Patents by Inventor Terrance J. Schmidt

Terrance J. Schmidt 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).

  • Method of optically aligning a workholder for connector geometry control and in-line measurement capability and apparatus used therefor
    Patent number: 7070338
    Abstract: An apparatus, integral to a polishing fixture, that enables a plurality of fiber optic connectors to be independently aligned to a polishing surface. Once inserted into the apparatus, a reference connector is positioned over an optical interferometer, whose focal plane is parallel with that of the polishing surface plane. The apparatus is then adjusted to the known interferometric geometry of the reference connector. This procedure is performed for each integral apparatus insuring that all consecutive connectors inserted into said apparatus are polished to the same interferometric geometry as that of the reference connector. The same apparatus also permits connector geometries to be measured by the interferometer while the connectors are mounted in the polishing fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Terrance J. Schmidt, Cuneyt Erdogan, Alfred J. Cheswick