Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified crumb rubber particle having carbon to silicon bonds created by the reaction of the unsaturation in the crumb rubber particle and silicon hydride, with or without the use of a catalyst. Bound silicon content ranges from about 0.1% to 10% by weight. The silicon-modified crumb rubber can be used as is or a reinforcing filler in formulations. Typically the silicon-modified crumb rubber is used in up to 25% by weight of the total rubber present in virgin rubber compositions.

Abstract: A lens array and a method for fabricating the lens array are described herein. The lens array is made from a photosensitive glass plate containing a relatively small amount of a photosensitive agent (e.g., silver, gold or combination thereof) such that when the photosensitive glass plate is subjected to an exposure step, a heat treatment step and an optional ion exchange step it becomes a glass composite plate that includes glass regions which are lenses and also includes an opaque opal region located around each of the lenses. The lens array has clear, colorless lenses exhibiting greater sag heights than those yellow lenses found in a traditional lens array made from the traditional photosensitive glass plate which was subjected to similar exposure, heat treatment and ion exchange steps.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for reducing vibration in bearings. There are provided first and second bearing rings with races, rotating members rollingly engaging both first and second bearing races, a cage for aligning the rotating members between the first and second bearing races, and vibration reduction means coupled to the cage. The vibration reduction means preferably comprises one or more resonant spring-mass combinations mounted in or on the cage. Damping means is preferably included with the resonant spring-mass combinations. The resonant frequencies of the unmodified bearing cage are first determined and then the spring-mass combinations tuned so that the spring-mass combinations when attached to the cage absorb vibrational energy that would otherwise excite cage vibrations. By selecting the type of spring-mass combination different vibrational modes can be suppressed and/or controlled.

Abstract: A suitable cross-linkable matrix precursor and a poragen can be treated to form a porous cross-linked matrix having a Tg of greater than 300° C. The porous matrix material has a lower dielectric constant than the corresponding non-porous matrix material, making the porous matrix material particularly attractive for a variety of electronic applications including integrated circuits, multichip modules, and flat panel display devices.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a process for producing lactide-based polymers and the polymers produced by this process. The polymers of the present invention are terpolymers formed by the copolymerization of a lactide monomer, a linking monomer and an epoxy-terminated monomer. In one embodiment of the invention, the polymers may be formed from fluorine-containing monomers or aromatic ring-containing monomers. The disclosed materials may display improved hydrolytic and thermal characteristics as compared to previously known lactide-based materials. For example, the lactide based terpolymers may have a glass transition temperature over 60° C. For instance, lactide-based thermoplastic terpolymers of the present invention can have a glass transition temperatures of about 80° C. or higher. Lactide-based thermoset networks of the invention can have glass transition temperatures of up to about 200° C.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting an appropriate viscous fluid for use in control moment gyroscopes, reaction wheels, momentum wheels and the like. Components such as the housing, the rotor, and the viscous fluid are modeled using a three-parameter isolator system, which allows optimization of the damping action for a given application.

Abstract: Optical waveguides interconnect optical information processing devices, or connect such devices with other optical communication links such as glass optical fibers. Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices due to tunability in optical properties of the copolymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) copolymer may be employed in solutions that exhibit a high solids content. Such solutions show useful physical properties for optical waveguide devices since the solutions are capable of achieving single step film thicknesses, when applied to a substrate, of greater than about 0.6 microns, and sometimes may achieve a thickness of 10 microns or more.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes an arm assembly, a primary spring, one or more secondary springs, and a latch assembly. The arm assembly is configured to rotate between at least a first rotational position and a second rotational position. The primary spring is coupled to the arm assembly and is configured to bias the arm assembly toward a third rotational position that is located between the first and second rotational positions. Each secondary spring is disposed in the switch assembly and is configured to selectively bias the arm assembly toward the third rotational position when the arm assembly reaches a predetermined rotational distance from either the first or second rotational positions. The latch assembly is disposed in the switch assembly and is operable to selectively hold the arm assembly in either the first or second rotational positions, and to selectively release the arm assembly from the rotational position in which it is holding the arm assembly.

Abstract: Crystalline colloidal arrays (CCA) which have been encapsulated in a polymer matrix to produce more robust polymerized crystalline colloidal arrays (PCCA) are provided. The PCCA's of the present invention can be in the form of a hydrogel which can be compatible for use with a biological system. The polymer matrix of the PCCA is formed of polymerized poly(ethylene glycol) based monomer units which can provide a desired functionality to the PCCA. The PCCA can be formed to exhibit a photonic bandgap at a certain wavelength. The photonic bandgap can be capable of shifting upon some form of environmental stimulation rendering the PCCA suitable for many optical applications, including active photonic switching and sensory applications.

