Michael R Vince

US Patent:

47174447, Jan 5, 1988

Filed:

Sep 3, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/771878

Inventors:

Fred W. Hill - Thousand Oaks CA
Michael R. Vince - Thousand Oaks CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

C10B 1510

US Classification:

156624

Abstract:

Disclosed is a method for making large, essentially crack-free crystals in a container coated with inert particulate silica. The particulate coating covers the interior wall of the container and prevents adhesion of the crystal to the wall and acts like a cushion to avoid cracking of the crystal or the container. It also serves as a barrier to prevent migration of impurities from the container wall into the crystal structure. The coating is formed by heating a silica-forming gaseous mixture flowing through the container, with components of this mixture either reacting to form the coating.

US Patent:

57727201, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

Mar 17, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/819453

Inventors:

John S. Szalay - Corona del Mar CA
Michael R. Vince - Thousand Oaks CA
Joseph A. Wysocki - Malibu CA
Stephen W. McCahon - Coralville IA

Assignee:

Raytheon Company - Lexington MA

International Classification:

C03B 3715

US Classification:

65387

Abstract:

The end face (32) of the optical fiber (24) of a fiber optical terminal (10) is finished by installing the fiber in a terminal ferrule (18), cleaving an end of the fiber close to the end face (54) of the ferrule, and heating the cleaved fiber end face so as to soften its end face and cause it to assume a smooth, rounded configuration. The heating is accomplished, for a glass fiber, by application of the beam of a carbon dioxide laser (60) to the optical fiber end face. The heat softened end face assumes a smooth, rounded configuration that minimizes back reflection. A system including a laser (105), shutter (102), beam expander (108) and parabolic mirror (110) heats the fiber end face that is positioned at the parabola faces by a three axis manipulator (156,158) and holder (152). Orthogonal viewing systems (126, 142) enable visual monitoring of the process.

US Patent:

53393805, Aug 16, 1994

Filed:

Nov 19, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/155609

Inventors:

Joseph A. Wysocki - Oxnard CA
Michael R. Vince - Thousand Oaks CA
Stephen W. McCahon - Newbury Park CA
John T. Kenna - Thousand Oaks CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G02B 600
G02B 636

US Classification:

385136

Abstract:

An optical fiber fusion splicer apparatus (20) comprises a laser power source that produces a laser beam (32) having a laser beam axis (26). The laser power source includes a laser (22), a shutter (28) that controllably blocks and passes the laser beam, and an optical system (30) that expands the diameter of the laser beam. A parabolic mirror (34) has its axis coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and a bore (48) therethrough coincident with the laser beam axis (26). Optical fiber clamps (42, 46) hold the two optical fibers (40, 44) with their axes coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and their ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34). A sensor (82) measures the power reaching the optical fiber ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34), and a controller (72) controls the power level of the laser (22) responsive to the power measured by the sensor. The alignment of the optical fibers (40, 44) is sensed, preferably by a reflective device (74) that measures their internal reflectance or a video camera (68) that images their peripheries, and the optical fiber ends (62, 64) are aligned responsively.

US Patent:

52992748, Mar 29, 1994

Filed:

Jun 25, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/904249

Inventors:

Joseph A. Wysocki - Oxnard CA
Michael R. Vince - Thousand Oaks CA
Stephen W. McCahon - Newbury Park CA
John T. Kenna - Thousand Oaks CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

G02B 600
G02B 636

US Classification:

385 96

Abstract:

An optical fiber fusion splicer apparatus (20) comprises a laser power source that produces a laser beam (32) having a laser beam axis (26). The laser power source includes a laser (22), a shutter (28) that controllably blocks and passes the laser beam, and an optical system (30) that expands the diameter of the laser beam. A parabolic mirror (34) has its axis coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and a bore (48) therethrough coincident with the laser beam axis (26). Optical fiber clamps (42, 46) hold the two optical fibers (40, 44) with their axes coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and their ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34). A sensor (82) measures the power reaching the optical fiber ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34), and a controller (72) controls the power level of the laser (22) responsive to the power measured by the sensor. The alignment of the optical fibers (40, 44) is sensed, preferably by a reflective device (74) that measures their internal reflectance or a video camera (68) that images their peripheries, and the optical fiber ends (62, 64) are aligned responsively.

US Patent:

44189842, Dec 6, 1983

Filed:

Nov 3, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/203762

Inventors:

Joseph A. Wysocki - Oxnard CA
George R. Blair - Culver City CA
Michael R. Vince - Pollock Pines CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

G02B 110
G02B 514
G02B 5172
C03C 2504

US Classification:

350 9633

Abstract:

There is disclosed a metallic clad glass fiber optical waveguide suitable for use as a high-strength optical transmission line, e. g. , for high capacity communications systems and for sensors operating at high temperature. At least two metallic claddings or coatings are formed on the glass waveguide structure, which comprises a core and glass cladding, by coating the glass fiber with at least one of the metallic coatings as it emerges from the furnace with a metal or alloy. The first metal or alloy employed is one that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of the metal or alloy onto the glass fiber. The second metallic coating may be of the same composition as the first, in order to repair pinholes or to increase the thickness. Alternatively, the second metallic coating may be of a different composition than the first in order to provide the waveguide with mechanical properties that are different than either layer alone could provide.

US Patent:

49240870, May 8, 1990

Filed:

Dec 19, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/286444

Inventors:

Wilbur M. Bailey - Tucson AZ
George H. Hulderman - Tucson AZ
Vincent L. Jones - Simi Valley CA
Joseph L. Pikulski - Westlake CA
Arlie G. Standlee - Thousand Oaks CA
Gregory L. Tangonan - Oxnard CA
Michael R. Vince - Thousand Oaks CA
Joseph A. Wysocki - Oxnard CA

Assignee:

Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

H01J 516

US Classification:

356 731

Abstract:

A fiber optic buffer defect detection system including a laser, for illuminating the fiber buffer with a collimated beam of light energy, and detectors for detecting any scattering of the beam, from a defect in the fiber buffer. The detectors are mounted to collect scattering out of a radial plane defined by the angular rotation of the beam about the fiber at the point of intersection of the beam with the fiber buffer.