Abstract: A cable (302) has (8) fibers (304) are encapsulated by a UV curable layer (306) having a diameter of approximately (1010) microns, and (16) outer fibers (316) arranged in a circular formation around the inner fibers (304). The optical fibers (304) are held in position by means of the UV curable layer (306) so that the UV curable material of the layer (306) does not penetrate into the gaps between the optical fibers (304) and the outermost optical fibers (304) are restrained by the layer from moving axially. It is found that such an arrangement provides surprisingly favorable bending properties, making the cable particularly suitable for installation in a tube by means of blowing.

Abstract: A fibre optic cable includes a core of primary coated optical fibres embedded in an inner layer of acrylate material, having sufficient tensile strength when cured to lock at least the outermost fibres in place and still allow the fibres to be easily broken out of the assembly for termination and splicing purposes. The hardness of the acrylate layer is such that at least the outermost fibres of the bundle are restricted from moving axially relative to the inner layer. The inner layer is then surrounded by a loose thin jacket formed from a mixture of high density polyethylene having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 60 and a generally uniformly distributed slip agent, including a polyether modified poly (dimethylsiloxane) material such as polyether modified hydroxy functional poly (dimethylsiloxane) material. The mixture from which the outer layer is formed is compacted by means of heat and pressure.

Abstract: A retractable hose extension for a vacuum having an expandable hose within a containment structure, a first coupling at the first end of the hose and in the first end of the containment structure for connecting the hose to a vacuum, a valve at the second end of the hose, and either a door or other releasable retention device for the hose. Preferably, the valve is an iris valve. Two fixed embodiment and one portable embodiment exist. The first fixed embodiment is inserted within a wall. The second fixed embodiment is rotatably attached to a tube contained within or running below a ceiling and extending from a vacuum system.

Abstract: A retractable hose extension for a vacuum having an expandable hose within a containment structure, a first coupling at the first end of the hose and in the first end of the containment structure for connecting the hose to a vacuum, a valve at the second end of the hose, and either a door or other releasable retention device for the hose. Preferably, the valve is an iris valve. Two fixed embodiment and one portable embodiment exist. The first fixed embodiment is inserted within a wall. The second fixed embodiment is rotatably attached to a tube contained within or running below a ceiling and extending from a vacuum system.

Abstract: An optical fibre cable (1) for installation in a duct (51) by means of fluid flow is described. The cable (1) has a signal transmitting portion comprising a plurality of elongate, flexible optical fibres, surrounded by a braided covering (10) formed from textile yarns (9). The apparatus (50) for installing the cable includes an air compressor (52) for supplying a blowing head (53) with a conditioned air supply substantially free of static electricity or moisture. The blowing head (53) includes drive wheels (not shown), the speed of rotation of which (and hence the speed of installation of the fibre cable (1), (101) is adjusted by means of s control unit (54) powered by power supply (55). The fibre cable (1), (101) is fed from a fibre pan (56) over guide (57) to the blowing head (53), which is fed with an air supply from compressor (52) which is regulated by dispenser (58).

Abstract: An optical fibre cable (1) for installation in a duct (51) by means of fluid flow is described. The cable (1) has a signal transmitting portion comprising a plurality of elongate, flexible optical fibres, surrounded by a braided covering (10) formed from textile yarns (9). The apparatus (50) for installing the cable includes an air compressor (52) for supplying a blowing head (53) with a conditioned air supply substantially free of static electricity or moisture. The blowing head (53) includes drive wheels (not shown), the speed of rotation of which (and hence the speed of installation of the fibre cable (1), (101) is adjusted by means of s control unit (54) powered by power supply (55). The fibre cable (1), (101) is fed from a fibre pan (56) over guide (57) to the blowing head (53), which is fed with an air supply from compressor (52) which is regulated by dispenser (58).

Abstract: A detected image output by a holographic storage system is comprised of a grid of dark and light spots, representing high and low logic states. The image is superimposed onto a grid of detector elements or pixels in a detector. Each of the data bits is represented by a bit image or bixel, which is oversampled by a factor of two along the x- and y-axis by the pixels. A state machine is utilized to generate expected states for each of the pixels and then an energy shifting operation performed to shift energy from a pixel having a higher than expected output value to a pixel having a lower than expected output value. This operation can result in energy being shifted from the left to the right or the right to the left. Column synchronization is performed by defining a set of pixels in a row for each column as a segment with an associated parity bit and row number. Each segment may be output as validated, or may be retained in a buffer until all previous segments in a row have been accumulated and/or output.

Abstract: A package for a holographic storage media (10) is provided that utilizes a slide tray (43) for containing a plurality of slides (102). Each of the slides (102) is comprised of an opaque casing (110), which is operable to hold a sandwich structure (120). The sandwich structure (120) has a gripping mechanism (122) disposed on the edge thereof for allowing the structure (120) to be reciprocated within the jacket (110) for extraction thereof and reinsertion thereof. A gripping arm (156) is operable to attach to a gripping member (124) on a gripping mechanism (122) attached to the slide (102) to extract the slide (102) and place it into a holder (148). The holder (148) is then operable to receive the slide (102) and dispose it in a holographic storage system. The slide (102) can then be written to by interfering a data beam and a reference beam in a predetermined storage location (54) and then the slide again placed into the jacket (110).