Abstract: A semiconductor package comprising a wafer having an active surface comprising at least one integrated circuit, wherein each integrated circuit has a plurality of bond pads; and a cured silicone layer covering the surface of the wafer, provided at least a portion of each bond pad is not covered with the silicone layer and wherein the silicone layer is prepare by the method of the invention.

Abstract: A two-part reagent method for polishing an inorganic silicate substrate is provided. The method comprises: providing a silicate substrate; providing a reagent comprising: a first part consisting essentially of an aqueous solution of at least one metal oxide abrasive selected from the group consisting of titania, zirconia, germania, and germania-doped silica; and a second part consisting essentially of an alkali aqueous solution of colloidal silica having a buffered pH value of at least about 10; polishing a surface of said substrate with the metal oxide abrasive aqueous solution to a surface roughness (Ra) ranging from about 6 Å to about 10 Å; and further polishing the surface with said alkali aqueous solution of colloidal silica to a roughness of less than or equal to about 5 Å.

Abstract: A reinforcement liner and methods of manufacturing the liner are disclosed. The liner includes a fabric (100) material having first and second fibers (112, 122). The second fibers comprise chopped fibers in substantially parallel alignment for being positioned substantially about the circumference of a pipe, so the fabric can be elongated in a direction parallel to the second fibers. The liner may includes a stitching material (130) that is used to couple the first and second fibers together. The stitching material is preferably an elastic yarn.

Abstract: A multimode optical fiber having a first laser bandwidth greater than 220 MHz.km in the 850 nm window, a second laser bandwidth greater than 500 MHz.km in the 1300 nm window, a first OFL bandwidth of at least 160 MHz.km in the 850 nm window, and a second OFL bandwidth of at least 500 MHz.km in the 1300 nm window is disclosed. The multimode fiber is capable of operating in telecommunication systems employing both LED power sources and high power laser sources. Methods of making and testing the multimode optical fiber are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for separating a pane (11) of a brittle material from a moving ribbon (13) of the material without contact between the newly-formed leading edge of the ribbon and the newly-formed trailing edge of the pane. The apparatus includes a pane engaging assembly (15), a transporter (29), and a connector assembly (31) which together ensure that the pane (11) and the sheet (13) do not contact each other once separation occurs. In this way, edge chipping and the resulting occurrence of surface defects on the separated pane are decreased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a single mode optical waveguide having a segmented core of at least two segments. The relative refractive index, the index profile and the radial dimensions of the core segments are selected to provide an optical waveguide fiber having properties suitable for a high performance telecommunication system operating in the wavelength window of about 1530 nm to 1570 nm. Embodiments of the invention having two, three and four segments are described.

Abstract: Spontaneously formed highly stable clear water-in-oil microemulsions containing only small amounts of water can be prepared by combining and simply hand shaking (i) 0.1 to 9 percent by weight of water; (ii) greater than 80 percent by weight of a volatile cyclic alkyl siloxane or volatile linear alkyl siloxane; and (iii) 3 to 10 percent by weight of certain silicone polyether surfactants. The microemulsions are useful in personal care applications.

Abstract: A bidirectionally pumped optical amplifier (200) comprises an active fibre (201), a first WDM coupler (204) and a second WDM coupler (205), a first pump: branch (220) coupled to said first WDM coupler (204) comprising a first laser (202) and a first grating (210), for introducing pump radiation into said active fibre (201) in a first direction, a second pump branch (230) coupled to said second WDM coupler (205) comprising a second laser (203) and a second grating (212), for introducing pump radiation into said active fibre (201) in a second direction, opposite to said first direction. The second laser has an output power PF. A first pump residual, having a power Pinj, is coupled into said second pump branch (230) from the active fibre (201) and injected into said second laser (203). The first pump branch (220) further comprises an optical isolator (211) for the pump radiation. The output power of the injected laser and the injected pump power residual are such that PF/Pinj>2.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a buffer tube, a plurality of ribbons of optical fibers extending through the buffer tube and a grease layer disposed between at least one pair of adjacent ribbons. The grease layer includes a base component and a plurality of agglomerates formed filler particles, such as silica particles. The major dimension of the majority of the agglomerates is advantageously less than 100 microns in order to reduce microbending of the optical fibers and the resulting attenuation of the signals propagating along the optical fibers. The fiber optic cable can also include a filling compound that is disposed within the buffer tube and surrounds the optical fibers and that is also formed of a base component and a plurality of agglomerates, the majority of which similarly have a major dimension of less than 100 microns.

Abstract: An electrophoretic inorganic porous material, electrophoresis apparatus and method for analyzing a biological sample using the electrophoretic inorganic porous material are described. The electrophoretic inorganic porous material is an inorganic separating media that has a plurality of pores in which molecules from the biological sample (e.g., amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, DNA) migrate during an electrophoresis process. There are disclosed two embodiments of the electrophoretic inorganic porous material including a porous glass and a sol gel monolith.

