Patents by Inventor Tuong K. Truong
Tuong K. Truong 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: 11243365Abstract: Methods for providing flammability protection for plastic optical fiber (POF) embedded inside avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) or other equipment used in airborne vehicles such as commercial or fighter aircrafts. A thin and flexible flammability protection tube is placed around the POF. In one proposed implementation, a very thin (100 to 250 microns in wall thickness) polyimide tube is placed outside and around the POF cable embedded inside an LRU or other equipment. The thin-walled polyimide tube does not diminish the flexibility of the POF cable.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2018Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Henry B. Pang, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Patent number: 10895696Abstract: An epoxy-free, high-durability and low-cost plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process which meets commercial airplane environmental requirements. The splice design: (1) does not require the use of epoxy to join the end faces of two plastic optical fibers together; (2) incorporates double-crimp rings to provide highly durable pull force for the plastic optical fibers that are joined together; (3) resolves any vibration problem at the plastic optical fiber end faces using a miniature stop inside a splice alignment sleeve; and (4) incorporates a splice alignment sleeve that can be mass produced using precision molding or three-dimensional printing processes.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Patent number: 10852494Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable active optical connector that is modular with one or more channels and that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa. On one side, the apparatus has a pluggable electrical interface to a line replaceable unit (LRU); on the other side the apparatus has a pluggable optical interface side to an aircraft fiber optic wiring bundle. The apparatus is pluggable to different types of LRUs including rack-mounted and bolted-down LRUs. The apparatus includes electronic and photonic components sufficient to enable electrical/optical conversion totally within a standard-sized aircraft connector. The apparatus is adaptable to various data communication protocols and has the flexibility to be used in either a single-fiber or a dual-fiber bidirectional data link.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Henry B. Pang
-
Patent number: 10845231Abstract: Systems and methods that use a differential spectral liquid level sensor to measure the level of liquid in a reservoir (e.g., a fuel tank or other storage container). The use of a differential spectral liquid level sensor solves the problem of common-mode intensity variations (i.e., intensity variations not due to the level of the liquid) by having two different wavelengths propagate through the same optical path but have different spectral attenuations in the liquid. By determining the ratio of the received optical powers, common-mode intensity variations can be neutralized, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the received power reading and the resulting liquid level indication.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Eric J. Harvey
-
Publication number: 20200183104Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable active optical connector that is modular with one or more channels and that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa. On one side, the apparatus has a pluggable electrical interface to a line replaceable unit (LRU); on the other side the apparatus has a pluggable optical interface side to an aircraft fiber optic wiring bundle. The apparatus is pluggable to different types of LRUs including rack-mounted and bolted-down LRUs. The apparatus includes electronic and photonic components sufficient to enable electrical/optical conversion totally within a standard-sized aircraft connector. The apparatus is adaptable to various data communication protocols and has the flexibility to be used in either a single-fiber or a dual-fiber bidirectional data link.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2018Publication date: June 11, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Henry B. Pang
-
Publication number: 20200158972Abstract: Methods for providing flammability protection for plastic optical fiber (POF) embedded inside avionics line replaceable units (LRUs) or other equipment used in airborne vehicles such as commercial or fighter aircrafts. A thin and flexible flammability protection tube is placed around the POF. In one proposed implementation, a very thin (100 to 250 microns in wall thickness) polyimide tube is placed outside and around the POF cable embedded inside an LRU or other equipment. The thin-walled polyimide tube does not diminish the flexibility of the POF cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: May 21, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Henry B. Pang, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Patent number: 10615876Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Barkhung Henry Pang, Sean M. Ramey, Timothy E. Jackson
-
