Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor optical device integrally formed on the substrate and having an off-normal device end face; and a low-index planar optical waveguide integrally formed on the semiconductor substrate at the device end face. The device and waveguide are non-collinear, and the waveguide is end-coupled at its proximal end to the optical device by refraction at the device end face. The apparatus further includes a reflective coating between the waveguide and substrate, an etched end face curved in the horizontal dimension, or an etched end face with a lower portion that protrudes beneath a proximal portion of the waveguide.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a waveguide substrate; three planar optical waveguides formed on the substrate, each comprising a transmission core and cladding; a laser positioned to launch its optical output to propagate along the first waveguide; a photodetector positioned to receive an optical signal propagating along the second waveguide; and a branched splitter core formed on the substrate for (i) transferring a first fraction of laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the second waveguide, and (ii) transferring a second fraction of the laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the third waveguide.

Abstract: A draw mechanism for a crossbow comprises a drive gear, coupling gear, retaining member, one-way rotary clutch, retainer, rotary drive member, tension member, and catch. The drive gear is coupled to the coupling gear. The retaining member and coupling gear are coaxially coupled by the one-way rotary clutch. The retainer releasably engages the retaining member. The coupling gear is coupled to the rotary drive member which is engaged with the tension member. The catch is connected to the tension member and retains a bowstring as the crossbow is drawn. Rotation of the coupling gear in one direction causes the rotary drive member to tension the tension member to move the catch to draw the crossbow. Engagement of the retainer with the retaining member retards rotation of the coupling gear in the other direction thereby retarding movement of the catch to “undraw” the crossbow. Release by the retainer allows movement of the catch to undraw the crossbow.

Abstract: Discrete first and second optical transmission subunits are formed each having a corresponding transmission optical waveguide with a corresponding optical junction region. The first transmission optical waveguide is a planar optical waveguide formed on a substrate. The first transmission optical waveguide or the second transmission optical waveguide is adapted for enabling substantially adiabatic transverse-transfer of optical power between the optical waveguides at the respective optical junction regions. The first and second optical transmission subunits are assembled together to form an optical apparatus.

Abstract: A trigger assembly for a crossbow comprises a caliper, a trigger mechanism, a safety mechanism, and a bolt sensor. The caliper retains or releases a bowstring. The trigger mechanism holds the caliper against its bias to retain the bowstring, or releases the caliper to release the bowstring and fire the crossbow. The safety mechanism in a safety-on arrangement blocks the trigger mechanism or in a safety-off arrangement enables movement of the trigger mechanism. The bolt sensor biases the safety mechanism toward its safety-on arrangement when no bolt is present, or is held against its bias by a bolt to enable movement of the safety mechanism into its safety-off arrangement.

Abstract: A cam assembly for an archery bow comprises: a journal for letting out a draw cable as the bow is drawn and the cam assembly rotates; a take-up mechanism for taking up a first power cable; and a let-out mechanism for letting out a second power cable. A second similar cam assembly comprises: a journal for letting out the draw cable; a take-up mechanism for taking up the second power cable; and a let-out mechanism for letting out the first power cable. Draw force versus draw distance for the bow is at least in part determined by: relative rates of take-up and let-out of the first power cable by the first and second cam assemblies, respectively; and relative rates of take-up and let-out of the second power cable by the second and first cam assemblies, respectively.

Abstract: A stent anastomosis comprises a stent segment reconfigurable between a deployment configuration and a shortened, transversely expanded deployed configuration having a transverse dimension larger than its longitudinal dimension. In the deployed configuration, the stent segment engages an inner surface of an intravascular graft, securing the end of the graft within a vessel and forming a seal between the graft and an endoluminal surface of the vessel. The stent segment includes at least one securing member that extends outward from the stent segment in the deployed configuration, that pierces and penetrates the graft, and that pierces the endoluminal surface of the vessel to secure the graft within the vessel. In the deployed configuration, the stent segment can compress the graft against the endoluminal surface of the vessel to form the seal.

Abstract: A protective label including: a printable base panel; a transparent securing flap; a protective flap; wherein the base panel is affixed to and substantially sealed with the transparent securing flap; and wherein the protective flap maintains the legibility of the printed material on the base panel.

Abstract: An arrow rest assembly is connected to an archery bow so that an arrow rest is: (i) positioned to support the shaft of an arrow nocked and ready for drawing or drawn and ready for shooting, (ii) positioned to support the shaft of the arrow during an early portion of shooting of the arrow by the bow, and (iii) to allow substantially unimpeded passage of the fletching of the arrow during only the latter portion of shooting of the arrow by the bow. The arrow rest assembly exerts only substantially negligible force on any cable of the bow when the bow is drawn.

Abstract: A method comprises: receiving a RF signal; providing a RF signal level; varying a laser power DC set point linearly with the RF signal level over a selected range; and modulating with the RF signal laser output power about the DC set point. The RF signal level can be RF signal amplitude or RF signal power. An apparatus comprises: a laser; a RF detector adapted to receive the RF signal and to provide the RF signal level; a laser power control circuit coupled to the RF detector and to the laser and adapted to vary the laser power DC set point substantially linearly with respect to the RF signal level over a selected range; and a laser modulator coupled to the laser and adapted to receive the RF signal and to modulate therewith laser output power about the DC set point.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a set of diffractive elements (trenches between ribs) arranged on a substrate to: receive a diffraction-guided input optical signal from an input port; diffract the input signal as a diffraction-guided output optical signal; and route the output signal to an output port. In one embodiment, a side surface of each trench is perpendicular to its bottom surface and at least one trench depth is equal to half of its width divided by the tangent of a selected Littrow angle. In another embodiment, a side surface of each rib and its bottom surface are arranged to successively reflect a portion of the input optical signal preferentially in a selected output direction. In another embodiment, each diffractive element comprises multiple trenches; selected relative widths or depths of the multiple trenches of each diffractive element at least partly determining diffractive amplitude and a selected blaze direction.

