Abstract: The optical module has a semiconductor light emitting device, a lens, a holder for the device and the lens, and a receptacle core onto which a ferule of a counter optical plug is to be fitted. When the optical plug is connected, the semiconductor light emitting device is optically coupled with an optical fiber in the ferule by the lens. A step portion which forms a circular opening with setting the optical axis as the center axis and which eliminates coupling undesired light is disposed at a position which is on an emission side of the lens with respect to a contacting position of the holder and the lens. Preferably, the optical module satisfies the following expressions:0.9<.phi./(NA.times.L.sub.1)<1.3 and L.sub.2 <L.sub.1 /2where .phi. is a diameter of the circular opening, NA is a numerical aperture of the optical fiber, L.sub.1 is a distance between an opening end on the side of the lens and the optical fiber, and L.sub.

Abstract: The invention is used to manufacture an inhomogeneous medium whose porosity and permeability undergo rapid transitions from one point to another of its volume, by juxtaposing different materials without creating a barrier. Such a transition is made by juxtaposing a first material and a second material with a different porosity to the first. One of them can be a rock sample such as sandstone for example, the other can be a composite material obtained by agglomerating pyrex powder for example, the whole being heated according to a specific temperature cycle up to a temperature (TR) lower than the melting point of the two materials but sufficient to achieve partial melting of one of the materials at the interface with the other material, but without formation of a continuous or discontinuous capillary barrier between them, or an interzone with preferred passage for fluids. Thus, different composite materials can be juxtaposed to constitute the inhomogeneous medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of obtaining a gradient index type of optical element with profiles of first and second metal component concentrations by the sol-gel method. The process of fabricating a gradient index type of optical element comprises steps of dipping a silicon component-containing wet gel prepared by the sol-gel method in a solution containing an alkoxide of at least one metal component selected from a first group consisting of Ti, Nb, Ta, and Zr or a derivative thereof to thereby impart to the wet gel a concentration gradient with a concentration of the first metal component decreasing from a periphery to a center of the wet gel, allowing at least one metal component selected from a second group consisting of Ba, La, Y, Gd, Sr, Ca, and Zn to be dissolved out of the wet gel to thereby impart to the wet gel a concentration gradient with a concentration of the second metal component increasing from the periphery to the center of the wet gel, and drying, and firing the wet gel.

Abstract: A gas is supplied to the surface of the glass sheet transferred between a heating furnace and a cooling apparatus for tempering the glass sheet. The gas is supplied from the upstream side with respect to the direction of transfer of the glass sheet by an air curtain device. This gas runs along the glass sheet surface (upper surface) downstream with respect to the direction of transfer to obstruct the flow of cooling gas from the cooling apparatus in the upstream direction. The gas prevents cooling air from the cooling apparatus from invading the heating furnace so that the difference of the curvature of the glass sheet on the front and rear part can be eliminated.

Abstract: A cigar punching device is provided. A cigar punching device includes a cap with a first closed end and a second end. The second end includes an opening. The device further includes a ram having a head portion and an externally threaded shank portion whereby a distal end of the shank portion is secured within the opening of the second end of the cap. A cutting member includes a central bore and is disposed about the ram. The cutting member includes an internally threaded proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a tubular cutting distal end portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing optical fibers provided with hermetic coatings, wherein the bare fiber made from a heated preform advances through a stream of reactive gaseous medium which flows at a constant speed in the direction of advance of the fiber, which is then accelerated, and which is finally removed remote from the fiber by a stream of inert gas flowing in the opposite direction from the direction of the stream of reactive gaseous medium. Application is to manufacturing optical fibers for telecommunications.

Abstract: A smoking article is provided having improved flavor and aroma when smoked and contains one or more smokable materials having free amino acids contained therein. The smoking article comprises a selectively enriched content of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of serine, threonine and analogs thereof, and is substantially free of exogenous non-sugar Maillard-functional carbonyl compounds.

Abstract: Gradient refractive index elements are fabricated from the melt, using two or more molten glass compositions, to prevent bubble formation in the elements. The individual glass compositions are melted in separate containers, and then added as appropriate to a single crucible. The more dense glasses settle to the bottom of the crucible, while the less dense glasses float on top of the melt layer. As a consequence of using molten glass, no bubbles appear. Batching of the process can be done by the level of the free melt surface, which means that one can control the batched volume of the melted glass by controlling the level of the free melt surface in the crucible.

Abstract: A product for assisting a smoker in giving-up the smoking habit consists of at least three and preferably four pump operated aerosol dispensers. Each dispenser, apart from one, contains nicotine in liquid form dispersed in at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The dispensers which container nicotine have differing quantities in them. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are water, alcohol, a flavoring, glycerine and saccharine. The volume of alcohol and glycerine increases as the percentage of nicotine decreases. The dispenser which does not contain nicotine merely comprises one or more pharmaceutically acceptable substances.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing quartz glass in a flame hydrolysis reaction inside a furnace, including the steps of mixing a gas containing Si, a combustion-supporting gas, and a combustible gas and discharging this mixed gas from a burner; producing a quartz glass powder by causing the mixed and discharged gases to react in a flame within the furnace while an opening area of an opening and shutting system of the furnace is controlled; and producing a quartz glass ingot by depositing and vitrifying the quartz glass powder on a target surface facing an interior of the furnace, wherein said producing step includes the step of controlling the opening area of the opening and shutting system of the furnace in accordance with the amount of growth of the ingot on the target surface.

