Abstract: A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

Abstract: A sensing system including: a sensor located in an external environment, including: an electrically powered sensor element sensing an environment variable and converting the sensing to a corresponding analog electrical value measure; an electrically powered sensor value conversion system connected to the electrically powered sensor and converting the analog electrical value measure to a digital measure, in addition to encoding the digital measure with sensor identification information; a transducer element for sending the sensed data information over an optical conduit for inputting an optical power signal and outputting optical sensed data information; a coupler splitting a first portion of the optical power signal to an energy storage system; and an energy storage system converting the first portion of the optical power signal into corresponding electrical energy and storing it for on demand usage; said electrically powered sensor value conversion system being supplied with electrical power from said energy

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for monitoring and visualising electrical activity of biological tissue. The device uses a sensor arrangement comprising a matrix of conductive sensors and a transducing element for transducing electric fields in a variation of an optical property. In use, electric fields generated by the biological tissue are sensed by the sensor arrangement and transduced by the transducing element for optical imaging.

Abstract: A voltage-controllable output coupler for a laser, comprising: a liquid crystal cell that provides a change in birefringence in response to an applied voltage; and a polariser oriented with respect to the liquid crystal cell to collectively form a variable reflectance mirror for the laser; wherein output coupling of the laser is controllable by applying voltage to the liquid crystal cell for a switching interval to switch the variable reflectance mirror from high reflectance to low reflectance, and vice versa, thus actively Q-switching or cavity dumping the laser.

Abstract: A method of measuring fluctuations in electric fields is disclosed, the method comprising the step of: placing a Liquid Crystal Device in communication with the electric field, the device having disparate orthogonal polarization sensitivity to an external electric field; utilizing an optical probe beam having a known polarization state to interrogate the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal device to produce a response beam; and analyzing the polarization state of the response beam to provide an indicator of the corresponding fluctuations in the electric field.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer. An optical fiber may be coupled to an optical element, such as an optical waveguide or another optical fiber, using a layer of rewritable photorefractive polymer positioned between the optical fiber and the optical element. Light from a light source may be applied to the optical fiber to initiate a transient photorefractive effect in the polymer layer facilitating corrections of misalignment. A path of high refractive index may be formed in the polymer layer, where the path of high refractive index communicatively couples the optical fiber to the optical element reducing alignment concerns and increasing alignment tolerances of optical elements. In some examples, the path of high refractive index may be re-established by rewriting the polymer layer through another application of light from the light source if the communicative coupling is disrupted.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for monitoring and visualising electrical activity of biological tissue. The device uses a sensor arrangement comprising a matrix of conductive sensors and a transducing element for transducing electric fields in a variation of an optical property. In use, electric fields generated by the biological tissue are sensed by the sensor arrangement and transduced by the transducing element for optical imaging.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described to communicatively couple an optical fiber to an optical element using a polymer layer. An optical fiber may be coupled to an optical element, such as an optical waveguide or another optical fiber, using a layer of rewritable photorefractive polymer positioned between the optical fiber and the optical element. Light from a light source may be applied to the optical fiber to initiate a transient photorefractive effect in the polymer layer facilitating corrections of misalignment. A path of high refractive index may be formed in the polymer layer, where the path of high refractive index communicatively couples the optical fiber to the optical element reducing alignment concerns and increasing alignment tolerances of optical elements. In some examples, the path of high refractive index may be re-established by rewriting the polymer layer through another application of light from the light source if the communicative coupling is disrupted.

Abstract: A method of measuring fluctuations in electric fields is disclosed, the method comprising the step of: placing a Liquid Crystal Device in communication with the electric field, the device having disparate orthogonal polarization sensitivity to an external electric field; utilising an optical probe beam having a known polarization state to interrogate the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal device to produce a response beam; and analyzing the polarization state of the response beam to provide an indicator of the corresponding fluctuations in the electric field.

Abstract: Process for commanding a remote video processing chain producing a video stream transmitted to a terminal with a view to acting on the transmitted video stream, this process including steps in which the terminal transmits a command to the remote video processing chain to modify the transmitted video stream, and the video processing chain executes the command on the video stream before transmitting it to the terminal. The video stream processing commands that can be performed by the video processing chain include commands that contain the definition of an image region of the image contained in the transmitted video stream and associated with the definition of processing to be applied to the image region.

Abstract: A distribution network for distributing a clock signal comprising a sequence of counter signals, the network comprising a plurality of delivery points for facilitating simultaneous detection of different counter signals to provide timing information, wherein the clock signal comprises a modulated carrier, whereby the sequence of counter signals is in the form of an envelope of the carrier.

Abstract: Process for commanding a remote video processing chain (20) producing a video stream transmitted to a terminal with a view to acting on the transmitted video stream, this process comprising steps in which the terminal transmits a command to the remote video processing chain to modify the transmitted video stream, and the video processing chain executes the command on the video stream before transmitting it to the terminal, the video stream processing commands able to be performed by the video processing chain (20) comprising commands containing the definition of an image region of the image contained in the transmitted video stream, associated with the definition of processing to be applied to the image.

Abstract: A laser beam with an annular or ring shaped intensity distribution, such as a TEM01* beam, is scanned across the surface of a photosensitive thin film to directly produce changes of refractive index in selected regions of the film. This method is suitable for producing channel waveguides for planar lightwave circuits, where the refractive index profile (solid curve) of such a waveguide is more uniform than the prior art refractive index profile (dashed curve) produced by a TEM00 laser beam, and has a reduced bend loss.

Abstract: Method for optimizing a path length of an optical guide and optical guide obtained by this method. This method for optimizing an optical guide with a nominal width Po having at any point a variable and continuous curve C and a widening .delta.p with respect to this width Po is characterized in that it comprises a definition stage for widening .delta.p the guide as a variable function f of the curve C, this function .delta.p=f(C) being a continuous function.