Abstract: An integrated optical device is disclosed comprising a substrate, optical waveguide, and compound optical resonator having a temperature sensor, at least two coupled optical resonators, and a heater localized to each optical resonator. An optical input signal is coupled to one of the resonators making up the compound resonator to form an optical output signal. The center wavelength and shape of the output signal is optimized with a feedback loop using the temperature sensor to control the power dissipated in at least one of the localized heaters. The power dissipated in the remaining resonator heaters is set according to a predetermined function having as an input variable the power dissipated in the resonant heater under control of the said feedback loop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waveguide structure, and methods for making the same. The waveguide structure has a polarization rotator for rotating the polarization of the electromagnetic signal, preferably by about ninety-degrees. In one embodiment, the polarization rotator has a midsection with a first level and a second level. The first level of the midsection has a width that decreases along the length of the first level, while the second level has a substantially constant width along the length of the second level. Further, the waveguide structure can include an input conditioning section and the output conditioning section to facilitate matching between the polarization rotator and other waveguide elements.

Abstract: Thermo-optical devices providing heater recirculation in an integrated optical device are described. The thermo-optical devices include at least one waveguide having a non-linear path length in thermal communication with a thermal device. Methods of fabrication and use are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an on-chip symmetric optical circuit having one or more integrally fabricated polarization rotators forming a monolithic, solid state polarization independent symmetric circuit. The symmetric optical circuit has at least one integrally fabricated rotator positioned in a plane of symmetry of at least one optical fiber, waveguide or circuit path of the symmetric optical circuit. The folded symmetric optical circuit may be for example a Mach-Zehnder type optical circuit or an arrayed waveguide grating optical circuit.

Abstract: A flattened decorative bag having gussets which is convertible to a decorative bag for a basket which, when a basket is inserted therein, conforms to the shape of the basket. Methods of making and using a flattened decorative bag having gussets.

Abstract: A wavelength independent multi-section optical coupler having at least three optical couplers, and at least two differential phase cells. Each optical coupler has two waveguides forming a coupling region having a net coupling value. The coupling value for each coupling region of the at least three optical couplers is different than the coupling values of the other two coupling regions. Each differential phase cell connects adjacent ones of said optical couplers. Each differential phase cell causes a differential phase shift in light signals traversing between the optical couplers, wherein the differential phase shifts of the differential phase cells, and the coupling value for each coupling region are chosen so as to minimize wavelength, and fabrication sensitivity of said wavelength independent multi-section optical coupler for a designed power splitting ratio.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an erectable and/or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object, and more particularly but not by way of limitation, to an erectable or collapsible floral easel for holding a floral object. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a floral easel for holding and/or supporting a floral object. In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to methods of shipping a floral easel, methods of using a floral easel, methods of storing a floral easel, and methods of placing a floral object on a floral easel.

Abstract: The current invention provides a remote caregiver support system which allows caregivers to provide informal care to care receivers. The systems of the current invention comprise a caregiver system and a care receiver system operating on personal computers. Each system is linked by a communications network. Preferably, the communications network is a high speed internet connection. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for delivering informal care to a care receiver remotely located from the caregiver. In the methods of the current invention, the caregiver accesses a remote caregiver support system and interacts with the care receiver providing text reminders and other informal care necessary to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of the care receiver.

Abstract: A vibrating trench compactor apparatus including a first frame, a second frame, and a compactor wheel. The first frame has an adapter plate connectable to a vehicle and a first arm and second arm extending from the adapter plate. A plurality of vibration dampening members are disposed through each arm. The second frame has a motor mounting plate and a first leg and a second leg extending from the motor mounting plate where the first and second leg are interconnected to the vibration dampening members. The compactor wheel is rotatably connected to the first leg and the second leg and a vibration motor is mounted to the motor mounting plate of the second frame for imparting vibrational movement to the compactor wheel via the second frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting round hay bales disposed on a bale support ground surface. The apparatus has a frame, a frame support assembly, a first and a second rail. The frame has a first and a second portion. The first portion is connectable to a towing vehicle and the second portion is pivotally movable relative to the first portion to cooperate with the first portion to move the frame between a transporting position and a loading position. The first and second rails are movable between first, second, and third positions. In the first position, the first and second rails are lowered to capture the round hay bale. In the second position, the first and second rails are raised and aligned for transporting the round hay bale. In the third position, the first and second rails are positioned generally downwardly and outwardly for unloading the round hay bale.

Abstract: Alarm monitors comprising conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active.

