Abstract: A structural sheathing board has multiple functional benefits with respect to structural support, insulation and moisture barrier. A rigid expanded polystyrene core layer has a structural layer laminated to one face thereof and a facer layer laminated to its other face. Each of the structural and facer layers has a water resistant barrier layer laminated to the outside thereof. The water resistant barrier repels liquid water, but in one example, it may allow water vapor to pass through it.

Abstract: A cup or food container has a coating formed of a styrene acrylic copolymer emulsion. There may be one or more coating layers on the inside surface of the cup or container. Importantly, the cup or container does not have any petroleum-based paraffin or polymer material or functionally similar hydrogenated triglyceride material coated on or incorporated in the cup or container. The paper substrate onto which the styrene acrylic copolymer emulsion is coated must have adequate sizing incorporated therein so that the coating forms a relatively smooth surface. Differently-sourced paper may require different amounts of sizing according to the particular paper being used. The cup or container may have a primer coating applied thereto before the styrene acrylic copolymer is coated on. Optionally, the uncoated paper stock that forms the cup or food container is calendared between rolls before coating.

Abstract: A leader straightener having a first component disposed about a fishing rod. The first component has a coefficient of friction sufficient to straighten a leader when the leader is pulled through and away from the first component at an angle.

Abstract: A cup or food container has a coating formed of a styrene acrylic copolymer emulsion. There may be one or more coating layers on the inside surface of the cup or container. Importantly, the cup or container does not have any petroleum-based paraffin or polymer material or functionally similar hydrogenated triglyceride material coated on or incorporated in the cup or container. The paper substrate onto which the styrene acrylic copolymer emulsion is coated must have adequate sizing incorporated therein so that the coating forms a relatively smooth surface. Differently-sourced paper may require different amounts of sizing according to the particular paper being used. The cup or container may have a primer coating applied thereto before the styrene acrylic copolymer is coated on. Optionally, the uncoated paper stock that forms the cup or food container is calendared between rolls before coating.

Abstract: A structural sheathing board has multiple functional benefits with respect to structural support, insulation and moisture barrier. A rigid expanded polystyrene core layer has a structural layer laminated to one face thereof and a facer layer laminated to its other face. Each of the structural and facer layers has a water resistant barrier layer laminated to the outside thereof. The water resistant barrier repels liquid water, but in one example, it may allow water vapor to pass through it.

Abstract: A multilayer roofing underlayment sheet has a structural sheet layer formed of a flexible layer of fabric or paper or a composite thereof, the structural sheet layer having a top side and a bottom side. First and second water impermeable thermoplastic layers are affixed on the top and bottom sides of the structural layer respectively. A first clean peelable pressure sensitive adhesive coating layer is attached on one of the water impermeable thermoplastic layers on the opposite side of the water impermeable thermoplastic layer from the structural layer. The resulting underlayment sheet is slip resistant and is able to temporarily adhere to a contact surface.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a beam splitter that splits a feedback beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. A beam sampler samples a portion of the output beam from the tapered fiber bundle and provides a sample beam. A single mode fiber receives the sample beam from the beam sampler and provides the feedback beam.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a plurality of master oscillators each generating a signal beam at a different wavelength. A splitter for each master oscillator splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams to be separately amplified. A separate tapered fiber bundle receives the amplified beam for each master oscillator, where each tapered fiber bundle includes a plurality of input end fibers, a plurality of output end fibers and a center bundle portion, where each input end fiber is coupled to a separate one of the fiber amplifiers, where the bundle portion combines all of the fiber beams received by the input end fibers into a single combined beam and each output end fiber is capable of receiving the combined beam separately from the other output end fibers. A separate optical output channel receives one of the output end fibers from each tapered fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system may include reading a first set of data byte values, providing a reproducible first array that includes at least one of each data byte value in the first set, identifying in the first array a first contiguous pathway that defines a set of data byte values matching the first set, and creating a second set of command byte values representing the first contiguous pathway. The method may further include providing a reproducible second array that includes at least one of each command byte value in the second set, identifying in the second array a second contiguous pathway that defines a set of command byte values matching the second set, and creating a third set of command byte values representing the second contiguous pathway.

