Abstract: A heating apparatus includes: (i) a laser providing at least one beam of light capable of heating a small area of an object; (ii) a laser driver adapted to adjust optical power of this beam of light; (iii) a photo-detector adapted to detect and measure thermal radiation from the small area; and (iv) a control loop operatively linked to the laser driver and the photo-detector, the control loop providing a signal to the laser driver to adjust optical power of the beam of light based on amount thermal radiation detected by the photo-detector. According to one embodiment of the present the laser is a CO2 laser and the small area is less than 0.25 mm in width. According to another embodiment it is a Nd: YAG laser.

Abstract: A glass polarizer and a method of making the polarizer, the polarizer being produced from an R2O—Al2O3—B2O3—SiO2 glass containing limited amounts of ZrO2 and TiO2, and having a silver halide liquidus temperature and a rutile liquidus temperature, both temperatures being not over 995° C.

Abstract: There are disclosed novel quaternary ammonium functional silicone based emulsions and other formulations, as well as methods to make such emulsions and formulations. These materials have uses in personal care and other applications.

Abstract: Silicone liquid crystals, silicone vesicles, and silicone gels are formed by combining (i) an amine functional silicone or an organic amine compound, (ii) an organic epoxide containing at least two epoxy groups or an epoxy functional silicone containing at least two epoxy groups, and (iii) a fluid such as water, a silicone fluid other than a silicone used in (i) and (ii), and a polar organic compound or nonpolar organic compound other than organic compounds used in (i) and (ii) in which the polar and nonpolar organic compound are present at a concentration to provide a level of solids less than 40 percent by weight based on the weight of (i)-(iii). These silicone liquid crystals, silicone vesicles, and silicone gels are useful in personal care for preparing various skin, hair, and underarm products.

Abstract: A method for forming a fused silica glass includes delivering a silica precursor to a burner and passing the silica precursor through the flame of the burner to form silica particles, depositing the silica particles on a planar surface to form a flat, porous preform, dehydrating the porous preform, and consolidating the porous preform into a flat, dense glass.

Abstract: A connector for a coaxial cable where the cable comprises a corrugated outer conductor and a hollow inner conductor, where the corrugation is not helically wound, the connector including a main body to be electrically connected to the outer conductor and an outer bushing which can be displaced longitudinally relative to the main body, where the connector furthermore contains a clamping mechanism which includes a radially resilient bushing in contact with the inner surface of the outer conductor and a rigid ring member placed outside the outer conductor in the same region as the resilient bushing, such that the outer conductor during mounting of the connector on the cable is introduced in the gap formed between the resilient bushing and rigid ring member and such that a displacement of the outer bushing relative to the main body results in a decrease of the width of the gap, whereby a firm and reliable contact is established between the outer conductor and the main body.

Abstract: A light filtering assembly for filtering an input beam of light having a plurality of desired wavelength components and a plurality of unwanted wavelength components so as to provide an output beam having only the desired wavelength components. The filtering assembly comprises an input section, a filtering section, and an output section. The input section divides the input beam into a plurality of polarized beamlets that travel along a corresponding plurality of spatially separated beam paths. The polarized beamlets comprise a plurality of desired beamlets corresponding to the desired wavelength components of the input beam and a plurality of unwanted beamlets corresponding to the unwanted wavelength components of the input beam. The filtering section is disposed in the paths of the beamlets so that the desired beamlets are passed and the unwanted beamlets are blocked.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed for reducing four-wave mixing (FWM) penalties in an optical transmission network. The FWM penalties are reduced by simultaneously and periodically modulating the phase of the optical signals propagating through a long fiber waveguide at a modulation frequency that causes destructive interference of the FWM products that are otherwise generated along the length of the long fiber waveguide. The method may be implemented in an optical transmitter for an optical transmission network by providing a phase modulator between the multiplexer and an optical boost amplifier so as to simultaneously modulate the phase of all the optical signals that are transmitted through the long fiber waveguide. Alternatively, a phase modulator may be disposed between each source of modulated optical signals and the multiplexer so as to separately modulate the phase of all the optical signals that are subsequently transmitted through the long fiber waveguide.

Abstract: A vibration damping silicone composition having excellent vibration damping ability and good storage stability contains (A) a silicone oil, (B) calcium carbonate powder, (C) a solid inorganic material powder other than powder (B) having a mean particle size of 20-200 &mgr;m, and (D) a fatty acid or fatty acid derivative.

