Abstract: A cable breakaway assembly is adapted for mounting within a stationary component of a communications service network to prevent damage to a feeder cable in the event that an excessive pulling force is applied to a customer cable spliced to the feeder cable. In one embodiment, the cable breakaway assembly comprises a generally symmetric base, at least one cutting blade fixed to the base, and a swing arm rotatably attached to the base and movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The communications cable is secured to the swing arm by a cable clamp and the swing arm is biased in the extended position by a torsion spring. When the excessive force is applied to the customer cable the swing arm rotates to the retracted position, thereby bringing the communications cable into contact with the cutting blade and severing the communications cable. In another embodiment, the base defines a cavity and the swing arm is replaced by a cable block resiliently positioned within the cavity.

Abstract: This invention relates to substrates for use in immobilizing biomolecules. More particularly, the invention relates to substrates (e.g. glass slides) having a coating of polylysine covalently attached to a silane layer coating the slide, wherein the polylysine compound has a functional NH2 group which can be coupled directly, indirectly, covalently, or non-covalently to a biomolecule (e.g., a DNA or RNA molecule). Even more particularly, the invention relates to specific prescribed addition of ethanalomine to the polylysine thereby forming a mixture which dramatically enhances the effectiveness of the polylysine for immobilizing DNA.

Abstract: An aqueous treatment agent for wiping paper is capable of rendering tissue paper, toilet paper, and other types of wiping paper dry to the touch, highly smooth, nonsticky, and extremely soft while suppressing the slippery or wet feel thereof. The aqueous treatment agent comprises a water dispersion of a silicone rubber powder with an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 500 micrometers, a silicone oil, a surfactant, and water.

Abstract: Polarizing glass having localized regions or patterns of non-polarizing glass is disclosed. The glass is formed by use of reducing gas-blocking material, by local thermal heating of the glass, or by an etching technique.

Abstract: A roof covering has a back surface and a plurality of glass particles applied as a backdust on the back surface. A method of manufacturing a roof covering includes coating a substrate with an organic-based coating material, and applying a plurality of glass particles as a backdust on the back surface of the coated substrate.

Abstract: An optical fiber amplifier includes an optical system and an electronic controller. The optical system includes: an optical gain medium; at least one pump source coupled to the optical gain medium; an input port for in-coming signal; and an output port for an out-going signal. It also includes an input optical signal tap coupled to a first optical detector; and an output optical signal tap coupled to a second optical detector. The electronic controller is adapted to utilize inputs received from the tabs to control optical power provided by the pump source. The controller includes a user interface that allows a user to control at least one of the following available functions: desired amplifier gain value; amplifier output power value; ASE noise compensation.

Abstract: A foam control agent comprises (A) an organopolysiloxane material having at least one silicon-bonded substituent of the formula X—Ph, wherein X denotes a divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group and Ph denotes an optionally substituted aromatic group, (B) an organosilicon resin and (C) a hydrophobic filler. The organosilicon resin (B) preferably consists of siloxane units of the formula R′aSiO4−a/2 wherein R′ denotes a hydroxyl, hydrocarbon or hydrocarbonoxy group, particularly trialkylsiloxy units and SiO4/2 units, wherein a has a value of from 0.5 to 2.4. The foam control agent may be provided as an emulsion or as a particulate material. It is especially useful as a detergent foam control agent.

Abstract: A method for splicing optical fibers is disclosed. The fibers are held by ferrules with a softening temperature at least 30° C. below that of the lower of the glass transition temperatures of the fibers. The ends of the fibers are actively aligned and brought into contact, then energy is applied to fuse the ferrules together, maintaining the alignment of the ends of the fibers. The ferrules may be a low-melting inorganic glass, such as a lead bismuth borosilicate glass. The method and ferrules of the present invention are especially useful in splicing fibers of dissimilar thermomechanical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering an optical input is disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, an optical input is split into polarization components along separate paths. The polarization components are then fed into a first electro-optic device that includes a set of electrodes across which a voltage is applied to adjust a wavelength transmission characteristic of the device. A section of the first device positioned between the electrodes preferably has a birefringence that is adjusted depending on the voltage applied across the electrodes. The adjusted components of the optical input are thereafter combined to produce an optical output. Accordingly, the optical input can be attenuated based on the voltage applied to electrodes of the first electro-optic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of chromatic dispersion includes the negative compensation per channel filter (130) coupled to an optical receiving path (100) for providing a lossless discontinuous per-channel dispersion compensation in the optical receiving path (100). The optical receiving path (100) includes an input port (131), at the input of the filter (130), for receiving an input optical pulse (120) having a packet of waves at corresponding frequencies transmitted and received by an optical fiber (115).

Abstract: A system for writing fiber gratings has a plurality of writing stations, each writing station including a fiber mounting fixture for receiving an optical fiber to be exposed to a beam from a laser. The system includes a data capture module for capturing data generated from the exposure of optical fibers in each of the writing stations, and a steering assembly for directing the laser beam to each of the plurality of writing stations in turn.

