Abstract: A method of making a microlensed fiber by splicing a doped silica rod to an optical fiber and shaping the end of the doped silica rod into a plano-convex refracting lens. The doped silica rod has a lower melting point and annealing point than undoped silica, and therefor less power is required to manufacture the microlensed fiber. This decreases wear to the heating elements of the manufacturing equipment and therefor increases the number of microlensed fibers that can be manufactured between cycles. A further aspect of the present invention is a microlensed fiber made by the above process.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a planar or integrated optical circuit in which a core layer (20) is formed on a substrate (10) and patterned to define optical features (such as waveguides) using a mask having a first portion (30) defining the desired core patterns (20a) and a second portion (35) corresponding to one or more alignment marks (20b). After etching the core layer, only the first portion (30) of the mask is removed, the second portion (35) of the mask being left to provide alignment marks (20b) which are highly visible through the subsequently-deposited overclad layer (40). The alignment marks (20b) are very accurately positioned with respect to the core patterns (20a), thus enabling further optical devices to be overlaid on the existing structure with accurate alignment to the underlying core patterns. The mask material (35) left on the alignment marks (20b) may be partially oxidized before the overclad is deposited.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a liquid composition to one or more fibers of a fan of fibers provides a housing defining an elongated passageway therethrough such that the fan of fibers travels along a path through the passageway. The apparatus further provides a plurality of centrifugal spray heads including at least a first centrifugal spray head mounted in the housing and supplied with the liquid composition under pressure for directing the liquid composition onto one or more fibers of the fan of fibers passing a first location of the path. The plurality of centrifugal spray heads further includes at least a second centrifugal spray head mounted in the housing and being supplied with the liquid composition under pressure to direct the liquid composition onto one or more fibers of the fan of fibers passing a second location of the path.

Abstract: An apparatus and process of loading rolls of roofing material onto a stationary pallet, wherein the process performs a series of operations, in accordance with the present invention. Each operation includes the steps of: (a) loading rolls of roofing material onto an upwardly inclined conveyor; (b) depositing the rolls of roofing material onto a downwardly inclined-table; (c) dropping the rolls of roofing material onto a sloped, rotating table until the desired number of rolls of roofing material are accumulated; (d) rotating the table and then tilting the plate until it is nearly upright into a vertical position; (e) traversing the rotating table over the pallet conveyor; and (f) unloading the roll of roofing material from the rotating table onto the pallet.

Abstract: Zeolite based material and a method for making the zeolite, comprising a zeolite having a silica/alumina ratio of at least 300 and a surface area of 250 m2/g and no greater than about 20 parts, by weight, of a silica binder. The combination of properties this zeolite based material exhibits includes the following: (1) a modulus of rupture of at least 1500 psi; (2) a surface area of at least 100 m2/g; (3) a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than about +/−10 ppm/° C.; and, (4) a thermal shock resistance of at least 850° C. The zeolite-based material can include a third component, specifically a gamma alumina having a specific surface area of greater than 100 m2/g.

Abstract: A multiple layer fiber filled sound absorber and method of manufacturing the absorber are disclosed. The sound absorber includes an outer housing, a porous or perforated inner tube or housing defining a passageway through which a gas may flow, and two layers of sound absorbing material, such as fiberglass wool, is positioned between the housings. The sound absorbing material adjacent the inner housing is selected to be more heat resistant than the material farther away from the inner housing. The sound absorber is filled with the sound absorbing materials using a direct fill process in which continuous fibers are injected into the sound absorber. In preparation for filling, a partition is positioned between the housings to define two chambers. Each chamber is filled with one of the sound absorbing materials. The partition may then be removed from the sound absorber, or may be left in place (in which case the partition is preferably porous or perforated).

Abstract: A self-supporting fiber optic cable includes a messenger section having at least one strength and anti-buckling member enclosed within a jacket and a carrier section enclosed within a jacket that is joined to the jacket of the messenger section by a web. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, carrier section does not include strength members and the optical fibers are set with a high EFL. The greater EFL accommodates elongation of carrier section without transmission of stress to optical fibers. In addition, the preferably generally cylindrical internal surface of a tube or jacket curves the optical fibers creating EFL, for example, the fibers are guided by the internal surface in a helical path. Resistance to carrier section elongation and contraction can be controlled by varying the length of the web connecting the carrier and messenger sections.

Abstract: A method of modifying the spectral distribution of an optical signal includes the steps of splitting the signal among a plurality of optical paths, delaying the propagation of the signal through one or more of the optical paths by a time duration which results in the desired spectral distribution when the signals at the output ends of each optical path are recombined, and then recombining those outputs. An apparatus for changing the spectral profile of an optical signal includes an input waveguide and a plurality of tapped delay lines. Each of the tapped delay lines has a delay element configurable to impart a predetermined delay to the signal propagating down the delay line. Couplers split an optical signal, propagating on the input waveguide, among the tapped delay lines. The delays imparted to the signals on each line are chosen so as to effect the desired change to the spectral profile.