Abstract: A protective system for optical components, including a container, at least one optical component fixed inside said container, a length of optical fiber which has a plastic coating and is connected to said at least one optical component, and, an optical feedthrough for said length of fiber, placed in a feedthrough hole in a wall of said container and hermetically fixed therein, said optical feed through comprising an elongated body which has a longitudinal feedthrough hole into which said optical fiber can be placed, and, a portion of said length of fiber being stripped of said coating, wherein said portion of fiber which is stripped of the coating is soldered to one end of said elongated body by means of a metallic solder, such soldering in a surface portion around said portion of fiber being coated with a layer of a polymeric sealant. The polymeric sealant can be an epoxy resin, an acrylic resin, or a silicon resin.

Abstract: A fiber splicing apparatus of the present invention includes a support (120a, 120b) for supporting the two optical fibers (112a,112b) such that the ends (114a, 114b) thereof are aligned and in physical contact, and a laser (130) emitting a laser beam (142) onto the ends of the optical fibers to heat and thereby fuse together the ends (114a, 114b ) of the fibers (112a, 112b). According to another embodiment, an apparatus is provided for heating a region (115) of one or more optical fibers(112a, 112b). This apparatus includes a laser (130) emitting a laser beam (132) and an optical modulator (134) positioned to receive and selectively modulate the intensity of the laser beam (132) to project a modulated laser beam (138) along a first optical path that terminates at the end (114a, 114b ) of the optical fiber(s) (112a, 112b)to be heated.

Abstract: Modified silica fillers are prepared by contacting silica with blends or mixtures containing diorganodihalosilanes and monoorganotrihalosilanes in weight ratios of 1:0.1 to 1:2, respectively. While dialkyldichlorosilanes and monoalkyltrichlorosilane such as dimethyldichlorosilane and methyltrichlorosilane, respectively, are most preferred, the blends or mixtures may also comprise compositions containing n-propyltrichlorosilane, phenyltrichlorosilane, cyanopropyltrichlorosilane, and mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane.

Abstract: Dies which facilitate the threading of a strand are disclosed. Each die embodiment includes portions that move relative to each other to allow access to the area between the portions. One embodiment of a die embodying the principles of the invention includes an upper portion and a lower portion. Each die portion includes components corresponding to substantially half of a wirecoating die. Accordingly, when the die portions are adjacent each other, they form a complete wirecoating die. In the preferred embodiment, the upper portion is moveable relative to the lower portion, which is fixed. Each portion is coupled to a support by a conduit through which resin can be supplied to the particular die portion. The upper portion is pivotally mounted to the support for movement between an upper position in which the die is open and a lower position in which the die is closed. This die is used in an in-line wirecoating process in which a strand is wirecoated downstream from a bushing during a fiber forming process.

Abstract: An optical waveguide fiber having a relatively large effective area which exhibits low attenuation, low PMD and low microbending sensitivity. A step-index refractive index profile is advantageously used.

Abstract: A polyester having less than 50 hydrogen-carbon bonds per 1000 molecular weight units exhibits very low optical loss in the range of wavelengths commonly used for optical communication, and exhibits other physical properties suitable for use as a waveguide core material and/or a waveguide cladding material in optical fibers and/or planar optical devices.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing granules onto a substrate includes a hopper for containing granules, the hopper having a discharge slot, and a reciprocating gate mounted for rotation across the slot to open and close the slot. A method of depositing granules onto a moving substrate includes providing a hopper for containing granules, where the hopper has a discharge slot. A gate is moved across the slot to open and close the slot. When the slot is open granules fall from the hopper, and when the slot is closed granules are prevented from falling from the hopper. The method further includes detecting the speed of the substrate, and controlling the extent of opening of the slot by the gate to meter the granules falling from the hopper in response to the speed of the substrate.

Abstract: An optical device including an optical amplifier to amplify optical signals received through an optical input, and to supply the amplified optical signals from an optical output, and an optical filter coupled to the optical amplifier. The optical filter changes the gain slope of the optical amplifier in response to a change in a single parameter of the optical filter. The single parameter may be a change in a central wavelength of the optical filter function. The optical filter preferably has a parabolic spectral function. The single parameter may be varied as a function of temperature such that the variable optical attenuator compensates for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: Multi-core optical fibers are provided in various embodiments of the present invention which include a plurality of cores. At least two cores of the plurality of cores have different associated mean propagation constants at a reference wavelength. The difference between the associated mean propagation constants may be selected to reduce cross-talk between the at least two cores as compared to cores having a same associated mean propagation constant. A primary coating of light absorbing material may be positioned between the cores to further reduce cross-talk. Also provided are methods for manufacturing the same and wavelength division multiplexing systems using the same.

Abstract: A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. It comprises the step of providing a muffler shell comprising one or more muffler shell outer parts which define an internal cavity and an internal structure adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity and having one or more openings adapted to communicate with the shell internal cavity. The process further comprises the step of providing a bag filled with fibrous material. The bag has a first side with one or more first perforations defining a first side total open area and a second side with either no perforations or one or more second perforations defining a second side total open area. The first open area is greater than the second open area.