David R Erdman

US Patent:

6685362, Feb 3, 2004

Filed:

Mar 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/817230

Inventors:

Matthew Burkholder - Lititz PA
David Erdman - Hummelstown PA
Michael Gurreri - York PA

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G02B 636

US Classification:

385 78, 439607

Abstract:

An adapter comprising: (a) a housing having a front and a rear orientation and walls to define a port configured for receiving a mating plug assembly and an opening through the rear of the port, the walls comprising at least two opposing walls; and (b) two shutters, each shutter having a proximate end and a distal end, each shutter being attached at its proximate end to one of the opposing walls with its distal end extending rearwardly, the shutters being biased inwardly toward the interior of the port such that, when the adapter is unmated, the shutters meet at an angle to at least partially shield the opening and, when the adapter is mated with a plug, the plug contacts the shutters and pivots them outwardly.

US Patent:

6955479, Oct 18, 2005

Filed:

Aug 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/637751

Inventors:

David Donald Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US
Michael Lawrence Gurreri - York PA, US
Randy Marshall Manning - Lemoyne PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G02B006/36

US Classification:

385 78

Abstract:

A method of assembling an optical fiber assembly comprising the steps of: (a) providing a ferrule sub-assembly comprising a ferrule having a front end and a fiber secured therein and a positioning member; (b) positioning the ferrule sub-assembly in a housing adapted to receive the positioning member in a plurality of predetermined radial positions; (c) preparing the front end such that the fiber is suitable for optical coupling with a mating device; (d) rotating the ferrule sub-assembly to at least a portion of the plurality of predetermined radial positions within the housing while measuring the power loss associated with each radial position to determine the optimal radial position; and (e) optionally polishing the end of the ferrule into the desired configuration after the optimum radial position is determined.

US Patent:

7052188, May 30, 2006

Filed:

Apr 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/473901

Inventors:

Randy Marshall Manning - Lemoyne PA, US
Soren Grinderslev - Hummelstown PA, US
David Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US
Mike Gurreri - York PA, US

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 78, 385 56, 385 84, 385 90

Abstract:

An optical fiber assembly kit () comprising: (a) a ferrule assembly () having at least one bore hole to receive an optical fiber and a first contact surface; (b) a positioning member () having a second contact surface and an aperture adapted to receive the ferrule assembly (), wherein the first contact surface and the aperture are configured to form a first interface in which a first radial position relationship between the ferrule assembly () and the positioning member () is maintained; (c) a housing having an interior cavity adapted for receiving the positioning member () and the ferrule assembly (), the housing and the second surface of the positioning member () are configured to form a second interface such that a second radial position relationship between the positioning member () and the housing is maintained, wherein one of the first or second radial position relationships is adjustable in increments less than a quarter rotation, and the other radial position relationship is predetermined, and wherein the one radial position relationship has an interference fit interface.

US Patent:

7318751, Jan 15, 2008

Filed:

Jan 11, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/330495

Inventors:

David D. Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US
Douglas H. Rohde - York PA, US
Robert C. Briggs - Newport PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

H01R 25/00

US Classification:

439654, 385 93

Abstract:

An adapter includes an integrally-molded metal housing defining a first port axially aligned with a second port, each adapted to receive an optical connector plug having a cylindrical ferrule. A junction portion defines a cylindrical axial passage between the ports and has a first end adjacent the first port and a second end adjacent the second port. The first end of the junction portion has a ridge portion extending inwardly, thereby restricting a diameter of the passage at the first end. An alignment sleeve is disposed in the passage, the alignment sleeve having a diameter suitable for receiving a ferrule of each optical connector plug and axially aligning the ferrules to effect optical coupling of fibers contained in the ferrules. An end cap is disposed at the second end and is engaged with the junction portion to restrict the diameter of the passage at the second end, thereby securing the sleeve in the passage.

