Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, active devices, such as lasers, optical amplifiers, and photodiodes, are integrated on a first substrate, and other optical devices, such as passive devices including polarization rotators and polarization beam combiners, are provided on a second substrate. An array of lenses is provided between the two substrates to provide a low loss optical connection from the first substrate to the second substrate. In addition, the orientation or position of the lenses can be readily controlled with Microelectromechnical System (MEMS) actuators so that the light can be directed precisely to a desired optical element, such as a waveguide. Consistent with a further aspect of the present disclosure, the lenses may be controlled to be misaligned by varying degrees in order to control the amount of light that is supplied from one substrate to another.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) includes a tunnel junction that conducts a current of holes tunneling into an active region. Tunneling in a selected area of the tunnel junction is disabled to form a current blocking region that confines the current to desired regions. Tunneling can be disabled in the selected area using techniques including but not limited to implanting or diffusing dopants, disrupting crystal structure, or etching to remove part of the tunnel junction.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) includes a tunnel junction that conducts a current of holes tunneling into an active region. Tunneling in a selected area of the tunnel junction is disabled to form a current blocking region that confines the current to desired regions. Tunneling can be disabled in the selected area using techniques including but not limited to implanting or diffusing dopants, disrupting crystal structure, or etching to remove part of the tunnel junction.

Abstract: A buried reflector 50 in an epitaxial lateral growth layer forms a part of a light emitting device and allows for the fabrication of a semiconductor material that is substantially low in dislocation density. The laterally grown material is low in dislocation defect density where it is grown over the buried reflector making it suitable for high quality optical light emitting devices, and the embedded reflector eliminates the need for developing an additional reflector.

Abstract: A method of reinforcing or retrofitting building roof structures against hurricane-force winds which does not require removal of part or all of the roof. The improved method includes directing a thin stream of a liquid polymer foam adhesive under pressure upwardly along the intersections of the rafters or support members and the roof panels, preferably on both sides of the support members. The foam adhesive then creams and foams, forming polymer foam adhesive gussets which firmly adhere to the adjacent surfaces of the support members and roof panels. This method increases the pull-off strength of a roof about seven fold and is able to withstand hurricane-force winds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a coating on the exterior surfaces of a plurality of elongate members, such as wires, including positioning a plurality of elongate members substantially parallel to each other, coating the exterior surfaces of each member with a coating, removing any excess coating from desired portions of each member and curing the coating to adhere the coating to each member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a coating on the exterior surfaces of a plurality of elongate members, such as wires, including positioning a plurality of elongate members substantially parallel to each other, coating the exterior surfaces of each member with a coating, removing any excess coating from desired portions of each member and curing the coating to adhere the coating to each member.

Abstract: A fastener is formed from carbon steel wire so as to have an elongate shank defining an axis, an enlarged head formed at one end of the shank, and a generally pointed tip formed at the other end of the shank. The shank has a ringed portion formed with annular grooves defining annular rings and with helical grooves intersecting the annular grooves and defining helical ribs. The fastener is heat-treated, zinc-plated, and chromate-coated. Substantially all of the shank or of the fastener, as a whole, is further coated with a polymeric material to resist corrosion, to improve ease of driving the fastener, and to increase holding power of the fastener when driven through a wood, plywood, or plasterboard workpiece and then through a steel framing member. Substantially all of the shank or of the fastener, as a whole, may be thus coated with the polymeric material. The polymeric material softens and flows upon penetration and rehardens.

Abstract: A steel fastener has an elongate shank, an enlarged head formed at one end of the shank, and a generally pointed tip formed at the other end of the shank. A grooved portion of the shank is formed with helical grooves defining helical ribs and with annular grooves defining annular rings. The shank has a cylindrical portion between the grooved portion and the tip and a cylindrical portion between the grooved portion and the head. Each of the annular grooves has a root where deepest and each of the annular rings has a crest where largest. The roots define an imaginary cone diverging toward the tip. The crests define an imaginary cone converging toward the tip. The shank has an exterior surface coated with a polymeric coating, which is formed from an aqueous composition containing a water-based acrylic resin and a water-based polyurethane resin. A zinc layer and a chromate conversion layer are provided between the polymeric coating and the exterior surface of the shank.

Abstract: A screen for anchoring a fastener to a hollow block or brick wall which includes an elongate tubular plastic screen member having first and second opposite ends and a uniform diameter along its length. The first end is formed substantially into a frusto-conical shape that includes at least a portion thereof where the mesh of the screen is closed off. At least one reinforcement member is formed along the length of the elongate screen member that enables the elongate screen member to be inserted within a first aperture formed in a first wall of a hollow block and maintain the desired stiffness of the tubular screen member so that it can extend across the interior of the hollow block for blind insertion into a second aperture formed in a second opposite wall of the hollow block.