Abstract: A method implemented in a computer system may include reading a first set of data byte values, providing a reproducible first array that includes at least one of each data byte value in the first set, identifying in the first array a first contiguous pathway that defines a set of data byte values matching the first set, and creating a second set of command byte values representing the first contiguous pathway. The method may further include providing a reproducible second array that includes at least one of each command byte value in the second set, identifying in the second array a second contiguous pathway that defines a set of command byte values matching the second set, and creating a third set of command byte values representing the second contiguous pathway.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a beam splitter that splits a feedback beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples all of the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of the tapered fiber bundle to expand the output beam. A beam sampler samples a portion of the output beam from the end cap and provides a sample beam. A single mode fiber receives the sample beam from the beam sampler and provides the feedback beam.

Abstract: An optical system including a plurality of fibers each providing a fiber beam and at least one tapered fiber bundle. The tapered fiber bundle includes a plurality of input end fibers, a plurality of output end fibers and a center bundle portion, where each input end fiber is coupled to a separate one of the fibers, and where the bundle portion combines all of the fiber beams received by the input end fibers into a single combined beam and each output end fiber is capable of receiving the combined beam separately from the other output end fibers. The optical system also includes a plurality of optical output channels where each optical output channel is coupled to a separate one of the output end fibers.

Abstract: An optical system including a plurality of fibers each providing a fiber beam and at least one tapered fiber bundle. The tapered fiber bundle includes a plurality of input end fibers, a plurality of output end fibers and a center bundle portion, where each input end fiber is coupled to a separate one of the fibers, and where the bundle portion combines all of the fiber beams received by the input end fibers into a single combined beam and each output end fiber is capable of receiving the combined beam separately from the other output end fibers. The optical system also includes a plurality of optical output channels where each optical output channel is coupled to a separate one of the output end fibers.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a plurality of master oscillators each generating a signal beam at a different wavelength. A splitter for each master oscillator splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams to be separately amplified. A separate tapered fiber bundle receives the amplified beam for each master oscillator, where each tapered fiber bundle includes a plurality of input end fibers, a plurality of output end fibers and a center bundle portion, where each input end fiber is coupled to a separate one of the fiber amplifiers, where the bundle portion combines all of the fiber beams received by the input end fibers into a single combined beam and each output end fiber is capable of receiving the combined beam separately from the other output end fibers. A separate optical output channel receives one of the output end fibers from each tapered fiber bundle.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a plurality of master oscillators each generating a signal beam at a different wavelength. A splitter is provided for each master oscillator that splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier. A tapered fiber bundle couples the output ends the fiber amplifiers for each wavelength group into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam, where a separate combined output beam is provided for the wavelength for each master oscillator. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of each of the tapered fiber bundles to expand the combined output beam. A spectral beam combination grating receives the combined beams from the tapered fiber bundles at different angles and outputs an output beam of all of the combined beams as a single beam being directed in the same direction.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a master oscillator that generates a signal beam. A splitter splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples all of the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of the tapered fiber bundle to expand the output beam.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a plurality of master oscillators each generating a signal beam at a different wavelength. A splitter is provided for each master oscillator that splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier. A tapered fiber bundle couples the output ends the fiber amplifiers for each wavelength group into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam, where a separate combined output beam is provided for the wavelength for each master oscillator. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of each of the tapered fiber bundles to expand the combined output beam. A spectral beam combination grating receives the combined beams from the tapered fiber bundles at different angles and outputs an output beam of all of the combined beams as a single beam being directed in the same direction.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a beam splitter that splits a feedback beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples all of the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of the tapered fiber bundle to expand the output beam. A beam sampler samples a portion of the output beam from the end cap and provides a sample beam. A single mode fiber receives the sample beam from the beam sampler and provides the feedback beam.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a master oscillator that generates a signal beam. A splitter splits the signal beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples all of the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. An end cap is optically coupled to an output end of the tapered fiber bundle to expand the output beam.

Abstract: A transmissive or reflective diffractive optical element, comprising: a substrate having a top surface, the top surface being etched into a pattern, the pattern including a periodic surface pattern of grooves formed such that when an incoming light beam is shone onto the top surface, the incoming light beam will be split into a plurality of diffracted light beams, the plurality of diffracted light beams including a plurality of primary diffracted order beams and a plurality of secondary diffracted order beams, wherein the primary diffracted order beams have a primary aggregate efficiency above ninety percent, wherein the plurality of secondary diffracted order beams have a secondary aggregate efficiency of lower than ten percent, and wherein a maximum power of the primary diffracted order beams and a minimum power of the primary diffracted order beams differ by at least ten percent of an average power of the primary diffracted order beams.