Abstract: Systems and method for visualizing data for an automated question answering system are disclosed. The method includes identifying a first answer associated with a first query; identifying a second answer associated with a second query; determining a criterion of the first answer with respect to the second answer; and visually representing the first answer and the second answer based on the criterion.

Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure, in a broad aspect, provide methods for bonding or sealing pieces of glass of photovoltaic cell modules. These methods include providing the first piece of glass, providing a second piece of glass, providing a photovoltaic cell between the first piece of glass and second piece of glass, providing an amount of solder to at least one solder contact area disposed on at least one of the first or second pieces of glass, bringing the first and second pieces of glass into contact at the at least one solder contact area, and heating the solder to about the melting point or working point of the solder to provide the first and second pieces of glass with a bond or seal at the at least one solder contact area.

Abstract: A new fiber optic cable splice for splicing optical fiber cables together and reconstructing fiber-optic cable that provide substantially enhanced reliability and broadened operating temperature range is disclosed. The disclosed cable splice offer reliable and user friendly solutions to applications in many harsh environments such as avionics, field vehicles, and defense related instrumentation. The cable splice consists of a preassembled one piece splice core and outer mechanical and thermal shielding layers. A simple splicing procedure and key fixtures are also disclosed.

Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure, in a broad aspect, provide novel ways for bonding or sealing pieces of glass of photovoltaic cell modules. These include providing the first piece of glass having a planar surface, providing the second piece of glass having a second planar surface, providing a photovoltaic cell between the first piece of glass and second piece of glass, providing an amount of solder to at least one solder contact area disposed on at least one of the first or second pieces of glass, bringing the first and second pieces of glass into contact at the at least one solder contact area, and heating the solder to about the melting point or working point of the solder to provide the first and second pieces of glass with a bond or seal at the at least one solder contact area.

Abstract: A device for the transport, introduction, and acclimation of fish. The device, a bag comprising a window of dialysis membrane, allows fish to be transported within the bag and acclimated to new saline environments by allowing solutes, mainly salt and hydrogen ions, to slowly equilibrate between water within the bag and water in the source environment so as to avoid shock to the fish. Although the majority of the bag is impermeable to solutes, the dialysis membrane window is not, and is size dependent based on the characteristics of the fish to be acclimated. In use, the fish is placed in the bag along with source water from the source of the organism. The bag is then immersed in the destination aquarium, and passive diffusion allows the slow transport of solutes across the semi-permeable dialysis membrane, slowly equalizing the water parameters inside and outside the bag. After an appropriate amount of time has passed, the occupants of the container are removed and placed in the new environment.

Abstract: A new fiber optic cable splice for splicing optical fiber cables together and reconstructing fiber-optic cable that provide substantially enhanced reliability and broadened operating temperature range is disclosed. The disclosed cable splice offer reliable and user friendly solutions to applications in many harsh environments such as avionics, field vehicles, and defense related instrumentation. The cable splice consists of a preassembled one piece splice core and outer mechanical and thermal shielding layers. A simple splicing procedure and key fixtures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A new fiber optic cable splice for splicing optical fiber cables together and reconstructing fiber-optic cable that provide substantially enhanced reliability and broadened operating temperature range is disclosed. The disclosed cable splice offer reliable and user friendly solutions to applications in many harsh environments such as avionics, field vehicles, and defense related instrumentation. The cable splice consists of a preassembled one piece splice core and outer mechanical and thermal shielding layers. A simple splicing procedure and key fixtures are also disclosed.

Abstract: An fiber optic splice having provide substantially enhanced reliability and broadened operating temperature range uses a light-cured index matching fluid to splice the facing ends of the optical fibers in between two metallic tubes forming a leak-tight, thermally insulating, and mechanically robust outer package.

Abstract: A method and a system for cleaning fiber-optic connectors utilizing compressed-gas cans are disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, a solvent delivery sub-system (200) consisting of a fiber-optic connector interfacing unit (250) and a solvent spraying device (260) is reviewed. In another preferred embodiment, a solvent/contaminant removal sub-system (300) comprising of a compressed-gas can (340), a pressure regulator (345), a particle filter (347), a heating element (349), and a fiber-optic connector interfacing unit (310) is detailed. An additional preferred embodiment (400) is disclosed wherein the solvent delivery and removal sub-systems being integrated. For both the solvent delivery and the solvent/contaminant removal sub-systems, the compressed-gas cans may be obtained commercially. The improved art disclosed herein offers an effective and low cost solution to cleaning fiber-optic connectors.

Abstract: Optical interleavers and de-interleavers that can be used to combine and separate optical signals are described. These devices are based on Mach-Zehnder interferometers having one or two Gires-Toumois mirrors. The optical designs disclosed herein include several key improvements over prior arts. These improvements of interleavers enabled lower cross talk and more accurate channel center frequencies. The new designs also improve on the stability of the devices and substantially reduce the manufacturing costs. With the usage of multi-fiber collimators, a pair of interleaver and de-interleaver is fabricated using the same optical block thereby further reducing the manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A compact, low loss optical fiber collimator design consists of a lens, a glass wedge, and a single- or multi-fiber pigtail. The introduction of the glass wedge ensures minimum off-axis beam deflection and hence improves device reliability. By properly selecting the focusing lens, low insertion losses and long working distances in both reflection (for a multi-fiber collimator) and transmission are achieved. These collimators are critical to interferometer type devices and other micro-optical devices where uniform phase front and/or long path length are desired.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a reliable power supply for a personal health monitor that operates on power provided by a first power source or a second power source and that includes an isolation relay that disconnects the personal health monitor from the first power source in the absence of a supply of power. A controller provides that the personal health monitor is started from the second power source and thereafter connected to the first power source and operated for a first set of one or more activities, disconnected from the first power source and operated from the second power source for a second set of one or more activities, and, upon the condition of a disruption of the first power source, one or more components of the personal health monitor are disconnected from the second power source, and the isolation relay is supported by the second power source to enable the personal health monitor to be restarted from the first power source.