Abstract: In one embodiment, a coupler includes a glass tube having a refractive index n3 and a passageway, a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide positioned within the passageway, each of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide comprising a core surrounded by a cladding. The glass tube further includes a tapered region having a taper length. A coupling region is present between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide within the tapered region. A refractive index of the cladding is less than a refractive index of the core, and a lowest refractive index of the cladding of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide is n2. Additionally, n3 is lower than n2 such that a value of ?2-3 is 0.07%??2-3?0.125, where ?2-3 equals (n22?n32)/2n22.

Abstract: A process of forming a sintered article includes heating a green portion of a tape of polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals in organic binder at a binder removal zone to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the binder; horizontally conveying the portion of tape with organic binder removed from the binder removal zone to a sintering zone; and sintering polycrystalline ceramic and/or minerals of the portion of tape at the sintering zone, wherein the tape simultaneously extends through the removal and sintering zones.

Abstract: A glass container including a body having a delamination factor less than or equal to 10 and at least one marking is described. The body has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The marking is located within the wall thickness. In particular, the marking is a portion of the body having a refractive index that differs from a refractive index of an unmarked portion of the body. Methods of forming the marking within the body are also described.

Abstract: A manufacturing system includes a tape advancing through the manufacturing system and a station of the manufacturing system. The tape includes a first portion having grains of an inorganic material bound by an organic binder. The station of the manufacturing system receives the first portion of the tape and prepares the tape for sintering by chemically changing the organic binder and/or removing the organic binder from the first portion of the tape, leaving the grains of the inorganic material, to form a second portion of the tape and, at least in part, prepare the tape for sintering.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the characteristics of a subscriber loop associated with a customer modem comprises the steps of receiving line probing data from the modem and analyzing the line probing data to determine the circuit characteristics of the subscriber loop which relate to communication rate performance. The method generates a gain slope value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of the length of the subscriber loop. The method also generates a loaded slope value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of an inductive load on the subscriber loop. The method also generates an A/D value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion on the subscriber loop. The method then outputs an expected communication rate for the subscriber loop as a function of the gain slope, loaded slope, and A/D values, thereby providing a circuit analysis of the customer subscriber loop.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the characteristics of a subscriber loop associated with a customer modem comprises the steps of receiving line probing data from the modem and analyzing the line probing data to determine the circuit characteristics of the subscriber loop which relate to communication rate performance. The method generates a gain slope value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of the length of the subscriber loop. The method also generates a loaded slope value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of an inductive load on the subscriber loop. The method also generates an A/D value as a function of the line probing data which is indicative of an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion on the subscriber loop. The method then outputs an expected communication rate for the subscriber loop as a function of the gain slope, loaded slope, and A/D values, thereby providing a circuit analysis of the customer subscriber loop.