication interface may be coupled to a device frame. The device frame may be movably coupled to the chassis. Communication may utilize multi-input, multi-output processing configured by a calibration matrix. A shutter may be positioned to receive the beam or be positioned clear of the beam depending on the distance between the interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, David Michael Davis
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Patent number: 10042125Abstract: Optical connectors may include various portions, or structures, to provide a plurality of degrees of movement to optical ferrules. The optical ferrules may be linearly movable along one or more axes and rotationally moveable about one or more axes for alignment and coupling to corresponding optical ferrules. The optical connectors may be integrated with, or in conjunction with, other non-optical connectors such as electrical connectors, e.g., located on a drive carrier.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2015Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, Alexander C. Worrall, Myles E. R. Spence, Alistair Allen Miller
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Patent number: 9864139Abstract: A waveguide includes a segment with a substantially uniform cure profile and related methods and systems for making and using the same. The waveguide is formed by modifying a laser beam used to write the waveguide to provide a substantially uniform cure profile in the waveguide. A marker characteristic of laser writing may be present in the waveguide. A method or system modifies an intensity profile or a shape profile of a laser beam to proactively compensate for exposure convolution based on the characteristics of the laser beam spot profile. A convolution compensator is positioned in the path of the laser beam to modify the beam spot profile during writing to form the one or more segments of the waveguide in a photo-curable layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9759634Abstract: The exemplary systems, apparatus, structures, and methods may include an assembly including substrate, an optical waveguide, and an optical access associated with the optical waveguide. Light from the optical access may be measured along the optical waveguide. The coupling loss of the optical waveguide may be determined based on at least the light measurements from the optical access.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2015Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9753217Abstract: Electro-optical circuit boards may include one or more recesses to provide stress relief between multiple layers of the electro-optical circuit boards during variations in applied temperature. The one or more recesses may be included in the substrate and/or the optical layer of the electro-optical circuit boards. The one or more recesses may also contain a compliant material disposed therein to improve the flexibility of the substrate and/or the optical layer. For example, the compliant material may disperse thermal expansion stress within the electro-optical circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: XYRATEX TECHNOLOGY LIMITEDInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9711930Abstract: An apparatus includes a curved multimode polymer waveguide having at least one inflection point and a doped region being doped with an amplifying dopant. An optical pump source or electrical pump source is configured to excite the doped region and amplify the optical signal transmitting along the curved multimode polymer waveguide.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Richard C. A. Pitwon, Alexander C. Worrall
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Patent number: 9690067Abstract: Optical couplings systems, apparatus, and methods may include an optical cable coupling device, or spool, and one or more optical coupling features. The one or more optical coupling features may be configured to optically couple an optical cable and another optical cable, each of which are storable on the optical cable coupling device. The optical cable coupling device and optical cables may be used on a modular device (e.g., computing device, networking device, storage device, etc.). The optical cable coupling device may define a radius that less than about 200% the minimum bend radius of the optical cables.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Publication number: 20170074752Abstract: The exemplary systems, apparatus, structures, and methods may include an assembly including substrate, an optical waveguide, and an optical access associated with the optical waveguide. Light from the optical access may be measured along the optical waveguide. The coupling loss of the optical waveguide may be determined based on at least the light measurements from the optical access.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9529153Abstract: Apparatuses that include an input and output waveguide; and a nested resonator including at least an external loop and a nested loop positioned entirely inside the external loop, each loop independently having a length that supports a single resonant wavelength, the external loop further including: an input interface configured to couple energy between the input waveguide and the nested resonator, an output interface configured to couple energy between the nested resonator structure and the output waveguide, and an internal interface, the external loop and the nested loop configured to couple energy there between via the internal interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9500806Abstract: An optical printed circuit board having at least one optical interface on a surface, and a deformable dam structure provided on the optical printed circuit board adjacent to the at least one optical interface. The deformable dam structure has an absorbent portion for absorbing adhesive and a method or forming the same.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9502851Abstract: An apparatus includes a polymer waveguide having a doped region, with amplifying dopant, separating a first un-doped region and a second un-doped region. The doped region being doped with an amplifying dopant. An optical pump source illuminates the doped region to allow light to transmit from the first un-doped region to the second un-doped region.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventors: Alexander C. Worrall, Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9325146Abstract: The invention provides an amplification module for an optical printed circuit board, the optical printed circuit board comprising plural polymer waveguide sections from independent waveguides, each of the sections being doped with an amplifying dopant, wherein the plural waveguide sections are routed so as to pass through an amplification zone in which the plural polymer waveguide sections are arranged close or adjacent to one another, the amplification module comprising: a pump source comprising plural light sources arranged to provide independently controllable levels of pump radiation to each of the plural waveguide sections. In an embodiment, the amplification module also includes plural polymer waveguide sections corresponding to the plural polymer waveguides of the printed circuit board on which in use the amplification module is to be arranged, each of the sections being doped with an amplifying dopant.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9247638Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical printed circuit board and an optical printed circuit board. The method includes providing a support layer having one or more optical waveguides formed on the support layer, the waveguides having exposed interfaces. A film is provided on one or more of the exposed interfaces, wherein the film has a smoother outer surface than the waveguide interface.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2010Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: Xyratex Technology LimitedInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon
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Patent number: 9044907Abstract: There is provided a method of making an optical polymer waveguide having an arbitrary refractive index profile, the method including: a) providing a first input optical beam having a first beam intensity profile and a second input optical beam having a second beam intensity profile; b) combining the first and second input optical beams to form an output optical beam having an output beam intensity profile; and c) forming the optical waveguide on a substrate by: exposing the optical materials of the waveguide to the output optical beam; and curing the optical materials using said output optical beam.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: XYRATEX TECHNOLOGY LIMITED—A SEAGATE COMPANYInventor: Richard C. A. Pitwon