Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for random number generation using a scattering waveguide. The apparatus includes a light source for providing coherent light and a scattering waveguide for receiving the coherent light and providing scattered light. The relative position of the light source and the scattering waveguide are variable. The apparatus also includes a detector for forming at least one random number based on the scattered light.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method that uses optical LID biosensors to monitor in real time agonist-induced GPCR signaling events within living cells. Particularly, the present invention includes a system and method for using an optical LID biosensor to screen compounds against a target GPCR within living cells based on the mass redistribution due to agonist-induced GPCR activation. In an extended embodiment, the present invention discloses different ways for self-referencing the optical LID biosensor to eliminate unwanted sensitivity to ambient temperature, pressure fluctuations, and other environmental changes. In yet another extended embodiment, the present invention discloses different ways for screening multiple GPCRs in a single type of cell or multiple GPCRs in multiple types of cells within a single medium solution.

Abstract: Disclosed are novel benzo-, naphtho- and phenanthrochromenes substituted by carbamated or ureated phenyls having the following general formula (I): wherein R1 represents a group their preparation, photochromic compositions and articles containing them. This family of compounds have interesting and useful photochromic properties, especially in terms of absorption band and discoloration speed.

Abstract: A microstructured optical waveguide that supports the propagation of an optical signal of a desired wavelength is described. The optical waveguide includes a core region formed from an optically nonlinear material having a &ggr; of at least about 2.5×10−19 m2/W at 1260 nm. The optical waveguide also includes a cladding region surrounding the core region, the cladding region including a bulk material and a lattice of columns located in the bulk material, the lattice of columns having a pitch, and each column having a cross-sectional area. The pitch of the lattice and the areas of the columns are selected such that the dispersion of the optical signal at the desired wavelength is within the range of about −70 ps/nm-km to about 70 ps/nm-km.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature-compensated optical waveguide device. The temperature-compensated optical waveguide device includes a substrate having a first end and a second end. A first mount is coupled to the first end of the substrate. The first mount includes a first surface, the first surface having a first grove and a first recess intersected by the first groove. A second mount is coupled to the second end of the substrate. The second mount includes a second surface having a second grove and a second recess intersected by the second groove. The first groove and the second groove are substantially aligned with one another; and an optical waveguide fiber coupled to the first mount and the second mount. The optical waveguide fiber has a Bragg grating. The substrate has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the first mount has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and the second mount has a third coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protection switch for use in a node of a two-fiber optical shared protection ring. The two-fiber optical shared protection ring propagates at least one bi-directional channel. Each bi-directional channel includes a working first wavelength signal and a working second wavelength signal. One fiber in the two-fiber optical channel shared protection ring propagates the working first wavelength signal in a first direction and the other fiber in the two-fiber optical channel shared protection ring propagating the working second wavelength signal in a second direction opposite the first direction. The switch includes an N×N optical switch fabric system disposed in the node. The N×N optical switch fabric includes 2N input/output (I/O) ports, wherein N is four, or an integer multiple of four. Each optical switch fabric is configured to switch at least one bi-directional channel. At least N three-port optical devices are coupled to N of the I/O ports.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for characterizing an optical preform. To achieve this, the present invention provides a three-dimensional map of the refractive-index distribution within a boule or an optical preform. The three-dimensional map of the refractive-index distribution allows device manufacturers to better predict the performance of the optical device. The three-dimensional map also allows device manufacturers to determine the best orientation of the preform during device extraction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical device that includes an optically transparent mask blank that is characterized by a mask blank light transmission variation. An anti-reflective coating is disposed on the optically transparent component resulting in an optical device transmission variation that is less than the mask blank transmission variation. The present invention provides a simple solution to the problem of mitigating Fabry-Perot interference effects in a photomask. Disposing an anti-reflective coating on the light incident side of the photomask substantially reduces multiple reflections of the illuminating UV light. The illumination light propagates through the photomask only once. The AR coating also prevents any cumulative effects due to birefringence, surface roughness, or inhomogeneity.

Abstract: The present invention is a three-dimensional optical cross-connect switch that includes a first optical switching array and a second optical switching array. When combined, the first and second arrays have collimator tiles and beam steering tiles disposed in a checker-board arrangement. The maximum deflection angle of the switch is less than or equal to the maximum deflection angle of either individual switching array. The tiling scheme of the present invention effectively increases the port count of a three-dimensional optical cross-connect switch without increasing the angular deflection required to access all of the pixels in the switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collimator assembly for use in an optical switch. The collimator assembly includes an integrated LED/photodiode plane disposed in a dual microlens array. The integrated LED/photodiode plane results in a relatively simple way to manufacture high port count collimator arrays with integrated monitoring capabilities. The LED/photodiode plane can be readily produced using standard electronics manufacturing technology.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protection switch disposed at a node in a two-fiber optical channel protection ring. The protection switch includes a wavelength selective switch (WSS) coupled to the two-fiber optical channel protection ring. The WSS is configured to selectively drop at least one wavelength channel propagating in the two-fiber optical channel protection ring. A dynamic spectral equalizer (DSE) is coupled to the two-fiber optical channel protection ring. The DSE is configured to substantially block wavelengths corresponding to the at least one wavelength channel, and to optically manage at least one express wavelength channel not corresponding to the at least one wavelength channel.

