Abstract: For manufacturing a personal golf putter there are provided a putting surface with at least one hole into which a golfer putts balls, an initial putter with which the golfer hits the balls so as to put the balls into the hole, sensors for sensing parameters of the putter during hitting the balls by the golfer to putt the balls into the hole, a data processor for processing data correspondingly to the sensed parameters, a transmitter for transmitting data corresponding to the sensed parameters, a computer for receiving, determining final parameters of a personal putter based on the dat, and making the personal putter with the parameters that are unique to the golfer, with the sensors, processor and transmitter being incorporated in the initial putter.

Abstract: A color mixing system is proposed for use in an optical-fiber laser-diode assembly comprising at least two semiconductor laser diodes, optical fiber light input and output couples, a system of spatial superposition of laser beams of different wavelength with at least one semi-transparent mirror, and a system for electronic control of light power in monochromatic light components to be mixed. The electronic control system makes it possible to produce a plurality of different colors. The basic colors, i.e., blue, green, and red, are produced by respective laser diode assemblies provided with means for adjusting output light power on each individual assembly. The electronic system contains a microprocessor connected to a pulse width modulation unit capable of modulating the duration and shape of the light pulse emitted from the laser diode. This allows for selecting a required ratio of energetic brightnesses of light beams produced by individual laser diode assemblies.

Abstract: Proposed are a laser-diode assembly with external Bragg grating for narrow-bandwidth light and a method of narrowing linewidth of the spectrum. A laser-diode assembly comprises a light source in the form of a semiconductor laser diode coupled via a first microoptical coupling device to one end of a first optical fiber. The other end of this fiber is coupled to a second or an output fiber via a second microoptical coupling device. The assembly is characterized by the fact that a laser cavity is extended rearward from the back facet of the laser diode and that the Bragg grating is located in the extended part of the cavity, so that the Bragg grating fulfills three functions, i.e., narrowing of the linewidth, frequency stabilization, and reflection of a portion of light to the resonator chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to system and method for measuring speed of a golf ball in putting as a part of a golf game, as well as other characteristics of the game. The system consists of a group of optical light emitting and receiving devices built into the putter head and exposed to the light reflected from the golf ball during rolling on the putter green. The putter head also contains force sensor for measuring a force applied from the club head to the golf ball and a gyro sensor which measures angular deviation of the actual direction of hit from a reference direction which has been preliminarily entered into the system. A microprocessor that receives and processed the information from the optical, force, and gyro components is built into the putter grip. The latter also contains a IR receiving/transmitting device which transmits the processed data to a remotely located microprocessor and display.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention consists of three force sensors built into the head of the club head, a main electronic unit built into the shaft or grip of the club and electrically connected to the sensors within the club, and a remotely located data acquisition, processing and displaying unit connected with the electronic units within the club via an IR or RF transmitter which is a part of the main electronic unit. A first force sensor measures a force in the direction perpendicular to the front face of the club head (axis X′). The second sensor measures a force in the direction perpendicular to axis X′ in the plane of the club head face which either contains the longitudinal axis of the shaft or is parallel thereto (axis Y′). The third sensor the direction perpendicular to the plane X′-Y′.

Abstract: The invention discloses a compact, reliable, and miniaturized opto-electronic interface module for high-speed communication systems and a method of assembling thereof. The device comprises a microlens element, sandwiched between a photodetector with a working area having a diameter of 3 to 12 &mgr;m, and a glass ferrules with an optical fiber inserted into the ferrules. The end face of the optical fiber is spaced from the microlens at a distance that ensures accurate focusing of the light beam emitted from the fiber to the center of the photodetector. Automatic alignment of the optical fiber with the microlens is ensured at a stage of assembling due to a snug fit of the lens into the opening of the ferrule. The output lead wire of the photodetector is connected to a digital logic via a trans-impedance amplifier (TIA) with the use of microwave-stripline technique for matching impedance to ensure efficient transfer/conversion of optical signals to electrical.

Abstract: An assembly for coupling an optical fiber to an optical component, e.g., an axisymmetric light source such as an axisymmetric laser diode, comprises a light source connected to an optical fiber ferrule via a focusing component in the form of a micro lens element. This element is made in the form of a plate having one end face flat and the opposite end with an circular microlens. The microlens is inserted into the central opening of the ferrule and is glued to the end face of the ferrule with a UV-curable optically matched glue. An essential part of the invention is that all parts of the coupling are made from a material with the same or close coefficient of thermal expansion, and that an assembling procedure ensures optimal coupling (without losses) of the light source to the fiber due to high quality of the aspheric lens and due to a specific sequence of operations in assembling.

Abstract: A laser-diode assembly for generating a frequency-stabilized narrow-bandwidth light comprises a light source in the form of a semiconductor laser diode coupled via a first optical coupling device to one end of a first optical fiber. The other end of this fiber is coupled to a second or an output fiber via a second optical coupling device. The assembly is characterized by the fact that a long inner cavity is formed by a section of the optical system between two oppositely directed mirrors. The first mirror is applied onto the back side of the semiconductor laser diode, and the second mirror is applied onto a flat front side of one optical lens element or onto the back side of another optical lens element. These optical lens elements are parts of an optical coupling between the first and the second fibers. The first mirror completely reflects the entire light incident onto this mirror, whereas the second mirror reflects a major part of the light, e.g., about 90% and passes only a small part, e.g.