Search Patents
  • MULTI-STAGE FIBER PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120183266
    Abstract: A multi-stage fiber processing system comprises first and second fiber holders configured to hold respective portions of at least one fiber and a plurality of heat sources arranged between the first and second fiber holders and configured to provide a heat zone that axially extends about the at least on fiber. The first and second fiber holders can be configured to translate away from each other for tapering. The plurality of heat sources can include two 3 electrode heat sources that deliver an extended, substantially isothermic heat field axially about the fiber. All but one heat source can be turned off to splice the fiber. The two 3 electrode heat sources can generate 9 arcs to from the heat zone, wherein arcs between the two 3 electrode heat sources can be rotated about the at least one fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower
  • Multi-stage fiber processing system and method
    Patent number: 9028158
    Abstract: A multi-stage fiber processing system comprises first and second fiber holders configured to hold respective portions of at least one fiber and a plurality of heat sources arranged between the first and second fiber holders and configured to provide a heat zone that axially extends about the at least on fiber. The first and second fiber holders can be configured to translate away from each other for tapering. The plurality of heat sources can include two 3 electrode heat sources that deliver an extended, substantially isothermic heat field axially about the fiber. All but one heat source can be turned off to splice the fiber. The two 3 electrode heat sources can generate 9 arcs to from the heat zone, wherein arcs between the two 3 electrode heat sources can be rotated about the at least one fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower
  • DETACHABLE FIBER HOLDER PLATFORM AND ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20090148121
    Abstract: A fiber holder platform includes a support, a clamp configured to secure a cable to the support, and a securing mechanism configured to detachably secure the platform to a fiber holder and alternatively to a heat oven. A fiber holder assembly includes the fiber holder platform and the fiber holder, in a detachable or integral configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jared Meitzler
  • Detachable fiber holder platform and assembly
    Patent number: 7848609
    Abstract: A fiber holder platform includes a support, a clamp configured to secure a cable to the support, and a securing mechanism configured to detachably secure the platform to a fiber holder and alternatively to a heat oven. A fiber holder assembly includes the fiber holder platform and the fiber holder, in a detachable or integral configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jared Meitzler
  • Hydrogen concentration relocation in optical fiber
    Patent number: 7046886
    Abstract: A system and method in accordance with the present invention applies short bursts of a high temperature fluid to a hydrogen-loaded fiber to relocate the hydrogen within the fiber in the proximity of the fiber's core—to achieve a fiber having significantly improved photosensitivity. A stronger fiber grating is realized when the fiber is subsequently exposed to ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
  • Multi-step fiber stripping
    Patent number: 6799383
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for stripping one or more optical fibers having multiple coatings, accomplished with multiple stripping steps or passes. As an example, each coating may be stripped relatively independently. Such stripping may be accomplished with multiple bursts of a fluid or gas heated to a temperature sufficient to remove the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
  • Method and apparatus for generating an electric arc
    Patent number: 7317171
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the gap resistance between two electrodes, such as the electrodes used fusion splicing one optical fiber to another, by injecting negative ions into the gas or gasses that are located between the electrodes. As a result, the voltage that is required to cause dielectric breakdown and initiation of the electrical arc is drastically reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
  • System and method providing partial vacuum operation of arc discharge for controlled heating
    Patent number: 10481330
    Abstract: An electrical discharge, suitable for heating optical fibers for processing, is made in a controlled partial vacuum, such that saturation of available ionizable gas molecules is reached. The workpiece temperature is thereby made to be a stably controlled function of the absolute air pressure and is insensitive to other conditions. A system and method accomplishing the foregoing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower, Jason Troyer, Clyde J. Troutman
  • Partial vacuum operation of arc discharge for controlled heating
    Patent number: 9554420
    Abstract: An electrical discharge, suitable for heating optical fibers for processing, is made in a controlled partial vacuum, such that saturation of available ionizable gas molecules is reached. The workpiece temperature is thereby made to be a stably controlled function of the absolute air pressure and is insensitive to other conditions. A system and method accomplishing the foregoing are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett Clark, John Lower, Jason Troyer, Clyde J. Troutman