Abstract: A screen for anchoring a fastener to a hollow block or brick wall which includes an elongate tubular plastic screen member having first and second opposite ends and a uniform diameter along its length. The first end is formed substantially into a frusto-conical shape that includes at least a portion thereof where the mesh of the screen is closed off. At least one reinforcement member is formed along the length of the elongate screen member that enables the elongate screen member to be inserted within a first aperture formed in a first wall of a hollow block and maintain the desired stiffness of the tubular screen member so that it can extend across an interior of the hollow block for blind insertion into a second aperture formed in a second opposite wall of the hollow block.

Abstract: A screen for anchoring a fastener to a hollow block or brick wall which includes an elongate tubular plastic screen member having first and second opposite ends and a uniform diameter along its length. The first end is formed substantially into a frusto-conical shape that includes at least a portion thereof where the mesh of the screen is closed off. At least one reinforcement member is formed along the length of the elongate screen member that enables the elongate screen member to be inserted within a first aperture formed in a first wall of a hollow block and maintain the desired stiffness of the tubular screen member so that it can extend across the interior of the hollow block for blind insertion into a second aperture formed in a second opposite wall of the hollow block.

Abstract: In a railroad track comprising a railroad rail having a lower flange and a railroad tie made from concrete, a polyurethane pad is mounted between the lower flange of the rail road rail and an upper surface of the railroad tie. A bonding layer at least as flexible as the polyurethane pad is bonded to a lower surface of the polyurethane pad. An adhesive layer is bonded to the upper surface of the railroad tie. The bonding and adhesive layers are bonded to each other, whereby the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie are bonded to each other via the bonding and adhesive layers. Preferably, the adhesive layer comprises a methacrylate ester composition, and the bonding layer comprises either a product of polymerizing a solution of methyl methacrylate copolymer in n-butyl acrylate monomer with an addition of cumene hydroperoxide to the solution or a product of curing or drying a water-based acrylic emulsion.

Abstract: In a railroad track comprising a railroad rail having a lower flange, a railroad tie made from concrete, and a polyurethane pad mounted between the lower flange of the railroad rail and an upper surface of the railroad tie, a particulate layer is interposed between the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie and comprises particles bonded to the polyurethane pad. Preferably, the bonded particles are polycarbonate, acrylic, or nylon particles, either granules or fibers. Alternatively, the bonded particles are particles of quartz, silica sand, silicon carbide, or aluminum oxide. An adhesive layer is interposed between the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie, comprises a methacrylate ester composition, and is bonded to particles among the bonded particles and to the railroad tie, whereby the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie are bonded to one another via the particulate and adhesive layers.

Abstract: In a railroad track, a composite pad is useful between a lower flange of a railroad rail and an upper surface of a railroad tie, particularly but not exclusively a concrete tie. The composite pad comprises a bonding member, preferably a plate made from galvanized, powder-coated steel and a polyurethane pad. Such a plate, if used, may be powder-coated with a composition comprising a polyester, acrylic, or epoxy resin. The pad is cast onto the member so that the member is bonded directly to the pad. An adhesive layer comprising a methacrylate ester composition bonds the member to the upper surface of the tie, at the lower surface of the member, so as to resist relative movement between the member and the tie and so as to retard infiltration of sand, water, or debris therebetween.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically powder coating articles such as fasteners. Articles in an unoriented state are oriented one behind another, transferred in succession to and magnetically retained on a face of a rotating feed wheel at a first position with respect to the feed wheel, transported to a second position by rotation of the feed wheel, transferred in succession at the second position to a respective portion of a moving conveyor, and releasably suspended magnetically and electrically grounded at the respective portion of the conveyor. Magnets used to suspend the articles from the conveyor are shielded from direct contact with the articles to avoid coating the magnets. While the articles remain suspended magnetically from the conveyor by their end portions, they are conveyed through a coating booth where they are electrostatically powder coated.

Abstract: A composite roof covering securement element is comprised of an elongated rubber membrane onto which a plastic batten strip is adhesively bonded. The membrane and strip have a range of flexibility which permitts the same to be rolled into a coil for manual prepositioning on a roof and then unrolled to lie flat upon the roof for attachment along the perimeter. When installed the composite element resists shear loads and securely retains the overlying roof covering in place.

Abstract: A coated fastener includes a coating comprised of one-hundred percent dry solids which is virtually free of solvent emissions when applied and during curing, covers substantially the entire exterior of the fastener, provides a protective coating to the fastener against corrosion, enables the fastener to be adhered to at least one other fastener, and provides increased holding power of the fastener after the fastener is driven into a desired surface.

Abstract: A continuous, automated method and apparatus for transporting and electrostatically coating articles including providing a plurality of articles in an unoriented bulk state, each article having a first end portion, orienting each article and transporting them into a desired position, transferring each article in succession to a moving conveyor, suspending each article from the conveyor by its end portion and conveying the articles for electrostatic coating and curing.

Abstract: A composite roof covering securement element is comprised of an elongated rubber membrane onto which a plastic batten strip is adhesively bonded. The membrane and strip have a range of flexibility which permits the same to be rolled into a coil for manual prepositioning on a roof and then unrolled to lie flat upon the roof for attachment along the perimeter. When installed the composite element resists shear loads and securely retains the overlying roof covering in place.