Abstract: An emergency rescue system for installation on tall buildings comprising an especially designed vertical rail on which a cab module moves up and down, propelled by a lightweight motor. The cab can hold over 1,000 pounds (e.g. six to seven persons). By itself, the cab weighs about 200 pounds and can be operated by a single person, is capable of moving very quickly, and preferably utilizes a small gasoline propelled engine.

Abstract: An all-fiber, phase controlled interferometer device is disclosed as well as its method of manufacture. This device is suitable for use in an optical DPSK demodulation system. It is comprised of two optical fiber couplers, each having two input and two output ports and two branches between the couplers of unequal length. The couplers have a splicing ratio of 50% over the wavelength operating range of the device. The two branches between the couplers are shaped to provide one bit of delay between the branches and are also shaped to make a compact device. Also, the two branches are formed in such a manner as to minimize birefringence in the device. In addition, a fiber heater is provided to heat the longer branch so as to obtain phase control of the interferometer. The method of producing such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The method uses capillary holes in a glass preform for precise positioning of the optical fibers in the manufacture of a coupler. The glass preform is preferably cylindrical and longitudinal capillary holes are made in it in a desired pattern. Optical fibers are inserted in the holes and the glass preform is heated and stretched in its middle section so that the fibers, from which coating has been removed, contact and are fused with the glass preform in this tapered section. Then the tapered section is cleaved to form a coupling end which is spliced with another fiber to form the coupler.

Abstract: An all-fiber, phase controlled interferometer device is disclosed as well as its method of manufacture. This device is suitable for use in an optical DPSK demodulation system. It is comprised of two optical fiber couplers, each having two input and two output ports and two branches between the couplers of unequal length. The couplers have a splicing ratio of 50% over the wavelength operating range of the device. The two branches between the couplers are shaped to provide one bit of delay between the branches and are also shaped to make a compact device. Also, the two branches are formed in such a manner as to minimize birefringence in the device. In addition, a fiber heater is provided to heat the longer branch so as to obtain phase control of the interferometer. The method of producing such a device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact and rapid identification of wood species is provided. The method comprises irradiation of a substance with infra-red radiation which is intense enough to introduce microstructural modifications of the substance surface. Various wood species are identified by analyzing intensity of optical radiation which is scattered from the modified surface. The surface is irradiated with two (2) infra-red beams of different level of energy density. A wood sample is analyzed with optical beams: the first optical scanning is done prior to the first infra-red irradiation; the second optical scanning is done after the first infra-red irradiation; the third optical scanning is done after the second infra-red irradiation. It has been determined experimentally, that various wood species can be identified by analyzing intensities of the optical beams scattered from the modified surface. The method allows for non-contact, rapid and in-line identification of various species of wood.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-contact determination of the moisture content in moving or stationary mass of fibrous products such as wood is provided. The method comprises irradiation of a substance with infra-red radiation which is intense enough to introduce microstructural modifications of the substance surface. The moisture content of the substance is determined by analyzing density of these surface modifications. It has been found, that an optical beam may be used in order to quantify the density of the surface modifications. The surface is scanned with the optical beam two (2) times. The first scanning is done prior to the infra-red irradiation; the second scanning is done following the infra-red irradiation. The invented method allows for non-contact, rapid and continuous in-line measurements of the moisture content.