Abstract: A work station includes a working surface configured to support a tool assembly, a base portion supporting the working surface, a table removably coupled to one or more of the working surface and the base portion, an aperture formed in the table, the aperture configured to selectively receive a suction device, and a downdraft surface positioned on at least one side of the table. The downdraft surface includes a plurality of recesses in fluid communication with the aperture, and the plurality of recesses are configured to generate a downdraft.

Abstract: A modular work station includes a platform supporting a stem, a power tool coupled to the stem and supported for movement relative to the stem, and a table removably coupled to the platform. The table includes a first working surface and a second working surface opposite the first working surface. The table is further selectively coupled to the platform in a first orientation and a second orientation. The first working surface faces toward the power tool while the table is in the first orientation, and the second working surface faces toward the power tool while the table is in the second orientation.

Abstract: A modular work station includes a platform supporting a stem, a power tool coupled to the stem and supported for movement relative to the stem, and a table removably coupled to the platform. The table includes a first working surface and a second working surface opposite the first working surface. The table is further selectively coupled to the platform in a first orientation and a second orientation. The first working surface faces toward the power tool while the table is in the first orientation, and the second working surface faces toward the power tool while the table is in the second orientation.

Abstract: An method, apparatus, and computer program product for restoring a failed system in an optical mesh network. A system includes a first light termination element (LTE) and a second LTE. A first node in the network includes an optical switching unit (OSU) coupled to the first (LTE) of the system. A second node in the network includes a second OSU coupled to the second (LTE) of the system. The first node is coupled to the second node by a path. Optical data traffic can be transmitted between the first node and the second node via the path. Upon detection of a failure of the system, the first OSU and second OSU are notified of the failure. A primary role is assigned to one of the first and second OSUs, and a secondary role is assigned to the other one of the first and second OSUs. A primary restoration plan is determined by the primary OSU. Information identifying the primary restoration plan is sent from the primary OSU for effecting the restoration path to restore the system.

Abstract: An method, apparatus, and computer program product for restoring a failed system in an optical mesh network. A system includes a first light termination element (LTE) and a second LTE. A first node in the network includes an optical switching unit (OSU) coupled to the first (LTE) of the system. A second node in the network includes a second OSU coupled to the second (LTE) of the system. The first node is coupled to the second node by a path. Optical data traffic can be transmitted between the first node and the second node via the path. Upon detection of a failure of the system, the first OSU and second OSU are notified of the failure. A primary role is assigned to one of the first and second OSUs, and a secondary role is assigned to the other one of the first and second OSUs. A primary restoration plan is determined by the primary OSU. Information identifying the primary restoration plan is sent from the primary OSU for effecting the restoration path to restore the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved terrestrial optical fiber communications network link including an increased number of amplification sites spaced at intervals along the link in series with shorter optical fiber spans. One embodiment of the invention includes an improved long-haul terrestrial optical fiber link having low-power line optical amplifiers (LPLAs) at the amplification sites connected together by optical fiber spans. In other embodiments of the present invention, some or all of the LPLAs have integrated dispersion compensation modules (DCMs). Another embodiment of the improved optical fiber link system uses proper adjustment and spacing of LPLA amplifiers (e.g., spaced between 30-60 km long fiber spans) to eliminate the need for lightwave regenerators (LREs) even along very long (e.g., 300-2500 km long or even longer) links.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for use in a WDM transmission system has a circulator two of whose ports constitute the input and output ports of the amplifier, and to whose third port is connected an optically amplifying fibre. Bragg grating reflectors are formed at specific intervals along this fibre chosen such that each WDM channel is reflected back to the circulator at a distance in inverse proportion to the gain per unit length experienced by that channel in the amplifier fibre, whereby all channels are amplified by the amplifier to the same extent.

Abstract: An optical amplifier for a wavelength multiplexed transmission system has a set of optically amplifying fibres (26a, 26b) each provided with an associated spectrally selective Bragg reflector (27a, 27b). The amplifying fibres are optically coupled with a coupler (23) such that an optical signal having different spectral components launched into an input (21a) of the coupler is emitted from an output (21b) of the coupler after the different components have propagated through different ones of the amplifying fibres each after reflection in its associated reflector.

Abstract: In a co- and counter-pumped optically pumped optical amplifier configuration using two lasers as the pumps, the possibility of the formation of a coupled laser cavity is pre-empted by embedding a signal/pump wavelength multiplexing coupler in the amplifier fibre.