Abstract: A method of growing and fabricating a group IV-VI semiconductor structure, for use in fabricating devices. In one embodiment, the group IV-VI semiconductor structure produced by the method of the present invention includes a group IV-VI material grown on a selected orientation of [110]. The devices fabricated can be a laser, detector, solar cell, thermal electrical cooling devices, etc. A laser device produced according to the present method will have a low threshold due to the lift-off of the energy degeneracy and low defect density. Growth on the [110] orientation also allows epitaxial growth of the semiconductor structure on a dissimilar substrate, which could improve the thermal dissipation and thus increase the operating temperature of the laser device.

Abstract: A free-space standoff optical detection platform for any detection scheme based on spontaneous emissions, such as for example, fluorescence detection. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detection system having SPCE beads. In one embodiment, the SPCE beads are dielectric spheres coated with a thin metal layer, which supports surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at the operation wavelength. For fluorescence detection, fluorescence reporters can be coated outside of SPCE beads. Upon the presence of the analyte, the fluorescence reporter changes its emitting signal. The SPCE beads amplify the field strength of the excitation via the lens effect and SPR enhancement. The spontaneous emitting signal is collected via the coupling between the SPR and emission, which results high collection efficiency and signal-to-noise ratio. This surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) signal propagates in the beads in a curved path dictated by the SPR condition.

Abstract: Method and system for controlling and monitoring the quality of concrete based on the concrete's maturity. Various embodiments of the present invention are discussed. First, Enhanced Maturity involves a maturity calibration method to account for the water-to-cementitious-materials ratio, air content, and gross unit weight of the concrete. Second, Moisture-Loss Maturity is a method for determining the appropriate time to terminate moisture-loss protection of concrete and concrete structures. Third, Improved Maturity is a method and system for determining the strength of curing concrete using improved maturity calculations. Fourth, SPC Maturity is a method that beneficially couples maturity measurements and calculations with Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to enable rapid recognition of changes to the concrete mix and/or incompatibilities between the various components of the concrete mix.

Abstract: Chimeric proteins comprising soluble Tissue Factor (sTF) and another subunit (e.g., annexin V) are described. The proteins promote blood clotting and/or inhibit cancer by targeting sTF to specific receptors such as phosphatidyl serine (PS) on activated cells. These chimeric proteins are useful in treating patients with excessive bleeding due to inborn problems, drug therapy, trauma or surgery and/or as an anti-cancer therapy, for example by causing blood vessels feeding cancers to become clotted, thereby preventing adequate flow of blood to a tumor, which in turn will lead to tumor inhibition and death or may be used in a therapy to cause clotting within blood vessels that pose a threat in the subject in non-cancerous conditions.

Abstract: Method, system and device useful with conventional personal computers respond automatically to an identified alarm sound by sending a notification signal via the Internet only when a special sound monitoring program is active.

Abstract: An oilfield equipment identifying apparatus comprising a computer loaded with an oilfield equipment database. A unique identification code is input into the computer for each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string to form a reference in the oilfield equipment database to each piece of oilfield equipment in the drill string. A drilling monitoring device receives input signals indicative of at least one of rotating and non-rotating usage of the drill string and output signals to the computer wherein the computer continuously and automatically monitors the cumulative rotating usage and non-rotating usage of each piece of oilfield equipment identified in the drill string.

Abstract: A polarization sorter having an input, an output and a slowly varying region. The input has at least one input waveguide. The input waveguide supports at least one guided TE polarized mode of mode ranking mode-i-TE, and at least one guided TM polarized mode of mode ranking mode-j-TM. The output has at least two output waveguides. At least one output waveguide supports a TE polarized mode of mode ranking mode-i-TE, and at least one waveguide supports a TM polarized mode of mode ranking mode-j-TM. The slowly varying region couples the at least one input waveguide at the input to the at least two output waveguides at the output.

Abstract: The invention is for safety goggles to protect eyes of a user of the safety goggles. The safety goggles include a lens and a frame with a bridge. A goggle chamber is formed between the lens and the face of the user. The safety goggles have a lower ventilation assembly that admits air one either side of the bridge. The safety goggles also includes an upper ventilation assembly at an upper portion of the frame. Air enters the goggle chamber through the lower ventilation assembly, heats near a nose of the user and exits the goggle chamber through the upper ventilation assembly. Each of the lower and upper ventilation assemblies cover a corresponding lower and upper air path in such a manner that allows air to pass through the corresponding air path while preventing solid projectiles and splashed liquid from having a direct line of trajectory to the eyes of the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to removal of subsurface contaminants and methods of same. In more particular, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to an integrated method for remediating subsurface contaminants through the use of a low concentration surfactant solution (and methods of making and using novel surfactant solutions).