Abstract: An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for labeling an item using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 has one or more colocated pitches ? which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The element 8 can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror device having in-plane deformable hinge to which a deflectable and reflective mirror plate is attached. The mirror plate rotates to different angles in response to an electrostatic field established between the mirror plate and an addressing electrode associated with the mirror plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method of operating a device that comprises an array of micromirrors. The method comprises a process usable for repairing stuck micromirrors of the micromirror array during the operation. The reparation process applies, at the ON state, two consecutive refresh voltages to the mirror plates of the micromirrors in the array with the pulses being separated in time longer than the characteristic oscillation time of the micromirrors. The reparation process can be applied independently to the micromirrors. Alternatively, the reparation process can be incorporated with a bias inversion process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is method of operating a device that comprises an array of micromirrors. The method comprises a process usable for repairing stuck micromirrors of the micromirror array during the operation. The reparation process applies, at the ON state, two consecutive refresh voltages to the mirror plates of the micromirrors in the array with the pulses being separated in time longer than the characteristic oscillation time of the micromirrors. The reparation process can be applied independently to the micromirrors. Alternatively, the reparation process can be incorporated with a bias inversion process.

Abstract: A field emission display (FED) having a correction system with a correction coefficient derived from emission current is presented. Within one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a field emission display has an anode at the faceplate and a focus structure. The anode potential is held at ground while the focus structure potential is held between, but is not limited to, 40 and 50 volts. The current flowing to the focus structure is measured and used as the basis for the correction coefficient for the field emission display.

Abstract: An dynamic optical filter 10 is provided to selectively attenuate or filter a wavelength band(s) of light (i.e., optical channel(s)) or a group(s) of wavelength bands of an optical WDM input signal 12. The optical filter is controllable or programmable to selectively provide a desired filter function. The optical filter 10 includes a spatial light modulator 36, which comprises an array of micromirrors 52 that effectively forms a two-dimensional diffraction grating mounted in a retro-reflecting configuration. Each optical channel 14 is dispersed separately or overlappingly onto the array of micro-mirrors 52 along a spectral axis or direction 55 such that each optical channel or group of optical channels are spread over a plurality of micromirrors to effectively pixelate each of the optical channels or input signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror device having in-plane deformable hinge to which a deflectable and reflective mirror plate is attached. The mirror plate rotates to different angles in response to an electrostatic field established between the mirror plate and an addressing electrode associated with the mirror plate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror device having in-plane deformable hinge to which a deflectable and reflective mirror plate is attached. The mirror plate rotates to different angles in response to an electrostatic field established between the mirror plate and an addressing electrode associated with the mirror plate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for making electronic devices with a thin anisotropic conducting layer interface layer formed between a substrate and an active device layer that is preferably patterned conductive layer. The interface layer preferably provides Ohmic and/or rectifying contact between the active device layer and the substrate and preferably provides good adhesion of the active device layer to the substrate. The active device layer is preferably fashioned from a nanoparticle ink solution that is patterned using embossing methods or other suitable printing and/or imaging methods. The active device layer is preferably patterned into an array of gate structures suitable for the fabrication of thin film transistors and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micromirror device having in-plane deformable hinge to which a deflectable and reflective mirror plate is attached. The mirror plate rotates to different angles in response to an electrostatic field established between the mirror plate and an addressing electrode associated with the mirror plate.

Abstract: A highly sensitive accelerometer for determining the acceleration of a structure includes a mass within a housing suspended by opposing support members. The support members are alternately wound around a pair of fixed mandrels and the mass in a push pull arrangement. At least a portion of one of the support members comprises a transducer capable measuring the displacement of the mass within the housing. An embodiment of the invention employs optical fiber coils as the support members for use in interferometric sensing processes. Arrays of such interferometer based accelerometers may be multiplexed using known techniques.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are provided to measure the process flow of a fluid or medium traveling in a pipe. The system and apparatus feature a standoff and piezoelectric-based sensor arrangement having a plurality of standoffs arranged on a pipe and a plurality of sensor bands, each arranged on a respective plurality of standoffs, each having at least one sensor made of piezoelectric material arranged thereon to detect unsteady pressure disturbances in the process flow in the pipe which in turn can be converted to the velocity of and/or speed of sound propagating within the pipe, and a cooling tube arranged in relation to the plurality of standoffs for actively cooling the sensor band; and further comprise a processing module for converting one or more sensor signals into a measurement containing information about the flow of the fluid or medium traveling in the pipe, as well as a pump and heat exchanger for processing the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling tube.

