Abstract: According to examples, a system for measuring polarization dependent loss (PDL) for a device-under-test (DUT) may include a tunable laser, a polarization element and a power meter. The tunable laser may emit an optical signal to sweep across an optical band at a constant rate. The polarization element may scramble polarizations states of the optical signal emitted from the tunable laser. The power meter may take power measurements associated with the optical signal emitted from the tunable laser, wherein the power measurements from the power meter are used to determine a maximum insertion loss (IL) and a minimum insertion loss (IL) associated with the device-under-test (DUT). An average insertion loss (IL) and a polarization dependent loss (PDL) for the device-under-test (DUT) may be calculated based on the maximum insertion loss (IL) and the minimum insertion loss (IL) associated with the device-under-test (DUT).

Abstract: A system for a high resolution optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) using various optical configurations to reduce polarization dependent loss (PDL) is disclosed. The system may include a birefringent element to receive an input optical beam. The birefringent element may then split the optical beam into at least two exit beams. The system may also include an optical configuration comprising at least one optical element. The optical configuration may receive the at least two exit beams from the birefringent element and transform at least one of the two exit beams using the at least one optical element to provide two parallel beams with parallel polarizations. The optical configuration may then output the two parallel beams with parallel polarizations to a downstream optical element, such as a diffraction grating, or other optical element.

Abstract: Active superhydrophobic surface structures are actively-controlled surface structures exhibiting a superhydrophobic state and an ordinary state. Active superhydrophobic surface structures comprise an outer elastomeric covering defining an exposed surface, a controlled group of MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) actuators at least covered by the elastomeric covering, and, a controlled region of the exposed surface corresponding to the controlled group. The controlled region has a superhydrophobic state in which the controlled region is textured. The controlled region also has an ordinary state in which the controlled region is smooth (i.e., less textured than in the superhydrophobic state). Active superhydrophobic surface structures may be part of an apparatus that includes a controller and/or one or more sensors. The controller, sensors, and the controlled region may form a feedback loop in which the active superhydrophobic surface is actively controlled.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing multicore fiber (OCF) optical switching is disclosed. The apparatus may include an input fiber to receive an optical signal from an optical source. The apparatus may also include an output fiber to receive the optical signal from the input fiber. The apparatus may further include an optical switch element to provide optical switching between the input fiber and the output fiber. In some examples, at least one of the input fiber and the output fiber may be a multicore fiber (MCF), and the optical switching may be performed between at least one core of the input fiber and the output fiber. In some examples, the optical switch element may provide optical switching using a multicore fiber (MCF) optical switching technique, such as a lens offset technique, a rotation-based technique, a tip-tilt technique, or an orientable optical element technique.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

Abstract: The construction of virtual reality environments can be made more efficient with enhancements directed to the sizing of objects to be utilized in the construction of virtual reality environments, enhancements directed to the simultaneous display of multiple thumbnails, or other like indicators, of virtual reality environments being constructed, enhancements directed to controlling the positioning of a view of a virtual reality environment, enhancements directed to conceptualizing the virtual reality environment as perceived through different types of three-dimensional presentational hardware, and enhancements directed to the exchange of objects between multiple virtual reality environments being constructed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein cover a hierarchical machine learning system with a separated perception subsystem (that includes a hierarchy of nodes having at least a first layer and a second layer) and application subsystem. In one example embodiment a first node in the first layer processes a first input and processes at least a portion of the first input to generate a first feature vector. A second node in the second layer processes a second input comprising at least a portion of the first feature vector to generate a second feature vector. The first node generates a first sparse feature vector from the first feature vector and/or the second node generates a second sparse feature vector from the second feature vector. A third node of the perception subsystem then processes at least one of the first sparse feature vector or the second sparse feature vector to determine an output.

Abstract: A system for providing optical measurements and detection in optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs) with high dynamic range and high speed is disclosed. The system may include a slit to allow inward passage of an optical beam. The system may also include an optical portion to receive the optical beam. In some examples, the optical portion may include at least one optical splitter to split the optical beam into at least two optical paths. The system may also include an electrical portion to receive the optical beams split into the at least two optical paths. In some examples, the electrical portion may include at least one photodetector to receive each of the split optical beam. The electrical portion may also include at least one amplifier communicatively coupled to each of the at least one photodetector to amplify the split optical beam.

