Abstract: A monolithic photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip where the active waveguide cores of the modulated sources of the PIC are multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and the passive waveguide cores of an optical combiner are a bulk layer or material. The cores of the waveguide cores may be a quaternary such as InGaAsP or InAlGaAs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a running gear for rail vehicles, especially for passenger traffic, wherein a frame (1) is supported, by means of primary springs, on wheels or sets of wheels, and whereon a superstructure (5) is supported, optionally with insertion of a bolster (4). The bolster (4) or the superstructure (5) is supported by means of secondary springs, in relation to the frame (1), on at least one spring carrier (2), the bolster (4) or the superstructure (5) is connected to the frame (1) by means of a shock absorber used to damp vertical and/or rolling movements, and the spring carrier (2) is suspended on the frame by means of pendulums (3). The fixing points of the pendulums (3) on the running gear frame (1) are inwardly staggered, unlike vertically arranged pendulums, in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the pendulums (3) extend diagonally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the state of vehicle chassis, particularly of rail vehicles, whereby physical quantities are measured on the chassis by means of sensors. The measured and optionally processed quantities are compared with modeled quantities by means of a processing unit. The modeled quantities are determined from specific quantities, a classification into classes of causes is performed on the basis of the comparison by means of one or the processing unit, and an evaluation is carried out based on the classification. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: An optical transport network comprises a monolithic transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) InP-based chip and a monolithic receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) InP-based chip.

Abstract: A center-of-gravity tilt-in-space wheelchair includes a base, a seat for supporting an occupant, and tracks supporting the seat for selective seat movement relative to the base. Wheels are adapted to support the base relative to a supporting surface. The tracks serve as rolling or sliding surfaces that allow the seat to rotate with respect to the base. Each track has a constant-radius arc with a focal point that is adapted to be coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. A low-friction supports the base relative to the seat. The low-friction support may include low friction elements that mate with the tracks to support for the tracks. The support can be adjustable to permit the overall tilt angle range of the tracks to be adjusted. The wheelchair seat can be adjusted to maintain the focal point of the constant-radius arc of the tracks coincident with the center of gravity of the wheelchair occupant. The front and rear wheels can be adjusted fore and aft relative to the focal point.

Abstract: A liquid purification and separation apparatus for separation of pollutants in stormwater runoff is disclosed. This apparatus utilizes gravitational separation and tortuosity, resulting from a plurality of baffles both perpendicular to and oblique to the primary water flow direction, to trap substances less-dense and more-dense than water. The apparatus features improved resistance to pollutant remobilization through treatment of water volume rather than flow rates, using vertically stacked water columns of varying depths to settle small particles. An overflow structure diverts excessive liquid without interfering with purification and separation, and can be placed integrally within or external to the apparatus receptacle.

Abstract: A gaming system, comprising a plurality of gaming machines operating over a network, includes a bonus server for providing a promotion implementing a mystery award. The method for delivering a mystery award to a player over the computer gaming network comprises determining an award is to be delivered. A group of players eligible for the determined award is selected and notified of their eligibility to win the award. A portion of the group is then eliminated, thereby resulting in remaining eligible members. The eliminated members are notified of their elimination and the remaining eligible members are again eliminated from eligibility in subsequent steps until one or more award winners are selected. The one or more award winners are awarded the mystery award, and the eliminated players can be awarded a celebration (e.g. consolation) prize.

Abstract: A method of in-wafer testing is provided for a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (PIC) formed in a semiconductor wafer where each such in-wafer circuit comprises two or more integrated electro-optic components, one of each in tandem forming a signal channel in the circuit. The method includes the provision of a first integrated photodetector at a rear end of each signal channel and a second integrated photodetector at forward end of each signal channel. Then, the testing is accomplished, first, by sequentially operating a first of a selected channel electro-optic component in a selected circuit to monitor light output from a channel via its first corresponding channel photodetector and adjusting its operating characteristics by detecting that channel electro-optic component output via its second corresponding channel photodetector to provide first calibration data.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing large items of debris from entering the water intake pipes of a recirculation system of a swimming or wading pool and methods for using the apparatus. In one embodiment, the skimmer device comprises a block, a longitudinal member and a spiraled tail. The apparatus can be positioned to divert the blocked debris around the spiral and further downstream.

Abstract: By awarding bonuses during predetermined bonus periods, gaming establishments can exercise greater control over bonus wins and, in doing so, can create player excitement and increase play during historically off-peak times, realizing greater revenue for the casino. The time based bonus begins when a maximum time for the bonus period is selected and divided into time increments, with each time increment having its own weight. A winning increment is randomly selected and a bonus is awarded when the time increment has been reached.

