Abstract: An all-fiber optical depolarizer is provided in which polarized light is controllably injected into a polarization beam splitter at a 45° angle. The beam splitter is combined with a loop made of standard non-birefringent fiber through which one of the polarizations split by the beam splitter circulates. The loop has a length greater than the coherence length of the light source. The interaction of the beam splitter and the loop produces incoherent depolarized light at the output transmission port of the beam splitter.

Abstract: The invention provides a direct conversion flat panel X-ray detector with automatic cancellation of ghost images due to charge trapping. The detector includes a direct X-ray to charge converter, a readout thin film transistor array supported by a glass substrate and on the rear side of the glass substrate, a layer of luminophor which automatically and instantly suppresses the ghosting effect.

Abstract: An optical filter is produced that has a desired spectral response. This is done by first decomposing the desired spectral response into individual simulated responses (F1 . . . F4) using a suitable computer program. Then tapered fiber filters are manufactured with parameters that closely match the individual responses. And finally the tapered fiber filters are concatenated on a single-mode fiber to produce the optical filter with a total response that closely matches the desired spectral response.

Abstract: A temperature stabilized tapered fiber optic component is produced, such as a fiber optic coupler or a fiber optic filter. In the case of the component such as a coupler, at least two fibers are fused and tapered to achieve a desired taper profile with suitable mechanical and wavelength properties. In the case of a component such as a fiber filter, only one fiber is tapered. Once the component is formed, it is solidly secured to a rigid substrate that produces a mechanical stress such as to compensate for any modal phase shift of the component due to temperature variation. Also, the mechanical phase dependence of the component may be adjusted in relation to the substrate to provide the desired temperature compensating effect. Preferably, both these features are used to achieve the best possible temperature stabilization.

Abstract: A polarization-combining fused-fiber optical coupler is made of polarization maintaining (PM) fibers spliced to non-birefringent single mode (SM) fibers which are fused and drawn near the splicing to form a coupler with an adiabatic tapered profile. The linearly polarized light injected into PM fibers travels through the coupler where the power of the two polarizations is combined and transmitted to one output fiber. The method for producing such coupler involves splicing a pair of PM fibers to a pair of SM fibers, then injecting linearly polarized light into each PM fiber and fusing and drawing SM fibers to form an adiabatic coupler with maximum power transmission at a desired wavelength going to only one output fiber.

Abstract: A method of adjusting thermal dependence of an optical fiber involves hydrogenating the fiber to render it photosensitive, and then exposing it to UV radiation for such time period as to achieve the desired adjustment in the thermal dependence. In an all-fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the method involves using a photosensitive fiber as one of the arms of the interferometer and exposing this photosensitive fiber to UV radiation so as to adjust the thermal dependence of the interferometer. The resulting interferometer is also part of the invention.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for securing an optical fiber to a packaging substrate with a bismuth-containing alloy of solder. For this purpose, the substrate may be provided with metallic pads or a blanket metallization to which the alloy or solder can adhere and the optical fiber is then positioned above such substrate and bonded to it with the alloy or solder. Also, a cavity or recess may be formed in the substrate in which the optical fiber is positioned and into which the alloy or solder is delivered in preformed or liquid state and is solidified in the cavity or recess while bonding the fiber. An optical assembly is also disclosed in which at least one optical fiber is bonded to the substrate by means of the bismuth-containing alloy or solder.

Abstract: A cable bolt comprises a cable with a tubular yielding fixture at one of its ends. The pull-off load of such yielding fixture can be adjusted to a desired value. This is achieved by unwinding one end of the cable and inserting a slug over the kingwire. Then, the peripheral wires are wound again over the kingwire forming a bulge in the cable where the slug is located. The yielding fixture is then slid on the cable and forced over the bulged portion of the cable, while measuring the load required to achieve this operation, which also becomes the pull-off load of the yielding fixture. Finally, any part of the cable protruding from the fixture is cut-off to form the cable bolt with the desired yielding fixture at its end.

