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).

  • Publication number: 20170235071
    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: February 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20170235070
    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: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Ponharith Nhep, Trevor D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170227719
    Abstract: Optical connector arrangements terminate at least seventy-two optical fibers. The optical connector arrangements include multiple optical ferrules that each terminates multiple optical fibers. Some example optical connectors can terminate about 144 optical fibers. Each optical connector includes a fiber take-up arrangement and a flange extending outwardly from a connector housing arrangement. The fiber take-up arrangement manages excess length of the optical fibers. A threadable coupling nut can be disposed on the connector housing arrangement to engage the outwardly extending flange. Certain types of optical connector arrangements include furcation cables spacing the connector housing arrangement form the fiber take-up arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Yu Lu, Gregory J. Schaible
  • Publication number: 20170184805
    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: January 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Trevor D. Smith, Ponharith Nhep
  • Publication number: 20170139152
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable and connector assembly including a fiber optic connector mounted at the end of a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly including a stub fiber supported within a ferrule. The stub fiber is fusion spliced to an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable at a location within the fiber optic connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Michael James Ott, Thomas P. Huegerich, Steven C. Zimmel, Ponharith Nhep
  • Publication number: 20170131483
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, and a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of the buffer, the second diameter portion positioned between the first diameter and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end to the second diameter portion. A hub holds the ferrule. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Scott Droege, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 9599780
    Abstract: A multi-fiber cable assembly includes an optical connector and a cable. The optical connector includes a connector body; an optical ferrule body, and alignment elements. The optical ferrule body has an end face defining a plurality of alignment openings arranged in rows and has a plurality of buckling chambers. Each buckling chamber is aligned with one of the rows of the alignment openings. The optical fibers of the cable have bare portions secured at a first end of the optical ferrule body using rigid epoxy. Each of the optical fibers is routed through one of the buckling chambers to one of the alignment holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yu Lu, Steven C. Zimmel, Gregory J. Schaible
  • Patent number: 9594219
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter assembly is provided that sealingly mounts to a telecommunications enclosure. The adapter assembly mounts to a communications enclosure such that one of two fiber optic connectors is received into the adapter assembly outside of the enclosure and the other fiber optic connector is engaged into the adapter assembly inside of the enclosure. The enclosure is pressurized at a predetermined level, and the adapter assembly is configured to maintain the pressure within the enclosure when the adapter assembly mounts to the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yu Lu, Steven C. Zimmel, David J. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170052332
    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: May 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Trevor D. Smith, Michael Kenneth Barth, Soutsada Vongseng, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 9568700
    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: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 9563017
    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: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Trevor D. Smith, Ponharith Nhep
  • Publication number: 20160363732
    Abstract: Some example methods of connectorizing an end of an optical cable include providing the ferrule assembly including a ferrule, a stub optical fiber extending rearwardly from the ferrule, and a flange disposed about the ferrule; splicing the stub optical fiber to an optical fiber of the optical cable at a splice location; and overmolding a rear hub portion (e.g., without any protective layers disposed between the rear hub portion and the stub optical fiber and optical fiber of the optical cable) using an adhesive material. The flange may include Nylon 6, 6. Splicing the fibers may include pulling the fibers away from each other during splicing without separating the fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Michael Andrew Oar, Richard J. Drapeau, Dennis Marvin Braun, Michael James Ott
  • Patent number: 9519114
    Abstract: Optical connector arrangements terminate at least seventy-two optical fibers. The optical connector arrangements include multiple optical ferrules that each terminates multiple optical fibers. Some example optical connectors can terminate about 144 optical fibers. Each optical connector includes a fiber take-up arrangement and a flange extending outwardly from a connector housing arrangement. The fiber take-up arrangement manages excess length of the optical fibers. A threadable coupling nut can be disposed on the connector housing arrangement to engage the outwardly extending flange. Certain types of optical connector arrangements include furcation cables spacing the connector housing arrangement form the fiber take-up arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Yu Lu, Gregory J. Schaible
  • Publication number: 20160352450
    Abstract: A system for delivering multiple passive optical network services is disclosed. The system includes a first optical transmission service comprising a common wavelength pair routed from a source to each of a plurality of subscribers. The system further includes a second optical transmission service comprising a plurality of unique wavelength pairs, where each of the unique wavelength pairs is routed from the source to a subscriber among the plurality of subscribers. The system delivers the first optical transmission service and the second optical transmission service to the subscriber on a single optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Timothy G. Badar, Trevor D. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160341910
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and the second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of a buffer, and a smooth and continuous transition between the first and the second diameter portions. The second diameter portion is positioned between the first diameter portion and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end toward the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, another smooth and continuous transition can be provided between the taper shape and the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, the axial passage is smooth and continuous between the first and the second ends of the body. A hub holds the ferrule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 9477047
    Abstract: A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, and a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of the buffer, the second diameter portion positioned between the first diameter and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end to the second diameter portion. A hub holds the ferrule. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Scott Droege, Steven C. Zimmel
  • Patent number: 9470850
    Abstract: A fiber optic cable and connector assembly including a fiber optic connector mounted at the end of a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic connector includes a ferrule assembly including a stub fiber supported within a ferrule. The stub fiber is fusion spliced to an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable at a location within the fiber optic connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Ott, Thomas P. Huegerich, Steven C. Zimmel, Ponharith Nhep
  • Publication number: 20160209605
    Abstract: A fiber optic adapter assembly is provided that sealingly mounts to a telecommunications enclosure. The adapter assembly mounts to a communications enclosure such that one of two fiber optic connectors is received into the adapter assembly outside of the enclosure and the other fiber optic connector is engaged into the adapter assembly inside of the enclosure. The enclosure is pressurized at a predetermined level, and the adapter assembly is configured to maintain the pressure within the enclosure when the adapter assembly mounts to the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Yu Lu, Steven C. Zimmel, David J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9395500
    Abstract: Connectorizing an optical fiber cable includes mounting at least part of a connector housing about a ferrule assembly; positioning a crimp sleeve so that a distal section of the crimp sleeve is disposed about a proximal end of the connector housing and a proximal section of the crimp sleeve is disposed about a jacketed portion of the optical fiber cable; applying a first force to the distal section of the crimp sleeve to tighten the distal section of the crimp sleeve against the proximal end of the connector housing; and applying a second force to the proximal section of the crimp sleeve to tighten the proximal section of the crimp sleeve against the jacketed portion of the optical fiber cable. Adhesive may be added to the proximal section of the crimp sleeve through an aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Steven C. Zimmel
  • Publication number: 20160187604
    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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Steven C. Zimmel, Ponharith Nhep, Trevor D. Smith