Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently modulating light includes forming a lithium niobate waveguide with a slab region and a ridge region to confine an optical mode traversing the optical modulator under the ridge region. An electro-optic polymer is formed on a top surface of the lithium niobate waveguide with the slab region and the ridge region having dimension sufficient to support an evanescent tail of the optical mode traversing the optical modulator under the ridge region during modulation. Light is applied to an input of the lithium niobate waveguide. A drive voltage is applied to the electro-optic polymer that modulates the light with the evanescent tail so that the mode expands into the electro-optic polymer material a length that provides a desired switching voltage-length product (V?*L).

Abstract: An optical mode converter includes a silicon substrate and a silicon dioxide film deposited on a top surface of the silicon substrate. A lithium niobate waveguide positioned on the silicon dioxide film having a slab and a rib that both taper in a direction of beam propagation through the optical mode converter. A doped silicon dioxide waveguide is positioned on top of the lithium niobate waveguide and has a slab that tapers in the direction of the optical beam propagation through the optical mode converter. The optical mode converter expands an optical mode of the optical beam propagating through the optical mode converter from a first optical mode size to a second optical mode size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently modulating light includes forming a lithium niobate waveguide with a slab region and a ridge region to confine an optical mode traversing the optical modulator under the ridge region. An electro-optic polymer is formed on a top surface of the lithium niobate waveguide with the slab region and the ridge region having dimension sufficient to support an evanescent tail of the optical mode traversing the optical modulator under the ridge region during modulation. Light is applied to an input of the lithium niobate waveguide. A drive voltage is applied to the electro-optic polymer that modulates the light with the evanescent tail so that the mode expands into the electro-optic polymer material a length that provides a desired switching voltage-length product (V?*L).

Abstract: An optical mode converter includes a silicon substrate and a silicon dioxide film deposited on a top surface of the silicon substrate. A lithium niobate waveguide positioned on the silicon dioxide film having a slab and a rib that both taper in a direction of beam propagation through the optical mode converter. A doped silicon dioxide waveguide is positioned on top of the lithium niobate waveguide and has a slab that tapers in the direction of the optical beam propagation through the optical mode converter. The optical mode converter expands an optical mode of the optical beam propagating through the optical mode converter from a first optical mode size to a second optical mode size.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes an outer panel and an inner frame defining a cavity, wherein a portion of the outer panel defines a generally downward outer surface. A trim member is attached to the outer surface, wherein the trim member and the outer surface define a cylinder receptacle in communication with the cavity. A keyed cylinder is disposed within the cylinder receptacle, wherein a longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder is substantially normal to the outer surface, and the keyed cylinder slopes downward toward an outward surface of the trim member. The vehicle door also includes an internal locking mechanism and a key aperture of the keyed cylinder, wherein the internal locking mechanism includes a drain channel that slopes toward the key aperture and the cylinder receptacle, and wherein the drain channel is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle door includes an outer panel and an inner frame defining a cavity, wherein a portion of the outer panel defines a generally downward outer surface. A trim member is attached to the outer surface, wherein the trim member and the outer surface define a cylinder receptacle in communication with the cavity. A keyed cylinder is disposed within the cylinder receptacle, wherein a longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder is substantially normal to the outer surface, and the keyed cylinder slopes downward toward an outward surface of the trim member. The vehicle door also includes an internal locking mechanism and a key aperture of the keyed cylinder, wherein the internal locking mechanism includes a drain channel that slopes toward the key aperture and the cylinder receptacle, and wherein the drain channel is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder.

Abstract: An integrated printing system is provided comprising a first image marking engine and a second image marking engine. The first and second image marking engines can be serially arranged with one another in a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes marking and passing of media to and from the first and second marking engines. A control system is provided for detecting a failure within one of the first and second image marking engines. A second operating mode is provided wherein the control system detects the failure and enables passing of the media through one of the first and second marking engines and marking of the media in another of the first and second marking engines when the failure is of a specified type.

Abstract: An integrated printing system is provided comprising a first image marking engine and a second image marking engine. The first and second image marking engines can be serially arranged with one another in a first operating mode. The first operating mode includes marking and passing of media to and from the first and second marking engines. A control system is provided for detecting a failure within one of the first and second image marking engines. A second operating mode is provided wherein the control system detects the failure and enables passing of the media through one of the first and second marking engines and marking of the media in another of the first and second marking engines when the failure is of a specified type.

Abstract: A differential input optical modulator, suited for an electrical driver with complementary outputs is provided by the present invention. One embodiment uses a X-cut LiNbO3 substrate, with or without a buffer layer, to reduce cost of manufacture in comparison to some known devices that employ a Z-cut LiNbO˜ substrate. These prior art devices require both buffer and charge bleed-off layers. The present invention also includes a quasi-symmetric electrode structure in which the applied fields run parallel to the surface of the substrate.