Abstract: The present disclosure describes an apparatus including a composite panel. The apparatus includes a first composite panel including a first optical fiber embedded therein, the first optical fiber being arranged in a pattern, and a first input port connected to a first end of the first optical fiber, the first input port configured to receive an optical signal from an optical time domain reflectometer. The optical time domain reflectometer is configured to send the optical signal through the first input port and measure a strength of a reflected optical signal that is reflected back from the first optical fiber, wherein the strength indicates a measured optical impedance of the first optical fiber. A measured optical impedance that is substantially the same as a baseline optical impedance for the fiber indicates no damage, while a measured optical impedance that differs from the baseline optical impedance by a predetermined threshold indicates damage.

Abstract: A method can be for use in a photonic analog to digital converter, a first optical signal and a radio frequency signal. The method modulates the first optical signal based on the radio frequency signal, quantizes one or more of phase, quadrature, and amplitude coordinates of the modulated signal, and provides the quantized coordinates to one or more electronic analog to digital converters.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical system configured for enabling co-transmission (ex.—co-propagation) of a reference signal and a carrier signal (ex.—or a phase encoded signal and a reference signal) in a same fiber. Since it is configured for enabling said co-transmission, the optical system of the present invention promotes reduced transmission microphonic sensitivity in the optical system.

Abstract: The present invention is a device including a wavelength division multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of optical carrier signals on an optical fiber. A mission processor, including an optical line terminal (OLT) is communicatively coupled to a wavelength division multiplexor branch unit via an optical fiber for generating a plurality of fiber optic branches. A plurality of fiber optic branches communicatively coupled with the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit for communicating one or more signals to at least one optical network unit, wherein the mission processor transmits a first signal having at least one downstream wavelength to the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit, and wherein the plurality of fiber optic branches are configured for transmitting a branch signals having a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A photonic analog to digital converter includes one or more modulators configured to receive a first optical signal and a radio frequency signal. The one or more modulators is configured to modulate the first optical signal based on the radio frequency signal. The converter also includes circuitry configured to independently quantize one or more of phase, quadrature, and amplitude coordinates of the modulated signal. The circuitry provides the quantized coordinates to one or more electronic analog to digital converters.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photonic digital-to-analog converter (pDAC) system. The system may include a mode locked laser, an optical splitter connected to the laser, and a plurality of reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers connected to the splitter. The mode locked laser transmits a digital optical pulse train to the splitter. The splitter splits an optical pulse of the digital pulse train into multiple optical pulses and provides the multiple optical pulses to the amplifiers via a plurality of optical paths, at least two of the optical paths having different path lengths. The amplifiers amplify the multiple optical pulses and provide the amplified multiple optical pulses to the splitter. The splitter outputs an analog optical pulse train derived from the amplified multiple optical pulses. The system provides for faster sampling rate and lower jitter than Electrical Digital-to-Analog converter (eDAC) systems.

Abstract: The present invention is a fiber optic data network, such as a passive optical network (PON), which includes a primary sub-network and a secondary sub-network. The primary sub-network may include a primary optical line terminal communicatively coupled to a plurality of primary optical network units. The secondary sub-network may include a secondary optical line terminal communicatively coupled to a plurality of secondary optical network units and to an intermediate optical network unit. The secondary sub-network may be communicatively coupled to the primary sub-network via the intermediate optical network unit, thereby allowing the PON to be configured so that the primary optical line terminal and the secondary optical line terminal are cascaded.

Abstract: A cruise control system includes a speed difference module that compares a current vehicle speed and a target cruise speed, and a brake module that selectively actuates a brake when the current vehicle speed is greater than the target cruise speed by a predetermined speed difference. A related method is also provided and includes comparing a current vehicle speed and a target cruise speed, and selectively actuating a brake when the current vehicle speed is greater than the target cruise speed by a predetermined speed difference. The method includes selectively actuating the brake based on a negative drive torque of a powerplant. The method also includes determining a desired braking force based on the current vehicle speed and the target cruise speed, and actuating the brake to generate an actual braking force less than or equal to the desired braking force.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a passive optical avionics network system and method. A passive avionics network may comprise: (a) an optical line terminal (OLT); (b) at least one optical network unit (ONU); (c) a fiber optic bus operably coupling the OLT and the ONU; and (d) an avionics module operably coupled to the ONU. An integrated modular avionics (IMA) system may comprise: (a) a line-replaceable unit (LRU), the LRU comprising: (i) a processing unit; and (ii) an optical line terminal (OLT); (b) at least one optical network unit (ONU); (c) a fiber optic bus operably coupling the LRU and the ONU; and (d) an avionics module operably coupled to the ONU. A method for avionics network communication may comprise: (a) providing avionics data; (b) transmitting the avionics data via a fiber optic network; (c) receiving the avionics data; and (d) controlling functionality of an avionics module according to the avionics data.