Abstract: A reflectionless termination is provided for an optical fiber that has a core and a cladding. The optical fiber forms part of a device which is mounted in a package and the termination fits inside the package. The termination consists of a short piece of an attenuating fiber connected at the end of the optical fiber and having a doped core which absorbs the light emanating from the core of the optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber filter is produced which has a sinusoidal response or a modulated sinusoidal response with any desired amplitude and wavelength period. This is achieved by first producing an elongated adiabatic taper in a single-mode fiber which has been stripped of its protective jacket. Then, on the slope of this adiabatic taper, at each end of the central zone, there is formed a non-adiabatic taper such as to obtain a predetermined sinusoidal or modulated sinusoidal response in the filter.

Abstract: A low stretch elevator rope (10) is obtained in which a plastic core (12) has a central strength member (18) that does not increase the weight of the rope by more than 5%. Moreover, the plastic core (12) has a diameter exceeding 50% of the diameter of the rope (10), when measured prior to winding steel strands (14) onto the core (12). The steel strands (14) that are wound around the core (12) are conventional and are so wound that the plastic material of the core (12) essentially fills the inner interstices (16) between the steel strands (14).

Abstract: A wire rope is disclosed, which has at most 18 outer strands and an independent wire rope core, with the strands of the core being laid in the opposite direction to the outer strands of the rope, and a nylon jacket is provided between the core and the outer strands of the wire rope.

Abstract: A direct conversion digital x-ray detector is provided with inherent high voltage protection for static and dynamic imaging. The detector has an n-channel active matrix TFT array, a coplanar photoconductor structure and a high voltage biasing electrode. In order to achieve high voltage protection, the biasing electrode is set to a negative potential and the TFT “off” gate voltage is set to a predetermined negative value, such that the TFT is essentially non-conductive.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved near net-shape VPS formed multilayered combustion system component having an inner surface consisting of a smooth protective thermal barrier coating, and an outer layer of superalloy capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 700° C. The invention also includes the method of forming such components by first vacuum plasma spraying a suitable mold with a ceramic top coat, followed by a bond coat and followed by a thick structural layer of superalloy. The mold is then separated from the multilayered structure which results in the desired near net-shape component. Combustor liners and transition ducts of gas turbine engines can be advantageously formed in this manner.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a magnesium-containing article to form a cathodic protective coating on such article. This is done by electrochemically treating the article, acting as a cathode, in an alkaline solution, preferably at a temperature of between 40 and 80° C., with a cathodic current density of 5-200 mA/cm2. The treatment produces a magnesium-containing article having a protective coating of magnesium hydride of predetermined thickness with a high count of hydrogen particles.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple and efficient method and apparatus for carrying out a quantitative measurement of waviness in a sample of paper. This is done by stretching the paper sample to the point where all waviness is removed and measuring the elongation produced at that point. The observation of waviness and its removal is facilitated by illumination of the paper sample with low incidence light while the sample is being stretched.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reclaiming used abrasives. This is done by achieving a turbulent levitating fluidized bed in an elongated enclosure which is provided with a porous bottom through which air is blown at a desired velocity. In the upper portion of the enclosure there is provided a plurality of suction hoods to remove airborne contaminants and fines from the fluidized bed, leaving only re-usable abrasives. The elongated enclosure can be vibrated, if desired. Also air may be heated to remove moisture from the used abrasives.

Abstract: A method for producing a multilayer plate for X-ray imaging is disclosed. As the first step in the method, there is provided a plate of a substrate. Then, there is deposited on this substrate a thin film of amorphous arsenic triselenide by thermal evaporation under reduced pressure, followed by condensation on the substrate. A thick photoconductive film of doped amorphous selenium is then deposited by evaporation and condensation on the thin layer of amorphous arsenic triselenide. This thick photoconductive film can also be deposited directly onto the substrate. Then, a thin film of alkali doped selenium is deposited onto the thick photoconductive layer by evaporation or co-evaporation and condensation, and a conducting biasing electrode is formed on top of this alkali doped film.