Abstract: A gaming machine award system acts over a gaming machine network having a plurality of gaming devices coupled thereto. The award system includes a bonus server coupled to the network and having stored thereon a trigger condition. A game play tracker tracks game play across the network of gaming devices and detects an occurrence of the trigger condition. The bonus server sends out a selection signal over the network to a selected gaming machine responsive to the detected trigger condition. A printer associated with the selected gaming machine is structured to generate printed output responsive to receipt of said selection signal. The printed ticket is a cashless instrument that may be redeemed or played per the nature and characteristics of the award given.

Abstract: An optical-to-electrical-to-optical converter comprises a monolithic receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) InP-based chip comprising an optical waveguide formed in the chip from a chip input to receive a first multiplexed channel signal from an optical link and provide them to an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) which demultiplexes the multiplexed channel signals and provides a plurality of electrical channel signals to an electronic regenerator. The regenerator regenerates the electrical channel signals to an original signal waveform and provides the reformed electrical signals to a monolithic transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) InP-based chip having an array of modulated sources formed in the chip that are coupled as inputs to an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). The TxPIC modulates the reformed electrical signals to form a plurality of optical channel sign which are combined to form a second first multiplexed channel signal for transmission on an optical link.

Abstract: An optical transport network comprises a monolithic transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) InP-based chip and a monolithic receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) InP-based chip.

Abstract: The invention relates to an open-loop control process for the motional guidance of conveyed material (32) in a conveying device (30) and to a corresponding conveying device (30). The conveying device (30) has a movable means (36) for realizing the conveyance and a first motion detector (42) for measuring a first actual position value (x1act) for the movable means (36) and a second motion detector (40) for measuring a second actual position value (x2act) for the conveyed material (32).

Abstract: In photonic integrated circuits (PICs) having at least one active semiconductor device, such as, a buried heterostructure semiconductor laser, LED, modulator, photodiode, heterojunction bipolar transistor, field effect transistor or other active device, a plurality of semiconductor layers are formed on a substrate with one of the layers being an active region. A current channel is formed through this active region defined by current blocking layers formed on adjacent sides of a designated active region channel where the blocking layers substantially confine the current through the channel. The blocking layers are characterized by being an aluminum-containing Group Ill-V compound, i.e., an Al-III-V layer, intentionally doped with oxygen from an oxide source. Also, wet oxide process or a deposited oxide source may be used to laterally form a native oxide of the Al-III-V layer.

Abstract: In photonic integrated circuits (PICs) having at least one active semiconductor device, such as, a buried heterostructure semiconductor laser, LED, modulator, photodiode, heterojunction bipolar transistor, field effect transistor or other active device, a plurality of semiconductor layers are formed on a substrate with one of the layers being an active region. A current channel is formed through this active region defined by current blocking layers formed on adjacent sides of a designated active region channel where the blocking layers substantially confine the current through the channel. The blocking layers are characterized by being an aluminum-containing Group III-V compound, i.e., an Al-III-V layer, intentionally doped with oxygen from an oxide source. Also, wet oxide process or a deposited oxide source may be used to laterally form a native oxide of the Al-III-V layer.

Abstract: An optical receiver photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) comprises a semiconductor monolithic chip having an input to receive from an optical transmission link a combined channel signal originating from an optical transmitter source and comprising a plurality of channel signals having different wavelengths forming a wavelength grid. An optical decombiner is integrated in the chip and optically coupled to the input to receive the multiplexed channel signal and provide a decombined individual channel signal on an output waveguide of a plurality of such output waveguides provided from the optical decombiner. A plurality of photodetectors are also integrated in the chip and each photodetector is optically coupled to one of the output waveguides to receive a decombined channel signal and convert the channel signal to an electrical signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for monitoring and controlling the bit error rate (BER) in an optical communication network where an optical receiver in the optical transmission network is a monolithic photonic integrated circuit (RxPIC) chip. The method includes the steps of decombining on-chip a combined channel signal received from the network and then monitoring a real time bit error rate (BER) of a decombined channel signal. The determined BER is then communicated, such as through an optical service channel (OSC) to an optical transmitter source that is the source of origin of the channel signal. Based upon the determined BER, the chirp of a channel signal modulator at the optical transmitter source that generated the monitored channel signal is adjusted by, for example, adjusting its bias. The same channel signal received at the RxPIC chip can be monitored again to determine if an acceptable level for the BER has been achieved by the previous chirp adjustment.

Abstract: Uncarded play can be monitored by a gaming device or network to target incentives aimed at achieving player tracking system enrollment. A player is permitted to begin gaming device play. The player's play is monitored for triggering events suggesting a player's value to the casino and prompting notification of join-up incentives to the player. The player can be solicited to enroll and can be awarded join-up incentives following enrollment.

Abstract: The system allows a player to identify those gaming machines the player believes are more likely to hit a jackpot using an individual gaming machine's historical data. A gaming machine's historical payout data can be communicated to a player by monitoring payout events, storing records of the payout events, and communicating the payout events to the player in a format chosen by the player.