Abstract: An example photonic integrated circuit includes a transmitter circuit with a optical communication path to an optical coupler configured to couple with an optical fiber. The optical communication path has a propagation direction away from the transmitter circuit and towards the optical coupler. A counter-propagating tap diverts light sent by a light source backward against the propagation direction of the optical communication path. A photodiode receives the diverted light and measures its power level. The photodiode generates a feedback signal for the optical coupler and provides the feedback signal to the optical coupler. The optical coupler receives the feedback signal and adjusts a coupling alignment of the optical communication path to the optical fiber based on the feedback signal, which indicates the measured power level of the diverted counter-propagating light.

Abstract: Apparatuses for a hydrant, as well as associated methods for installing the same, may be directed to a threaded stem for actuating a hydrant outlet valve at a first end of the stem. An attachment nut may define a bore for supporting the stem in the hydrant. The attachment nut defines a cavity configured to receive water from a barrel of the hydrant. The attachment nut also defines a water access passage extending through an outer wall of the attachment nut to the cavity. The apparatus also includes a sensor in fluid communication with the cavity to obtain sensor data for the water in the barrel.

Abstract: An optical receiver can implement a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to process received light using a closed loop optical pre-amplification. The optical receiver can use an average input value of the TIA to control an semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) or pre-amplification as received average signal varies. The optical receiver can include a gain controller for the TIA that can measure the TIA swing to adjust the gain of the SOA to pre-amplify received light in a closed loop control configuration.

Abstract: Apparatuses for a hydrant, as well as associated methods for installing the same, may be directed to a threaded stem for actuating a hydrant outlet valve at a first end of the stem. An attachment nut may define a bore for supporting the stem in the hydrant. The attachment nut defines a cavity configured to receive water from a barrel of the hydrant. The attachment nut also defines a water access passage extending through an outer wall of the attachment nut to the cavity. The apparatus also includes a sensor in fluid communication with the cavity to obtain sensor data for the water in the barrel.

Abstract: A valve flush apparatus includes a rigid base designed to removably attach to a body of an irrigation valve. A stem extends outwardly from the base and away from the body of the irrigation valve and may be centrally located on the base. The stem and an aperture in the base may define a water passageway through which water may flow through the body of the irrigation valve and through the valve flush apparatus. A hose may also be included which removably attaches to the stem so as to extend the water passageway of the valve flush apparatus. A method includes flushing a clogged irrigation valve through use of the valve flush apparatus.

Abstract: A plate and cup assembly for attaching a cup to a plate includes a food plate that has an opening extending through the food plate. A cup is provided and the cup is insertable upwardly through the opening in the food plate. A lid is insertable into the opening in the food plate and the lid releasably engages the cup when the cup is inserted upwardly through the opening for retaining the cup on the food plate. The lid has a straw opening extending through the lid to facilitate a drinking straw to be extended through the straw opening and into the cup for drinking the beverage contained in the cup when the cup is retained on the food plate.

Abstract: An optical transceiver can be calibrated using an internal receiver side eye scan generator, and calibration values (e.g., modulator values) can be stored in memory for recalibration of the optical transceiver. The eye scan generator can receive data from the transmitter portion via an integrated and reconfigurable loopback path. At a later time, different calibration values can be accessed in memory and used to recalibrate the optical transceiver or update the calibrated values using the receive-side eye scan generator operating in loopback mode.

Abstract: Apparatuses for a hydrant, as well as associated methods for installing the same, may be directed to a threaded stem for actuating a hydrant outlet valve at a first end of the stem. An attachment nut may define a bore for supporting the stem in the hydrant. The attachment nut defines a cavity configured to receive water from a barrel of the hydrant. The attachment nut also defines a water access passage extending through an outer wall of the attachment nut to the cavity. The apparatus also includes a sensor in fluid communication with the cavity to obtain sensor data for the water in the barrel.

