Abstract: An apparatus allows the automated feeding and transporting of parts having open internal geometries using pressurized gas. The apparatus comprises a tip with a plurality of holes, one or more part rests, and a conduit to deliver a stream of pressurized gas. A part with open internal geometry is inserted atop of or through the tip. A stream of pressurized gas enters the interior cavity of the tip in a first direction. The holes extend from the interior surface of the tip to the exterior surface of the tip at an angle. This angle is sufficient to redirect the incoming flow of gas to a second direction having a vector component that is substantially opposite to the first direction. The stream of pressurized gas exits the holes of the tip and is subsequently directed to the internal surface of the part to be transported and/or feed. This stream of pressurized gas forces the part against the part rest thereby allowing the part to be transported and fed onto the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system that creates a hole with an embossed base in a planar sheet. The system comprises an embossing punch that forms a raised area in the planar sheet, a hole punch coupled to the embossing punch that forms a hole in the planar sheet, and a surface for holding the planar sheet. The surface has an aperture that permits the hole punch and the embossing punch to pass through the surface and contact the planar sheet.

Abstract: A power system is provided in which a grid supplies electrical power to a load and in which backup power is provided from one of a generator and a dc storage device. The power system includes a standalone inverter having an input and an output. The output of the standalone inverter is connected to the load. The power system includes a grid parallel inverter having an input and an output. The output of the grid parallel inverter is connected to the grid. A dc bus is electrically connected to the input of the standalone inverter and to the input of the grid parallel inverter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to facilitate the insertion, alignment, and bending of metal sheets in a press brake machine is described herein. Automated insertion of properly aligned sheets into a bending machine can be accomplished using a press brake that includes at least two press brake fingers that act independently with respect to one another to determine whether the sheet has been received by the respective finger. The fingers are electrically coupled (via the sheet itself, for example) to a processor that communicates with a robot. As the robot inserts the metal sheet into the press brake, it adjusts the alignment of the sheet until the sheet contacts the back planes of both press brake fingers. An electrical connection is formed when the metal sheet is received by the fingers (which are maintained at a nominal potential of 24V). When electrical connections are formed with both fingers, the processor tells the robot that the sheet is aligned and bending of the sheet can begin.

Abstract: Apparatus and method to facilitate the insertion, alignment, and bending of metal sheets in a press brake machine is described herein. Automated insertion of properly aligned sheets into a bending machine can be accomplished using a press brake that includes at least two press brake fingers that act independently with respect to one another to determine whether the sheet has been received by the respective finger. The fingers are electrically coupled (via the sheet itself, for example) to a processor that communicates with. a robot. As the robot inserts the metal sheet into the press brake, it adjusts the alignment of the sheet until the sheet contacts the back planes of both press brake fingers. An electrical connection is formed when the metal sheet is received by the fingers (which are maintained at a nominal potential of 24V). When electrical connections are formed with both fingers, the processor tells the robot that the sheet is aligned and bending of the sheet can begin.

Abstract: An optical component fabricated from a semi-conductor wafer in which the epilayers are in the InCaAsP system comprises a pair of ridge waveguides. The ridge waveguides are proximate and parallel to each other in a first region, and diverge from each other in a second region. Each waveguide has a continuous electric contact over its upper surface to provide a first light amplification zone through or beneath at least a portion of both first and second light guiding paths and a second light amplification zone through or beneath at least a portion of both the first and a third light guiding path. The component can be used as a low loss 1.times.2 switch, or as a low loss 2.times.1 combiner.

Abstract: A housing for interconnecting an opto-electronic device with a ferrule includes a base and a cover cooperable with the base to define a chamber. The housing also includes an elastomeric board mount, with pylons supporting a substrate, disposed in a sealing relationship between the base and the cover when the same are conjoined and arranged to seal legs on the substrate that extend through the elastomeric board mount.

Abstract: An avalanche photodiode having a beryllium guard ring. The beryllium is implanted at a dosage of at least 5.times.10.sup.14 per cm.sup.2 and subsequently annealed to provide a guard ring profile with a p+core and a superlinearly graded tail. The doping profile of the guard ring immediately adjacent the core is superlogarithmic.

Abstract: A laser amplifier having an improved pump efficiency for a given pump power comprises a pump source (46) longitudinally coupled at a plurality of coupling points (47, 48, 49) to an optical fibre (41). By thus coupling the pump power into the fibre (41), a fraction of the pump power is applied to the fibre (41) at each of the coupling points (47, 48, 49). A significant improvement in pump efficiency may be achieved in this way.

Abstract: An optical device structure for use where an optical fiber requires to be accurately aligned in an optically coupled relationship with another optical component in a package 100 comprises an optical fiber 16 mounted in a feedthrough tube 9 which is aligned with a laser 6 through an aperture 18 in a wall 4 of the package 100. The alignment is held by a first alignment means 10, in this case a sleeve spool, which is secured to the wall 4 and to the feedthrough tube 9 relatively close to the wall 4, and by a second alignment means 11, in this case a tubular bushing, which is also fixed to the wall 4 and to the feedthrough tube 9 in a region remote from the wall 4. The use of the two alignment means 10, 11 fixed in this manner permits the desired optical coupling to be accurately fine-tuned in fabrication by a novel technique.

Abstract: An optical transmitter assembly (1) comprises an optical source (20) and an optical detector (20) arranged to receive light output from the source (10) indirectly via a reflector (30). The source (10), the detector (20), and the reflector (30) are mounted on a common support structure (40). A unitized light reflector assembly (70) having the reflector (30) and detector (20) on a ceramic plate (72) is also disclosed.

Abstract: First and second complementary snap-fastener components locally and in-situ molded to the same side of a single flexible porous substrate and at relatively short spacing from each other, such that the substrate can be folded between these complementary components to permit their selective mutual engagement and disengagement. One of these formations is a stud component and the other is a socket component, and the sizing of their engageable formations is such that a predetermined clearance characterizes a loose fit when in mutually engaged relation. The looseness of this fit bears a predetermined relation to the thickness and flexible deformability of another flexible member or tie element which is interposed between the snap-fastener elements to secure a given selected location of snap-fastener retention to the tie element. Several embodiments are described.