Abstract: A card dealing system incorporating playing cards with rank and suit information encoded thereon via micro-dots, and a shoe capable of reading such micro dots as a playing card is drawn from the shoe. A game controller unit determines the positioning of the micro-dots on the playing card, and determines the rank and suit information therefrom. The game controller thereby monitors the progress and status of a card game. The shoe includes a mechanism for increasing the force needed to pull a card from the shoe in certain circumstances. The engagement of this mechanism may be tied to the rules of the game, or may relate to circumstances apart from the rules of the game, such as the detection of a cut card or a virtual cut card.

Abstract: A system for monitoring or controlling conditions or apparatuses in a home, business or other suitable place is provided. The system includes a first master module that is operative to communicate with a device over an Internet network. The system further includes a server that is operatively connected to the device and the first master module. The server is operative to allow communication between the first master module and the device. The system also includes a first slave module operatively connected to the first master module. The first master module is operative to direct data between the first slave module and the server. The first slave module is operative to establish communication with the first master module through a plug and play connection. The device is operative to allow at least one of controlling and monitoring the first slave module through the server and the first master module.

Abstract: A card dealing system incorporating playing cards with rank and suit information encoded thereon via micro-dots, and a shoe capable of reading such micro dots as a playing card is drawn from the shoe. A game controller unit determines the positioning of the micro-dots on the playing card, and determines the rank and suit information therefrom. The game controller thereby monitors the progress and status of a card game. The shoe includes a mechanism for increasing the force needed to pull a card from the shoe in certain circumstances. The engagement of this mechanism may be tied to the rules of the game, or may relate to circumstances apart from the rules of the game, such as the detection of a cut card or a virtual cut card.

Abstract: A system for monitoring or controlling conditions or apparatuses in a home, business or other suitable place is provided. The system includes a first master module that is operative to communicate with a device over an Internet network. The system further includes a server that is operatively connected to the device and the first master module. The server is operative to allow communication between the first master module and the device. The system also includes a first slave module operatively connected to the first master module. The first master module is operative to direct data between the first slave module and the server. The first slave module is operative to establish communication with the first master module through a plug and play connection. The device is operative to allow at least one of controlling and monitoring the first slave module through the server and the first master module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel switching architecture including a dedicated switching path between each pair of ports, the dedicated switching path including a switch for selectively attenuating signals at different wavelengths independently. The architecture supports switching signals having different numbers of channels between ports in an easily upgradable switch architecture.

Abstract: A selector assembly to select and deselect signal components from optical signals is disclosed. The selector assembly has an input optical connector for optically connecting an input optical signal carrier to the selector assembly and an output optical connector for optically connecting the selector assembly to an output optical signal carrier. A signal demultiplexer is operatively positioned relative to the input optical connector so that optical signals passing into the selector assembly are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer into signal components, each signal component having a respective signal component beam path. A signal selector is provided in each of the signal component beam paths, each signal selector being switchable by the application of an electric field between at least a selecting state and a deselecting state such that each of the signal components may be either selected or deselected.

Abstract: A gate for an optical signal having a waveguide which can be coupled to a source of optical signals, where the waveguide comprises a cladding surrounding a core. A gate material is provided which is sized, shaped and positioned outside of the core such that an optical signal passing along the core interacts with said gate material. A source of power stimulates the gate material and the power source is switchable between on and off. The optical signal is attenuated by interacting with said gate material when the power is off and amplified by interacting with said gate material when the power is on. In one embodiment the gate is packaged into a planar light circuit having a multiplexer/demultiplexer at either end and a gate region including a plurality of gates. A method of forming such a device is also shown.

Abstract: An optical switch for routing optical signals is disclosed. The optical switch has an optical signal path for routing said optical signals between at least a first port and at least a second port, wherein said optical signal path is divided into two portions with one portion being defined by at least two switch expansion modules; and the other portion being defined by a distribution backplane for operatively connecting the switch expansion modules together. An optical switching network is also disclosed having optical signal paths which intersect in at least two switch nodes, the network having at least two switches for switching optical signals, wherein one of the switches is located at each of the switch nodes and each of the switches includes at least two switch expansion modules and an optical backplane for connecting the switch expansion modules together.

Abstract: A selector assembly to select and deselect signal components from optical signals is disclosed. The selector assembly has an input optical connector for optically connecting an input optical signal carrier to the selector assembly and an output optical connector for optically connecting the selector assembly to an output optical signal carrier. A signal demultiplexer is operatively positioned relative to the input optical connector so that optical signals passing into the selector assembly are demultiplexed by the demultiplexer into signal components, each signal component having a respective signal component beam path. A signal selector is provided in each of the signal component beam paths, each signal selector being switchable by the application of an electric field between at least a selecting state and a deselecting state such that each of the signal components may be either selected or deselected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for switching DWDM optical signals through N switch ports. The optical switch includes N bidirectional signal processors including at least one associated with each of said N switch ports. The signal processors split and combine optical signals so that an optical signal passing in one direction through any one of the bidirectional signal processors is split into K parallel optical signals. One or more optical signals passing through any one of the bidirectional signals in the other direction are emitting as a single optical signal. The splitting direction is oriented into the switch. At least K signal delivery matrices are provided each signal delivery matrix having N matrix ports and broadcasting one of said K optical signals from any one of said N matrix ports to all other of said matrix ports.

Abstract: An amplifier for optical signals is disclosed. The amplifier includes a source of optical pump power and a containment body for substantially containing the pump power at a predetermined power intensity. At least one guided signal path passes through the containment body, the signal path being capable of carrying at least one optical signal component. The source of optical pump power is coupled to the containment body. In one embodiment the containment body is a transparent material surrounded by a material having a lower index of a fraction. Pump power is contained within the containment body by means of total internal reflection (TIR). In another embodiment the containment body is formed from a metallic reflective material which surrounds the guided signal paths passing through the containment body.