Abstract: Some embodiments described herein cover a machine learning architecture with a separated perception subsystem and application subsystem. These subsystems can be co-trained. In one example embodiment, a data item is received and information from the data item is processed by a first node to generate a sparse feature vector. A second node processes the sparse feature vector to determine an output. A relevancy rating associated with the output is determined. A determination is made as to whether to update the first node based on update criteria associated with the first node, wherein the update criteria comprise a relevancy criterion and a novelty criterion. The second node is updated based on the relevancy rating.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to computing devices, head-mounted display devices, and methods for displaying a capture indicator within a virtual world. In one example, a method comprises displaying, via a display subsystem, a virtual world; receiving, from a sensor, location data defining a user pose; using the user pose to define a camera pose; generating a capture indicator corresponding to the camera pose; and displaying the capture indicator within the virtual world.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate. The vehicle suspension damper comprises a first damping mechanism having a variable first threshold pressure, a second damping mechanism having a second threshold pressure, and a compressible chamber in communication with a damping fluid chamber, wherein the second damping mechanism is responsive to a compression of said compressible chamber.

Abstract: A system for providing optical measurements and detection in optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs) with high dynamic range and high speed is disclosed. The system may include a slit to allow inward passage of an optical beam. The system may also include an optical portion to receive the optical beam. In some examples, the optical portion may include at least one optical splitter to split the optical beam into at least two optical paths. The system may also include an electrical portion to receive the optical beams split into the at least two optical paths. In some examples, the electrical portion may include at least one photodetector to receive each of the split optical beam. The electrical portion may also include at least one amplifier communicatively coupled to each of the at least one photodetector to amplify the split optical beam.

Abstract: An endoluminal prosthesis system deployable in a region of a patient's vasculature having one or more branch vessels, having a main graft body having a first opening in a wall portion of the main graft body and a pre-loaded guidewire positioned inside the main graft body and advanced through the first opening. One or more branch grafts can be attached to the main graft body to cover one or more openings in the main graft body.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate. The vehicle suspension damper comprises a first damping mechanism having a variable first threshold pressure, a second damping mechanism having a second threshold pressure, and a compressible chamber in communication with a damping fluid chamber, wherein the second damping mechanism is responsive to a compression of said compressible chamber.

Abstract: The construction of virtual reality environments can be made more efficient with enhancements directed to the sizing of objects to be utilized in the construction of virtual reality environments, enhancements directed to the simultaneous display of multiple thumbnails, or other like indicators, of virtual reality environments being constructed, enhancements directed to controlling the positioning of a view of a virtual reality environment, enhancements directed to conceptualizing the virtual reality environment as perceived through different types of three-dimensional presentational hardware, and enhancements directed to the exchange of objects between multiple virtual reality environments being constructed.

Abstract: A system for measuring a polarization extinction ratio (PER) using a reference master test jumper (MTJ) is disclosed. The system may include an optical source to transmit an optical signal via an optical fiber. The system may also include a device under test (DUT) communicatively coupled to the optical source via the optical fiber to receive the optical signal from the optical source. The system may also include an optical measurement component communicatively coupled to the device under test (DUT). In some examples, the optical fiber may be configured or initialized to be a reference master test jumper (MTJ) that minimizes inherent polarization extinction ratio (PER) of the optical fiber when measuring a polarization extinction ratio (PER) during a measurement action.

Abstract: The construction of virtual reality environments can be made more efficient with enhancements directed to the sizing of objects to be utilized in the construction of virtual reality environments, enhancements directed to the simultaneous display of multiple thumbnails, or other like indicators, of virtual reality environments being constructed, enhancements directed to controlling the positioning of a view of a virtual reality environment, enhancements directed to conceptualizing the virtual reality environment as perceived through different types of three-dimensional presentational hardware, and enhancements directed to the exchange of objects between multiple virtual reality environments being constructed.