Abstract: A steam heater comprising: a tube having two ends and interior walls; a heating element extending throughout the tube, wherein a passage is defined by the heating element and the tube interior walls and extends contiguously throughout the tube; a first hollow nozzle coupled to the a first end of the tube; a second hollow nozzle coupled to the second end of the tube; the first nozzle having an orifice facing the heating element; the second nozzle having an orifice facing away from the heating element, the heater having a heating capacity sufficient to convert water entering the passage via the first nozzle into steam leaving via the second nozzle.

Abstract: Food processing utensil comprising: paddles, central utensil comprising: shaft coupleable to food processor motor, and connected to base coupleable to food processor bowl, and cutting blades, the paddles coupled to the central utensil and the blades configured to allow uniform cutting of food, providing paddles are not on blades.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing a noise figure of a variable gain hybrid amplifier (HA) which includes a variable gain Raman amplifier with adjustable average gain GR and gain tilt TR and a variable gain lumped amplifier with adjustable average gain GL and gain tilt TL. In various embodiments, the methods include receiving as input a required hybrid amplifier average gain GH value and a required gain tilt TH value and deriving a set of GR, TR, GL and TL values which yield an optimal optimized hybrid amplifier NF and satisfy the conditions GR+GL=GH and that TR+TL is within a specified hybrid amplifier operating tilt range. In some embodiments, the derived TR and TL values satisfy the condition TR+TL=TH.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for gain measurement and control of a Distributed Raman Amplifier (DRA). Various embodiments of the apparatus include a detection unit operative to measure, during operation of the DRA, the optical power of a filtered component of the light entering the DRA from the transmission fiber and a gain calculation and control unit coupled to the detection unit and operative to calculate a signal Raman gain property from the measured optical power. The filtered component may exemplarily be a result of passing the light through a band pass filter, a spectral filter with a given spectral shape or a notch filter. The signal Raman gain property may be an average on-off signal Raman gain, an average net signal Raman gain or a signal Raman gain tilt within a communication band. The apparatus and method may be used to operate the DRA in Automatic Gain Control, i.e. to maintain a required constant signal Raman gain and/or signal Raman gain tilt.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing a noise figure of a variable gain hybrid amplifier (HA) which includes a variable gain Raman amplifier with adjustable average gain GR and gain tilt TR and a variable gain lumped amplifier with adjustable average gain GL and gain tilt TL. In various embodiments, the methods include receiving as input a required hybrid amplifier average gain GH value and a required gain tilt TH value and deriving a set of GR, TR, GL and TL values which yield an optimal optimized hybrid amplifier NF and satisfy the conditions GR+GL=GH and that TR+TL is within a specified hybrid amplifier operating tilt range. In some embodiments, the derived TR and TL values satisfy the condition TR+TL=TH.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting an opening in a transmission fiber connecting a discrete gain unit to a pump unit of a Remote Optically Pumped Amplifier (ROPA) system. The method comprises measuring an optical power entering the pump unit from the transmission fiber, the optical power being in a selected wavelength range, and establishing that the optical power lacks an ASE noise power component generated by the gain unit. The lack of this component indicates the presence of a break or opening in the transmission fiber, and triggers corrective action whereby pump lasers within the pump unit are shut down or have their power reduced to a safe level.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for gain measurement and control of a Distributed Raman Amplifier (DRA). Various embodiments of the apparatus include a detection unit operative to measure, during operation of the DRA, the optical power of a filtered component of the light entering the DRA from the transmission fiber and a gain calculation and control unit coupled to the detection unit and operative to calculate a signal Raman gain property from the measured optical power. The filtered component may exemplarily be a result of passing the light through a band pass filter, a spectral filter with a given spectral shape or a notch filter. The signal Raman gain property may be an average on-off signal Raman gain, an average net signal Raman gain or a signal Raman gain tilt within a communication band. The apparatus and method may be used to operate the DRA in Automatic Gain Control, i.e. to maintain a required constant signal Raman gain and/or signal Raman gain tilt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steam generation and exertion mechanism that is incorporated within a water heating system and specifically attached to a kettle as an example. The steam is built from the water in the water heating system. The present invention allows the user to produce steam for purpose of creaming milk as an example. The present invention takes advantage of the regular features of a kettle in order to produce steam and use the kettle for additional purposes. The steam generation mechanism of the present invention can be an add-on device.

Abstract: The present invention presents a multifunctional kitchenware. The multi functional cooking apparatus is used for cooking in different types of cooking methods such as steaming, frying, deep flying, baking and broiling. The multifunctional pot comprises a base module onto which different utensils can be mounted to allow the different types of cooking styles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic shut-down and start-up of optical amplifiers in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks include use of an optical channel monitor (OCM) to monitor loss and return of an input signal. By using the OCM to separately monitor the power level of each individual channel, it is possible to detect loss of all channels or return of a single channel even in the presence of ASE at the amplifier input. The OCM receives a fraction of the input power to the amplifier via an optical tap at the amplifier input, and provides an electrical output to a control unit corresponding to the optical power level of each individual WDM channel. Based on this electrical output, the control sends a shut-down or start-up signal to the pump unit within the amplifier.

