Patents by Inventor Steven C. Zimmel

Steven C. Zimmel 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: 8041177
    Abstract: A dust cap and a dust plug for installation with optical fiber connectors and optical fiber adapters respectively. The dust cap and the dust plug have features that protect an optical interface on the optical fiber connector and the optical fiber adapter from contamination. At least an exterior portion of the dust cap and the dust plug illuminate when installed on the optical fiber connector and the optical fiber adapter terminating an optical fiber transmitting visible light. The dust cap and the dust plug have features that reduce the intensity of a high power optical signal emitted from the optical fiber terminated by the optical fiber connector and optical fiber adapter. A first embodiment diffracts the optical signal, thereby reducing its intensity. A second embodiment disburses the optical signal, thereby reducing its intensity. A third embodiment absorbs high power frequencies of the optical signal and transmits certain visible frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Yu Lu
  • Patent number: 8023791
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are mounted to a removable holder. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Ponharith Nhep, Trevor Smith
  • Publication number: 20110222830
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer modules mounted within the chassis. Each module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the modules through an opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. A method of mounting an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 7970249
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of a splice enclosure include a housing defining an opening for allowing a trunk cable to be passed through the housing. The splice enclosure also includes a splice tray stack pivotally mounted within the housing and a cable management tray that mounts within the housing beneath the splice tray stack. The management tray includes cable retention and/or securement arrangements for mechanically securing the cables to the splice enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Solheid, Oscar Fernando Bran de León, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20110150398
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a drop cable assembly including a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The fiber optic drop cable also includes an intermediate location located between the first and second ends of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly also includes a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly further includes an optical fiber that extends continuously without splicing along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: ADC TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Christopher Stroth, Wayne M. Kachmar, Ronald J. Kleckowski
  • Publication number: 20110081124
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of fiber optic splitter modules mounted within the chassis. Each splitter module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the splitter module through a front opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the splitter module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. The adapters mounted within the interior of the chassis are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a fiber optic splitter module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Trevor Smith, Ponharith Nhep
  • Patent number: 7912336
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer modules mounted within the chassis. Each module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the modules through an opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. A method of mounting an optical wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20110058786
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 7891883
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector including a ferrule surrounding an optical fiber and a hub engaging the ferrule. The hub includes a front portion having first and second opposing surfaces and first and second tapered regions extending from the first and second opposing surfaces to a front face. A housing includes an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the first and second opposing surfaces, the anti-rotation seat including parallel first and second contact lines positioned at a front of the anti-rotation seat. A spring within a chamber of the housing biases the ferrule through a bore in the front of the housing. The first tapered region of the hub engages the first contact line and the second tapered region engages the second contact line when the hub and ferrule are in a first rotational position so that the optical fiber is maintained at a known orientation with respect to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Keith Q. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7885505
    Abstract: A telecommunications module includes a main housing portion and a cover, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall when mounted on the main housing portion. An optical component located within the module receives an input signal from a signal input location of the housing and outputs an output signal toward a signal output location on the front wall. The telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be either on the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing. The cover defines a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion being selectively breakable to expose a recess on the front wall of the main housing portion that defines a signal input location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20110019965
    Abstract: A housing including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within a telecommunications connection cabinet. A module with a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to a first optical fiber cable and terminated by a fiber optic connector. Each of the connectors are inserted within openings in a connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor D. Smith, Michael K. Barth, Soutsada Vongseng, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20110019964
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis with a top wall, a bottom wall, a front opening, a rear opening, and first and second transverse sidewalls extending between the front and rear openings, the top wall and bottom walls defining slots. Upper mounting guides defining upper key slots between adjacent upper guides and lower mounting guides defining lower key slots between adjacent lower guides are mounted to the top and bottom walls. The upper and lower guides define snap-fit structures inserted into the slots defined on the top and bottom walls for mounting the upper and lower guides to the chassis. At least one of the upper and the lower mounting guides defines adapter mounts for slidably receiving fiber optic adapters through the rear opening. Fiber optic modules are slidably received within the chassis through the front opening and each module is slidably inserted into the upper and lower key slots of the chassis, each module removable from the chassis through the front opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Ponharith Nhep, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20100322568
