Patents by Inventor Wenxin Zheng
Wenxin Zheng 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: 11762148Abstract: Systems and methods of aligning multicore fiber optic cables are provided. A method for aligning a first multicore fiber (MCF) and a second multicore fiber (MCF), the first MCF and second MCF each comprising a plurality of cores and a marker, the method including: producing a brightness profile for the first and second MCFs; determining rotational orientations of the first and second MCFs from the brightness profile; rotating at least one of the first and second MCFs until each of the plurality of cores of the first MCF and the second MCF are aligned; determining if the markers of the first MCF and second MCF are aligned in view of a region of the brightness profile associated with the markers; and splicing the first MCF and the second MCF together if the cores and marker of the first MCF are aligned with the cores and marker of the second MCF.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 11531161Abstract: A method for cleaving an optical fiber may include generating a laser beam, such as a CO2 laser beam, for a discrete time period. The laser beam may impact an optical fiber and form a discrete crater extending into the optical fiber from the outer surface thereof. The method may further include pausing generation of the laser beam for a discrete time period, and rotating the optical fiber about a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The method may further include repeating generation of the laser beam. A plurality of discrete craters disposed in an annular array about a circumference of the optical fiber may be formed. The method may further include separating the optical fiber into a main optical fiber portion and a cleaved portion after formation of the annular array of discrete craters.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Mohamed Amine Jebali, Gongwen Zhu
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Patent number: 11448825Abstract: A method for forming a side-pumped optical fiber combiner includes ablating a cladding of a signal fiber to form an angled notch in the cladding. The signal fiber includes a core and the cladding surrounding the core. The method further includes inserting a cladding-free end of a pump fiber into the angled notch. The pump fiber includes a core and a cladding, the cladding-free end including the core of the pump fiber and free from the cladding of the pump fiber. The method further includes fusing the cladding-free end to the signal fiber.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Mohamed Amine Jebali, Gongwen Zhu
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Publication number: 20220171130Abstract: Systems and methods of aligning multicore fiber optic cables are provided. A method for aligning a first multicore fiber (MCF) and a second multicore fiber (MCF), the first MCF and second MCF each comprising a plurality of cores and a marker, the method including: producing a brightness profile for the first and second MCFs; determining rotational orientations of the first and second MCFs from the brightness profile; rotating at least one of the first and second MCFs until each of the plurality of cores of the first MCF and the second MCF are aligned; determining if the markers of the first MCF and second MCF are aligned in view of a region of the brightness profile associated with the markers; and splicing the first MCF and the second MCF together if the cores and marker of the first MCF are aligned with the cores and marker of the second MCF.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2021Publication date: June 2, 2022Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 10996397Abstract: Control systems and methods for aligning multimode optical fibers are provided. A method includes producing a brightness profile for a first and second multimode optical fiber. The method further includes determining a cladding center position and a core center position from the brightness profile of the first multimode optical fiber and from the brightness profile of the second multimode optical fiber. The method further includes calculating a concentricity error for the first multimode optical fiber based on the cladding center position and the core center position from the brightness profile of the first multimode optical fiber and for the second multimode optical fiber based on the cladding center position and the core center position from the brightness profile of the second multimode optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20200355878Abstract: Control systems and methods for aligning multimode optical fibers are provided. A method includes producing a brightness profile for a first and second multimode optical fiber. The method further includes determining a cladding center position and a core center position from the brightness profile of the first multimode optical fiber and from the brightness profile of the second multimode optical fiber. The method further includes calculating a concentricity error for the first multimode optical fiber based on the cladding center position and the core center position from the brightness profile of the first multimode optical fiber and for the second multimode optical fiber based on the cladding center position and the core center position from the brightness profile of the second multimode optical fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 10612998Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Hiroshi Sugawara, Bryan Malinsky
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Patent number: 10386578Abstract: A method of making a bent tip fiber ball lens by moving a bender to a first side of a ball lens at an end of an optical fiber that has a first axis; moving the bender in a first direction such that the bender applies a force to the ball lens, wherein the ball lens and optical fiber is bent such that a first angle between the first axis and a second axis, which extends from an end of the ball lens and the end of the optical fiber is greater than zero; applying heat, for a first time, to the optical fiber at a location that is a first distance from the ball lens; removing the heat and allowing the optical fiber to harden such that the first angle is maintained after the bender force is removed.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20190227235Abstract: A method for cleaving an optical fiber may include generating a laser beam, such as a CO2 laser beam, for a discrete time period. The laser beam may impact an optical fiber and form a discrete crater extending into the optical fiber from the outer surface thereof. The method may further include pausing generation of the laser beam for a discrete time period, and rotating the optical fiber about a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The method may further include repeating generation of the laser beam. A plurality of discrete craters disposed in an annular array about a circumference of the optical fiber may be formed. The method may further include separating the optical fiber into a main optical fiber portion and a cleaved portion after formation of the annular array of discrete craters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2017Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Mohamed Amine Jebali, Gongwen Zhu
