Abstract: The present invention provides a substantially planar illuminating device, a visual display having an internal light source and a method of manufacture therefor. The illuminating device includes a transparent substrate having a pair of substantially parallel major surfaces and an entry point for accepting light from the light source wherein the substrate functions as a guide for the light. The device also includes a plurality of microelements located on one of the pair of surfaces. The microelements have a substantially planar surface with an average roughness less than one micron and a side wall abnormal to the planar surface. In advantageous embodiments, the side wall is curved. The planar surface is configured to re-direct a substantial amount of light received in the substrate from an external light source out of the substrate. The side wall is configured to re-direct light from the internal light source out of the substrate.

Abstract: A radiotelephone wrist device includes a case having a transceiver and a strap attached to the case for fastening the device to a user's wrist. The strap has a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer is attached to the bottom layer by a pivot mechanism which facilitates rotating at least a portion of the top layer with respect to the bottom layer. A microphone is located on the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. A speaker is located at an end of the top layer of the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. A first antenna is located in the bottom layer of the strap. A second antenna is located in the rotatable portion of the top layer of the strap.

Abstract: A radiotelephone wrist device includes a case having a transceiver and a strap attached to the case for fastening the device to a user's wrist. The strap has a top layer and a bottom layer in which the top layer is releasable from the bottom layer of the strap. A microphone is located on the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. A speaker is located at an end of the top layer of the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. A cradle for receiving the speaker is formed in the case. A sensor located beneath the cradle detects when the speaker is removed from the cradle.

Abstract: A mixture of buffered hydrofluoric acid (e.g., HF and NH.sub.4 F) and a treating agent (e.g., acetic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or formic acid) is used to produce a matte finish on the pure silica cladding of an optical fiber. The matte finish may be used to increase the adhesion of other materials to the glass (e.g., of metal coatings to silica fibers) or to reduce glare.

Abstract: A radiotelephone device includes a case including a transceiver. A multilayer strap is attached to the case for fastening the device to a user's wrist. The multilayer strap has a top layer and a bottom layer. A microphone is electrically connected to the transceiver. A speaker is located at an end of the top layer of the strap and electrically connected to the transceiver. The speaker is located in a housing having a first surface substantially parallel to the top layer of the strap, and at least one other surface integrally connected to the first surface which is positioned at an angle with respect to the first surface. At least one sound port is located within the at least one other surface of the housing.

Abstract: Applicants have discovered that a particularly efficient illuminating device for a transparent display comprises a microtextured reflecting surface formed on a major surface of a transparent substrate and a light source for directing light into the transparent substrate approximately parallel to the major surface. Preferably the substrate has two major surfaces separated by a thickness in the range 0.5 to 1.0 mm so that the substrate acts as a light guide. A substantial portion of the light passing into the substrate undergoes total internal reflection until it hits a microelement and is reflected out of the substrate. The result is an efficient illuminating device particularly useful for lighting transparent displays.

Abstract: Devices are described in which certain crosslinked silicone polymers are incorporated. These polymers have various functions such as encapsulating agents, surface protective agents or agents to index match optical components (e.g. optical fiber, optical waveguide, etc.) to other optical devices or articles. The polymer is a vinyl-terminated dimethyldiphenylsiloxane copolymer crosslinked with tri- or tetrafunctional silanes in the presence of a platinum catalyst. The phenyl group content of the crosslinked silicone copolymer is adjusted to change the index of refraction of the polymer to the optimum for the particular application contemplated. Polymer preparation procedures are described which yield good optical quality for the polymer as well as optimum physical and chemical properties.

Abstract: Devices are described in which certain crosslinked silicone polymers are incorporated. These polymers have various functions such as encapsulating agents, surface protective agents or agents to index match optical components (e.g. optical fiber, optical waveguide, etc.) to other optical devices or articles. The polymer is a vinyl-terminated dimethyldiphenylsiloxane copolymer crosslinked with tri- or tetrafunctional silanes in the presence of a platinum catalyst. The phenyl group content of the crosslinked silicone copolymer is adjusted to change the index of refraction of the polymer to the optimum for the particular application contemplated. Polymer preparation procedures are described which yield good optical quality for the polymer as well as optimum physical and chemical properties.

Abstract: A wet chemical etching technique is disclosed for forming a lensed optical fiber. In particular, the fiber is placed in a mixture comprising buffered hydrofluoric acid (e.g., HF and NH.sub.4 F) and a treating agent comprising acetic acid or citric acid. The relative concentrations of the constituents are adjusted so that a double conical lens is formed which requires no further operations (such as fire polishing) to provide coupling efficiencies of about 80% with a standard deviation of less than .+-.2%.

Abstract: An optoelectronic assembly is described which comprises an optoelectronic device (e.g. laser, photodiode or another fiber), an end portion of an optical fiber coupled to the device, and an integral lens formed on the end portion. The lens comprises a frustum of a first cone having a cone angle .theta..sub.1, and, on top of the frustum, a second cone having a cone angle .theta..sub.2 <.theta..sub.1, thus forming a double conical lens which requires no further operations (such as fire polishing) to provide coupling efficiencies of about 80% with a standard deviation of less than .+-.2%.

Abstract: A mixture of buffered hydrofluoric acid (e.g., HF and NH.sub.4 F) and a treating agent (e.g., acetic acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or formic acid) is used to produce a matte finish on the pure silica cladding of an optical fiber, on a borosilicate glass tube and on a sodium lime glass plate. The matte finish may be used to increase the adhesion of other materials to the glass (e.g., of metal coatings to silica fibers) or to reduce glare.

Abstract: It has been discovered that tilted optical fiber endfaces useful in low-reflection optical fiber joints can be produced by cleaving, provided the fiber is twisted through an appropriate twist angle. By way of example, for a particular, commercially available single mode fiber, the normalized twist angle typically is in the range of 5-15 degrees/cm, resulting in a nominal tilt angle of the fiber endface in the approximate range 5-20 degrees.

Abstract: A subassembly for use in packaging an optoelectronic device (e.g., LED or photodiode) includes a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) base and lid having a variety of etched features (e.g., grooves, cavities, alignment detents) and metalization patterns (e.g., contacts, reflectors) which enable the device to be reliably and inexpensively mounted on the base and coupled to the fiber.

Abstract: A subassembly for use in packaging an optoelectronic device (e.g., LED or photodiode) includes a semiconductor (e.g., silicon) base and lid having a variety of etched features (e.g., grooves, cavities, alignment detents) and metalization patterns (e.g., contacts, reflectors) which enable the device to be reliably and inexpensively mounted on the base and coupled to the fiber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for relatively high power light-emitting semiconductor devices that uses simple inexpensive components and construction to provide a heat coupler that reduces the thermal impedance between the active device and the ambient atmosphere by approximately a factor of ten from that of a comparable assembly not incorporating the inventive heat coupler. The active semiconductor device is directly mounted on the heat coupler. The coupler is fabricated from material having good thermal conductivity, such as copper, copper alloys, or aluminum, and is designed to have a large surface area, at least ten times the area of the bonding surface of the active device, in unobstructed contact with the ambient atmosphere, thereby providing efficient heat coupling between the heat source and the ultimate heat sink.