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector and cable assembly is disclosed herein. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a cable having at least one optical fiber, a jacket surrounding the optical fiber and at least one strength member for reinforcing the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly also includes a fiber optic connector having a main connector body having a distal end and a proximal end. The fiber optic connector also includes a ferrule supporting an end portion of the optical fiber. The ferrule is mounted at the distal end of the main connector body. The fiber optic connector further includes a spring for biasing the ferrule in a distal direction and a spring push for retaining the spring within the main connector body. The spring push is mounted at the proximal end of the main connector body. The spring push includes a main body and a stub that projects proximally outwardly from the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Yu Lu, Patrick Nault, Scott C. Kowalczyk, Scott Droege, Brent Campbell, Christopher Stroth
  • Publication number: 20100322567
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector including a ferrule surrounding an optical fiber and a hub engaging the ferrule. The hub includes a front portion having first and second opposing surfaces and first and second tapered regions extending from the first and second opposing surfaces to a front face. A housing includes an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the first and second opposing surfaces, the anti-rotation seat including parallel first and second contact lines positioned at a front of the anti-rotation seat. A spring within a chamber of the housing biases the ferrule through a bore in the front of the housing. The first tapered region of the hub engages the first contact line and the second tapered region engages the second contact line when the hub and ferrule are in a first rotational position so that the optical fiber is maintained at a known orientation with respect to the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Keith Q. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7853112
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly includes a chassis and a plurality of fiber optic splitter modules mounted within the chassis. Each splitter module includes at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the chassis are positioned at least one fiber optic adapter. Inserting the splitter module through a front opening of the chassis at a mounting location positions the connector of the splitter module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the chassis. The adapters mounted within the interior of the chassis are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a fiber optic splitter module within a telecommunications chassis is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Trevor Smith, Ponharith Nhep
  • Publication number: 20100310223
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter assembly includes a plurality of adapters included in an integrally formed body. Each of the adapters may include a protective shutter mounted within one end. The adapter assembly may be configured to mount to a chassis and position the adapters for receiving fiber optic connectors of telecommunications modules mounted to the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 7835611
    Abstract: A telecommunications assembly including a housing and a plurality of modules mounted within the housing. The modules includes a rear face in which is mounted at least one fiber optic connector. Within an interior of the housing are positioned at least one fiber optic adapters. Inserting the module through a front opening of the housing at a mounting location positions the connector of the module for insertion into and mating with the adapter of the housing. The adapters within the interior of the housing are integrally formed as part of a removable adapter assembly. A method of mounting a telecommunications module within a chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20100278498
    Abstract: A telecommunications module includes a main housing portion and a cover, the main housing portion defining a first sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall, the cover defining a second sidewall when mounted on the main housing portion. An optical component located within the module receives an input signal from a signal input location of the housing and outputs an output signal toward a signal output location on the front wall. The telecommunications module is configured such that the signal input location can be selected to be either on the front wall or the rear wall of the main housing. The cover defines a protrusion extending from the second sidewall toward the main housing portion, the protrusion being selectively breakable to expose a recess on the front wall of the main housing portion that defines a signal input location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 7826706
    Abstract: A telecommunications connection cabinet includes an enclosure; a splitter mounting location positioned within the enclosure; a fiber connection location positioned within the enclosure; and a connector storage location positioned within the enclosure. The splitter mounting location is located between the fiber connection location and the connector storage location. At least one storage block is mounted at the connector storage location. The storage block is configured to hold the fiber optic connectors of at least some splitter output cables. Each storage block is configured to receive the fiber optic connectors while dust caps are mounted on the ferrules of the fiber optic connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Soutsada Vongseng, Trevor D. Smith, Michael K. Barth, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: RE42522
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable connection system comprising a first fiber optic connector including a ferrule within which an optical fiber is mounted and a fiber optic adapter for receiving the first fiber optic connector including a sleeve for receiving the ferrule. The first fiber optic connector is mounted within a first threaded body with the fiber optic cable extending through an opening in a distal end of the first threaded body and the ferrule accessible through a proximal end of the first threaded body. The fiber optic adapter is mounted within a second threaded body and the second threaded body adapted for mounting to a bulkhead. The second threaded body adapted to engage the proximal end of the first threaded body with the first connector engaging the adapter and the ferrule extending into the sleeve. An outer housing is threadably mounted about both the first and second threaded bodies when the second threaded body is engaging the proximal end of the first threaded body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Trevor D. Smith, Michael J. Shorter