Patent number: 10574359Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable single-wavelength bidirectional transceiver in a switching network. The apparatus includes: a 2×1 fusion coupler; an input/output optical fiber, a detector optical subassembly (OSA) fiber and a laser OSA fiber all connected to the 2×1 fusion coupler; and a transceiver that includes a transceiver electronic circuit printed wiring board (PWB) and laser and detector OSAs electrically coupled to the transceiver electronic circuit PWB. The laser OSA includes a laser that is situated to transmit light to the laser OSA fiber, while the detector OSA includes a photodetector that is situated to receive light from the detector OSA fiber. The transceiver electronic circuit PWB also includes a multiplicity of transceiver input/output metal contacts arranged at one pluggable end of the PWB.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Tuong K. Truong
-
Publication number: 20200057203Abstract: An epoxy-free, high-durability and low-cost plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process which meets commercial airplane environmental requirements. The splice design: (1) does not require the use of epoxy to join the end faces of two plastic optical fibers together; (2) incorporates double-crimp rings to provide highly durable pull force for the plastic optical fibers that are joined together; (3) resolves any vibration problem at the plastic optical fiber end faces using a miniature stop inside a splice alignment sleeve; and (4) incorporates a splice alignment sleeve that can be mass produced using precision molding or three-dimensional printing processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Patent number: 10495821Abstract: An epoxy-free, high-durability and low-cost plastic optical fiber splice design and fabrication process which meets commercial airplane environmental requirements. The splice design: (1) does not require the use of epoxy to join the end faces of two plastic optical fibers together; (2) incorporates double-crimp rings to provide highly durable pull force for the plastic optical fibers that are joined together; (3) resolves any vibration problem at the plastic optical fiber end faces using a miniature stop inside a splice alignment sleeve; and (4) incorporates a splice alignment sleeve that can be mass produced using precision molding or three-dimensional printing processes.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Patent number: 10451469Abstract: An airplane fuel level optical sensor using one side-emitting plastic optical fiber (SPOF) and two fluorescent plastic optical fibers (FPOFs) to detect the airplane fuel level without using any electrically conductive component or element placed inside the fuel tank. This dual-FPOF sensor is capable of achieving high resolution and high accuracy with a one-time calibration in the actual airplane's fuel tank environment. One embodiment of the dual-FPOF sensor uses one SPOF and two FPOFs to detect fuel level change based on the optical signal output from the two FPOFs. The sensor design uses large-diameter (core and cladding), lightweight, low-cost and high-durability plastic optical fiber, which is very desirable for airplane installation.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Tuong K. Truong
-
Patent number: 10447423Abstract: A bidirectional, multi-wavelength fiber optical network that enables communication between electrical components (such as line replaceable units) at high data transmission rates. The proposed fiber optical network in accordance with some embodiments comprises a single plastic or glass optical fiber capable of transmitting data at rates faster than 1 Gbits/sec. In accordance with some embodiments, the number of fiber cables between line replaceable units onboard an airplane can be reduced by a factor of eight or more by substituting one gigabit plastic or gigabit glass optical fiber for four or more plastic or glass optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2017Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Dennis G. Koshinz
-
Publication number: 20190296828Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable single-wavelength bidirectional transceiver in a switching network. The apparatus includes: a 2×1 fusion coupler; an input/output optical fiber, a detector optical subassembly (OSA) fiber and a laser OSA fiber all connected to the 2×1 fusion coupler; and a transceiver that includes a transceiver electronic circuit printed wiring board (PWB) and laser and detector OSAs electrically coupled to the transceiver electronic circuit PWB. The laser OSA includes a laser that is situated to transmit light to the laser OSA fiber, while the detector OSA includes a photodetector that is situated to receive light from the detector OSA fiber. The transceiver electronic circuit PWB also includes a multiplicity of transceiver input/output metal contacts arranged at one pluggable end of the PWB.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Tuong K. Truong
-
