Abstract: Systems for leveling UV-curable gel ink include a leveling member having a conformable surface. The leveling member is a quartz tube rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and connected to a mandrel, with conformable VITON O-rings interposing the mandrel and the quartz tube. A UV source is disposed within the quartz tube, and configured to emit light through the quartz tube and the conformable surface onto a surface of a substrate passing through a leveling or pressure nip defined by the quartz tube and a backing member or pressure belt.

Abstract: An optical physical interface module is provided which includes a first optical physical interface, a second optical physical interface and one or more optical components. The first optical physical interface is configured to plug into a first connector and communicate optical signals toward the first connector. The second optical physical interface is configured to receive a second connector and communicate optical signals toward the second connector. The one or more optical components are operable to process optical signals between the first and second optical physical interfaces. The optical physical interface module may be provided at the edge of a circuit board so that the circuit board has an optical interface for external communication. The optical physical interface module may be a stand-alone module or integrated into a connector of an optical cable, among other configurations.

Abstract: A method of the present invention is a method for manufacturing an optical module (10) including an optical fiber (3) and an optical fiber insertion pipe (2) into which the optical fiber (3) is inserted, and includes a sealing step in which the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) is hermetically sealed. The sealing step includes a contact step, a heating step, and a feeding step. In the contact step, a heat conductor member (5) is provided along and in contact with a side surface of the optical fiber insertion pipe (2), the heat conductor member having a heat conductivity greater than that of an environmental atmosphere of the sealing step and having a heat generating property of generating heat by induction heating, which heat generating property of the heat conductor member is inferior to that of the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) in terms of heat generation amount. In the heating step, the optical fiber insertion pipe (2) thus provided with the heat conductor member (5) is heated by induction heating.

Abstract: A fiber optic arrangement includes a primary strand, a plurality of secondary connection strands, each of which is coupled to the primary strand at a notch. Tight buffer optical fibers are attached, one at the end of each of the secondary connection strands.

Abstract: Structure is provided for controlling the electrical stress on one or more optical fibers in a high voltage environment.

Abstract: An adapter cap including a cap body, a slot in the cap body, wherein the slot is configured to hold an optical flat, an attachment mechanism configured to attach the cap to an inspection device, and an alignment hole in the cap body, wherein the alignment hole is configured to hold an optical connector ferrule.

Abstract: A gradient-index (GRIN) optical connector is disclosed that includes a GRIN lens having a central optical axis and front and back opposite endfaces. A plurality of optical fibers are optically coupled to the back endface of the GRIN lens and defines a first optical fiber bundle having an asymmetric arrangement relative to the central optical axis of the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens has a refractive index profile generally defined by an alpha profile having an alpha parameter ? in a range 1.92???1.98. An optical fiber connector assembly formed by interfacing two of the GRIN optical connectors is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for coupling light into a fiber in accordance with embodiments of the present invention include a first fiber, a second fiber which is a double clad fiber, and a bulk optic component positioned between the first and second fibers. At least one mode stripper is positioned between the first fiber entry port and the second fiber exit port providing for limiting and removal of propagating clad light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compact optical fiber amplifier, which can minimize the size of an optical module and increase the degree of freedom in mounting the module on a board. The compact optical fiber amplifier according to the present invention includes: an optical module including a plurality of optical elements provided therein, an input port for introducing an optical fiber thereinto, and an outlet port for extract the optical fiber to the outside of the module; and a plurality of optical fibers introduced into or extracted from the optical module through the input port or the outlet port of the optical module and disposed above a predetermined radius of curvature on the outside of the optical module.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the disclosure features a system that includes a flexible waveguide having a hollow core extending along a waveguide axis and a region surrounding the core, the region being configured to guide radiation from the CO2 laser along the waveguide axis from an input end to an output end of the waveguide. The system also includes a handpiece attached to the waveguide, wherein the handpiece allows an operator to control the orientation of the output end to direct the radiation to a target location of a patient and the handpiece includes a tip extending past the output end that provides a minimum standoff distance between the output end and the target location.

Abstract: A frequency-chirped nano-antenna provides efficient sub-wavelength vertical emission from a dielectric waveguide. In one example, this nano-antenna includes a set of plasmonic dipoles on the opposite side of a SiYV4 waveguide from a ground plane. The resulting structure, which is less than half a wavelength long, emits a broadband beam (e.g., >300 nm) that can be coupled into an optical fiber. In some embodiments, a diffractive optical element with unevenly shaped regions of high- and low-index dielectric material collimates the broadband beam for higher coupling efficiency. In some cases, a negative lens element between the nano-antenna and the diffractive optical element accelerates the emitted beam's divergence (and improves coupling efficiency), allowing for more compact packaging.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes: a substrate; a first dielectric layer positioned on the substrate; a graphene layer including graphene formed on the first dielectric layer along the lengthwise direction of the substrate and for transmitting incident light through the graphene; and a second dielectric layer positioned on the first dielectric layer and the graphene layer.