Abstract: A multiply-integrated system for inventory, sales, and distribution of products comprises a supplier database, an order database, and a programmed order processor. The supplier database includes inventory/pricing information for multiple independent participating product suppliers, which may include: product manufacturers, distributors, and/or retailers. The order database includes order information received by the multiple participating product suppliers from multiple independent product purchasers. The multiple product purchasers may include any or all of: product manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and/or purchasers.

Abstract: A method for providing wireless online access comprises: establishing a wireless access signal space wherein a wireless communications link is established between a secondary wireless unit and at least one primary wireless unit, thereby providing a corresponding secondary subscriber with online access by data packet transmission between the primary wireless unit and the secondary wireless unit; and receiving, from an online access provider, a credited revenue amount in return for providing online access for the secondary subscriber.

Abstract: A method comprises: i) presenting to a subject a training stimulus, the training stimulus eliciting from the subject a desired response; ii) presenting to the subject a diffuse visual stimulus along with the training stimulus; and iii) repeating the presenting to the subject of the training stimulus along with the diffuse visual stimulus sufficiently many times so that subsequent presentation of the diffuse visual stimulus to the subject without the training stimulus elicits from the subject the desired response. The diffuse visual stimulus is arranged so as to be perceived by the subject only at a subliminal or near-subliminal level. Another method comprises presenting to the subject the diffuse visual stimulus in order to elicit the desired response, the subject having been conditioned according to the previous method.

Abstract: A multiple-core optical waveguide comprises: a substrate; lower and upper waveguide core layers; a waveguide core between the upper and lower waveguide core layers; upper and lower cladding; and middle cladding between the upper and lower waveguide core layers substantially surrounding the waveguide core. Each of the lower, middle, and upper claddings has a refractive index less than refractive indices of the lower waveguide core layer, the upper waveguide core layer, and the waveguide core. Along at least a given portion of the optical waveguide, the upper and lower waveguide core layers extend bilaterally substantially beyond the lateral extent of a propagating optical mode supported by the optical waveguide, the lateral extent of the supported optical mode being determined at least in part by the width of the waveguide core along the given portion of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium comprises an optical medium with multiple data marks. Each data mark is arranged for modifying a portion of an optical reading beam incident thereon. At least one of the data marks is a delocalized data mark comprising a set of multiple diffractive elements collectively arranged for modifying a portion of the optical reading beam incident thereon. A method for recording data on an optical data storage medium comprises forming on or in the optical medium multiple data marks encoding the recorded data, including the at least one delocalized data mark. A method for reading an optical data storage medium comprises: successively illuminating with the optical reading beam the multiple data marks; sensing variations among the respective portions of the optical reading beam modified by the multiple data marks; and decoding from the sensed variations data encoded by the multiple data marks.

Abstract: A segment of optical fiber is engaged with a fiber groove on a device substrate, which positions the fiber segment for optical coupling with an optical component on the substrate. A fiber retainer maintains the fiber segment in engagement with the groove. The fiber retainer may be secured to the substrate with adhesive means. The adhesive means forms at least one retaining member that at least partially fills at least one recessed region formed on the device substrate or on the fiber retainer. That recessed region is spatially separate from the fiber groove and from an area of the fiber retainer engaged with the fiber.

Abstract: An optical element comprises a substantially transparent material having opposing first and second transmission surfaces and a substantially flat mounting surface between them, an alignment mark, and an optical coating. The optical element is mounted self-supporting on a substrate with the mounting surface on a mating portion thereof. With the alignment mark aligned to a corresponding mark on the substrate, waveguides on the substrate can be end-coupled by reflection from the first transmission surface. The transmission and mounting surfaces are arranged to position the transmission surfaces at respective orientations relative to the substrate surface so that an optical beam propagating substantially parallel to the substrate surface and entering the optical element through the first transmission surface propagates as an optical beam through the optical element above the mounting surface and exits the optical element through the second transmission surface.

Abstract: A treadmill assembly that includes a frame and a treadmill belt. In addition, a sensor produces a signal representative of an aspect of the user's position relative to at least one point on the frame. A belt rotation assembly turns the belt with a speed related to the signal. In one preferred embodiment the speed of the belt is inversely proportional to the distance between the user and the front of the treadmill. In another preferred embodiment the treadmill is sized to support a cycle.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor optical device integrally formed on the substrate and having a device end face; and a low-index planar optical waveguide integrally formed on the semiconductor substrate at the device end face. The waveguide is end-coupled at its proximal end to the optical device through the device end face and is arranged so as to comprise a waveguide mode converter. The waveguide is arranged at its distal end to transmit or receive an optical signal through its distal end to or from another low-index optical waveguide end-coupled with the integrally-formed waveguide and assembled with the integrally-formed waveguide, optical device, or substrate. The optical apparatus can further comprise a discrete low-index optical waveguide assembled with the integrally-formed waveguide, optical device, or substrate so as to be end-coupled with the integrally-formed waveguide at its distal end.