Abstract: An optical corrosion sensor employs an optical fiber Bragg grating 20 embedded within an optical fiber 18. The grating 20 has a coating 40 made of a material, such as aluminum, which corrodes or can otherwise be removed. The coating 40 exerts forces 46 radially inward around and along the grating 20 so as to cause the wavelength bandwidth of the grating reflectivity profile to become broader and to be shifted relative to its uncoated condition. Also, the forces on the grating 20 are reduced when the coating corrodes, thereby causing the wavelength bandwidth and shift of the reflectivity profile of the grating to narrow and to return to its uncoated condition.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor, such as a hydrophone, is deployable in a fluidic media having high temperature, high pressure, and/or potentially caustic chemicals. The hydrophone includes a housing filled with an internal fluid and containing a sensing mandrel. The sensing mandrel senses the acoustic pressure transmitted to the internal fluid through a diaphragm. The sensing mandrel preferably includes a polymer tubular mandrel having a coil of optical fiber wound and bonded to its outer surface. The sensing mandrel can be suspended within the housing instead of being rigidly attached thereto. To relieve pressure created by thermal expansion of the internal fluid, the flexible diaphragm, a filler member, a pressure compensator, or combinations thereof can be used. The filler member is mounted in the hydrophone and reduces the amount of internal fluid required in the housing. The compensator may be a bellows or a buffer tube.

Abstract: A methods and apparatus for labeling an item using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements 8 includes an optical substrate 10 having at least one diffraction grating 12 disposed therein. The grating 12 has one or more colocated pitches &Lgr; which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light 24. The incident light 24 may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate 10 (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The element 8 can provide a large number of unique codes, e.g., greater than 67 million codes, and can withstand harsh environments.

Abstract: An optical channel monitor is provided that sequentially or selectively filters an optical channel(s) 11 of light from a (WDM) optical input signal 12 and senses predetermined parameters of the each filtered optical signal (e.g., channel power, channel presence, signal-noise-ratio). The OCM 10 is a free-space optical device that includes a collimator assembly 15, a diffraction grating 20 and a mirror 22. A launch pigtail emits into free space the input signal through the collimator assembly 15 and onto the diffraction grating 20, which separates spatially each of the optical channels 11 of the collimated light, and reflects the separated channels of light onto the mirror 22. A &lgr;/4 plate 26 is disposed between the mirror 22 and the diffraction grating 20. The mirror reflects the separated light back through the &lgr;/4 plate 26 to the diffraction grating 20, which reflects the channels of light back through the collimating lens 18.

Abstract: An dynamic optical filter 10 is provided to selectively attenuate or filter a wavelength band(s) of light (i.e., optical channel(s)) or a group(s) of wavelength bands of an optical WDM input signal 12. The optical filter is controllable or programmable to selectively provide a desired filter function. The optical filter 10 includes a spatial light modulator 36, which comprises an array of micromirrors 52 that effectively forms a two-dimensional diffraction grating mounted in a retro-reflecting configuration. Each optical channel 14 is dispersed separately or overlappingly onto the array of micro-mirrors 52 along a spectral axis or direction 55 such that each optical channel or group of optical channels are spread over a plurality of micromirrors to effectively pixelate each of the optical channels or input signal.

Abstract: A variable optical source 801 to selectively provide a desired optical output signal in response to a control signal is provided. The optical source includes an optical filter that attenuates a broadband optical input signal or a multi-spectral input signal 802. The optical filter is controllable or programmable to selectively provide a desired filter function. The optical filter 10 includes a spatial light modulator 36, which may comprise an array of micromirrors 52 that effectively forms a two-dimensional diffraction grating mounted in a retro-reflecting configuration. The input optical signal is dispersed onto the array of micro-mirrors 52 along a spectral axis or direction 55 such that input light is spread over a plurality of micromirrors to effectively pixelate the light.