Abstract: A counterbalanced actuator for steering a beam of light is disclosed. The actuator includes a rotatable actuator member coupled to a substrate, a movable portion of an actuator drive mechanism coupled to the rotatable actuator member, a balancing spring coupled between the substrate and the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism, and an actuator arm operably coupled to the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism. The balancing spring maintains the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism nominally, parallel to the substrate when the actuator arm is rotated. An optical mirror element is coupled to the actuator arm. The actuator also includes apparatus for applying a first drive voltage to the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism and a second drive voltage to a fixed portion of the actuator drive mechanism to position the mirror.

Abstract: A multistage actuator for steering a beam of light is disclosed. The multistage actuator includes a movable portion of an actuator drive mechanism, a first rotatable actuator drive mechanism coupled to the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism, and a second rotatable actuator member coupled to the first rotatable actuator member. The first rotatable actuator member traverses a first angle and the second rotatable actuator member traverses a second angle when the movable portion of the actuator drive mechanism is displaced. An optical element such as a micromirror may be coupled to the second rotatable actuator member or additional actuator stages. An optical subassembly containing a plurality of optical mirrors and multistage rotatable actuators on a substrate is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method and a system for actuating a micromirror assembly.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of fibers of syndiotatic polystyrene, or a mixture of isotactic polystyrene and syndiotactic polystyrene which comprises:A. heating syndiotactic polystyrene, or a mixture of syndiotactic polystyrene and isotactic polystyrene, to a temperature between its crystal melting point and the temperature at which the polystyrene undergoes degradation, wherein the polystyrene has sufficient viscosity to be extruded:B. extruding the polystyrene through an orifice to form a fiber at elevated temperature;C. quenching the fiber by passing the fiber through one or more zones under conditions such that the fiber solidifies; andD. cooling the fiber to ambient temperature.

Abstract: The invention is a pressure sensing device utilizing a polymer optical fiber with a core comprised of a flexible thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane. The use of an optical fiber based pressure sensor eliminates the electromagnetic interference problems associated with conventional electronic pressure sensors. Use of polyurethane as the core material for the optical fiber results in an optical fiber with high flexibility, thus making the inventive pressure sensing device more rugged and durable than other optical fiber based pressure sensors.

Abstract: The invention is a durable, zero-based optical coupler pressure/load sensor which is immune from electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: The invention is a novel polymer optical waveguide which contains a thermoplastic aliphatic segmented polyurethane core.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flexible organic polymeric optical fiber core having an adherent flexible organic polymeric cladding on the outer surface. Preferably, the polymeric core has a refractive index which is at least 0.01 units greater than the refractive index of the polymeric polyurethane cladding. More particularly, the invention relates to an organic polymeric optical fiber for in vivo use in the tissue of a living mammal, preferably a human being. In addition to compatibility in live tissue and body fluids, such a fiber must be capable of repeatedly being deformed in a small bend radius without losing the ability to transmit light. The clad optical fibers are useful to measure levels of components (e.g. pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide) in moving living tissue, such as the heart or lungs.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a flexible organic polymeric optical fiber core having an adherent flexible organic polymeric cladding on the outer surface. More particularly, the invention relates to an organic polymeric optical fiber having a polysiloxane cladding for long term in vivo use in the tissue of a living mammal, preferably a human being. In addition to compatibility in live tissue and body fluids, such a fiber must be capable of repeatedly being deformed in a small bend radius without losing the ability to transmit light. The clad optical fibers are used to measure levels of components (e.g., pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide) in living, moving tissue such as the heart or lungs.

Abstract: The invention is a jacketed polymer optical fiber which comprises: an optical fiber which comprises a core formed from a light transmitting polymeric material having a first refractive index and a cladding formed from a polymeric material having a second refractive index which is lower than the first refractive index; and a jacket about the optical fiber wherein the jacket comprises a chlorinated polyethylene. The jacketed fibers of this invention have a higher service temperature than polyethylene jacketed fibers. The jacketed polymer optical waveguides of this invention are jacketed under conditions such that the optical properties of the polymer optical waveguide are not substantially degraded. The jacketed polymer optical waveguides have relatively low brittleness at use temperatures, good rigidity, and good solvent resistance. They also contain no material which tend to migrate into the polymer optical waveguide.

Abstract: A pulse generator circuit for providing pulses having pulse widths in the order of one nanosecond. The circuitry utilizes NPN microwave transistors exclusively to achieve this result.

Abstract: A simple device for measuring flow rate of liquid in a partially-full pipe. This device comprises a generally vertical, first chamber into which liquid is introduced, a non-opaque, second generally vertical chamber in communication with the lower portion of the first chamber, an orifice communicating with the lower portion of the first and second chambers, an overflow leg and an outlet for liquid passing through the orifice or overflow. The height of liquid in the second chamber provides a visible indication of the flow rate.