Abstract: An example photonic integrated circuit includes a transmitter circuit with a optical communication path to an optical coupler configured to couple with an optical fiber. The optical communication path has a propagation direction away from the transmitter circuit and towards the optical coupler. A counter-propagating tap diverts light sent by a light source backward against the propagation direction of the optical communication path. A photodiode receives the diverted light and measures its power level. The photodiode generates a feedback signal for the optical coupler and provides the feedback signal to the optical coupler. The optical coupler receives the feedback signal and adjusts a coupling alignment of the optical communication path to the optical fiber based on the feedback signal, which indicates the measured power level of the diverted counter-propagating light.

Abstract: An optical device such as an optical transceiver can include a cascaded built-in self-test structure that can be configured in testing mode using an active power mode and can sufficiently attenuate light away from a loopback path in an inactive power mode. The optical device can include a wafer top emitter that can be used to tune a light source for testing and calibration of optical components while the built-in self-test structure is in active mode.

Abstract: An optical transceiver can be calibrated using an internal receiver side eye scan generator, and calibration values (e.g., modulator values) can be stored in memory for recalibration of the optical transceiver. The eye scan generator can receive data from the transmitter portion via an integrated and reconfigurable loopback path. At a later time, different calibration values can be accessed in memory and used to recalibrate the optical transceiver or update the calibrated values using the receive-side eye scan generator operating in loopback mode.

Abstract: A valve flush apparatus includes a rigid base designed to removably attach to a body of an irrigation valve. A stem extends outwardly from the base and away from the body of the irrigation valve and may be centrally located on the base. The stem and an aperture in the base may define a water passageway through which water may flow through the body of the irrigation valve and through the valve flush apparatus. A hose may also be included which removably attaches to the stem so as to extend the water passageway of the valve flush apparatus. A method includes flushing a clogged irrigation valve through use of the valve flush apparatus.

Abstract: An optical receiver can implement a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to process received light using a closed loop optical pre-amplification. The optical receiver can use an average input value of the TIA to control an semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) or pre-amplification as received average signal varies. The optical receiver can include a gain controller for the TIA that can measure the TIA swing to adjust the gain of the SOA to pre-amplify received light in a closed loop control configuration.

Abstract: An optical device such as an optical transceiver can include a cascaded built-in self-test structure that can be configured in testing mode using an active power mode and can sufficiently attenuate light away from a loopback path in an inactive power mode. The optical device can include a wafer top emitter that can be used to tune a light source for testing and calibration of optical components while the built-in self-test structure is in active mode.

Abstract: An optical transceiver can be calibrated using an internal receiver side eye scan generator, and calibration values (e.g., modulator values) can be stored in memory for recalibration of the optical transceiver. The eye scan generator can receive data from the transmitter portion via an integrated and reconfigurable loopback path. At a later time, different calibration values can be accessed in memory and used to recalibrate the optical transceiver or update the calibrated values using the receive-side eye scan generator operating in loopback mode.

Abstract: An optical receiver can implement a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) to process received light using a closed loop optical pre-amplification. The optical receiver can use an average input value of the TIA to control an semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) or pre-amplification as received average signal varies. The optical receiver can include a gain controller for the TIA that can measure the TIA swing to adjust the gain of the SOA to pre-amplify received light in a closed loop control configuration.

Abstract: An example photonic integrated circuit includes a transmitter circuit with a optical communication path to an optical coupler configured to couple with an optical fiber. The optical communication path has a propagation direction away from the transmitter circuit and towards the optical coupler. A counter-propagating tap diverts light sent by a light source backward against the propagation direction of the optical communication path. A photodiode receives the diverted light and measures its power level. The photodiode generates a feedback signal for the optical coupler and provides the feedback signal to the optical coupler. The optical coupler receives the feedback signal and adjusts a coupling alignment of the optical communication path to the optical fiber based on the feedback signal, which indicates the measured power level of the diverted counter-propagating light.