Abstract: A foam control agent, comprising (A) an organopolysiloxane material having at least one silicon-bonded substituent of the formula X-Ph, wherein X denotes a divalent aliphatic organic group bonded to silicon through a carbon atom and Ph denotes an optionally substituted aromatic group, (B) a water-insoluble organic fluid, (C) an organosilicon resin and (D) a hydrophobic filler. The foam control agent may be provided as an emulsion or as a particulate material. It is especially useful as a detergent foam control agent.

Abstract: A corner wall-mount fiber optic connector housing includes an enclosure having a back plate for mounting in a corner between two walls. The enclosure is provided with at least one provider port for entry of a fiber optic provider cable having a plurality of optical fibers and at least two customer ports for entry of a fiber optic customer cable having a plurality of optical fibers. At least two fiber optic connector panel mounts located within the enclosure have an aperture for receiving a plurality of connectors to optically interconnect the fibers of the provider cable with the fibers of the customer cable. The back plate is formed in two planes at an angle to each other for mounting in the corner, and one of the customer ports and one of the connector panel mounts is positioned adjacent a respective one of the two planes of the back plate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing laminated roofing shingles comprises coating a continuously supplied shingle mat having a width W with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt coated sheet, and subjecting the asphalt coated sheet to one of two subsequent processes. The first process comprises covering the asphalt coated sheet with granules in a first pattern suitable for making laminated shingles with an overlay having tabs and cutouts, where the area of the tabs approximately equals the area of the cutouts, thereby forming a first granule covered sheet. The second process comprises covering the asphalt coated sheet with granules in a second pattern suitable for making laminated shingles with an overlay having tabs and cutouts, where the area of the tabs is substantially greater than the area of the cutouts, thereby forming a second granule covered sheet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluorinated rare earth doped glass composition and method for making a glass-ceramic optical article therefrom, e.g. optical fiber waveguides, fiber lasers and active fiber amplifiers, having application in the 1300 nm and 1550 nm telecommunications windows. The inventive compositions include Pr3+ and/or Dy3+ in a concentration range of between 300-2,000 ppmw and Ag+ in a concentration range of between 500-2000 ppmw; or Er3+ in a concentration range of between 500-5,000 ppmw and Ag+ in a concentration range of between 0-2,000 ppmw. The monovalent silver ion provides an ionic charge balanced glass-ceramic crystal. These compositions exhibit reduced or absent rare earth ion clustering and fluorescence quenching effects in the presence of high concentrations of rare earth ion dopants.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of finishing a polycrystal silicon nitride surface. The method of finishing the polycrystal silicon nitride includes providing a polycrystal silicon nitride composite which includes a plurality of silicon nitride crystal grains and a glassy-phase grain boundary medium. The method further includes providing an abrading finishing mixture with the finishing mixture including an abrasive and an oxidant. The method includes concurrently oxidizing the silicon nitride grains and abrading the silicon nitride composite to provide a finished polycrystal silicon nitride surface.

Abstract: A multiwell plate is described that is used for assaying samples and is made from a plastic upper plate which forms the sidewalls of one or more wells and a glass lower plate which forms the bottom walls of the wells. The plastic upper plate and glass lower plate are attached and bound to one another by an enhanced adhesive. The enhanced adhesive includes an adhesive mixed with an additive that interacts with the adhesive, the plastic upper plate and the glass bottom plate in a manner that strengthens a bond between the plastic upper plate and the glass lower plate. Also described herein is a method for making such multiwell plates.

Abstract: An array of movable MEMS mirror devices is provided having a high linear mirror fill factor. The array includes a base structure and selectively movable mirror structures pivotally mounted on the base structure. Each mirror structure is pivotally supported by a flexure connected to the base structure. The mirror structures each include a reflective surface portion, which is arranged in close proximity to the reflective surface portions of other mirror structures and in a generally linear alignment, forming a row structure. The flexures supporting adjacent mirror structures are staggered on opposite sides of the row structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor electro-optical device such as a laser or modulator comprises a ridge of active and wave-guiding semiconductor layers extending between two facets. In the preferred embodiment, cavity length is relatively long, i.e., the facets are separated by greater than a millimeter. This lowers the current densities in the ridge for the same output beam power. Further, an oxygen-free passivation layer is continuously formed over at least one of the facets to prevent surface corrosion and avoid electrical surface traps. However, a standing-wave-shifted coating is further used on the facet with the passivation layer to reduce the electric field magnitude in the passivation layer.

Abstract: A premises cable having a plurality of inorganic fibers for protecting and suspending a plurality of optical fibers within a polymer jacket. The inorganic fibers, preferably glass fibers, do not generate smoke or fire and thus offer an improvement over traditional polyaramid fibers used as reinforcement materials in premises cables. A sizing composition is applied to the inorganic fibers to prevent ribbonization of the inorganic fibers, thereby preventing attenuation of the optical fibers caused by such a ribbonization and also allowing a uniform distribution of glass fibers around the optical fibers to further protect the optical fibers.