Alan John Malanowski

US Patent:

6663377, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Jul 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/621226

Inventors:

Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

B29C 3376

US Classification:

425190, 425468, 425577

Abstract:

A guide block assembly is provided for retaining fiber bore forming pins and guide pin bore forming pins in precise relation to each other during the molding of a ferrule used in a multi-fiber connection. The assembly may include a top portion and a bottom portion with corresponding fiber and guide pin bore grooves formed on a surface of the top and bottom portions. When the top and bottom portions are assembled, the corresponding fiber and guide pin bore grooves form fiber and guide pin bores, respectively. The assembly may also include another portion that form additional bores with either the top or the bottom portion. A method of fabricating and aligning the guide block assembly is also disclosed.

US Patent:

6761489, Jul 13, 2004

Filed:

Dec 14, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/460552

Inventors:

Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B 636

US Classification:

385 78, 385 60, 385 72

Abstract:

A ferrule is provided that has an exterior surface that can be defined with sufficient precision to serve as a datum during subsequent polishing operations. The ferrule includes first and second ferrule body portions that are joined along a parting line. The first ferrule body portion has a first width and the second ferrule body portion has a second width that is less than the first width, such as by at least 50 microns. In addition, the width of the first ferrule body portion is defined to be within a first tolerance, while the width of the second ferrule body is defined to be within a second tolerance that is larger than the first tolerance. As such, the first ferrule body portion is not only larger than the second ferrule body portion, but the first ferrule body portion is also more precisely defined. Thus, only one portion of the ferrule of the present invention needs to be precisely defined. A mold for forming the ferrule and a method of fabricating the ferrule are also provided.

US Patent:

6767199, Jul 27, 2004

Filed:

May 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/864497

Inventors:

Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC
Nick A. Felkenes - West Carrollton OH

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

B29C 3376

US Classification:

425192R, 425468, 425577, 249177

Abstract:

A guide block assembly for aligning and retaining fiber bore forming pins and guide pin bore fanning pins in precise relation to each other during the molding of a multi-fiber ferrule includes a unitary member defining at least one fiber bore and at least one guide pin bore. Each fiber bore, and optionally each guide pin bore, is formed by creating a starter hole using a first electric discharge machining (EDM) wire and enlarging the starter hale using a second EDM wire. Each fiber bore has a length to diameter ratio of between approximately 3::1 to 10::1, more preferably between approximately 4::1 to 8::1, and most preferably approximately 6::1. The guide block assembly may further include a cavity behind the fiber bore and a front face that forms a non-rectilinear surface on the face of the female. The unitary block assembly contains fewer parts and is less expensive to manufacture.

US Patent:

6971803, Dec 6, 2005

Filed:

Mar 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/799499

Inventors:

Ronald L. Mudd - Grapevine TX, US
Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC, US
Joseph T. Cody - Hickory NC, US

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B006/38

US Classification:

385 71, 385 72, 385 78

Abstract:

A multi-fiber ferrule is configured to accept coated optical fibers and an optical fiber ribbon. The multi-fiber ferrule includes an optical fiber receiving portion, a lead-in portion, and an alignment portion. The alignment portion includes a buffered fiber alignment portion to orient and separate buffered optical fibers. The alignment portion may also include a ribbon alignment portion to orient and align the optical fibers of an optical fiber ribbon. As a result, the stripped optical fibers of both the coated optical fibers and the optical fiber ribbon are guided and aligned with the optical fiber bores provided in the optical fiber receiving portion of the multi-fiber ferrule.

US Patent:

7086847, Aug 8, 2006

Filed:

Jun 15, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/868699

Inventors:

Nick A. Felkenes - West Carrollton OH, US
Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC, US

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

B29C 33/76

US Classification:

425190, 425468, 425577, 249177

Abstract:

A guide block assembly for aligning and retaining fiber bore forming pins and guide pin bore forming pins in precise relation to each other during the molding of a multi-fiber ferrule includes a unitary member defining at least one fiber bore and at least one guide pin bore. Each fiber bore, and optionally each guide pin bore, is formed by creating a starter hole using a first electric discharge machining (EDM) wire and enlarging the starter hole using a second EDM wire. Each fiber bore has a length to diameter ratio of between approximately 3:1 to 10:1, more preferably between approximately 4:1 to 8:1, and most preferably approximately 6:1. The guide block assembly may further include a cavity behind the fiber bore and a front face that forms a non-rectilinear surface on the face of the ferrule. The unitary block assembly contains fewer parts and is less expensive to manufacture.

US Patent:

7448809, Nov 11, 2008

Filed:

Feb 28, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/712036

Inventors:

Joseph Todd Cody - Hickory NC, US
Alan John Malanowski - Hickory NC, US
Scott Timothy Schmidt - Hickory NC, US

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems, LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B 6/38

US Classification:

385 59, 385 60, 385 63, 385 72, 385 76, 385 77, 385 78, 264 124, 264 125, 356 731, 65385, 65408

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method of manufacture that minimizes the lateral offset of a plurality of optical fiber holes associated with a multi-fiber ferrule, including: determining an initial offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of a plurality of corresponding target locations on an initial endface; removing a predetermined amount of material from the multi-fiber ferrule to form a subsequent endface; determining a subsequent offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of the plurality of corresponding target locations on the subsequent endface; and, using the initial offset distance and the subsequent offset distance, determining an angle of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes relative to the initial endface. The method of manufacture also includes, using the angle, determining an optimal amount of material that is removed from the multi-fiber ferrule in order to minimize the offset distance of the plurality of optical fiber holes from the plurality of corresponding target locations. The method of manufacture further includes, using the optimal amount of material, removing this amount of material from another similarly-situated multi-fiber ferrule.

US Patent:

7806601, Oct 5, 2010

Filed:

Jul 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/881650

Inventors:

Alan John Malanowski - Hickory NC, US
Scott Timothy Schmidt - Hickory NC, US

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 85, 451 57, 385 60

Abstract:

A multifiber (MF) ferrule produced using a ferrule molding insert that is jig ground in order to improve the tolerance on the bumper height of a molded ferrule and the surface finish on the region of interest (ROI), thus improving manufacturing yields.

US Patent:

8337095, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Sep 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/570999

Inventors:

Alan J. Malanowski - Newton NC, US
Jetta M. Pyatt - Hickory NC, US

Assignee:

Corning Cable Systems LLC - Hickory NC

International Classification:

G02B 6/36

US Classification:

385 84, 385 78

Abstract:

Ferrules having at least one tapered fiber channel that supports at least one optical fiber are disclosed. The at least one tapered fiber channel is defined by at least one channel wall. The material making up the channel wall is at least one of deformable and removable by forcible contact by the at least one optical fiber when the optical fiber is inserted into the fiber channel. This results in the formation of an interference fit between the front channel end and the optical fiber end when the diameter of the optical fiber end exceeds the diameter of the channel front end. The fiber channel wall may optionally include at least one deformable and/or removable-by-contact protrusion, with the at least one protrusion preferably being located in the channel section adjacent the narrow front channel end. Methods of forming the ferrules are also disclosed. Single-fiber and multi-fiber optical fiber connectors that employ the ferrules are also disclosed.