Abstract: A ventilation system for a passenger transit vehicle that comprises a passenger compartment. The ventilation system comprises a variable speed fan for providing outside air to the passenger compartment, wherein within a given ambient temperature range, the speed of the variable speed fan is controlled such that the air speed produced by the variable speed fan increases with increasing ambient temperature. The ventilation system further comprises a duct system fluidly connecting the variable speed fan to an air diffuser that directs the air from the variable speed fan towards the passengers within the passenger compartment. The cross sectional area of the duct system decreases along its length for providing substantially constant air pressure along its length. The ventilation system is able to provide outside air into the passenger compartment at an air flow speed of greater than 0.15 m/s.

Abstract: A flow cytometer type apparatus and method for analyzing a fluid, where the fluid is fed through a passageway within an optical fiber and the light is guided by the fiber across the passageway and intersects the fluid therein. The apparatus includes an optical fiber with a passageway traversing it, a channeling system to channel the fluid medium within the passageway, a light source to propagate light within the optical fiber and across the passageway, and a detection system for detecting an intensity of the light exiting the fiber. The method includes channeling the fluid medium through the passageway, propagating light within the optical fiber, and detecting an intensity of the light output. Preferably, the fluid includes small bodies, like bacteria which are analyzed by assessing the detected exiting light intensity.

Abstract: An optical sensor for determining a distance between a target and a probe head is described. The optical sensor comprises a light source delivering a broadband spectrum; a fiber-optic Michelson interferometer (FOMI) for creating an interferogram; and an analyzer unit for receiving the interferogram from an output of the FOMI and for determining the distance of the target by finding a position corresponding to a maximum in a Fourier transform of the spectral distribution of the interferogram. The FOMI comprises a probing optical fiber terminated by the probe head and a reference optical fiber, the reference optical fiber having a fixed optical path length.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber device that takes advantage of the fiber structure to construct mechanically stable devices with components inserted in the optical path. An optical component is inserted in a cavity transversally machined across an optical fiber. The component is secured in the cavity and functionally interrelates with light propagated in the optical fiber. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing an optical fiber device with a component insertion into an optical fiber by machining a cavity in an optical fiber, providing a solid component to be inserted in the optical fiber, positioning the component inside the cavity, and securing the component in the cavity. The component is preferably provided as a glass ribbon and the component is preferably secured in the cavity using laser fusion.

Abstract: An optical sensor for determining a distance between a target and a probe head is described. The optical sensor comprises a light source delivering a broadband spectrum; a fiber-optic Michelson interferometer (FOMI) for creating an interferogram; and an analyzer unit for receiving the interferogram from an output of the FOMI and for determining the distance of the target by finding a position corresponding to a maximum in a Fourier transform of the spectral distribution of the interferogram. The FOMI comprises a probing optical fiber terminated by the probe head and a reference optical fiber, the reference optical fiber having a fixed optical path length.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber device that takes advantage of the fiber structure to construct mechanically stable devices with components inserted in the optical path. An optical component is inserted in a cavity transversally machined across an optical fiber. The component is secured in the cavity and functionally interrelates with light propagated in the optical fiber. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing an optical fiber device with a component insertion into an optical fiber by machining a cavity in an optical fiber, providing a solid component to be inserted in the optical fiber, positioning the component inside the cavity, and securing the component in the cavity. The component is preferably provided as a glass ribbon and the component is preferably secured in the cavity using laser fusion.

Abstract: A flow cytometer type apparatus and method for analyzing a fluid, where the fluid is fed through a passageway within an optical fiber and the light is guided by the fiber across the passageway and intersects the fluid therein. The apparatus includes an optical fiber with a passageway traversing it, a channeling system to channel the fluid medium within the passageway, a light source to propagate light within the optical fiber and across the passageway, and a detection system for detecting an intensity of the light exiting the fiber. The method includes channeling the fluid medium through the passageway, propagating light within the optical fiber, and detecting an intensity of the light output. Preferably, the fluid includes small bodies, like bacteria which are analyzed by assessing the detected exiting light intensity.

Abstract: There is provided a traction device which is comprised of a mat having a pair of opposed major faces with a plurality of apertures extending between the major faces and a length of chain threaded through the apertures such that successive adjacent segments of the chain lie adjacent opposite major faces. One or more mats may be employed to achieve a desired length with the mats being foldable The traction device is inexpensive to manufacture while being compact.