Patents by Inventor Robert G. Wiley
Robert G. Wiley 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: 8977098Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid metal clamp, and a clamp system and method including same. A clamp system includes a first clamp configured to hold a first portion of a set of fibers and a second clamp configured to hold a second portion of the set of fibers, the second clamp comprising a liquid metal that takes a liquid form at a first temperature for receipt of the second portion of the set of fibers and that takes a solid form at a second temperature to secure the second of the set of fibers. The set of fibers can be a single fiber or a plurality of fibers. The fiber or fibers can have a circular or non-circular cross section.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared Meitzler, Jeremy Dawkins
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Publication number: 20150040615Abstract: An electrical discharge, suitable for heating optical fibers for processing, is made in a controlled partial vacuum, such that saturation of available ionizable gas molecules is reached. The workpiece temperature is thereby made to be a stably controlled function of the absolute air pressure and is insensitive to other conditions. A system and method accomplishing the foregoing are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower, Jason Troyer, Clyde J. Troutman
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Publication number: 20150023639Abstract: A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
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Patent number: 8911161Abstract: Provided is a thermal mechanical diffusion system and method. In accordance with the present invention, one end of a fiber under tension is vibrated while a portion of the fiber is heated. A push-pull action of one end of the fiber forces increased (or rapid) diffusion of dopants in the portion of the fiber that is in a heat zone, which receives the heat. By controlling the amplitude and frequency of the vibration, a diffusion profile of one or more fibers can be dictated with precision. Heat sources having narrower thermal profiles can enable greater precision in dictating the diffusion profile. As an example, this can be particularly useful for creating a diffusion taper within a fiber to be spliced, where the taper is a result of thermal expansion of the fiber core. Diffusion can occur much more rapidly than is typical.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2012Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower
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Publication number: 20140331719Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Patent number: 8858096Abstract: A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
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Patent number: 8721196Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Publication number: 20130228021Abstract: In accordance with present invention, a load flexure assembly is provided. The load cell assembly includes a plurality of load cells (i.e., two or more) connected between a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate and bottom plate can be arranged substantially in parallel, one above the other, with the plurality of load cells coupled in between the two.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower, Jason Troyer
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Publication number: 20120201502Abstract: A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
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Publication number: 20120183265Abstract: Provided is a thermal mechanical diffusion system and method. In accordance with the present invention, one end of a fiber under tension is vibrated while a portion of the fiber is heated. A push-pull action of one end of the fiber forces increased (or rapid) diffusion of dopants in the portion of the fiber that is in a heat zone, which receives the heat. By controlling the amplitude and frequency of the vibration, a diffusion profile of one or more fibers can be dictated with precision. Heat sources having narrower thermal profiles can enable greater precision in dictating the diffusion profile. As an example, this can be particularly useful for creating a diffusion taper within a fiber to be spliced, where the taper is a result of thermal expansion of the fiber core. Diffusion can occur much more rapidly than is typical.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower
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Publication number: 20120183266Abstract: A multi-stage fiber processing system comprises first and second fiber holders configured to hold respective portions of at least one fiber and a plurality of heat sources arranged between the first and second fiber holders and configured to provide a heat zone that axially extends about the at least on fiber. The first and second fiber holders can be configured to translate away from each other for tapering. The plurality of heat sources can include two 3 electrode heat sources that deliver an extended, substantially isothermic heat field axially about the fiber. All but one heat source can be turned off to splice the fiber. The two 3 electrode heat sources can generate 9 arcs to from the heat zone, wherein arcs between the two 3 electrode heat sources can be rotated about the at least one fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2012Publication date: July 19, 2012Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower
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Publication number: 20120167423Abstract: A load-sensing base, cartridge and method are provided for use with a firearm. The cartridge includes a support element that moves a cartridge into a chamber of the firearm. The base includes a load sensor that senses a load applied by the support element and outputs a load sensing signal. The bases also include a cartridge counter, coupled to the load sensor, that uses the load sensing signal to determine a number of cartridges remaining.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: MAGCOUNT LLCInventors: John C. Kindt, Robert G. Wiley
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Publication number: 20110277511Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Patent number: 7985029Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Patent number: 7922400Abstract: A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Brett Clark, Robert G. Wiley, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Publication number: 20110052135Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid metal clamp, and a clamp system and method including same. A clamp system includes a first clamp configured to hold a first portion of a set of fibers and a second clamp configured to hold a second portion of the set of fibers, the second clamp comprising a liquid metal that takes a liquid form at a first temperature for receipt of the second portion of the set of fibers and that takes a solid form at a second temperature to secure the second of the set of fibers. The set of fibers can be a single fiber or a plurality of fibers. The fiber or fibers can have a circular or non-circular cross section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared Meitzler, Jeremy Dawkins
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Publication number: 20100263685Abstract: A method for preparing (e.g., cleaning or stripping) an optical fiber that includes reducing the gap resistance between two electrodes by injecting negative ions into the gas or gasses that are located between the electrodes. As a result, the voltage that is required to cause dielectric breakdown and initiation of the electrical arc is drastically reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2007Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
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Publication number: 20100135621Abstract: A multi-electrode system includes a fiber holder that holds at least one optical fiber, a plurality of electrodes arranged to generate a heated field to heat the at least one optical fiber, and a vibration mechanism that causes at least one of the electrodes from the plurality of electrodes to vibrate. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum. The system can be used for processing many types of fibers, such processing including, as examples, stripping, splicing, annealing, tapering, and so on. Corresponding fiber processing methods are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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Patent number: 7712981Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, provided is an extremely compact, simple, and cost-effective approach for aligning optical fibers in an optical fiber fusion splicer. The basis of this alignment method is an āSā-Curve Piezo Bending Actuator. The device comprises a thin strip of elastically flexible material (such as spring steel, beryllium copper, or fiber reinforced polymer) that is coated in four areas with a piezoelectric material (such as barium titanate or other known compounds).Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett G. Clark, Jared Meitzler
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Patent number: 7555188Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an optical fiber includes generating a continuous or pulsed arc in a first area wherein the arc creates a plasma in one or more gasses in the first area. The method further includes positioning a portion of the fiber in a second area adjacent to and outside of the plasma region, wherein coating material that is present on the optical fiber portion is removed when the plasma is present. Alternatively, in the case of a pulsed arc, the optical fiber portion may be positioned at least partially within the plasma region. The positioning step may be performed prior to or subsequent to the arc generating step. The method and apparatus may be utilized in a system that also strips and cleaves optical fibers. Also, a method for reducing the gap resistance between two electrodes by injecting negative ions into the area between the electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: June 30, 2009Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Donald Grasso, Steven A. Valle, Sam Aderogba, Jared Meitzler, Clyde Troutman, Christopher Williams