Abstract: The present invention pertains to an optical splice. The optical splice includes a member having an alignment cavity which receives optical waveguides and allows light to pass there between. The member is made of a material that is moldable such that when an optical waveguide is received by the member, the alignment cavity expands but constricts about the optical waveguide in a predetermined position. The member has a plurality of funnels which communicate with the alignment cavity and guide an optical waveguide into the alignment cavity where it is received thereby. The present invention also pertains to a method for making a funnel in a member.

Abstract: A modal domain optical fiber sensor for vibration monitoring and as a mechanical motion detector. A laser that focuses coherent light through a lens into one end of a multimode optical fiber. The fiber is secured to a mechanical mechanism for exciting vibrations. The other end of the optical fiber passes its output through a spatial filter and into a photodetector. A variable voltage signal from the photodetector is fed to a monitoring unit, such as an oscilloscope or a microcomputer, for analysis. Of particular significance is the intentional mismatch between the wavelength of the light 18 from the laser and the single mode cut-off wavelength of the glass optical fiber. In a preferred embodiment, the optical fiber has a wavelength of 850 nm and the coherent light has a wavelength of 633 mm.

Abstract: A communication network and method implementing a star-tree topology utilizes conventional hardward and the CSMA/CD protocol. The network comprises in one embodiment at least two sets of user devices, in turn comprised of at least two user devices, connected through optical connectors and intelligent hubs to one another. Within each set of devices, the devices themselves are connected together by optical connectors through an optical coupler and an intelligent hub.The method according to one embodiment involves the steps of assigning unique addresses to each hub and subhub in the network and of assigning a device address to each user device. The device address need only be different from the addresses of the other devices in the family. The messages are sent from any one station through a passive coupler to all the other stations connected thereto.

Abstract: A robot gripper control system is disclosed which uses PVDF piezoelectric sensors to actively damp exerted force. Instead of charge amplifying the output of the piezoelectric transducer, the output voltage is measured as the charge drains across a path of low resistance. Thus, the sensor output is proportional to the rate-of-force exerted by the gripper. The PVDF sensor and a strain gauge are arranged in a proportional and derivative (PD) control system for the control of force of a robot manipulator hand. Experimental results for the particular disclosed gripper indicate that as much as a 900% improvement in force step response rise time and a 300% reduction in overshoot are possible through the use of the PVDF sensor.

Abstract: A dual two-beam differential interferometer that measures both the amplitude and orientation of propagating, broadband surface acoustic waves. Four beams are focused on a surface. The four reflected beams are separated into two pairs. The two pairs are detected to produce two signals that are used to compute amplitude and orientation.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal with several concentric ring electrodes on one side of the crystal. A resistor network applies different amplitudes of an AC source to each of the several electrodes. A plot of the different amplitudes from the outermost electrode to the innermost electrode is the first half of a Gaussian function. Consequently, the output of the crystal from the side opposite the electrodes has a Gaussian profile.