Publication number: 20190293473Abstract: Systems and methods that use a differential spectral liquid level sensor to measure the level of liquid in a reservoir (e.g., a fuel tank or other storage container). The use of a differential spectral liquid level sensor solves the problem of common-mode intensity variations (i.e., intensity variations not due to the level of the liquid) by having two different wavelengths propagate through the same optical path but have different spectral attenuations in the liquid. By determining the ratio of the received optical powers, common-mode intensity variations can be neutralized, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the received power reading and the resulting liquid level indication.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Eric J. Harvey
-
Patent number: 10371559Abstract: Systems and methods that use a differential spectral liquid level sensor to measure the level of liquid in a reservoir (e.g., a fuel tank or other storage container). The use of a differential spectral liquid level sensor solves the problem of common-mode intensity variations (i.e., intensity variations not due to the level of the liquid) by having two different wavelengths propagate through the same optical path but have different spectral attenuations in the liquid. By determining the ratio of the received optical powers, common-mode intensity variations can be neutralized, thereby enhancing the accuracy of the received power reading and the resulting liquid level indication.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Eric J. Harvey
-
Patent number: 10352755Abstract: Systems and methods that use a passive differential optical sensor to measure the level of liquid in a reservoir (e.g., a fuel tank or other storage container). More specifically, the passive differential optical liquid level sensor solves the problem of common-mode intensity variations by employing three optical fibers that will be disposed vertically in the reservoir. The system comprises a side-emitting optical fiber having one end optically coupled to an optical source, a side-receiving optical fiber optically coupled to a first optical detector, and a total internal reflection optical fiber having one end optically coupled to the other end of the side-emitting optical fiber and another end optically coupled to a second optical detector. A computer or processor is configured to perform differential processing of the detected light and then determine the liquid level based on the differential processing results.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen
-
Publication number: 20190215072Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2019Publication date: July 11, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Barkhung Henry Pang, Sean M. Ramey, Timothy E. Jackson
-
Publication number: 20190140761Abstract: A bidirectional, multi-wavelength fiber optical network that enables communication between electrical components (such as line replaceable units) at high data transmission rates. The proposed fiber optical network in accordance with some embodiments comprises a single plastic or glass optical fiber capable of transmitting data at rates faster than 1 Gbits/sec. In accordance with some embodiments, the number of fiber cables between line replaceable units onboard an airplane can be reduced by a factor of eight or more by substituting one gigabit plastic or gigabit glass optical fiber for four or more plastic or glass optical fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2017Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Tuong K. Truong, Dennis G. Koshinz
-
Patent number: 10263706Abstract: A controller area network (CAN) comprising a plurality of CAN nodes that communicate via a CAN bus that comprises a fiber optical network. The fiber optical network uses a single fiber and a single wavelength for transmit and receive, and comprises a passive reflective optical star. The reflective optical star comprises an optical mixing rod having a mirror at one end. The other end of the reflective optical star is optically coupled to the transmitters and receivers of a plurality of optical-electrical media converters by way of respective high-isolation optical Y-couplers. Each CAN node produces electrical signals (in accordance with the CAN message-based protocol) which are converted into optical pulses that are broadcast to the fiber optical network. Those optical pulses are then reflected back to all CAN nodes by the reflective optical star.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Tuong K. Truong, Dennis G. Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan, Kim Quan Anh Nguyen, Sean M. Ramey, Timothy E. Jackson, Barkhung Henry Pang
-
Publication number: 20190107431Abstract: An airplane fuel level optical sensor using one side-emitting plastic optical fiber (SPOF) and two fluorescent plastic optical fibers (FPOFs) to detect the airplane fuel level without using any electrically conductive component or element placed inside the fuel tank. This dual-FPOF sensor is capable of achieving high resolution and high accuracy with a one-time calibration in the actual airplane's fuel tank environment. One embodiment of the dual-FPOF sensor uses one SPOF and two FPOFs to detect fuel level change based on the optical signal output from the two FPOFs. The sensor design uses large-diameter (core and cladding), lightweight, low-cost and high-durability plastic optical fiber, which is very desirable for airplane installation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: April 11, 2019Applicant: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Eric Y. Chan, Dennis G. Koshinz, Tuong K. Truong