Abstract: An ink supply system includes a print head assembly and a print head with one or more nozzles for a color. The print head is connected with the nozzles via a first connection line. A supply tank is connected with an intermediate tank via a filler line under an interconnection of a feed unit and a filter assembly. The pressure difference of the ink flow from a return tank to the supply tank is controlled by the print head. A method cleans the ink supply system, and a method cleans the print head.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber includes a first step of drawing an optical fiber preform into a glass fiber and disposing a fiber coating on the outer circumference of the glass fiber to form a parent optical fiber; a second step of cutting the parent optical fiber into a plurality of individual optical fibers; a third step of determining, at, at least, one spot of the parent optical fiber, a failure strength F1 and a failure time T; a fourth step of determining a failure strength F2 of each of the individual optical fibers; and a fifth step of selecting an optical fiber having a failure strength F2 of 5.5 kgf or more from the individual optical fibers cut from the parent optical fiber whose failure strength F1 and failure time T satisfy the inequality T>2.6×10?11×exp(4.736×F1).

Abstract: An equipment mounting frame comprising two side support structures of a selected height, each of which comprises one or more upright members defining a width of that side support structure and a foot structure extending from at least one end of the upright members. The foot structure defining a depth of that side support structure and extending across at least one quarter of the width and carries an upright series or row of fixing members wherein the two side support structures are connectable together at a distance from each other to enable equipment trays or boxes to be mounted in superposed array between the side structures by the fixing members are formed to be nestable together when unconnected to each other for shipment or storage within a volume less than twice the volume defined by width, depth, and height.

Abstract: Optical couplings for optically coupling one or more devices are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical coupling includes an optical coupling body, an optical interface, and a coded magnetic array located at the optical coupling body. The coded magnetic array has a plurality of magnetic regions configured for mating the optical interface. The optical coupling further includes a reflective surface within the optical coupling body and positioned along an optical path of the optical coupling body. The reflective surface is operable to redirect an optical signal propagating within the optical coupling body such that it propagates through the optical interface. The optical coupling may be configured as a plug, such as a plug of a connector assembly, or as a receptacle, such as a receptacle on an electronic device.

Abstract: A dynamic optical circulator device applicable to UPC-type and PC-type optical connectors is provided, including a first UPC/PC-type optical connector, a second UPC/PC-type optical connector, a third UPC/PC-type optical connector, a passive optical circulator, a reflected light detector and a transform element. The first, second and third UPC/PC-type optical connectors provide connections to optical fibers for receiving and transmitting optical signals. The first UPC/PC-type optical connector, the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the third UPC/PC-type optical connector are connected to the three ports of the passive optical circulator, respectively, with the reflected light detector placed between the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the second port of the passive optical circulator, while the transform element can be placed between any port of passive optical circulator and corresponding UPC-type and PC-type optical port.

Abstract: A light guiding plate may include a substrate, a waveguide, and a reflective metal. The waveguide and the reflective metal may be formed on the substrate. The waveguide may guide light. The reflective metal may reflect the light guided along the waveguide to change a propagation direction of the light. A light guiding plate may include a substrate, a cladding layer, and a plurality of waveguides. The cladding layer may be formed on the substrate. The cladding layer may include a first insulating layer having a first refractive index. The plurality of waveguides may be formed on the cladding layer. The plurality of waveguides may include a second insulating layer having a second refractive index. The second refractive index may be higher than the first refractive index. The plurality of waveguides may guide light provided by a light emitting element. At least two of the waveguides may have different lengths.

Abstract: An optical printed circuit board, including at least one optical waveguide for carrying optical signals on the optical printed circuit board; and a trench formed adjacent the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the trench contains a light absorptive material to absorb light that strays from the at least one waveguide.

Abstract: Multi-cladding optical fibers to be used in the context of fiber amplifiers and fiber lasers are described herein. Embodiments of optical fibers include a rare-earth doped core into which the signal field is to be amplified. The doped core is surrounded by multiple claddings that guide the pump field to be absorbed by the reactive core material. The first cladding has a depressed refractive index to improve high-order mode bending losses without incurring significant fundamental mode bending losses.