Abstract: The present invention is a modular optical switch fabric that includes optical modules that are inserted into an optical chassis by way of plug-in electrical connectors. Each optical module includes a collimator panel and a beam steering panel secured to a frame member. The frame member is configured to position the collimator panel in fixed optical alignment relative to the beam steering panel. The modular optical switch fabric is upgradeable. The optical switch fabric allows users to expand the switch fabric capacity by simply adding switch fabric modules. The optical switch fabric also features modules that can be replaced and repaired without causing interruptions in service.

Abstract: The invention relates to a family of erbium-doped fluorophosphate glasses for use in optical signal amplification and which are doped, for 100 parts by weight constituted by: P2O5 15-40 MgF2 0-10 Al2O3  0-5 CaF2 0-25 MgO  0-9 SrF2 0-25 CaO  0-9 BaF2 0-20 SrO  0-9 KHF2 0-2 BaO  0-45 K2TiF6 0-2 AlF3  5-25 with up to 10 parts by weight of erbium oxide. The glasses according to the present invention exhibit a high gain and very flat spectrum over the 1550 nm bandwidth. These glass compositions are particularly well suited for use in fiber or planar optical amplification in WDM and similar applications.

Abstract: A protection switch for use in a two-fiber optical channel shared protection ring is disclosed. It includes an electrical switching circuit coupled to an optical signal monitor. The electrical switching circuit includes modular switching fabrics that respond to fault condition alarms provided by the optical signal monitor. Each modular switching fabric is versatile in that it includes a ring switch mode responsive to the multi-wavelength channel failures, and a span switch mode responsive to the single wavelength channel failures. Because the switching fabric of the electrical switching circuit is comprised of the plurality of small modular switching fabrics, the possibility of incurring a single-point switching failure in the switching fabric is virtually eliminated. Further, each modular switching fabric can be easily replaced in the event of failure, without affecting the operation of other switch fabrics within the protection switch.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel class of halofluorinated acrylates and more particularly to chlorofluorinated or bromofluorinated acrylates characterized by a chlorofluorinated or bromofluorinated alkylene moiety with acrylate functions at both terminals. These chlorofluorinated acrylates may be photocured in the presence of a photoinitiator into transparent polymers useful as optical waveguiding materials.

Abstract: The invention provides organic optical waveguide devices which employ perfluoropolymeric materials having low optical loss and low birefringence. An optical element has a substrate; a patterned, light transmissive perfluoropolymer core composition; and a light reflecting cladding composition on the pattern of the core. Writing of high-efficiency waveguide gratings is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method of making polarizing glass having integral polarizing and non-polarizing regions disclosed. The method involves applying a protective glass/frit material capable of blocking reducing gas to the surface of the glass to form a desired pattern, exposing the glass to a reducing gas atmosphere to render unprotected glass polarizing, and removing the protective glass/frit material to reveal underlying non-polarizing regions.

Abstract: These glasses incorporate a combination of F and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 to achieve even wider fluorescence and improved gain flatness. In addition, SPCVD incorporates large amounts of N into low-loss fiber whose high charge has an impact on rare earth behavior. The Surface Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (SPCVD) produces fiber preforms with high levels of F, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and N. These heavily fluorinated glasses provide much broader Er.sup.3+ emission than Type I or Type II silica for enhanced multichannel amplifiers. SPCVD successfully fluorinates silica with losses below 5 dB/km and increased Er.sup.3+ emission width.

Abstract: These color television (CTV) panel tint glasses involve using base CTV panel glass compositions with enhanced levels of Ni and Co colorants. The approach uses non-lead CTV panel glass compositions with high levels of Ni and Co oxide as colorant glasses for tinting clear CTV non-lead panel glass. Nickel oxide was varied from 2 to 18%, while cobalt oxide was varied from 0.2 to 2%. A preferred range of compositions with cobalt oxide levels below 1% and nickel oxide levels below 10% was found to be very acceptable for CTV panel colorants.

Abstract: This invention is directed broadly to transparent glasses exhibiting excellent transmission far into the infrared region of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, those glasses consisting essentially, expressed in terms of mole percent, of 40-80% Ga.sub.2 S.sub.3, 0-35% RS.sub.x, wherein R is at least one network forming cation selected from the group consisting of aluminum, antimony, arsenic, germanium, and indium, 1-50% Ln.sub.2 S.sub.3, wherein Ln is at least one cation selected from the group consisting of a rare earth metal cation and yttrium, 1-45% MS.sub.x, wherein M is at least one modifying metal cation selected from the group consisting of barium, cadmium, calcium, lead, lithium, mercury, potassium, silver, sodium, strontium, thallium, and tin, and 0-10% total chloride and/or fluoride. Glass compositions consisting essentially, expressed in terms of mole percent, of 5-30% Ga.sub.2 S.sub.3, 0-10% R.sub.2 S.sub.