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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Publication number: 20160170143Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2014Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventors: Toshirou MIZUSHIMA, Wenxin ZHENG
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Publication number: 20160054197Abstract: 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: August 22, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventors: Wenxin ZHENG, Hiroshi SUGAWARA, Bryan MALINSKY
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Publication number: 20150378102Abstract: An apparatus for splicing and tapering optical fibers employing a feedback system for stabilizing the laser output is disclosed. The apparatus may include a laser illuminating a target-area of one or more optical fibers by a laser beam; one or more cameras receiving light from one or more areas of the fibers and forming images of the one or more areas; a beam sampler detector sampling the beam power; and a controller receiving images from the camera and a signal from the power sampler. The controller may use the images received from the camera and the signal received from the detector as feedback parameters and to control the laser output according to said signal and said images such as to stabilize the laser output. The controller may include an image analysis unit determining, based on the images, a brightness or temperature distribution over the areas of the fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: December 31, 2015Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Hiroshi SUGAWARA, Wenxin ZHENG
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Publication number: 20150286000Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20150192738Abstract: An apparatus for splicing, tapering and heat processing optical fibers is disclosed. The apparatus may include a laser configured to irradiate a portion of one or more optical fibers by at least two laser beams. The beams may be configured to irradiate different areas of the exterior surface of the fiber portion such as to increase the uniformity of heating distribution over the exterior surface of a portion of the optical fiber. In a configuration using two beams to irradiate the fiber portion the angle between the beams may be the closest angle to 180 degrees for which coupling between the first beam and the second beam is avoided. The apparatus may include three or more beams distributed around the optical fiber such as to irradiate the fiber portion uniformly and provide uniform heating of the fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: July 9, 2015Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Toshirou Mizushima, Hiroshi Sugawara, William Klimowych, Doug Duke
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Patent number: 9063285Abstract: A method of calibrating a fusion splicer, including: heating ends of a first and second fiber with an arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at a corner of the first fiber and a corner of the second fiber; increasing the heat of the arc and heating the ends of the first and second fibers with the arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at the corner of the first fiber and the corner of the second fiber; determining a slope of the fiber end melt-back; and based on said slope, setting a value to adjust the heat produced by the splicer.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20140361452Abstract: A method of making a taper in an optical fiber including: securing the optical fiber in a first holder and a second holder, heating the optical fiber, and moving the first holder in a first direction with a pulling speed and at the same time moving the second holder in the first direction with a feeding speed, wherein a ratio of the pulling speed to the feeding speed is greater than one.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Patent number: 8282291Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2009Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Toshiki Kubo, Bryan Malinsky, Yoshiharu Kanda, Doug Duke
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Patent number: 8261442Abstract: A method of splicing a bend-optimized optical fiber in which a mesh of nanometer-scale pockets is formed in the cladding of the fiber is provided. The method may include cleaving the fiber; heating a section of the fiber at a distance from an end of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber. Alternatively, the method may include heating a section of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; cleaving the fiber through the section of the fiber that was heated; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20110309056Abstract: A method of calibrating a fusion splicer, including: heating ends of a first and second fiber with an arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at a corner of the first fiber and a corner of the second fiber; increasing the heat of the arc and heating the ends of the first and second fibers with the arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at the corner of the first fiber and the corner of the second fiber; determining a slope of the fiber end melt-back; and based on said slope, setting a value to adjust the heat produced by the splicer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20110146071Abstract: A method of thermally rounding a section of a non-circular optical fiber is provided. The method includes heating the section of the optical fiber with a sweeping motion along a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the optical fiber by at least one of moving the optical fiber with respect to a heat source and moving the heat source with respect to the optical fiber, such that a cross-section of an inner cladding of the section of the optical fiber becomes substantially circular.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2009Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Bryan Malinsky, Doug Duke
