Abstract: A system and method for magnetic navigation are provided. The system comprises a navigation system for a vehicle, at least one processor operatively coupled with the navigation system, and a magnetic navigation module operatively coupled with the processor. The magnetic navigation module including instructions, executable by the processor, to perform a method comprising selecting latitude, longitude, and altitude ranges for the vehicle that is expected to travel in a region of interest; obtaining one or more magnetic anomaly maps for the region of interest; choosing a base Earth-centered, Earth-fixed (ECEF) plane and coordinates for the one or more magnetic anomaly maps; constructing an integration mesh on the base ECEF plane; and performing a Strakhov iteration process on the integration mesh to compute values of magnetic anomalies on a base source. The method then computes an estimated magnetic anomaly at a given point in space using alternative computation approaches.

Abstract: A protective glove includes a primary yarn that forms the palm, thumb and finger sections of the glove. The primary yarn has an interior surface forming the interior surface of the glove, and an exterior surface forming the exterior surface of the glove. A plaiting yarn can be plaited to portions of the exterior surface of the primary yarn to form a plurality of enhanced sections on the exterior surface of the glove. The enhanced sections can have at least one substantially enhanced physical characteristic in relation to the primary layer.

Abstract: A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen includes an elongate body having an axis, and proximal and distal end portions spaced apart from one another along the axis. The elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. A tissue-removing element is mounted on the distal end portion of the elongate body. The tissue-removing element is configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen. An inner liner is received within the elongate body and defines a guidewire lumen. The inner liner is coupled to the tissue-removing element at a distal end portion of the inner liner. A coupling assembly is disposed in the tissue-removing element for coupling the inner liner to the tissue-removing element. The coupling assembly includes a bushing attached directly to the distal end portion of the inner liner.

Abstract: A vane pump has a rotor and a control slide mounted within an internal chamber of a housing. The rotor has a number of vane mounting openings and vanes. Rotation of the rotor generates a pressure differential between inlet and outlet ports of the pump to draw fluid in and output the fluid out. Both the vane mounting openings and vanes are arranged in pairs that are diametrically opposed to one another with respect to the rotor axis. The vanes in each said pair have an intermediate transfer member extending therebetween that shifts with one vane of each said pair retracting radially inwardly by engagement with the internal surface of the rotor receiving space for extension of the opposing vane of each said pair radially outwardly toward the internal surface of the rotor receiving space. The intermediate transfer member may be a pin provided between the vanes of the pair.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an integrated photonics structure having a waveguide disposed within a dielectric stack of the integrated photonics structure, wherein the integrated photonics structure further includes a field generating electrically conductive structure disposed within the dielectric stack; and a heterogenous structure attached to the integrated photonics structure, the heterogenous structure having field sensitive material that is sensitive to a field generated by the field generating electrically conductive structure.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump is described. The pump includes a control chamber provided between a housing and a control slide. A pressure-controlled relief valve is in fluid communication with the outlet path and moves to block or unblock a relief port based on output pressure of the lubricant. A feedback channel fluidly connects the control chamber to an inlet path of the pump. The feedback channel further connects to a control port that is connected to a main control valve. The relief valve and control valve are distinct and not fluidly connected. The relief valve moves once the pressure in the outlet path exceeds a predetermined amount, opening the relief port, and thus delivers a portion of the output lubricant to the control chamber via the relief port, thereby pressurizing the control chamber and reducing eccentricity of the pump by displacing the control slide.

Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: Waveguide Bragg gratings, optical reflectors and lasers including optical reflectors are disclosed. The optical reflectors include a waveguide, perturbations proximate to the waveguide to create a Bragg grating in the waveguide, and a DC index control structure positioned to vary the DC index along at least a portion of the Bragg grating. In laser embodiments, the waveguide may be coupled to the second end of a semiconductor gain element to form an external cavity having an optical length and a cavity phase. The gain element and optical reflector may be monolithically integrated on a substrate or separate structures.

Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen includes an elongate body having an axis, and proximal and distal end portions spaced apart from one another along the axis. The elongate body is sized and shaped to be received in the body lumen. A tissue-removing element is mounted on the distal end portion of the elongate body. The tissue-removing element is configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen. An inner liner is received within the elongate body and defines a guidewire lumen. The inner liner is coupled to the tissue-removing element at a distal end portion of the inner liner. A coupling assembly is disposed in the tissue-removing element for coupling the inner liner to the tissue-removing element. The coupling assembly includes a bushing attached directly to the distal end portion of the inner liner.