Abstract: A method for dissolving a hardened glass solder, a method for separating components joined by a glass solder, a method for disassembling a fuel cell, and an apparatus for disassembling a fuel cell, include heating the hardened glass solder in a melt of a hydroxide. As a result, components which had been joined through the use of the hardened glass solder are able to be reused or subjected to a recycling process.

Abstract: Method to anchor foils for green-tape circuits, whereby the foils of alumina in the raw state or of another like or analogous material, which are personalized, printed and dried, are superimposed on each other in a coordinated and organized manner, at least one green-tape foil (10) being bonded to at least one other previously positioned green-tape foil (10) by means of at least one weld (11-12-13-14-15) made by a source of heat (laser, microwaves, ultrasounds, hot point, etc.).

Abstract: A process for bend-shaping a glass plate by heating the glass plate to a softening temperature of the glass plate, while the glass plate is transferred along a transferring surface in a shaping furnace. The glass plate is transferred along a complex bending transferring surface having a complex curved face which is upwardly projected with predetermined radius of curvatures along both the axis of the transferring direction and the axis perpendicular to the transferring direction.

Abstract: A hand-held cigarette smoking device for capturing sidestream smoke with an on-board cigarette lighter. The device has a cigarette combustion chamber, a sidestream smoke filtration chamber, a plenum for conducting sidestream smoke from a lit cigarette in the combustion chamber into the sidestream smoke filtration chamber, an electric fan for drawing sidestream smoke from the combustion chamber through the plenum and into the sidestream smoke filtration chamber and a controller for the fan. The on-board cigarette lighter comprises a lighter filament, flexible wire for supplying electric current to the filament, a reciprocal mounting device for the lighter filament positioned in the combustion chamber, a detent for locating the lighter filament at predetermined cigarette positions to locate the filament at a respective cigarette tip end when inserted in the combustion chamber for smoking, the flexible wire being of a length to accommodate such position of the filament.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing glass, more specifically glass powder or glass films, together with a process for conditioning the raw materials intended for preparing glass characterized in that raw materials are converted to freely flowing powder suitable for feeding to a plasma torch in which the powder is converted to glass.

Abstract: A die for press-molding glass optical elements comprising (a) a base material having heat resistance and sufficient strength to withstand press-molding of optical glass elements; (b) a film on said base material comprising an alloy film containing B and one metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and one metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, and Ir, to form a cutting layer; and (c) a surface protective layer on top of said cutting layer made of an alloy film comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, Rh, Os, Ru, Re, W, and Ta.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a sheet glass includes pouring a molten glass into a bathtub containing a molten metal so that it will form a molten glass stream having a constant width in a high temperature zone on the molten metal bath. The molten glass stream in the form of a ribbon having a desired thickness is led into a subsequent shaping zone, wherein, in the high temperature zone, the molten metal level in the vicinity of the edge of the molten glass stream is differentiated from the molten metal level at the center of the glass stream to complement a force of the molten glass stream for expanding or contracting in the width direction and thereby to maintain the edge at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A molding method for optical element is disclosed in which a glass material prepared for weight is introduced into a mold and then heated to soften, and subsequently pressed with the mold to mold an optical element. The glass material is heated to have a viscosity of 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.7 dPaS and press-molded with the mold having a temperature equivalent to a viscosity of 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.11 dPaS of the glass material.

Abstract: A molding die assembly includes an upper molding die and a lower molding die facing the upper molding die with provision for their alignment. The upper molding die includes an upper core, while the lower molding die includes a hollow cylinder and a lower core. The upper core has one of the molding surfaces that corresponds to a molding, while the lower core has the other molding surface corresponding to the molding. The lower core slides in the cylinder and defines a cavity in cooperation with the upper core. A clamping device applies a clamping force to the upper molding die and the lower molding die, and a compression device applies a compressive force between the upper core and the lower core. The clamping force is generated between the upper molding die and the lower molding die but not between the upper core and the lower core so that no clamping force is applied to the preform.

Abstract: A precursor solution composition is provided for making highly pure, fine barium-containing silicate glass powders and specifically barium aluminoborosilicate (BABS) glass powders. An atomized precursor solution containing colloidal silica, a water soluble source of barium, boric acid, and aluminum nitrate is used to make the powders. After mixing, the liquid precursor solution is formed into fine droplets, classified for size, and pyrolyzed into fine powders. The resulting spherical particles of the BABS glass is in the 0.1 to 10 micrometer size range.