Abstract: A monitoring device in an analog-to-digital converter, the monitoring device including a monitoring module configured to receive a first radio frequency signal provided by a first radio frequency modulator and a second radio frequency signal provided by a second radio frequency modulator. The first radio frequency signal being associated with a laser data and a radio frequency input signal. The laser data being associated with a radio frequency oscillator signal. The second radio frequency signal being associated with the laser signal and the radio frequency oscillator signal. The monitoring module is configured to determine a modification factor based on the first radio frequency signal and the second radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A cruise control system includes a speed difference module that compares a current vehicle speed and a target cruise speed, and a brake module that selectively actuates a brake when the current vehicle speed is greater than the target cruise speed by a predetermined speed difference. A related method is also provided and includes comparing a current vehicle speed and a target cruise speed, and selectively actuating a brake when the current vehicle speed is greater than the target cruise speed by a predetermined speed difference. The method includes selectively actuating the brake based on a negative drive torque of a powerplant. The method also includes determining a desired braking force based on the current vehicle speed and the target cruise speed, and actuating the brake to generate an actual braking force less than or equal to the desired braking force.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical assembly with a substrate. A non-latching optical component is attached to the substrate and includes a non-latching garnet and a permanent magnet in magnetic communication with the garnet. Also, a latching optical component is attached to the substrate and includes a latching garnet. A magnetic shield is between the non-latching optical component and the latching optical component.

Abstract: A laser signal coupling device one embodiment of which comprises a transmitter where a laser diode is coupled to a single mode fiber optic cable through the use of a lens whose position relative the diode is kept constant but whose length is adjusted to obtain a beam waist for the focused beam at some predefined point such as inside the end of the fiber optic cable. Such a positioning of the beam waist can increase the yield by reducing the effect of alignment variations in axial, radial and angular directions as well as reduce noise from fiber end surface reflections. The same concept may be used to accurately focus signaling received from an optic cable, in a surface of a signal detector. Further, the concept may be used for focusing between optic cable of different types such as converting from multi-mode to single-mode fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Precisely controlled grooves are formed in a semiconductor wafer as part of a total photolithographic process of producing the circuitry and the V-grooves for precise registration of the circuitry relative the edges of the individual chips of the wafer. The same registration facilitates automated electrical testing of each of the chip circuits on the wafer prior to the controlled disassembly of the array of chips into individual die. The design of the electrical connections on the array before disassociation into individual die also facilitates a mass burn-in of the circuits which burn-in tends to identify and eliminate parts subject to early failure.

Abstract: A relatively large scale low cost method of fabricating optical devices with associated coupling lenses comprises the following steps:(a) producing in one surface of a substrate (1) of suitable material(s) a predetermined array of planar diffused lenses (4);(b) forming or otherwise producing on the opposite surface of the substrate (1) remote from the planar lenses (4) but in predetermined positional relationship to the lenses in the general planar direction of the substrate an array or pattern of metallic bonding pads or other registration means co-operable with corresponding pads or other means provided on a multiplicity of optical devices (10) for the accurate registration of such devices relative to the optical lenses; and,(c) dividing the substrate (1) into a multiplicity of parts each of which comprises an optical device (10) having an associated planar lens (4).

Abstract: An optical connecting arrangement is provided between an optical device and an optical fibre in which the optical device is mounted with positional precision on a substrate which is fabricated for locating one end of a so-called grin rod lens in precise optical alignment with the active surface of the optical device and in which the other end of the same grin rod lens or the corresponding end of a further grin rod lens coupled to it has the optical fibre optically coupled thereto in optical alignment.

Abstract: Large turbomachines such as steam turbines and gas turbines will have an operational lifetime which may be measured in terms of decades. During the operational lifetimes it is desirable to monitor the condition of major parts of the turbomachine such as rotors and rotor wheels. Procedures are available for non-destructive testing of major turbomachine parts but it is desirable to affirm the actual condition of a turbomachine rotor by a sacrificial test of a speciment taken from a forging from which the actual turbomachine part was made. Further, it is desirable that the specimen be in service with the turbomachine part so as to obtain an accurate operating experience. To this end, a specimen taken from a turbomachine forging is affixed to a finished turbomachine part and then run with the machine for latter removal and test.

Abstract: In an analogue to digital converter, the analogue signal applied thereto is sampled at successive time intervals and at each sample a digital signal is produced and the time interval between successive samples is not necessarily constant but is dependent upon the rate of change of amplitude of the analogue signal during said time interval. The digital signals may be applied to a counter to produce data representative of the time interval between successive samples and also to indicate whether the analogue signal has increased or decreased between successive samples. This data may then be recorded in a manner to provide substantially constant recording density.

Abstract: A purification process for monomers and solvents used in the production of polymers by solution polymerization comprises supplying impure monomer and solvent to a distillation column which rejects light and heavy impurities from the top and bottom respectively and which dries the monomer-solvent mixture by azeotropic distillation, and withdrawing a pure monomer solvent vapor as a side stream from a point intermediate the top and bottom of the column.