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Publication number: 20110138598Abstract: A method of splicing a bend-optimized optical fiber in which a mesh of nanometer-scale pockets is formed in the cladding of the fiber is provided. The method may include cleaving the fiber; heating a section of the fiber at a distance from an end of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber. Alternatively, the method may include heating a section of the fiber; allowing the fiber to cool; cleaving the fiber through the section of the fiber that was heated; transmitting light through the fiber; and splicing the fiber by analyzing an image of the fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20110064366Abstract: A method of aligning a non-circular fiber with another component is provided. A method of aligning a first D-fiber with a second D-fiber includes rotating the first D-fiber; obtaining a first image profile of an end of the first D-fiber; using the first image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the first D-fiber along a first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the first D-fiber is aligned along the first direction. The method also includes rotating the second D-fiber; obtaining a second image profile of an end of the second D-fiber; using the second image profile to measure a diameter of a cladding of the second D-fiber along the first direction; and repeating these operations until a minimum diameter of the cladding of the second D-fiber is aligned along the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Toshiki Kubo, Bryan Malinsky, Yoshiharu Kanda
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Publication number: 20110052121Abstract: A method for producing a ball lens including determining a feed length of optical fiber based on a target ball lens diameter; providing heat energy to a heating zone; moving, at a predetermined speed, one of the optical fiber and the heating zone so that the end of the optical enters the heating zone to heat the end of the optical fiber; and stopping the heating of the end of the optical fiber when the amount of moving the one of the optical fiber and the heating zone equals the determined feed length.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20100209049Abstract: A method of aligning a polarization-maintaining optical fiber by image profile analysis is provided. The method of aligning a polarization-maintaining optical fiber may include analyzing the polarization-maintaining optical fiber by illuminating a side of the optical fiber; rotating the optical fiber at incremental rotation angles; obtaining an image profile of the optical fiber at each rotation angle such that a focal plane of the image profile is positioned within the optical fiber; measuring an image parameter at each rotation angle based on the respective image profile; and constructing a measured image parameter profile of the optical fiber as a function of rotation angle based on the measured image parameters. The method may also include constructing an approximated image parameter profile of the optical fiber as a function of rotation angle by curve-fitting a mathematical function to the measured image parameter profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: AFL TELECOMMUNICATIONS LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Doug Duke, Toshiki Kubo, Bryan Malinski
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Publication number: 20100065535Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for generating a plasma field, including: arranging the points of discharge of a plurality of electrodes into a plane, applying voltage to each electrode, providing at least one grounded electrode, and controlling the path between the electrodes and corresponding temperature of the plasma formed between the electrodes by controlling the signal and phase to the high voltage generators.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2008Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: AFL Telecommunications LLCInventors: Wenxin Zheng, Douglas Duke, William R. Klimowych, Toshiki Kubo
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Publication number: 20080226227Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described for providing privacy features on an optical fiber link. By providing such features, the effects on the optical fiber link by certain outside influences, such as acoustical waves, may be prevented from being remotely monitored from a position outside the link.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: TENVERA, INC.Inventor: Wenxin Zheng
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Publication number: 20080175540Abstract: An illustrative optical connector is disclosed having a first component having a first channel therein; a second component having a second channel therein, wherein the second component is configured to physically mate with the first component such that the first and second channels merge to form a single continuous first channel extending completely through the mated first and second components; a third component having a second channel configured to as to receive the mated first and second components; and an optical fiber partially disposed within the second channel. Also disclosed is an illustrative kit having connector components and an illustrative method for combining connector components.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: Tenvera, Inc.Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Neal Zumovitch, Brent Ware
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Publication number: 20080175545Abstract: An illustrative optical connector is disclosed having a first component having a first channel therein and a first screw thread; a second component having a second channel therein and a second screw thread complementary to and engaged with the first screw thread, wherein the first component is at least partially disposed within the second channel; and an optical fiber partially disposed within the first and second channels. Also disclosed is an illustrative kit having connector components and an illustrative method for combining connector components.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2007Publication date: July 24, 2008Applicant: TENVERA, INC.Inventors: Wenxin Zheng, Neal Zumovitch, Brent Ware
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Publication number: 20080013907Abstract: A system and method for blowing an optical fiber to a destination are provided. A fiber blowing device may include an air inlet for receiving and conveying pressurized air from an air source through a bore of the blowing device. An optical fiber may be inserted into the device through a fiber inlet. A conduit may further be connected to the fiber blowing device, the conduit connecting the source location with the destination location. The optical fiber may be blown through the blowing device and the conduit using a drag force. The fiber blowing device may further include an acoustic measurement device for measuring distance and a display screen for displaying a variety of information.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2006Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: Tenvera, Inc.Inventors: Neal Zumovitch, Brent Ware, Wenxin Zheng, Tim Akers, Mikael Kostet