Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: A nozzle (10) comprising a through-hole (20) having an optional initial section (36) in fluid communication with the inlet opening (21) of the through-hole (20), a fluid shearing section (40) in fluid communication with the outlet opening (32) of the through-hole (20), and an optional transition region (38) in fluid communication with the initial section (36) and the fluid shearing section (40). The initial section (36) has a relatively constant cross-sectional shape along at least a 20% portion of its length, a shape that converges to the transition region (38), or both. The transition region (38) is disposed along the through-hole length, with a relatively uniform, diverging, converging, diverging and converging, or converging and diverging cross-sectional area along its length.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: A nozzle (100) comprising an inlet face (12) on an inlet side, an outlet face (12) on an outlet side, a thickness between said inlet face and said outlet face, and a swirl chamber (20) located within said thickness, with said swirl chamber comprising a bottom surface (22) and an outer side wall (28) extending from said bottom surface toward said outlet side so as to form an outer periphery of an outlet opening (24) of said swirl chamber on said outlet face, and at least one feeder through-hole (30) having an inlet opening (32) on said inlet face and an outlet opening that opens into said swirl chamber so as to direct a fluid, flowing through said at least one feeder through-hole, to flow around a central axis (11) of said swirl chamber, along said outer side wall and within said swirl chamber.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fuel injector nozzle structures such as, e.g., nozzle plates, valve guides, combinations of nozzle plates and valve guides, etc., as well as other articles incorporating microstructured features. The methods may employ multiphoton processes to form microstructured patterns on a three-dimensional structured surface to provide nozzle structures and other articles that include finished microstructured features such as, e.g., through-holes extending from one or more cavities, where at least a portion of the three-dimensional structured surface is used to form the cavities. Forming a microstructured pattern on a three-dimensional structured surface can reduce the time needed to form nozzle structures that include microstructured features and other nozzle structure features (e.g., cavities) by avoiding the need to form the other nozzle structure features using the multiphoton processes.

Abstract: Methods of electroforming fuel injector nozzle structures such as, e.g., nozzle plates, valve guides, combinations of nozzle plates and valve guides, etc., as well as other articles incorporating microstructured features. The methods described herein can be used to electroform articles with high aspect ratio features in close proximity while reducing the likelihood of void formation during the electroforming process.

Abstract: Nozzles and method of making the same are disclosed. The disclosed nozzles have at least one nozzle through-hole therein, wherein the at least one nozzle through-hole exhibits a coefficient of discharge, CD, of greater than about 0.50. Fuel injectors containing the nozzle are also disclosed. Methods of making and using nozzles and fuel injectors are further disclosed.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fuel injector nozzle comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first microstructured pattern in a first material; (b) replicating the first microstructured pattern in a second material to make a first mold comprising a second microstructured pattern in the second material; (c) replicating the second microstructured pattern in a third material to make a second mold comprising a third microstructured pattern comprising a plurality of microstructures in the third material; (d) replicating the third microstructured pattern in a metal material to make a replicated structure; and (e) removing the third material resulting in a nozzle having a plurality of through-holes through the metal material and corresponding to the plurality of microstructures in the third microstructured pattern. Each of the plurality of through-holes has a hole wall connecting a hole entry to a hole exit, and the hole wall of at least one through-hole has a side that curves from its hole entry to its hole exit.

Abstract: Methods of making nozzles are disclosed. More specifically, methods of making nozzles that may be used as components of a fuel injection system are disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injector nozzle comprising a plurality of holes formed therethrough connecting one side of the nozzle with an opposite side of the nozzle. Each of the holes comprises a hole entry on the one side of the nozzle having a first shape, a hole exit on the opposite side of the nozzle having a second shape, and a hole wall connecting the hole entry to the hole exit. The hole exit is smaller than the hole entry, and the hole wall comprises a side that is continuously curved from the hole entry to the hole exit.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a nozzle that includes casting and curing a first material using a patterned nip roller to form a first microstructured pattern of discrete microstructures, deforming at least one of the discrete microstructures; replicating the first microstructured pattern, including the at least one deformed discrete microstructure, in a second material different than the first material to make a replicated structure comprising a plurality of blind holes formed in the second material, removing second material of the replicated structure to expose tops of microstructures in the first microstructured pattern, and removing the first material from the replicated structure, resulting in a nozzle having a plurality of through-holes in the second material and corresponding to the first microstructured pattern.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide. A light coupling unit is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface. The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first attachment area (110) for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide (115). A light coupling unit (120) is disposed and configured to move translationally and not rotationally within the housing of the connector. The light coupling unit includes a second attachment area (121) for receiving and permanently attaching to an optical waveguide received and permanently attached at the first attachment area. The light coupling unit also includes light redirecting surface (122). The light redirecting surface is configured such that when an optical waveguide is received and permanently attached at the first and second attachment areas, the light redirecting surface receives and redirects light from the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide limits, but does not prevent, a movement of the light coupling unit within the housing.

Abstract: Nozzle and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a material into a nozzle forming microstructured pattern comprising a plurality of nozzle hole forming features and planar control cavity forming features; forming at least one different material into a nozzle pre-form using the nozzle forming microstructured pattern, with the nozzle pre-form comprising a plurality of nozzle pre-form holes and sacrificial planar control cavities; and forming a nozzle from the nozzle pre-form, said forming the nozzle comprising removing enough of the at least one different material to remove the sacrificial planar control cavities so as to form a top surface of the nozzle pre-form into a top surface of the nozzle, and to form each of the nozzle pre-form holes into a nozzle through hole.

Abstract: Nozzle and a method of making the same are disclosed.

Abstract: Illumination articles are described. More specifically, illumination articles that include a wearable device configured for wearing on the head of a wearer, a lightguide and light sources for emitting light into the lightguide are described. The illumination articles allow for wearable devices that uniformly illuminate a working area at high brightness without providing excessive glare to observers.