Abstract: An optical microresonator is formed as a microcylinder and a resonant waveguide on the microcylinder and having a plurality of spaced resonant elements such as circumferential ridges for optically coupling light from an optical source waveguide onto the microcylinder. The resonant elements have a spacing, height and angle to impart a desire polarization and bring in the polarization states into degenerancy. A coating could also be formed over the resonant waveguide and operative with the resonant waveguide and of a refractive index to bring any polarization states into degenerancy.

Abstract: An optical microresonator and method of forming same includes a microcylinder and a circumferential coating formed on the microcylinder. This coating has a higher index of refraction than the microcylinder and is of such thickness relative to the diameter of the microcylinder that a resonant waveguide is formed such that light optically couples from an optical source waveguide onto the microcylinder.

Abstract: An optical microresonator includes a microcylinder and resonant waveguide formed on the microcylinder as a plurality of spaced resonant elements, for example, spaced ridges, and coupling elements operative with the resonant elements for optically coupling light from an optical source waveguide onto the microcylinder and changing light direction on the microcylinder.

Abstract: An optical microresonator coupling system includes an optical source waveguide through which light travels. A microcylinder is positioned adjacent the optical source guide and has a resonant waveguide formed as spaced resonant elements, such as circumferential ridges and a diffractive coating thereon that optically couples light from the optical source guide onto the microcylinder. An optical exit waveguide is positioned adjacent the microcylinder and spaced from the optical source waveguide for coupling light from the microcylinder into the optical exit waveguide.

Abstract: A peroxidase-activating oral care composition, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, includes a non-enzymatic, water-soluble hydrogen peroxide precursor and a pH-adjusting agent capable of producing a selected pH in an aqueous solution. The composition facilitates the rapid release of hydrogen peroxide and results in the activation of a peroxidase enzyme in an oral cavity. A process for manufacturing the oral care composition including obtaining the precursor, dispersing it in a non-hygroscopic material so as to coat or encapsulate it, obtaining and associating the coated or encapsulated particles with a pH-adjusting agent, and formulating the particles into an oral care composition is provided in another embodiment.

Abstract: A new and improved ostomy or incontinence appliance that is user-friendly, sanitary, environmentally safe, provides novel attachment means, and further includes optional features including a temporary breather flange that allows for healing of the stoma orifice when irritated and a novel stoma locator adaptor that aids a user and provides proper placement and alignment of the appliance.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator arrangement for achieving switching speeds greater than 1 Gb/s utilizes pre-emphasis pulses to accelerate the change in refractive index of the optical waveguide used to form the electro-optic modulator. In one embodiment, a feedback loop may be added to use a portion of the modulated optical output signal to adjust the magnitude and duration of the pre-emphasis pulses, as well as the various reference levels used for modulated. For free carrier-based electro-optic modulators, including silicon-based electro-optic modulators, the pre-emphasis pulses are used to accelerate the movement of free carriers at the transitions between input signal data values.

Abstract: Compositions having a curable unsaturated compound, an adhesion promoter and curing agent which have a peak exotherm of less than 50.degree. C. are disclosed. The compositions when cured are flexible bioadhesives which are also disclosed. Non-curable diluents can be included in the compositions. Flexible bioadhesives formed on biological structures and having low peak exotherms upon curing of curable compositions to form the flexible bioadhesives are disclosed. Compositions having a curable unsaturated compound and a curing agent and a peak exotherm of less than 50.degree. C. are included in the invention.

Abstract: A trench type power semiconductor device which includes deposited rather than grown oxide in the trenches for the electrical isolation of electrodes disposed inside the trenches from the semiconductor body.

Abstract: An improvement in the reliability and lifetime of SOI-based opto-electronic systems is provided through the use of a monolithic opto-electronic feedback arrangement that monitors one or more optical signals within the opto-electronic system and provides an electrical feedback signal to adjust the operation parameters of selected optical devices. For example, input signal coupling orientation may be controlled. Alternatively, the operation of an optical modulator, switch, filter, or attenuator may be under closed-loop feedback control by virtue of the inventive monolithic feedback arrangement. The feedback arrangement may also include a calibration/look-up table, coupled to the control electronics, to provide the baseline signals used to analyze the system's performance.

Abstract: A new and improved ostomy or incontinence appliance that is user-friendly, sanitary, environmentally safe, provides novel attachment means, and further includes optional features including a temporary breather flange that allows for healing of the stoma orifice when irritated and a novel stoma locator adaptor that aids a user and provides proper placement and alignment of the appliance.