Abstract: A novel transmitter is proposed that provides broadband all-optical linearization of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) modulator for use in high linearity RF photonic links and optical up-converter and down-converter schemes. It is based on an amplitude modulated (AM) MZI modulator where part of the laser Carrier is passed around the MZI modulator and added back to the AM signal, creating a Controlled Carrier-AM (CC-AM) signal. In this new scheme, a dual output MZI modulator is utilized, and the alternative output (Carrier*) is used together with the Carrier from the laser to create a new signal, LO*, which when coherently combined with the AM signal can reduce or completely cancel its 3rd order intermodulation distortion.

Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: A low noise, single mode laser includes a semiconductor gain element generating light and having a highly reflective first end forming a first end of a laser cavity. The gain element may be monolithically or discretely integrated with, or distinct from, and coupled to a waveguide comprised of a low loss material with a refractive index ‘n’ greater than 3. The waveguide includes a Bragg grating forming the second end of the laser cavity. A cavity phase control section may be provided between the gain element and the Bragg grating. Two photodetector monitors provide a feedback signal for locking the light from the gain element to a specific wavelength on the Bragg grating reflection spectrum by varying at least one of the cavity phase control section and the gain element bias current. The Bragg grating may have a physical length larger than 10 mm and that occupies at least 50% of the optical length of the external cavity.

Abstract: A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue in a body lumen includes an elongate body and a handle mounted to a proximal end portion of the elongate body. The handle is operable to cause rotation of the elongate body. A tissue-removing element is mounted on a distal end portion of the elongate body. The tissue-removing element is configured to remove the tissue as the tissue-removing element is rotated by the elongate body within the body lumen. An inner liner is received within the elongate body and is coupled to the handle at a proximal end portion of the inner liner. The inner liner defines a guidewire lumen. The inner liner is coupled to the tissue-removing element at a distal end portion of the inner liner such that translational movement of the inner liner in the body lumen causes a corresponding translational movement of the tissue-removing element.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an integrated photonics structure having a waveguide disposed within a dielectric stack of the integrated photonics structure, wherein the integrated photonics structure further includes a field generating electrically conductive structure disposed within the dielectric stack; and a heterogenous structure attached to the integrated photonics structure, the heterogenous structure having field sensitive material that is sensitive to a field generated by the field generating electrically conductive structure.

Abstract: High-performance ultra-wideband Phased Array Antennas (PAA) are disclosed, having unique capabilities, enabled through photonic integrated circuits and novel optical architectures. Unique capabilities for PAA systems are enabled by photonic integration and ultra-low-loss waveguides. Novel aspects include optical multiplexing combining wavelength division multiplexing and/or a novel extension to array photodetectors, providing the capability to combine many RF photonic signals with very low loss. Architectures include tunable optical up-conversion and down-conversion systems, moving a chosen frequency band between baseband and a high RF frequency band with high dynamic range. Simultaneous multi-channel RF beamforming is achieved through power combining/splitting of optical signals.

Abstract: A novel transmitter is proposed that provides broadband all-optical linearization of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) modulator for use in high linearity RF photonic links and optical up-converter and down-converter schemes. It is based on an amplitude modulated (AM) MZI modulator where part of the laser Carrier is passed around the MZI modulator and added back to the AM signal, creating a Controlled Carrier-AM (CC-AM) signal. In this new scheme, a dual output MZI modulator is utilized, and the alternative output (Carrier*) is used together with the Carrier from the laser to create a new signal, LO*, which when coherently combined with the AM signal can reduce or completely cancel its 3rd order intermodulation distortion.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an integrated photonics structure having a waveguide disposed within a dielectric stack of the integrated photonics structure, wherein the integrated photonics structure further includes a field generating electrically conductive structure disposed within the dielectric stack; and a heterogenous structure attached to the integrated photonics structure, the heterogenous structure having field sensitive material that is sensitive to a field generated by the field generating electrically conductive structure.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the level of optical reflections created in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) going back into an integrated laser through Reflection Engineering; optimizing the phase/timing and position of optical reflections inherent to a PIC design while adding engineered reflections to the PIC to allow inherent reflections to be reduced or eliminated. The Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) geometric optical isolator of the present invention combines an array of closely spaced WDM lasers with an array of modulators in a novel geometry in order to provide effective optical isolation of the lasers.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump is described. The pump includes a control chamber provided between a housing and a control slide. A pressure-controlled relief valve is in fluid communication with the outlet path and moves to block or unblock a relief port based on output pressure of the lubricant. A feedback channel fluidly connects the control chamber to an inlet path of the pump. The feedback channel further connects to a control port that is connected to a main control valve. The relief valve and control valve are distinct and not fluidly connected. The relief valve moves once the pressure in the outlet path exceeds a predetermined amount, opening the relief port, and thus delivers a portion of the output lubricant to the control chamber via the relief port, thereby pressurizing the control chamber and reducing eccentricity of the pump by displacing the control slide.