Abstract: A signal transfer assembly that is configured to transfer one or more electrical signals between two or more conductive paths that are rotating relative to one another includes two substrates or more substrates and one or more interface assemblies. The substrates each include one or more conductors on one or more surfaces. Each interface assembly is disposed between two substrates and is configured to allow relative rotation between the two substrates. Each interface assembly also electrically couples selected ones of the conductors on each of the substrates together, thereby allowing electrical signals to pass through the assembly.

Abstract: A lens array and a method for fabricating a lens array that is relatively flat and has useful lenses with relatively uniform sag heights are described herein. In one embodiment, the lens array includes a one-dimensional array of useful lens and two sacrificial lens each of which is formed next to an end of a row of the useful lenses. In another embodiment, the lens array includes a two-dimensional array of useful lens and a plurality of perimeter sacrificial lens each of which is formed next to an end of a row or a column of the useful lenses. In yet another embodiment, the lens array includes an array of useful lenses and a glass region (including possibly a glass matrix) located within a opal border and outside a opal region that surrounds the useful lenses.

Abstract: A suitable cross-linkable matrix precursor and a poragen can be treated to form a porous cross-linked matrix having a Tg of greater than 300° C. The porous matrix material has a lower dielectric constant than the corresponding non-porous matrix material, making the porous matrix material particularly attractive for a variety of electronic applications including integrated circuits, multichip modules, and flat panel display devices.

Abstract: Hose support with footings. A footing may add stability to a hose support that bears a hose that connects a vehicle to a sewer. The footing may include a cavity having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a bottom portion of a leg of a hose support arch. The footing is removably attached to the leg of the hose support arch and extends perpendicularly from the hose support to stabilize the hose support. The hose support may include a plurality of interconnected arches such that the hose support is extendable from a closed alignment to an open alignment. At least one footing is removably attached to a bottom portion of the legs of the interconnected arches to increase the lateral stability of the hose support.

Abstract: Methods of forming bulk optical elements, such as prisms, incorporating gratings are disclosed. Grating structures are formed by etching a uniform-thickness or generally planar substrate. Direct bonding, particularly chemical bonding, is then employed to bond the etched planar substrate to a bulk optical material without the use of adhesives or high temperature fusion.

Abstract: Materials, both glass and glass-ceramic, that exhibit UV-induced changes in light transmission and electrical conductivity behavior. The materials consist essentially, in mole %, of 20-40% SiO2, 10-20% AlO1.5, 35-55% SiO2+AlO1.5, at least 30% CdF2, 0-20% PbF2, and/or ZnF2, 0-15% rare earth metal fluoride, and 45-65% total metal fluorides.

Abstract: A lens array and a method for fabricating the lens array are described herein. The lens array is made from a photosensitive glass plate containing a relatively small amount of a photosensitive agent (e.g., silver, gold or combination thereof) such that when the photosensitive glass plate is subjected to an exposure step, a heat treatment step and an optional ion exchange step it becomes a glass composite plate that includes glass regions which are lenses and also includes an opaque opal region located around each of the lenses. The lens array has clear, colorless lenses exhibiting greater sag heights than those yellow lenses found in a traditional lens array made from the traditional photosensitive glass plate which was subjected to similar exposure, heat treatment and ion exchange steps.

Abstract: Hose support with footings. A footing may add stability to a hose support that bears a hose that connects a vehicle to a sewer. The footing may include a cavity having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a bottom portion of a leg of a hose support arch. The footing is removably attached to the leg of the hose support arch and extends perpendicularly from the hose support to stabilize the hose support. The hose support may include a plurality of interconnected arches such that the hose support is extendable from a closed alignment to an open alignment. At least one footing is removably attached to a bottom portion of the legs of the interconnected arches to increase the lateral stability of the hose support.

Abstract: Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices using refractive properties of the polymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) polymers having aryl groups alternating on an ether chain have shown useful physical properties for optical waveguide applications. Processes for micromolding such polymeric films by replicating a pattern or image directly from a silicon master, rather than from a polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) mold, are disclosed.

Abstract: Optical waveguides interconnect optical information processing devices, or connect such devices with other optical communication links such as glass optical fibers. Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices due to tunability in optical properties of the copolymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) copolymer may be employed in solutions that exhibit a high solids content. Such solutions show useful physical properties for optical waveguide devices since the solutions are capable of achieving single step film thicknesses, when applied to a substrate, of greater than about 0.6 microns, and sometimes may achieve a thickness of 10 microns or more.

Abstract: Fluoropolymers consisting of alternating perfluorocyclobutane and aryl ether linkages possess suitable properties for optical waveguides and other devices using refractive properties of the polymers. Perfluorocyclobutane (PFCB) polymers having aryl groups alternating on an ether chain have shown useful physical properties for optical waveguide applications. Processes for micromolding such polymeric films by replicating a pattern or image directly from a silicon master, rather than from a polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) mold) are disclosed.