Abstract: A sorting system may include a sorting apparatus coupled to a programmable control system which is configured to actuate the sorting apparatus so that it assembles similar products for packaging in an arbitrary, user imposed order or selection bias. In preferred implementations, a user may activate a biasing protocol pursuant to which items bearing certain images appear with a disproportionate frequency on the top of a stack of items such that the selected images are the most common images viewable through a transparent product packaging. In certain implementations, empirical sales data is used to determine weighting factors used in the biasing protocol. In still other implementations, a more specific ordering protocol is imposed by a user such that some or all of the sequence of items in a stack or collection is arbitrarily imposed.

Abstract: A method of whitening teeth comprises the steps of contacting a stained tooth surface with an organic metal-ligand complex and an oxidizing compound, and exposing the stained tooth surface to actinic radiation.

Abstract: A nose assembly for attachment inside a hole in a forward portion of a personal watercraft hull comprises a rear portion having tapered sides such that the rear portion narrows in width from a first end to a second end. A first projection extends from the first end and is arranged to be inserted in a hole in the hull with the second end having a cavity in a central portion thereof. The nose assembly further includes a front portion having a rounded front end and a flat rear end. A second projection extends from the flat rear end is arranged for insertion into the cavity in the rear portion.

Abstract: A conventional CMOS fabrication technique is used to integrate the formation of passive optical devices and active electro-optic devices with standard CMOS electrical devices on a common SOI structure. The electrical devices and optical devices share the same surface SOI layer (a relatively thin, single crystal silicon layer), with various required semiconductor layers then formed over the SOI layer. In some instances, a set of process steps may be used to simultaneously form regions in both electrical and optical devices. Advantageously, the same metallization process is used to provide electrical connections to the electrical devices and the active electro-optic devices.

Abstract: A fuel tank assembly is formed to fit within a personal watercraft hull that includes a cavity therein having curved sidewalls. A main fuel tank is formed as an elongate container that has a front section, a rear section and a central section.

Abstract: An air intake assembly for a personal watercraft provides air to an internal combustion engine located within a hull cavity includes a housing having a generally horn-shaped configuration that includes a base and an outer end. The housing has an air passage that extends from a base to an outer end. An adaptor assembly connects the base to the hull and is arranged to form a seal around an opening in an upper portion of the hull. The adaptor assembly includes an opening aligned with the air passage. An air intake valve assembly is mounted in the opening with the valve assembly being arranged to be open to allow air flow into the hull when the upper portion of the housing points upward from a horizontal plane through the upper portion of the hull and being further arranged to close whenever the outer end of the housing has a downward pointing component.

Abstract: A novel sanitary and odor free workstation having two spaced apart, transparent plate members that are operatively interconnected to a vacuum source and in combination define a vacuumed air evacuation area that functions as a workstation between the plate members. Thus, a user can easily position an object of choice within the workstation, or even adjacent thereto, and have hands free controlled access that allows manipulation of the object yet protects the user, and others, from physical or airborne transference of bacterial matter and from any undesirable odors emitting there from and also protects the user's eyes from any potential damage, respectively. Furthermore, the workstation is portable, self-contained, safe, sanitary and is substantially usable with any object of choice.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing optical crossovers between waveguides formed in an SOI-based structure utilize a patterned geometry in the SOI structure that is selected to reduce the effects of crosstalk in the area where the signals overlap. Preferably, the optical signals are fixed to propagate along orthogonal directions (or are of different wavelengths) to minimize the effects of crosstalk. The geometry of the SOI structure is patterned to include predetermined tapers and/or reflecting surfaces to direct/shape the propagating optical signals. The patterned waveguide regions within the optical crossover region may be formed to include overlying polysilicon segments to further shape the propagating beams and improve the coupling efficiency of the crossover arrangement.

Abstract: A fabrication process for a trench type power semiconductor device includes forming inside spacers over a semiconductor surface. Using the spacers as masks, trenches with gates are formed in the semiconductor body. After removing the spacers, source implants are formed in the semiconductor body along the trench edges and are then driven. Insulation caps are then formed over the trenches. Outside spacers are next formed along the sides of the caps. Using these spacers as masks, the semiconductor surface is etched and high conductivity contact regions formed. The outside spacers are then removed and source and drain contacts formed. Alternatively, the source implants are not driven. Rather, prior to outside spacer formation a second source implant is performed. The outside spacers are then formed, portions of the second source implant etched, any remaining source implant driven, and the contact regions formed. The gate electrodes are either recessed below or extend above the semiconductor surface.