Abstract: A hermetically sealed scale for use in a weighing scale. A scale of the present invention may include a load receiving plate and a bottom plate, between which is sandwiched a supporting rib structure that preferably includes a plurality of perimeter members that form sealed upright sides of the scale. The supporting rib structure, load receiving plate and bottom plate cooperate to form a substantially rigid and hermetically sealed sandwich structure. The load receiving plate may be joined to the supporting rib structure by perimeter welding or another bonding technique that permits the joining material to be subsequently shaped to form a smooth transition between the load receiving plate and the perimeter members of the scale.

Abstract: An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus. Corresponding methods for forming the electro-optical structure are described. These improved electro-optical systems can be used for terminating an optical transmission system at an end user or a local network associated with a group of end users.

Abstract: An optical device containing a four-port optical mixer capable of distributing the optical power presented at either or both of two input ports to specified ratios in two output ports.

Abstract: A linearized thermal and optical model of an optical integrated circuit can be used to temperature-stabilize one or more optical elements of the circuit using active temperature regulation. To stabilize a single optical element, such as an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), a temperature sensor and a heater can be provided proximate to the grating. Thermal and optical coefficients can be then used to select an appropriate temperature set-point for the temperature controller that receives readings from the sensor and determines the power dissipated in the heater. Multiple AWG's can be stabilized individually, using the same process and lumping cross-heating factors together with other environmental factors. Alternatively, multiple AWG's can be stabilized using fewer sensors than AWG's, by stabilizing one of the AWG's in the same manner as in the case of a single AWG, and determining power dissipated in the heaters of the remaining AWG's based on the linearized model.

Abstract: Optical Integrated Circuits (OIC) in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis Systems combined with micorarray or microwell plates to provide enhanced sensitivity, stability, speed of analysis and reduced size are disclosed. Using the OIC with other optical analysis methods to provide enhance analysis systems is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus. Corresponding methods for forming the electro-optical structure are described. These improved electro-optical systems can be used for terminating an optical transmission system at an end user or a local network associated with a group of end users.

Abstract: Devices utilize elements carried by a fluid in a microchannel to switch, attenuate, shutter, filter, or phase shift optical signals. In certain embodiments, a microchannel carries a gaseous or liquid slug that interacts with at least a portion of the optical power of an optical signal traveling through a waveguide. The microchannel may form part of the cladding of the waveguide, part of the core and the cladding, or part of the core only. The microchannel may also have ends or may be configured as a loop or continuous channel. The fluid devices may be self-latching or may be semi-latching. The fluid in the microchannel is moved using e.g., e.g., electrocapillarity, differential-pressure electrocapillarity, electrowetting, continuous electrowetting, electrophoresis, electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, electro-hydrodynamic electrohydrodynamic pumping, magneto-hydrodynamic magnetohydrodynamic pumping, thermocapillarity, thermal expansion, dielectric pumping, and/or variable dielectric pumping.

Abstract: Actuators facilitating mechanical beam steering for optical integrated circuits are disclosed. The mechanical beam steering can mitigate thermal sensitivity of optical circuits, for example, arrayed waveguides. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating optical integrated circuits employing actuators.

Abstract: Hybrid integrated planar photonics provides silica waveguides for transport and polymer or hybrid silica/polymer waveguides for refractive-based active functions within a single integrated photonic circuit. Functions include modulation, attenuation, switching, filtering, and exceptionally low-loss transport. When the active and passive optical elements are integrated onto the same substrates, the resulting composite devices can exhibit strong functional response with little total optical loss as compared to known methods.