Abstract: A device for optically coupling an optical fiber (1) forming part of an optical communication system, to an optical semiconductor laser amplifier (4) having an input facet (5) and an output facet (7). The optical fiber has an end surface (2) arranged opposite to at least one of the facets. A characteristic feature of the invention is an diffraction optics element (11) arranged between the end surface of the fiber and the surface of the facet in order to adapt the nearfield of the fiber end to the nearfield of the facet surface and for providing optical filtering reducing spontaneous emission noise. Preferably the diffraction optics element is a phase hologram.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of connecting a ceramic material to another material. According to the present method as ceramic material porous material is used that prior to making a connection it is gradually compacted from the contact surface with the greatest density at the contact surface, wherein on the contact surface of the porous material a mixture of titanium hydride (TiH.sub.2) and quartz flour (SiO.sub.2) is applied. Then the so treated porous ceramic material is heated to 1200.degree.-1800.degree. C. during 1-40 hours. Finally the so compacted porous ceramic material in a manner known per se is connected to the other material. Preferably the treated porous ceramic material is heated to 1300.degree.-1500.degree. C. during 10-20 hours. Advantageously the weight proportion of TiH.sub.2 and SiO.sub.2 in the mixture is 95:5 to 5:95 and preferably 35:65 to 65:35.

Abstract: Sewing machine with an upper feed mechanism is provided with a stroke-adjusting system in which the drive connection between the upper feed foot and the presser foot has a three-position control device for automatic adjustment of the height position of the upper feed system. This is preferably a hydraulic control device, whose hydraulic cylinder is subdivided by its adjusting piston into two chambers. A hydraulic difference measuring unit is provided wherein the two chambers 82a, 82b of the hydraulic cylinder 59 are connected via two antiparallel-connected pressure relief valves 71, 71'. Each pressure relief valve 71, 71' preferably consists of a spring-tensioned check valve R and a pressure-limiting valve D arranged downstream of it.

Abstract: A lower alcohol is recovered from a mixed liquid thereof with water, derived from a vapor drying procedure for a water-wetted article, for example, a water-washed lens or semiconductor wafer, by feeding the mixed liquid of a lower alcohol with water from the vapor drying procedure to a vaporizer; vaporizing the mixed liquid; feeding the mixed vapor into a gas-separating module comprising at least one gas-separating membrane, for example, composed of a aromatic polyimide hollow fiber, which allows a selective permeation of water vapor from a feed side to a permeated side therethrough, withdrawing a non-permeated vapor fraction containing the lower alcohol in an increased concentration from the feed side, and converting the vapor fraction to a high purity lower alcohol liquid by cooling, while discharging a permeated vapor fraction containing water in an increased concentration from the permeated side.

Abstract: A structure for a food bag that is suitable for a larger than usual sized bag is described as being formed of two sections of a flexible material. The two sections of flexible material are arranged one over the other and sealed around their periphery. Another sealing line is located along at least one side spaced from the one periphery line to form an elongated stiffening compartment when filled with a suitable gas, such as air, under pressure. The remaining space between the sealed sections forms a food compartment that is maintained in an erect, upright position by the elongated stiffening compartment.

Abstract: A backwash and ripening pipe connection system for a water treatment plant uses common pipelines to and from respective filters in the plant. The backwash/ripening pipeline to and from each filter has an associated valve and connects to one pipeline from a backwash fluid source, and another pipeline leading to a waste storage tank. The filters also connect through separate pipelines to a clearwell. The pipeline from the backwash fluid source and the pipeline to the waste storage tank each have an associated master valve. During backwashing, fluid flows through the backwash pipeline to the individual backwash/ripening pipeline and its associated filter, the backwash master valve being open and the ripening master valve being closed. Individual valves on each backwash/ripening pipeline are open.

Abstract: Flat multi-layered work pieces, such as panels with a decorative or finish surface coating (5), are prescored and cut through by the same saw blade to avoid damage to the surface coating. For this purpose a circular saw (1) is guided along a guide rail (7) and its saw blade (4) is adjustable to a prescoring depth and to at least one lateral prescoring position to make a first prescoring cut only through the cover layer (5) in a sawing direction in synchronism with the blade rotation direction. If necessary, the blade is adjusted to a second lateral prescoring position to make a second prescoring cut only through the cover layer (5) in a cutting direction in synchronism with the blade rotation. Finally, the saw blade (4) is adjusted to its full cutting depth and to a lateral position between the two prescoring positions and a full cut is made through the entire work piece (6) in a sawing direction counter to the rotation direction of the saw blade.

