Abstract: A method for auctioning securities defines an auction start time and an auction end time. The time therebetween is defined by time bucket intervals and transparency intervals. At the auction start time, a real-time auction of securities over a communications network begins. During each time bucket interval bids are received from prospective purchasers, and assigned a time bucket stamp such that bids with the same time stamp are treated as having occurred at the same time. At the end of each transparency interval public bid information related to the auction is updated and made available to the prospective purchasers. After the auction end time, a final auction price for the securities is established based upon the bids made during the auction, and the securities are allocated to the prospective purchasers at the final auction price.

Abstract: A method is described for auctioning securities by an auction offeror. Bids are received for an offered number of securities. Each bid includes a bid price, a desired number of securities, and a timestamp indicting a time that the bid was received by the system. After a final bid time, a final price for the securities is established based upon the received bids. Then the desired number of securities is allocated to each bid having a bid price more favorable for the auction offeror than the final price. The desired number of securities is also allocated to each bid having a bid price at the final price, in bid timestamp order favoring earlier timestamps, until the offered number of securities has been allocated.

Abstract: A method of auctioning exchange traded assets is described. Before commencing the auction bidding, the seller establishes a maximum asset amount representing a greatest amount of the exchange traded assets to be auctioned, and a minimum asset price representing a minimum acceptable bid amount for a given amount of the exchange traded assets. During the bidding, bids are received for the assets, with each bid including a bid price and a corresponding bid amount of assets. After the bidding, a market demand is determined that represents the total of all the bid amounts for the bids. If the market demand is greater than or equal to the maximum asset amount, a clearing price is established that allocates the maximum asset amount of the assets according to the bids at a final price between and including the clearing price and the minimum asset price.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for auctioning securities. The methods and apparatus receive one or more backstop bids for the securities from one or more backstop bidders and implement a real-time auction of securities over the Internet. The methods and apparatus determine a clearing price for the auction, the clearing price being determined such that all of the securities are distributed and allocate at least a portion of the securities to the one or more backstop bidders if the clearing price is less than the backstop bids.

Abstract: A preform from which plastic optical fiber is to be drawn in an infrared heating furnace has a core portion with either a step index or graded-index profile, and a cladding layer surrounding the core portion, the cladding layer. A jacket layer surrounds the cladding layer and is also made of an at least partially fluorinated jacket material.

Abstract: An optical fiber for use in optical energy transmission system has improved mode coupling in one embodiment thereof and both improved mode coupling and selective attenuation of unwanted modes in another embodiment. The optical fiber includes a plurality of particles of refractive index differing from that of the fiber core, in which the particles are distributed, and from that of the fiber cladding in which, in one embodiment, particles are distributed. In fabricating the fiber, the particles are introduced into the preform from which the fiber is drawn, and, in a co-extrusion process, they are also introduced into the polymer prior to its being extruded with the core material.

Abstract: A preform from which plastic optical fiber is to be drawn in an infrared heating furnace has a core portion with either a step index or graded-index profile, and a cladding layer surrounding the core portion, the cladding layer. A jacket layer surrounds the cladding layer and is also made of an at least partially fluorinated jacket material.

Abstract: The invention relates to plastic optical fiber (POF) processes and systems and involves improved non-polishing termination techniques. The techniques provide good physical and optical characteristics, i.e., smoothness, at the termination point, thereby providing lower losses than conventionally obtained. According to one embodiment, POF is cut while the fiber is under compression. According to another embodiment, the POF is notched and then pulled at a relatively high strain rate to induce fracture. The rate is such that the strain remains in the elastic region, i.e., the fiber exhibits brittle, as opposed to ductile, behavior during the strain. The brittle behavior provides a smooth termination surface, as opposed to a plastically-deformed surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber for use in optical energy transmission system has improved mode coupling in one embodiment thereof and both improved mode coupling and selective attenuation of unwanted modes in another embodiment. The optical fiber includes a plurality of particles of refractive index differing from that of the fiber core, in which the particles are distributed, and from that of the fiber cladding in which, in one embodiment, particles are distributed.

Abstract: A system containing an improved adapter for passively aligning an active device such as a transceiver with an optical fiber having a 100 to 250 &mgr;m core is provided, such that the resulting coupling is within alignment tolerances, and provides desired coupling efficiencies and bit rates. In one embodiment, the system contains a packaged active device having a window or a lens, an optical fiber having a core of a diameter ranging from 100 to 250 &mgr;m, and a fiber connector attached to an end of the optical fiber such that a fiber endface is provided. The system further contains an adapter comprising a first receptacle that secures the fiber connector and a second receptacle that secures the packaged device, wherein the exterior of the device package, in combination with the second receptacle, itself provides passive alignment within the adapter.

Abstract: An improved process for extruding plastic optical fiber without the need to prepare a preform is provided. Specifically, it was discovered that conventional extrusion techniques, e.g., screw extruders, tended to introduce an undesirable amount of particulate contaminants which increased the loss of the drawn fiber. To overcome this problem, the invention substantially reduces the number of mechanical interactions that contribute to such contamination. The process of the invention does so by using fluid pressure, instead of, e.g., screw extruders, to induce polymer flow. The process also controls the flow characteristics of the polymer, or halts the flow altogether, without mechanical controls. Specifically, the temperature of the sections through which the polymer flows is controllably adjusted, such that it is possible to bring the polymer to a desired flow rate or even to a solid state to provide a plug.

Abstract: An improved process for extruding plastic optical fiber without the need to prepare a preform is provided. Specifically, it was discovered that conventional extrusion techniques, e.g., screw extruders, tended to introduce an undesirable amount of particulate contaminants which increased the loss of the drawn fiber. To overcome this problem, the invention substantially reduces the number of mechanical interactions that contribute to such contamination. The process of the invention does so by using fluid pressure, instead of, e.g., screw extruders, to induce polymer flow. The process also controls the flow characteristics of the polymer, or halts the flow altogether, without mechanical controls. Specifically, the temperature of the sections through which the polymer flows is controllably adjusted, such that it is possible to bring the polymer to a desired flow rate or even to a solid state to provide a plug.

Abstract: We have determined that unlike the most multimode silica fiber, multimode polymer fiber often exhibits a delay characteristic that has a broad low dispersion region where propagation delay of spatially restricted optical pulses remains relatively constant. This low dispersion region is centered around the center axis of the fiber core as a function of launch position. By directing a transmitted optical pulse to this region, we have determined that optical pulse dispersion can be significantly reduced without the need for using the prior art technique of using a single mode fiber spliced in series with the multimode fiber to reduce dispersion. A polymer fiber based optical transmission system using this arrangement exhibits relaxed alignment tolerances between the optical source and polymer fiber, while reducing dispersion and increasing bandwidth-length product.