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Publication number: 20190187381Abstract: A method for forming a side-pumped optical fiber combiner includes ablating a cladding of a signal fiber to form an angled notch in the cladding. The signal fiber includes a core and the cladding surrounding the core. The method further includes inserting a cladding-free end of a pump fiber into the angled notch. The pump fiber includes a core and a cladding, the cladding-free end including the core of the pump fiber and free from the cladding of the pump fiber. The method further includes fusing the cladding-free end to the signal fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: June 20, 2019Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Mohamed Amine Jebali, Gongwen Zhu
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Patent number: 10310184Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers includes aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and moving at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber. The method further includes discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2018Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Robin Carbonnier
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Publication number: 20190078973Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Hiroshi Sugawara, Bryan Malinsky
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Patent number: 10209446Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber assembly includes splicing a first fiber and a second fiber together. The first fiber is one of a single mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber and the second fiber is a coreless silica fiber. The method further includes heating the second fiber, and applying a tensile force to the second fiber during heating of the second fiber. The method further includes discontinuing application of the tensile force when a minimum neck thickness of the second fiber is below a neck thickness threshold. The method further includes discontinuing heating after discontinuing application of the tensile force and after the second fiber has separated into a tip portion and a detached portion, the tip portion connected to the first fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 10190939Abstract: A method of analyzing a polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber includes illuminating a side of the PM optical fiber, physically rotating the PM optical fiber and measuring light intensity of light transmitted through the PM optical fiber to obtain an image profile, mathematically shifting the image profile at incremental rotation angles, expanding the image profile at each rotational angle into a Fourier series profile, and determining points of symmetry of the PM optical fiber based on the Fourier series profiles.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Hiroshi Sugawara, Bryan Malinsky
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Publication number: 20180259712Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers includes aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and moving at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber. The method further includes discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Robin Carbonnier
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Publication number: 20180136396Abstract: A method for forming an optical fiber assembly includes splicing a first fiber and a second fiber together. The first fiber is one of a single mode optical fiber or a multi-mode optical fiber and the second fiber is a coreless silica fiber. The method further includes heating the second fiber, and applying a tensile force to the second fiber during heating of the second fiber. The method further includes discontinuing application of the tensile force when a minimum neck thickness of the second fiber is below a neck thickness threshold. The method further includes discontinuing heating after discontinuing application of the tensile force and after the second fiber has separated into a tip portion and a detached portion, the tip portion connected to the first fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2016Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20170363809Abstract: An end cap holder includes a main body and a pump which generates a vacuum pressure. The main body includes a bore hole extending therethrough along a central axis, and a contact surface which surrounds an end of the bore hole. Activation of the pump may generate a vacuum pressure within the bore hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Brad Hendrix, Usman B. Nasir
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Patent number: 9817187Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates to an end cap holder for fixing an end cap to aid in alignment with an optical fiber prior to splicing by a splicing device. The use of the end cap holder may provide a method to fix an end cap holder having a different diameter from an optical fiber that the splicing device may be set up or adjusted for.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Toshirou Mizushima, Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20170017041Abstract: A method of making a bent tip fiber ball lens by moving a bender to a first side of a ball lens at an end of an optical fiber that has a first axis; moving the bender in a first direction such that the bender applies a force to the ball lens, wherein the ball lens and optical fiber is bent such that a first angle between the first axis and a second axis, which extends from an end of the ball lens and the end of the optical fiber is greater than zero; applying heat, for a first time, to the optical fiber at a location that is a first distance from the ball lens; removing the heat and allowing the optical fiber to harden such that the first angle is maintained after the bender force is removed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2015Publication date: January 19, 2017Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 9429707Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fiber axicon taper includes, aligning a fiber, splicing the fiber, pulling the fiber, necking the fiber, breaking the fiber, and rounding the edges of the fiber axicon taper.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng