Abstract: A display system for sensing a finger of a user applied to the display system includes a display panel; a sensor for sensing the finger; a sensing light source configured to emit a first light having a first wavelength W1; and a reflective polarizer disposed between the display panel and the sensor. For a substantially normally incident light, an optical transmittance of the reflective polarizer versus wavelength for a first polarization state has a band edge such that for a first wavelength range extending from a smaller wavelength L1 to a greater wavelength L2 and including W1, where 30 nm?L2?L1?50 nm and L1 is greater than and within about 20 nm of a wavelength L3 corresponding to an optical transmittance of about 50% along the band edge, the optical transmittance has an average of greater than about 75%.

Abstract: A muffler comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within an inner chamber. The holes are at least partially punched through the tubes so that hanging chads extend into the tubes at each hole. The tubes form a serpentine flow-path through the chamber through which exhaust flows. One or more diffusion brackets are also disposed within the chamber and downstream from one or more tube outlets.

Abstract: Various embodiments of garments for use in conjunction with knee pads are disclosed. In one embodiment, the knee pads can be integrated into the garment. The garment can include leg gathering devices for positioning the knee pads over the knees of the wearer when the knee pads are needed. Releasing the leg gathering devices, on the other hand, allows the pants to drape normally. In an alternative embodiment, a knee pad can be provided that can be releasably attached to a garment. In this embodiment, the garment can include a plurality of engaging devices for attachment to the knee pad. The engaging devices can be positioned at different heights for allowing vertical adjustability.

Abstract: A coated fiber strand including at least one heterogeneous region present in one or more coating layers. The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. The optical fiber can include a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer. A method for forming a coated fiber, such as an optical fiber, includes introducing at least one coating layer onto a fiber strand such that one or more coating layers cover a portion of the surface of the strand. At least one heterogeneous region is introduced into or onto one or more coating layers, and the strand is cured to provide a desired product. A desired functionality, e.g., coding, can thus be introduced onto a fiber without adversely effecting subsequent processing steps, e.g., curing of the coating layer(s).

Abstract: The outside coating of dual coated optical fibers is improved by the addition of a filler to increase the microbending resistance of the optical fiber. The coating is improved by the addition of very small clay platelets, with the platelets aligned along the fiber axis. It is found that standard polymer coatings can be loaded with enough filler to enhance the mechanical properties, while the particulates are small enough to be essentially transparent to the UV curing radiation.

Abstract: A coated fiber strand includes one or more coating layers located directly or indirectly on the strand and at least one heterogeneous region present in or on one or more of the coating layer(s). The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. One particularly preferred embodiment relates to an optical fiber having a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer.

Abstract: A coated fiber strand includes one or more coating layers located directly or indirectly on the strand and at least one heterogeneous region present in or on one or more of the coating layer(s). The heterogeneous region(s) preferably comprises a material useful for coding of the fiber. One particularly preferred embodiment relates to an optical fiber having a primary coating layer and a secondary coating layer where the heterogeneous region(s) defines one or more colored stripes in or on the secondary coating layer. A method for forming a coated fiber, such as an optical fiber, includes introducing at least one coating layer onto a fiber strand such that one or more coating layers directly or indirectly cover at least a portion of the surface of the strand. The method further includes introducing at least one heterogeneous region into or onto a coating layer(s). The fiber can then be treated, e.g., cured so as to provide a desired product. By this method, a desired functionality, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention continuously monitors the amount of curing radiation available for curing coating material on a moving optical fiber and includes a curing system having a radiation source capable of providing radiation energy for curing coating material on an optical fiber and a reflector system which redirects non-direct radiation back toward the article. An optical fiber which has been provided with a curable coating material is moved along a path of travel through a curing area. The coating material is cured by causing the radiation source to emit energy suitable for curing the curable coating material. The predictable average amount of light energy properly redirected by the reflector system toward the curable article is sensed as the curable coating material is being cured to obtain continuous in-process reading. The average radiation value is obtained by positioning three longitudinally aligned holes adjacent the fiber path and between the fiber and a radiation sensing device.

Abstract: Optical fiber and cable performance are assured by a category of UV-cured polyurethane acrylates. Low cost is the consequence of use of the polycarbonate oligomer. Good performance and long life are ascribed to other ingredients of the coatings. Dependence on the hindered phenols for antioxidant protection assures sufficient protection for these inherently stable materials without incurring fiber damage found to result from use of hindered amine antioxidants.

Abstract: A coating system for individual glass fibers of a lightwave communications system has improved strippability, particularly in situations where a group of such fibers are arrayed together in what is known as a ribbon. A preferred embodiment includes two layers (primary and secondary) of polymeric materials surrounding the glass fiber. The primary layer comprises an oligomer (50-80% by weight), a diluent (15-40% by weight), and additives (5-35% by weight). The oligomer comprises polyol "A," diisocyanate "B," and a hydroxy-terminated alkyl acrylate "C" having the structure C-B-A-B-C. At least one of the additives contains a non-crosslinked hydrocarbon component (1-20% by weight) having a structure R.sub.1 --(R).sub.n --R.sub.2 ; where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 comprises an alkyl group or an OH group, and R is a combination of C, H or C, H, O.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed optical fiber cable (20) includes a core (21) comprising a plurality of optical fiber ribbons (22,22) disposed within a core tube (30) comprised of a high temperature resistant polymeric material. The core tube is disposed within a hermetic sealing member (40) which comprises a metal of low electrochemical activity having a sealed seam. An outer jacket (50) is disposed about the hermetic sealing member. The core may be filled with a waterblocking filling material (35). The material of the core tube undergoes only limited degradation because of the limited amount of oxygen and/or moisture trapped in the hermetically sealed cable. The filling material and/or other materials of the cable scavenge moisture and oxygen which travel longitudinally of the cable and reach portions of the cable subjected to a high temperature because of a leak in an adjacent steam line.

Abstract: An optical fiber package (52) includes a length of optical fiber (22) wound in a plurality of convolutions on a bobbin (50). In order to maintain the convolutions in a precision wound package and to prevent snags during payout, it is necessary that each convolution of optical fiber be adhered to at least a portion of an adjacent convolution. This is accomplished by providing the length of optical fiber with an adhesive material (32) which is not tacky at room temperature but which becomes tacky at a predetermined temperature. After the convolutions have been wound on the bobbin, the bobbin is treated to cause the adhesive material to become tacky and cause each convolution to adhere to at least a portion of adjacent convolutions. Suitable adhesion is caused to occur with any adhesive material for which molecular bonding can occur across the interface between contiguous portions of adjacent convolutions as a result of suitable treatment.

Abstract: A sheathed optical fiber (15) which may be used in a package (20) in guidance systems for tethered vehicles includes a carrier (21) on which are wrapped a plurality of convolutions of the sheathed optical fiber. The sheathed optical fiber in a preferred embodiment includes a metallic tubular member (40) with optical fiber (30) being disposed in a longitudinally extending passageway (42) of the tubular member and secured therein against unintended lateral disassociation with the tubular member in a manner which minimize microbending losses. The reinforced optical fiber has mechanical ruggedness and tensile load capability which render it ideal for use in tethered vehicles.

Abstract: Methods are provided for making an optical fiber transmission medium which includes optical fiber (21) provided with a coating system (31) typically including two layers each of a different coating material. An inner layer (32) of a first coating material is called the primary coating and an outer layer is termed the secondary. In order to achieve desired performance characteristics, performance is related to properties of a coating system. The coating materials have well defined moduli and the second coating material has an elongation which is substantially less than in prior secondary coating materials. Adhesion levels which are optimized rather than maximized are substantially stable with respect to time. Curing of the coating materials may be accomplished simultaneously or in tandem with the application separately of the coating materials.

Abstract: Drawn optical fiber is provided with at least one layer of a coating material. The coating material typically is a UV curable material and provides the optical fiber with mechanical and environmental protection. It has been found that the temperature at which the optical fiber is cured has a pronounced effect on the modulus of the cured coating material. In order to provide a coated optical fiber of which the coating material has a desired modulus, the temperature of the coating material during cure is controlled by controlling the amount of energy of infrared wavelength which impinges on the coating material.

Abstract: An optical fiber package (52) includes a length of optical fiber (22) wound in a plurality of convolutions on a bobbin (50). In order to maintain the convolutions in a precision wound package and to prevent snags during payout, it is necessary that each convolution of optical fiber be adhered to at least a portion of an adjacent convolution. This is accomplished by providing the length of optical fiber with an adhesive material (32) which is not tacky at room temperature but which becomes tacky at a predetermined temperature. After the convolutions have been wound on the bobbin, the bobbin is treated to cause the adhesive material to become tacky and cause each convolution to adhere to at least a portion of adjacent convolutions. Suitable adhesion is caused to occur with any adhesive material for which molecular bonding can occur across the interface between contiguous portions of adjacent convolutions as a result of suitable treatment.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission medium (30) ) includes optical fiber (21) provided with a coating system (31) typically including two layers each of a different coating material. An inner layer (32) of a first coating material is called the primary coating and an outer layer is termed the secondary. In order to achieve desired performance characteristics, performance is related to properties of a coating system. The coating materials have well defined moduli and the second coating material has an elongation which is substantially less than in prior secondary coating materials. Adhesion levels which are optimized rather than maximized are substantially stable with respect to time. Curing of the coating materials may be accomplished simultaneously or in tandem with the application separately of the coating materials.

Abstract: An optical fiber package (52) includes a length of optical fiber (22) wound in a plurality of convolutions on a bobbin (50). In order to maintain the convolutions in a precision wound package and to prevent snags during payout, it is necessary that each convolution of optical fiber be adhered to at least a portion of an adjacent convolution. This is accomplished by providing the length of optical fiber with an adhesive material (32) which is not tacky at room temperature but which becomes tacky at a predetermined temperature. After the convolutions have been wound on the bobbin, the bobbin is treated to cause the adhesive material to become tacky and cause each convolution to adhere to at least a portion of adjacent convolutions. Suitable adhesion is caused to occur with any adhesive material for which molecular bonding can occur across the interface between contiguous portions of adjacent convolutions as a result of suitable treatment.

Abstract: Drawn optical fiber is provided with at least one layer of a coating material. The coating material typically is a UV curable material and provides the optical fiber with mechanical and environmental protection. It has been found that the temperature at which the optical fiber is cured has a pronounced effect on the modulus of the cured coating material. In order to provide a coated optical fiber of which the coating material has a desired modulus, the temperature of the coating material during cure is controlled by controlling the amount of energy of infrared wavelength which impinges on the coating material.

Abstract: An optical fiber (21) which has been drawn from a preform (22) is moved into and through a chamber (38) of a housing. A source of vacuum is connected to the chamber to prevent the attachment of air pockets to the optical fiber as it is being moved through the chamber and through an opening of a die. The die includes a flow path (55) which is substantially normal to the path of travel of the optical fiber and the die opening is substantially larger than the diameter of the optical fiber. The thickness of the flow path in a direction along the path of travel is sufficiently small so as to prevent the recirculation of the coating material in the vicinity of the point of application to the optical fiber. Also, the fiber draw rate, the pressure of the coating material the direction of the flow path relative to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and the diameter of the die opening are such that a gap forms between the coating material and the die.