US Patent:

7325976, Feb 5, 2008

Filed:

Oct 20, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/254356

Inventors:

Michael L. Gurreri - York PA, US
David D. Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US
Bryan T. Edwards - Camp Hill PA, US
Eric J. Hopkins - Liverpool PA, US
David R. Baechtle - Dillsburg PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G02B 6/38

US Classification:

385 58, 439680

Abstract:

A network comprising: (a) a plurality of different receptacles for facilitating an optical connection to different information networks requiring different access authorization, each different receptacle coupled to one and only one different information network, each receptacle having an inner surface with a first geometry, the first geometry comprising at least a slot, a certain number of receptacles having different first geometries in which the slots are in different positions; and (b) a plurality of different plugs for coupling with the different receptacles, each plug having a second geometry, the second geometry comprising at least a key in a certain position, the certain number of plugs having different second geometries in which the keys are in different positions, each different first geometry corresponding to one and only one second geometry such that the plugs and receptacles of corresponding first and second geometries are mating pairs.

US Patent:

7331719, Feb 19, 2008

Filed:

Nov 2, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/591823

Inventors:

Randy Marshall Manning - Lemoyne PA, US
Lewis Edward Sauerwein - Lebanon PA, US
Takehio Hayashi - Kanagawa, JP
David D. Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 81, 385 77, 385 62, 385 76

Abstract:

A clamping assembly having a top and bottom and front and back orientation, at least one optical axis, and a pre-actuated state in which a fiber is not secured to the clamping assembly and a post-actuated state in which a fiber is secured to the clamping assembly, the clamping assembly comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a platform disposed in the housing and being fixed therein both radially and axially, the platform defining a fiber-receiving channel along the optical axis to receive at least one fiber, at least a portion of the fiber-receiving channel being accessible from the top; (c) a first cam member disposed in the housing above and adjacent to the fiber-receiving channel, the first cam member being radially actuateable within the housing, the first cam member having a first cam surface; (d) a second cam member disposed in the housing and axially slidable therein, the second cam member having a second cam surface adjacent the first cam surface and configured such that, upon forward motion of the second cam member relative to the first cam member, the first cam member is urged downward as a result of a camming action between the first and second cam surfaces; and (e) an actuator disposed slidably within the housing behind and adjacent to the second cam member and configured such that, when moved forward, it forces the second cam member forward relative to the first cam member.

US Patent:

7338214, Mar 4, 2008

Filed:

Aug 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/467244

Inventors:

Michael Lawrence Gurreri - York PA, US
David Donald Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Middletown PA

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 55, 385 53, 385 56

Abstract:

The invention is a protective enclosure that can be adapted for use with different types of connectors, including LC type fiber optic connectors. The protective enclosure includes a plug portion and an adapter portion. The plug portion includes a plug housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept a plug connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but includes a clip to which one or two LC plug connectors can be fixedly mounted that can optionally fixedly clip into the internal bore of the housing so that an LC connector can be fixedly mounted within the housing. The adapter portion includes an adapter housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept an adapter connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but including an optional sleeve that can fixedly snap into the internal bore of the adapter housing and within which an LC adapter connector can be fixedly mounted.

US Patent:

7500790, Mar 10, 2009

Filed:

Mar 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/546933

Inventors:

David Donald Erdman - Hummelstown PA, US
Michael Lawrence Gurreri - York PA, US

Assignee:

Tyco Electronics Corporation - Berwyn PA

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 75, 385 65, 385 69, 385 83, 385 86

Abstract:

An optical connector assembly comprising (a) a plurality of identical connectors, each connector being connected to a jacketed optical cable, each connector comprising a generally rectangular housing having a top, a bottom and two sides, and having a plug end for insertion into a mating receptacle and a cable end for receiving an optical cable, the housing having a recess along each of the two sides; and (b) a clip holding the plurality of connectors together in a side-by-side relationship, the clip having a bottom portion, first and second end walls extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion, and one or more intermediate portions extending perpendicularly from the bottom portion between the first and second end walls, each of the one or more intermediate portions having a first face facing the first end wall and a second face facing the second end wall, wherein the first end wall and a first face of one of the one or more intermediate portions are received in the recess of one of the connectors and the second end wall and a second face of one of the one or more intermediate walls are received in the recess of another of the connectors such that the connectors are held in a side-by-side arrangement.