Abstract: An electro-optical modulator (EOM) array that simultaneously modulates a plurality of optical beams. The EOM array has particular application for use in a seed beam source for an SBC fiber laser amplifier system, where the seed beam source includes a plurality of master oscillators each providing an optical seed beam at a different wavelength on a fiber. The EOM array has a common substrate, a plurality of parallel waveguides and an electrode structure, where each waveguide is coupled to one of the fibers to receive one of the seed beams. An RF source provides an RF drive signal to the electrode structure that modulates the seed beams. The fiber laser amplifier system amplifies each of the seed beams from the EOM array, and includes an SBC grating that spatially combines the amplified beams at the different wavelengths so that they are directed in the same direction as an output beam.

Abstract: An electro-optical modulator (EOM) array that simultaneously modulates a plurality of optical beams. The EOM array has particular application for use in a seed beam source for an SBC fiber laser amplifier system, where the seed beam source includes a plurality of master oscillators each providing an optical seed beam at a different wavelength on a fiber. The EOM array has a common substrate, a plurality of parallel waveguides and an electrode structure, where each waveguide is coupled to one of the fibers to receive one of the seed beams. An RF source provides an RF drive signal to the electrode structure that modulates the seed beams. The fiber laser amplifier system amplifies each of the seed beams from the EOM array, and includes an SBC grating that spatially combines the amplified beams at the different wavelengths so that they are directed in the same direction as an output beam.

Abstract: A tensioning device and method for post-tensioning a concrete member having at least one crack is provided. The tensioning device may include an elongated body, a stitch catch arm and an anchor. The catch arm may be perpendicularly joined to one end of the elongated body, wherein the catch arm is inserted into a hole in the concrete member. The elongated body may form an anchor recess therein, wherein an anchor interface surface is defined by the anchor recess. The anchor interface may form an anchor aperture for receiving the anchor. The thickness of the anchor interface may uniformly decrease as the anchor interface extends toward the catch arm end of the anchor recess so that when ratcheting the anchor into the concrete member and onto the anchor interface a portion of the applied compressive force and/or torque may be transformed into an axial force along the elongated body so as to provide post-tensioning through the tensioning device and across the at least one crack.

Abstract: A tensioning device and method for post-tensioning a concrete member having at least one crack is provided. The tensioning device may include an elongated body, a stitch catch arm and an anchor. The catch arm may be perpendicularly joined to one end of the elongated body, wherein the catch arm is inserted into a hole in the concrete member. The elongated body may form an anchor recess therein, wherein an anchor interface surface is defined by the anchor recess. The anchor interface may form an anchor aperture for receiving the anchor. The thickness of the anchor interface may uniformly decrease as the anchor interface extends toward the catch arm end of the anchor recess so that when ratcheting the anchor into the concrete member and onto the anchor interface a portion of the applied compressive force and/or torque may be transformed into an axial force along the elongated body so as to provide post-tensioning through the tensioning device and across the at least one crack.

Abstract: A multichannel polarization stabilizer including a mixing device responsive to a sample beam and a reference beam that provides an in-phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 0° and a quadrature phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 90°. The stabilizer also includes a photodetector responsive to the quadrature phase signal that converts the quadrature phase signal to a quadrature phase electrical signal. A polarization demultiplexer circuit receives the quadrature phase electrical signal and measures the amplitude of a frequency tone in the sample beam and provides a polarization amplitude signal. A polarization controller receives the polarization amplitude signal and controls the reference beam to maximize the polarization amplitude signal.

Abstract: A multichannel optical system including a mixing device responsive to a sample beam and a reference beam that provides an in-phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 0° and a quadrature phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 90°. The system also includes a photodetector responsive to the quadrature phase signal that converts the quadrature phase signal to a quadrature phase electrical signal. A polarization demultiplexer circuit receives the quadrature phase electrical signal and measures the amplitude of a unique time-dependent phase dither profile having a zero time-averaged mean and a zero time-averaged correlation to the other phase dither profiles and provides a polarization amplitude signal. A polarization controller receives the polarization amplitude signal and controls the reference beam to maximize the polarization amplitude signal.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability.

Abstract: A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability.