Abstract: A failsafe surge protector having a reduced part count includes a line terminal, a gas tube assembly, at least one ground spring for biasing the gas tube assembly in the direction of the line terminal, and a ground terminal. The gas tube assembly includes a gas tube, a fusible solder pellet, a failsafe ground, an MOV, and an MOV spring. The surge protector provides a first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the gas tube and the fusible solder pellet, and a second electrical ground path parallel to the first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the MOV. When the fusible solder pellet melts, the ground spring biases the failsafe ground into electrical contact with the line terminal, thereby providing a short-circuit electrical path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the failsafe ground.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable having strength assemblies (30) adjacent a tube having at least one optical fiber therein, at least one of the strength assemblies including a strength member for imparting crush resistance to the cable. The strength member is generally coupled to a first jacket, and may be surrounded by a single jacket, or by an armor tape and a second jacket. The strength member may be disposed in a recess of the tube. When crush loads are applied to the fiber optic cable, the stresses created in the cable are advantageously distributed by strength assemblies (30) whereby stress concentrations and undue deflection of the cable in response to the crush loads are avoided. The arrangement of the cable components and strength assemblies (30) inhibits slippage and/or warping of the components under stress, and thereby evenly distributes the stress for preventing crush induced attenuation in the optical fibers.

Abstract: Alkene-platinum-silyl complexes described by formula (COD)Pt(SiR13−n)2Yn are claimed, where each R1 is independently selected from organic groups, halo atoms, and siloxy groups, each Y is an independently selected divalent bridging group between the silicon atoms bonded to platinum, n is 0, 1, 2, or 3, and COD is 1,5-cyclooctadiene.

Abstract: An optical fiber and method of making, wherein the optical fiber alternates between regions having different diameters along its length, wherein the refractive index of said blank and the diameters of said fiber are chosen to result in a fiber having alternating regions of positive and negative dispersion at a wavelength which is greater than 1480 nm, yet preferably has a low net dispersion and dispersion slope. A preferred such profile consists of a core region surrounded by a cladding region, said core region comprised of an central core region which is updoped with respect to said cladding region, said central core region surrounded by a moat region which is downdoped with respect to said cladding region, and said moat region is surrounded by an annular ring region which is updoped with respect to said cladding region. In addition, a family of profiles is presented which may be used to produce very low dispersion slope fibers.

Abstract: A method for compensating for ASE in gain control mode while controlling gain of an optical amplifier, the method including the following steps: (i) obtaining value for input and output power electronic circuitry DC offset; (ii) selecting the following set point values: power set point=0.

Abstract: A discharge lamp (20), such as a neon lamp, comprising a laminated envelope having a gas-discharge channel and at least one external electrode (44) in communication with the gas-discharge channel (20), the laminated envelope having a front surface (32) and a back surface (28) integrated together to form a unitary envelope body essentially free of any sealing materials. The external electrode (44) comprises an electrode surface integral with the laminated envelope and a conductive medium disposed on the electrode surface. The conductive medium may be conductive tape, conductive ink, conductive coatings, frit with conductive filler or conductive epoxies. The discharge lamp may comprise a laminated envelope including a plurality of separate gas-discharge channels and external electrodes in communication with the gas-discharge channels, whereby the discharge is driven in parallel.

Abstract: Traction fluids suitable for operations under widely varying temperature environments, particularly having excellent low temperature properties are described. The tractions fluids comprise blends of organic oils and siloxane compositions. The siloxane compositions may include MTQ, MT, MQ, MDT, MDM, or D units in varying molar percents.

Abstract: A vibration damping silicone composition that exhibits an excellent vibration damping performance and long-term storage stability comprising a silicone oil, a silicone resin powder that is solid at room temperature, and a surface-hydrophobic silica powder having a pH of greater than 6 but less than 9. The composition is particularly useful in shock absorbers for electronic and/or electrical equipment such as compact disk players, compact disk changers, mini-disk players, and car navigation devices.

Abstract: An optical amplifying unit includes an input for the input optical signals and an output for the output of the optical signals. A single-mode active fiber codoped with Er and Yb is optically connected to the input and the output and adapted to amplify the optical signals. A first pump source generates a first pump radiation including an excitation wavelength for Er, and a second pump source for generates a second pump radiation including an excitation wavelength for Yb. A first optical coupler optically couples the first pump radiation into the core of the active fiber in a co-propagating direction with respect to signal direction, and a second optical coupler optically couples the second pump radiation into the core of the active fiber in a counter-propagating direction with respect to signal direction.

Abstract: A lens assembly especially adapted for mounting in an environment subject to variable temperatures, such as a projection television set, including an automatic thermal focus adjustment. A lens mount is formed from a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and carries at least one lens. A focus mount is coupled to the lens mount and is formed from a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. Adjustment and locking structure couples the lens mount to the focus mount and allows the lens mount to be axially adjusted relative to the focus mount and then locked in position. In use, the relative axial positions of the lens mount and focus mount automatically change to move the lens in response to a temperature change in the environment of use and after being locked in position with the adjustment and locking structure.

Abstract: Microplates and methods for manufacturing microplates. The microplate is designed to allow UV radiation to pass through the bottom wells of the microplate so that the microplate can be used for assaying samples by use of UV absorbance. In one embodiment, the microplate comprises at least first and second wells, each well having a UV permeable bottom. In another embodiment, the microplate comprises a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion contiguous with the upper portion and a sheet disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion and defining the bottom of at least one well of the microplate.