Abstract: In order to clean the support region at the bottom end of a doctor element which is clamped to a support and is thereby held to the surface of spreadable material to be doctored, the leaf spring doctor element is removable from a stop on the support against which the leaf spring is clamped in operation by a plate pusher. The support is shaped to have a groove extending along the width of the stop and the support for the doctor element. A sidewall of the groove is defined in a ledge that is movable along the support and along the groove. The sidewall supports oscillation pulse transmitters. A liquid pulse transmitting medium in the groove transmits the oscillations across the grove to the area of the leaf spring support to be cleaned. The oscillation pulse transmitters may be a series of transmitters extending along the sidewall along the groove or may comprise a long bar shaped oscillator which is oscillated at its ends.

Abstract: A high temperature endothermic blowing agent which is a mixture of a polycarboxylic acid and an inorganic carbonate, the polycarboxylic acid and inorganic carbonate each having been surface treated with a component which prevents water from being absorbed thereby. The blowing agent is incorporated into a polymer and used for producing foamed products.

Abstract: A thermoresistive sensor system compensates for ambient temperature of a medium. First and second side-by-side sensors are mounted in the medium, each having a resistance that varies with temperature change in the medium. A thermal compensation control circuit supplies current to the first sensor such that the cube of its current times its resistance (I.sub.1.sup.3 .times.R.sub.1) is constant. The control circuit supplies current to the second sensor at a multiple of the current through the first sensor. A signal based upon the voltages across each sensor is produced as a temperature compensated output. In this manner, the system automatically compensates for temperature changes in the medium which would otherwise degrade the accuracy of the output.

Abstract: A process for the decaffeination of raw coffee. The process involves increasing the moisture content of the raw coffee and selectively extracting caffeine from the raw coffee by using hydrous liquefied carbon dioxide as an extractant at a pressure below the critical pressure of carbon dioxide. The process differs from conventional processes which use liquefied carbon dioxide at pressures above the critical pressure but it is suprisingly found that the process of the invention does not result in the coextraction of aroma components of the coffee. The use of lower pressures means that the process of the invention is more economical than conventional processes.

Abstract: A vessel that encloses a chamber for drying a product containing moisture is provided with microwave radiation generating devices to elevate the temperature of the moisture in the product so that moisture escapes from the product. The vessel is also provided with a thermal radiator for directing infrared radiation toward the product to elevate the temperature of the product so as to contribute to the escape of moisture therefrom. The thermal radiator includes a plurality of metal heating plates which coplanar and spaced apart to provide openings therebetween to permit microwave radiation to pass to the product.

Abstract: A punching machine has a punch holder driven under the influence of a first control device and a second control device for adjusting a die holder in height relative to a supporting face for sheet type material to be worked. There are measuring devices producing a first data signal representing the height of the die to be used, a second data signal representing the height of the punch to be used and a third data signal representing the thickness of the material to be worked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for rapidly controlling the frequency of a radio-receiver which receives signal-sequences which have been subjected to interference and which include a synchronizing-sequence and a data sequence. The signal-sequence is converted in an A/D-converter to provide signal-points (E.sub.T) which are intended for analysis, and a Viterbi-algorithm (10) is adapted (12,13) with the aid of adaption signals (U.sub.1.sup.K) obtained from the synchronizing-sequence of the prevailing interferences. The data-sequence is Viterbi-analyzed through a large number of calculating stages, for the purpose of determining the bit-sequence (S1) of the data-sequence. According to the invention the signal-point (E.sub.T) is branched-up to branch-signal points (E.sub.T), the number of which is equal to the number of states of the Viterbi-algorithm (10). Each individual branch-signal point is phase-shifted (20) to a corrected signal-point (E.sub.

Abstract: A method of transmitting calls between a radio base station (FS) and one or more portable radio telephones (PS) which are at a short distance from the base station. The base stations of the mobile radio system all have access to all carrier frequencies (f.sub.1 -f.sub.4) and transmit/receive call information with the aid of time division multiple access (TDMA). The transmission from a base station (FS) to a radio telephone (PS) occupies time slots (CH1-CH16) within one half of a frame interval and the reception occupies time slots within the other half. When a channel occupies a time slot (CH1) for transmission/reception over a given carrier frequency (f.sub.1) the remaining carrier frequencies are blocked for precisely this time slot, and a second time slot with the same (f.sub.1) or a second carrier frequency (f.sub.1 -f.sub.4) shall be used for a second channel. A radio unit for carrying out the method is described.