  • MULTI-ELECTRODE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100226613
    Abstract: A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Brett Clark, Robert Wiley, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
  • Multi-axis positioner
    Patent number: 11269143
    Abstract: A parallel position manipulator includes a top plate, a baseplate and a plurality of prismatic joint actuators. Each actuator includes an actuator joint having five Degrees of Freedom (DOF) at either the base plate or the top plate. When one or more of the actuators extends or contracts, the pivot points, or five DOF actuator joint, of the remaining actuators are allowed to shift in any axis other than that actuator's primary axis of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Wiley, Brett Clark
  • TORSION-FREE CLAMP AND FIBER CLEAVING USING SAME
    Publication number: 20200326486
    Abstract: A torsion-free fiber clamp may employ a substrate in combination with an epoxy, for example, or the like, to clamp at least one fiber. The substrate may be relatively flat or it may include a groove into which the fiber is placed. The epoxy may be a relatively fast-acting adhesive. The clamp may be employed in a fiber cleaving system and operation wherein it provides a substantially torsion-free clamp of the at least one optical fiber to provide a low cleave angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John LOWER, Robert WILEY, Brett CLARK, Jason TROYER, Kyle SHAHAN
  • COMPACT, ACTIVE ALIGNMENT FUSION SPLICER WITH AUTOMATIC VIEW-ANGLE COMPENSATION
    Publication number: 20090046982
    Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, provided is an extremely compact, simple, and cost-effective approach for aligning optical fibers in an optical fiber fusion splicer. The basis of this alignment method is an “S”-Curve Piezo Bending Actuator. The device comprises a thin strip of elastically flexible material (such as spring steel, beryllium copper, or fiber reinforced polymer) that is coated in four areas with a piezoelectric material (such as barium titanate or other known compounds).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Wiley, Brett G. Clark, Jared Meitzler
  • SIDE PUMP FIBER, METHOD OF MAKING SAME, AND OPTICAL DEVICES USING SAME
    Publication number: 20120201502
    Abstract: A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
  • Multi-axis positioning method
    Patent number: 10746928
    Abstract: A parallel position manipulator includes a top plate, a baseplate and a plurality of prismatic joint actuators. Each actuator includes an actuator joint having five Degrees of Freedom (DOF) at either the base plate or the top plate. When one or more of the actuators extends or contracts, the pivot points, or five DOF actuator joint, of the remaining actuators are allowed to shift in any axis other than that actuator's primary axis of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Wiley, Brett Clark, Jason Troyer, John Lower, Adam Jenkins, Clyde Troutman, Johnny Issa
  • Multi-electrode system
    Patent number: 7922400
    Abstract: A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Clark, Robert G. Wiley, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
  • Multi-axis relative positioning stage
    Patent number: 10429587
    Abstract: A parallel position manipulator includes a top plate, a baseplate and a plurality of prismatic joint actuators. Each actuator includes an actuator joint having five Degrees of Freedom (DOF) at either the base plate or the top plate. When one or more of the actuators extends or contracts, the pivot points, or five DOF actuator joint, of the remaining actuators are allowed to shift in any axis other than that actuator's primary axis of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Wiley, Brett Clark, Jason Troyer, John Lower, Adam Jenkins, Clyde Troutman, Johnny Issa
  • Multi-axis positioner
    Patent number: 11681100
    Abstract: A multi-axis positioning stage or positioner includes a top plate supported and manipulatable by a plurality of prismatic joint actuators. Each actuator includes an actuator joint having four or five Degrees of Freedom (DOF) with the top plate. When one or more of the actuators extends or contracts, the pivot points, or four or five DOF actuator joints, of the remaining actuators are allowed to shift to move the top plate. The actuators can be disposed between at least one base plate or base structure, and can be fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: 3SAE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Wiley, Brett Clark
  • Side pump fiber, method of making same, and optical devices using same
    Patent number: 8858096
    Abstract: A side pump fiber and a method of making a side pump fiber are provided. A plurality of pump fibers can be joined to a side of a signal fiber, at different locations. The method includes creating a lengthwise, tapered, concave pocket cut in a pump (or side pump) fiber, inserting the signal fiber in the pocket cut, and then coupling the side pump fiber to the center fiber at the pocket cut. Optical amplifiers and lasers, as examples, can be made using the above method and side pump fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Wiley
  • Multi-electrode system
    Patent number: 7670065
    Abstract: A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: 3SAE Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Clark, Robert Wiley, Jared C. Meitzler, Clyde J. Troutman
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