Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber displacement connector and method used with a fiber optic cable as an optical tap. The fiber optic cable includes a light carrying center, a cladding and a buffer. The cladding displacement connector has surfaces which can be used for displacing the buffer and cladding to expose the light carrying center. The cladding displacement connector at least partially surrounds the light carrying center of the fiber optic cable. The cladding displacement connectors are formed of an optically conductive material and is insertable into a printed circuit board or an integrated circuit chip. The connector can carry bi-directional and multi-wavelength light signals. The optical signal carried by the light carrying center of the fiber optic cable can be caused to exit the fiber optic cable by displacing the cladding, abrading the cladding, dissolving the cladding, and carving a groove into the light carrying center.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating compound shapes in optical surfaces needed to accomodate variable magnification, off-axis projection, reflection from diverse surfaces, reflector relay, intensity pattern requirements and other complex optical transform functions. The present invention permits the realization of mirrors of which provide a variable magnification. The surface generation capabilities permit controlled magnification changes that nevertheless are still image forming and typically avoid the human eye focussing difficulties normally associated with variable magnification mirrors. The present invention includes a computer driven, reflector design system which permits the designer to see the field of view, ray tracings, reflected beam intensity pattern and other data pertinent to a variable magnification mirror from entered mirror specifications. The effect of changes in specifications can be rapidly determined and a final design achieved through one or more such reiterations.

Abstract: The operating condition and/or characteristics of a battery is tested by obtaining the dynamic voltage-current characteristic of the battery as a function of the charge condition thereof. A controllably varying charging current is supplied to the battery, and the voltage produced across the battery while that current is supplied is measured. The dynamic voltage-current characteristic is obtained as a function of the measured voltage and supplied current. This voltage-current characteristic is compared to predetermined voltage-current characteristics representing batteries of the type being tested in order to determine the operating condition and/or characteristics of the battery under test.

Abstract: A battery is charged by repeatedly alternating between test and charge cycles. During the test cycle, the dynamic voltage-current characteristic of the battery is obtained as a function of the charge condition of the battery. During the charge cycle, a gradually varying voltage is supplied to the battery, substantially without controlling the current supplied thereto, for a predetermined time. The rate at which this supplied voltage varies is related to the dynamic voltage-current characteristic obtained during the test cycle. Alternating between test and charge cycles continues until the dynamic voltage-current characteristic last obtained is substantially identical to the preceding dynamic voltage-current characteristic, whereupon the charging of the battery is terminated.