Abstract: A method for tuning and improving the performance of an optical communication system comprising al link that includes optical amplifiers and, optionally, active and/or passive optical components such as, e.g., DWDM's, WADM's, and optical cross-connects, includes preferentially shaping and, in particular, flattening, with respect to the input power spectrum, the output power spectrum from the amplifier, component or of the link. A flattened output power spectrum is obtained by modifying the gain spectrum operating on the respective input power spectrum. Feedback for such gain modification is typically provided by optimizing the optical signal to noise ratio of each channel of the respective output power spectrum. A system link, an optical amplifier, and optical components having flattened output power spectra are also described.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is an optical add/drop multiplexer. The optical add/drop multiplexer includes a first optical circulator, the first circulator includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The optical add/drop multiplexer also includes a first tunable grating coupled to the first port and a second tunable grating coupled to the first grating. The optical add/drop multiplexer further includes a second optical circulator, the second optical circulator includes a fourth port, coupled to the second grating; a fifth port, and a sixth port. Wherein the first tunable grating is a fiber Bragg grating and wherein the second tunable grating is a fiber Bragg grating.

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 component to compensate for variations in the gain spectrum of the optical amplifier that occur as a function of wavelength and operating temperature. The optical filter component includes a first optical filter having an athermalized transmission spectrum and a second optical filter having a transmission (or insertion loss) spectrum that varies as a function of operating temperature.

Abstract: The specification describes and claims room temperature vulcanisable compositions formed by mixing components comprising a polysiloxane having hydroxyl or hydrolysable groups, a crosslinker having silicon bonded hydrolysable groups selected from the group consisting of alkoxy-, acetoxy- and oximo and a hydroxy terminated urethane prepolymer with no residual isocyanate groups formed from a polyol and an isocyanate. The compositions demonstrate improved adhesion, thixotropy and toolability.

Abstract: A solvent free silicone composition for forming a cured release coating comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a diorganopolysiloxane having in each molecule at least two alkenyl groups and a viscosity of 50 to 5,000 mPa·s at 25° C.; (B) 3 to 50 parts by weight of an organohydrogenpolysiloxane mixture comprising constituent (b-1) and constituent (b-2) in a weight ratio of 1:0.01 to 1:1, where (b-1) is a diorganopolysiloxane having a viscosity of 1 to 1,000 mPa·s at 25° C. and having both molecular terminals capped with silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms and (b-2) is an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of 1 to 1,000 mPa·s at 25° C. and having at least three pendant silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecular chain; and (C) a catalytic amount of a platinum-type catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to fused silica having low compaction under high energy irradiation, particularly adaptable for use in photolithography applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating optical fiber that includes a core surrounded by a cladding layer of refractive index &Dgr;c. The core includes at least three radially adjacent regions, a central core region having &Dgr;1, a moat region having a refractive index &Dgr;2 and an annular ring region having a refractive index &Dgr;3, such that &Dgr;1>&Dgr;3>&Dgr;c>&Dgr;2. The fiber exhibits a dispersion at 1550 which is less than −30 ps/nm/km, and a &kgr; value obtained by dividing the dispersion value by the dispersion slope which is between 40 and 100.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive adhesive emulsion comprises a disperse silicone phase emulsified in a continuous water phase in the presence of a surfactant. The disperse silicone phase comprises 40-80 percent by weight of a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive, which is the product of mixing a silanol-terminated polydiorganosiloxane of Tg below −20° C. with a silanol-containing silicone resin of Tg above 0° C., dispersed in 60-20 percent by weight of a volatile silicone fluid having a boiling point below 300° C. The emulsion is substantially free of any non-silicon atom containing volatile organic material.

Abstract: An optical device comprises an input for an input optical impulse and an optical beam splitting element for supplying, from the input optical impulse, a first pair and a second pair of optical impulses. Also included is a first optical delay element to delay, by a predetermined time, at least one of the first pair of optical impulses and a second optical delay element to delay, by a predetermined time, at least one of the second pair of optical impulses. A first optical processing element supplies a first output optical signal to a first output when commanded by the first pair of optical impulses and a second optical processing element supplies a second output optical signal to a second output when commanded by the second pair of optical impulses.

Abstract: Processes for the preparation of phenyl Grignard reagents in co-solvents of toluene and ether and, the preparation of phenylchlorosilane intermediates using co-solvents of toluene and ether essentially in a one step process. The phenylchlorosilanes in the processes of this invention are important intermediates for the preparation of various silicone materials.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a housing having a washing chamber and a door for gaining access to the washing chamber. A washing nozzle is provided in the washing chamber for directing a fluid stream against dishes held in the washing chamber. A circulation pump circulates fluid under pressure through the washing nozzle. A supply line delivers fluid to the circulation pump while a drain line discharges fluid from the washing chamber. Additionally the dishwasher includes an acoustical insulation blanket of thermoplastic material. That blanket extends around the washing chamber and the circulation pump and is precisely cut to fit snugly around the fluid supply line and the drain line so as to eliminate gaps therebetween and the acoustical leaks associated therewith. A method is also disclosed for enclosing the noise-generating components of the dishwasher in an acoustical insulation blanket of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A method for upgrading bandwidth in a fiber optic system utilizing Raman amplification and having an initial band capacity provided by a plurality of pumps including the steps of identifying a fiber optic system to be upgraded, activating at least one new pump in the fiber optic system necessary to provide upgraded band capacity to the fiber optic system while retaining the initial band capacity provided by the plurality of pumps, and adjusting power of at least one pump of the fiber optic system to minimize gain ripple or signal output ripple.