Abstract: A multi-functional food processor comprises a bowl (10) having an upper opening and a base (12) and a cover (18) provided with a motor and having an opening sized to fit said upper opening. The multi-functional food processor is further provided with a plurality of utensils, each of the utensils having a shaft capable of receiving rotational power from the motor in the cover and a lower portion capable to fit onto said base.

Abstract: A system and method for providing eye-safety protection during operation of a lumped optical amplifier. The method is based on monitoring of continuous out-of-band Raman amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) created by the amplified signal in an optical communication network span coupled to an output port of the lumped optical amplifier. The system includes at least one gain stage for providing an amplified signal introduced into the span, a monitoring unit for performing the continuous Raman ASS monitoring, and a control unit operative to detect and analyze in real-time changes in the ASS power, and upon determination that such changes indicate an open span, to reduce the power of the amplified signal or shut down the gain stage.

Abstract: Efficient wavelength calibration in a WDM optical amplifier that includes an optical channel monitor (OCM) is obtained by introducing a notch into the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise spectrum of the amplifier outside a WDM transmission band, and having the OCM detect the notch and use the notch as a reference to calibrate the wavelength measurement. The notch is introduced into the ASE noise spectrum using a notch filter, which is preferably incorporated in a gain flattening filter (GFF).

Abstract: A system and method for providing eye-safety protection during operation of distributed Raman amplifiers based on the application of continuous out-of-band amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) monitoring in an optical communication network span coupled to the Raman amplifier, and real-time detection and analysis of changes in the monitored ASS power level, The system includes at least one Raman pump for introducing Raman energy into the span, a monitoring unit for performing the continuous ASS monitoring, and a control unit operative to detect and analyze in real-time changes in the ASS power, and upon determination that such changes indicate an open span, to reduce the level of the Raman pump energy entering the span to a safe level.

Abstract: Efficient wavelength calibration in a WDM optical amplifier that includes an optical channel monitor (OCM) is obtained by introducing a notch into the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise spectrum of the amplifier outside a WDM transmission band, and having the OCM detect the notch and use the notch as a reference to calibrate the wavelength measurement. The notch is introduced into the ASE noise spectrum using a notch filter, which is preferably incorporated in a gain flattening filter (GFF).

Abstract: A system and method for providing eye-safety protection during operation of a lumped optical amplifier. The method is based on monitoring of continuous out-of-band Raman amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) created by the amplified signal in an optical communication network span coupled to an output port of the lumped optical amplifier. The system includes at least one gain stage for providing an amplified signal introduced into the span, a monitoring unit for performing the continuous Raman ASS monitoring, and a control unit operative to detect and analyze in real-time changes in the ASS power, and upon determination that such changes indicate an open span, to reduce the power of the amplified signal or shut down the gain stage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic shut-down and start-up of optical amplifiers in wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks include use of an optical channel monitor (OCM) to monitor loss and return of an input signal. By using the OCM to separately monitor the power level of each individual channel, it is possible to detect loss of all channels or return of a single channel even in the presence of ASE at the amplifier input. The OCM receives a fraction of the input power to the amplifier via an optical tap at the amplifier input, and provides an electrical output to a control unit corresponding to the optical power level of each individual WDM channel. Based on this electrical output, the control sends a shut-down or start-up signal to the pump unit within the amplifier.

Abstract: A system and method for providing eye-safety protection during operation of distributed Raman amplifiers based on the application of continuous out-of-band amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) monitoring in an optical communication network span coupled to the Raman amplifier, and real-time detection and analysis of changes in the monitored ASS power level, The system includes at least one Raman pump for introducing Raman energy into the span, a monitoring unit for performing the continuous ASS monitoring, and a control unit operative to detect and analyze in real-time changes in the ASS power, and upon determination that such changes indicate an open span, to reduce the level of the Raman pump energy entering the span to a safe level.

Abstract: A system and method for providing eye-safety protection during operation of distributed Raman amplifiers based on the application of continuous out-of-band amplified spontaneous scattering (ASS) monitoring in an optical communication network span coupled to the Raman amplifier, and real-time detection and analysis of changes in the monitored ASS power level, The system includes at least one Raman pump for introducing Raman energy into the span, a monitoring unit for performing the continuous ASS monitoring, and a control unit operative to detect and analyze in real-time changes in the ASS power, and upon determination that such changes indicate an open span, to reduce the level of the Raman pump energy entering the span to a safe level.