Abstract: A multichannel polarization stabilizer including a mixing device responsive to a sample beam and a reference beam that provides an in-phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 0° and a quadrature phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 90°. The stabilizer also includes a photodetector responsive to the quadrature phase signal that converts the quadrature phase signal to a quadrature phase electrical signal. A polarization demultiplexer circuit receives the quadrature phase electrical signal and measures the amplitude of a frequency tone in the sample beam and provides a polarization amplitude signal. A polarization controller receives the polarization amplitude signal and controls the reference beam to maximize the polarization amplitude signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an integrated method and system for managing human resources. Specifically, the method and system integrates several processes (e.g., a process for developing a strategy and particularly for developing a set of rules on how human resources will be managed and sourced, a process for developing a long-term strategic plan for sourcing human resources to satisfy demands, a process for developing a near-term operational plan recommending individual human resources be used to satisfy selected demands, a process for selecting and assigning individual resources to specific engagements, etc.). Thus, the method operates through a spectrum of time horizons from the strategic to real time, providing a coherent and cohesive system for matching supply to demand based on the priorities of the business as represented through the set of rules.

Abstract: A pulsed coherent fiber array laser system that includes a beam generating sub-system that provides a signal pulse beam having pulses of the desired duration that is split into several fiber channels. Optical leakage between the pulses in each split beam is measured and locked to a reference beam by a phase sensing circuit and phase adjusters so that the phase of each fiber pulsed beam is aligned with the phase of the reference beam. A pulse clipper or filter is employed to remove the pulses in the fiber beams so that they do not saturate the phase sensing circuit. The beam generating sub-system can employ any suitable combination of devices to generate the signal beam and the reference beam, including continuous wave master oscillators, amplitude modulators, frequency shifters, injection seed oscillators, Q-switched lasers, reference oscillators, frequency lockers, wavelength division multiplexers, time gated switches, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the mode of an input beam to a phase conjugated master oscillator power amplifier (PC MOPA). In order to prevent catastrophic optical damage to the MOPA components, the method and system shuts down the master oscillator when a multi-mode input beam is detected.

Abstract: A digital pulse generator having a high-speed clock (22) and two clock pulse counters (10 and 12), one (10) to time the start of each pulse and one (12) to time the pulsewidth, based on clock counts supplied from a microcontroller (14) to which a user inputs desired pulse parameters. The combination of the high-speed clock (22) and the clock pulse counters (10 and 12) produces precise and reliable output pulses for a variety of applications, and at a relatively low cost. Operation may be selected to be in internal mode, in which successive pulses are produced at a desired period, or an external mode, in which a pulse is generated after a selected time delay. A trigger signal input circuit (48, 32) and a trigger signal output circuit (42), both with adjustable impedances, facilitate interconnection of multiple digital pulse generators as needed for a given application.

Abstract: A tool is used to custom fit rubber slip-ons onto golf shoes for use in wet conditions to keep the feet of the golfer dry. The tool can be manually manipulated to cut openings into the sole of a slip-on of an appropriate size so that the openings are aligned with the spikes of the golf shoe. When openings have been cut for all of the spikes, the sole of the slip-on rests against a base of the spikes and the sole of the golf shoe. The tool has an elongated hollow body with two ends. One end has a circular cutting edge thereon and the other end has a handle thereon. After the slip-on is placed onto the golf shoe with the spikes separating the sole of the slip-on from the sole of the golf shoe, the tool is aligned with each spike in turn to cut an appropriate opening for that spike. Previously, slip-ons have been designed with pre-cut openings but these slip-ons can only be used with a specific model of golf shoe of a specific manufacturer having a specific size.

Abstract: A holder for storing compact discs where each disc is contained within a conventional disc container uses a housing and anchoring means for the housing. The anchoring means is used to mount the housing in a motor vehicle. The housing contains partial partitions that are sufficiently large to hold said containers in a spaced apart parallel relationship from one another extending from front to rear of said housing when the disc containers are inserted into the housing through the front. The housing has retention means for each container to hold the containers within the housing when the containers are oriented with the groove towards the rear wall and towards the retention means. The retention means contacts a groove of each disc container and holds said container in said housing until the container is pulled out of said housing so that the retention means automatically releases itself from said disc container.