3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Other

David S Hardcastle

Donald G Doss

Thomas M Cherney

Richard A Pope

Edward B Lurie

Eric M Morgan

Larry R Cox

Mark E Lane

Janet A Kling

Juergen K Schmidt

Carol L Cearley-Cabbiness

Adalberto Gonzalez

Guenter Ploehn

Aspects for pooling lottery winnings are disclosed. In a first aspect, a relationship structure is generated among nodes having a lineage of related nodes arranged in a hierarchy. A series of numbers are respectively assigned to a portion of nodes and a winning node is identified. Compensated nodes are then selected that include the winning node and at least one non-winning node. In another aspect, nodes are monitored over a series of lottery games in which winning nodes are tracked and compensated nodes are identified. Nodes are then valuated based on a corresponding historical winning metric according to lineage taken over the series of lottery games. In a further aspect, nodes are placed in a relationship structure and a winning node representing an actual lottery game win is identified. A distribution of a corresponding payout among compensated nodes is then ascertained.

Method and apparatus that facilitates pooling lottery winnings via a relational structure

A load adapter and method for terminating an optical fiber in a small form factor connector having a ferrule portion and a barrel portion that include a pre-loaded thermoplastic adhesive material, and a housing. The load adapter includes a thermally conductive body having a base section and a connector mounting section extending axially therefrom. The base section is adapted to be inserted/placed in an oven port of a portable heat source. The connector mounting section has a substantially cylindrical shape adapted to surround a substantial portion of the small form factor connector housing and includes at least one slot. The connector mounting section includes a mount adapted to receive the small form factor connector. The mount includes a stem having a substantially cylindrical structure adapted to slidably receive the ferrule portion of the small form factor connector, where an end of a received ferrule portion of the small form factor connector extends beyond an edge of an inner wall of the stem. An optical fiber is inserted through the connector housing and ferrule portion such that an end of the optical fiber extends beyond the end of the ferrule portion. The load adapter can then be removed from the heat source, cooled, and the end of the optical fiber can be polished. The load adapter and method can thus provide for practical field termination of an optical fiber in a small form factor fiber connector.

Field termination apparatus and method for small form factor optical connectors with thermoplastic adhesive

A optical connector for terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing configured to mate with an LC receptacle. The housing comprises a polymer material that does not deform when exposed to temperatures of at least 210&#xb0; C. The optical connector further includes a ferrule assembly. The ferrule assembly includes a ferrule portion and a barrel portion. The ferrule assembly is preloaded with a thermoplastic adhesive material. The thermoplastic material can be a polyamide-based hot melt adhesive. The thermoplastic mater can be an ultra high temperature hot melt adhesive. These optical connectors can be terminated in the field in a short amount of time.

Small form factor optical connector with thermoplastic adhesive

An article for temporarily retaining an optical fiber cable including a stripped terminal portion of at least one optical fiber requiring cleaving followed by polishing of an end face thereof. The article comprises a housing having a recess for a demountable optical fiber holder. A demountable optical fiber holder includes a base-plate having at least a first fiber channel to receive at least one optical fiber. The base plate has a number of pockets. A cover plate for the demountable optical fiber holder includes a spring clamp, at least a first upper channel and a number of posts to mate with the pockets of the base-plate to assemble the holder. The article further includes a guide plate attached to the housing to pivot between a first pivot position and a second pivot position. A rotatable lid attached to the housing rotates between an open position and a closed position. The article temporarily retains the optical fiber cable for cleaving and polishing the end face thereof when the lid is closed.

Article for cleaving and polishing optical fiber ends

An optical fiber connector plug comprises a connecting portion including a rear entry at a first end and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel. The first fiber stub exit is parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel. The first and second fiber stub exits are formed opposite the first end of the connecting portion. An optical fiber connector plug also includes a holder that fits into the rear entry of the connecting portion for permanent retention of at least one stripped, cleaved and polished optical fiber. First and second crimp elements, in the connecting portion, each have an open-ended bore coaxial with the fiber stub channels. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes an opening containing a compression element that forms splices by capturing a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of an optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each crimp element. A bend relief boot encloses the connecting portion at one end, while a shroud releasably engages it at the other end.

Optical fiber plug including fiber positioning holder

An optical fiber connector plug for an optical fiber connection comprises a connecting portion including a rear entry at a first end and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel. The first fiber stub exit is parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel. The first and second fiber stub exits are formed opposite the first end. The rear entry divides at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second, diverging fiber groove. The connecting portion includes crimp elements each having an open-ended bore. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes a substantially rectangular opening. The opening contains a compression element that moves to form splices by capturing a stripped optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each of the crimp elements. A bend relief boot encloses the connecting portion at one end, while a shroud releasably engages it at the other end.

Optical fiber plug

An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form using multiple connector channels and rows of contact elements in each of a plug and socket. The contacts may be a mixture of active and passive contacts. Furthermore, a contact support structure may provide improve spring characteristics in the contacts. The contacts may be formed in a number of configurations including vertical staggering, alternating or offset patterns, mulit-level tail exit designs, rotated contacts, staggered or nonalign retention features and dedicated power contacts. Anchors or permanent latches, separable latches, and polarization keys may also be utilized. Alternative embodiments may include straddlemount and attachment clip embodiments.

Electrical interconnection system and device

An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form having a pitch on the order of 0.8 mm, using four rows of contact elements in each of the plug and socket which are in a continuous row and not staggered along the row with other contact elements, making the interconnection easier to manufacture and utilize.

Board-to-board interconnection

An interconnection providing multiple electrical interconnections at a fine pitch can be formed in a pluggable and unpluggable form using multiple connector channels and rows of contact elements in each of a plug and socket. The contacts may be a mixture of active and passive contacts. Furthermore, a contact support structure may provide improve spring characteristics in the contacts. The contacts may be formed in a number of configurations including vertical staggering, alternating or offset patterns, multi-level tail exit designs, rotated contacts, staggered or nonalign retention features and dedicated power contacts. Anchors or permanent latches, separable latches, and polarization keys may also be utilized. Alternative embodiments may include straddlemount and attachment clip embodiments.

A temporary package used to test and burn-in a bare die that will fit in a board mounted socket. The package comprises a base having contacts to engage the die and provide contact to the outer periphery, a lid for pressing the die into electrical contact and a protective cover to restrict the die from damage due to external pressures to the sides or top of the package. The die, lid and protective cover can be assembled onto the base and removed by automated equipment.

Growing community of inventors

Liberty Hill, TX, United States of America

David S Hardcastle