Abstract: An apparatus for use with a pulsed laser source for forming an optical grating in a target includes an adjustable telescope having an element with a negative optical power, for generation of a diverging optical beam, so that the optical beam has adjustable divergence upon exiting the telescope while focusing of light inside the telescope is avoided. A transmission diffraction grating is disposed in the optical beam exiting the telescope, for forming an optical interference pattern on the target. Optical gratings with different grating periods may be formed by adjusting the divergence of the optical beam exiting the telescope. Lack of tight focal spots inside the telescope enables use of ultrashort pulse duration, high peak intensity laser sources.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a pulsed laser source for forming an optical grating in a target includes an adjustable telescope having an element with a negative optical power, for generation of a diverging optical beam, so that the optical beam has adjustable divergence upon exiting the telescope while focusing of light inside the telescope is avoided. A transmission diffraction grating is disposed in the optical beam exiting the telescope, for forming an optical interference pattern on the target. Optical gratings with different grating periods may be formed by adjusting the divergence of the optical beam exiting the telescope. Lack of tight focal spots inside the telescope enables use of ultrashort pulse duration, high peak intensity laser sources.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing a payment transaction comprises receiving, by a payor an invoice generated from a first enterprise resource planning (ERP) system operated by a payee. The first ERP system formatted the invoice in a first format. The invoice is stored in a second format compatible with a second ERP system. The invoice has been converted from the first format to the second format, which is different from the first format. Approval of the invoice is received through the second ERP system. Authorization instructing a financial institution to transmit a payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the financial institution. Confirmation of the payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the payee.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. These gratings may be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C. Pre-writing a Type I grating before writing a minimal damage Type II grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide so that a stable low damage type II grating can be written; alternatively providing a hydrogen or deuterium loaded waveguide before writing the grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing a payment transaction comprises receiving, by a payor an invoice generated from a first enterprise resource planning (ERP) system operated by a payee. The first ERP system formatted the invoice in a first format. The invoice is stored in a second format compatible with a second ERP system. The invoice has been converted from the first format to the second format, which is different from the first format. Approval of the invoice is received through the second ERP system. Authorization instructing a financial institution to transmit a payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the financial institution. Confirmation of the payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the payee.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. These gratings may be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C. Pre-writing a Type I grating before writing a minimal damage Type II grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide so that a stable low damage type II grating can be written; alternatively providing a hydrogen or deuterium loaded waveguide before writing the grating lowers the characteristic threshold of the waveguide.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. and where the grating is relatively stable and has very low loss from scatter. These gratings have spectral characteristics that allow them to be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing electronic reassociation of data transmissions of checks and backup information. A method according to the invention may include scanning each check received by a lockbox service and scanning backup information related to correspondence included with each check. Thereafter, the method may include electronically associating each check with the backup information. The method may include generating a data transmission for each check and the associated backup information. Finally, the method may include storing the data transmission for each check and the associated backup information at a periodic interval. Such an interval may be determined, at least in part, by the deposit cut-off time of a financial institution.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method for processing a payment transaction comprises receiving, by a payor an invoice generated from a first enterprise resource planning (ERP) system operated by a payee. The first ERP system formatted the invoice in a first format. The invoice is stored in a second format compatible with a second ERP system. The invoice has been converted from the first format to the second format, which is different from the first format. Approval of the invoice is received through the second ERP system. Authorization instructing a financial institution to transmit a payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the financial institution. Confirmation of the payment to the payee is generated and transmitted to the payee.

Abstract: A method of inducing birefringence in an optical waveguide is disclosed wherein the waveguide cladding is irradiated with energy of a sufficient intensity so as to induce a stress in the optical waveguide so as to cause a multitude of spaced stress induced regions within the cladding of the optical waveguide such that there are 10 to 5000 spaced regions per mm and wherein the stress induced regions are proximate the core greater than 2 microns distance from the core-cladding interface. This waveguide has numerous uses, for example a fiber sensor.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermally stable grating allows the grating to be placed in environments where temperatures reach 1000° C. and where the grating is relatively stable and has very low loss from scatter. These gratings have spectral characteristics that allow them to be concatenated so as to form a sensor array. The method requires a step of lowering the characteristic intensity threshold of a waveguide by at least 25%, followed by irradiating the waveguide with femtosecond pulses of light having a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient duration to write the grating so that at least 60% of the grating remains after exposures of at least 10 hours at a temperature of at least 1000° C.

Abstract: An optical sensor for sensing information relating to an analyte liquid or gas, has a a planar substrate having a refractive index nc. The planar substrate supports a ridge waveguide having an unclad top portion having a refractive index nr. The substrate serves as cladding layer for the ridge waveguide at a location where the ridge waveguide contacts the substrate. A Bragg grating inscribed in the ridge waveguide has two modes for providing information relating to both temperature and refractive index of the surrounding analyte liquid or gas. A cladding mode has a different response to the analyte when compared to a Bragg resonance response. Both modes have a same reaction to temperature, wherein said Bragg grating is formed within the unclad region of ridge waveguide, wherein nc.<nr. Advantageously multiple parameters can be sensed using only a single Bragg grating.

Abstract: A method of increasing the refractive index in a photosensitive glass is disclosed so as to induce an refractive index change of at least 10?5 within a region of the glass. The method includes the step of providing a hydrogen or deuterium loaded doped glass material wherein a dopant within the glass is photosensitive to infrared radiation in the presence of hydrogen or deuterium. The hydrogen or deuterium loaded doped glass is subsequently irradiated with femtosecond pulses of infrared light having an intensity of at least 109 W/cm2 and less than 5×1013 W/cm2.

Abstract: An optical sensor for sensing information relating to an analyte liquid or gas, has a a planar substrate having a refractive index nc. The planar substrate supports a ridge waveguide having an unclad top portion having a refractive index nr. The substrate serves as cladding layer for the ridge waveguide at a location where the ridge waveguide contacts the substrate. A Bragg grating inscribed in the ridge waveguide has two modes for providing information relating to both temperature and refractive index of the surrounding analyte liquid or gas. A cladding mode has a different response to the analyte when compared to a Bragg resonance response. Both modes have a same reaction to temperature, wherein said Bragg grating is formed within the unclad region of ridge waveguide, wherein nc<nr. Advantageously multiple parameters can be sensed using only a single Bragg grating.

Abstract: Fiber Bragg gratings were written in pure silica photonic crystal fibers and photonic crystal fiber tapers with 125 fs, 800 nm IR radiation. High reflectivites were achieved with short exposure times in the tapers. Both multimode and single mode grating reflections were achieved in the fiber tapers. By tapering the photonic crystal fibers scattering that would otherwise have occurred was lessened and light external to the fiber could reach the core effectively to write a grating.

Abstract: A method of inducing birefringence in an optical waveguide is disclosed wherein the waveguide cladding is irradiated with energy of a sufficient intensity so as to induce a stress in the optical waveguide so as to cause a multitude of spaced stress induced regions within the cladding of the optical waveguide such that there are 10 to 5000 spaced regions per mm and wherein the stress induced regions are proximate the core greater than 2 microns distance from the core-cladding interface. This waveguide has numerous uses, for example a fiber sensor.

Abstract: Fiber Bragg gratings were written in pure silica photonic crystal fibers and photonic crystal fiber tapers with 125 fs, 800 nm IR radiation. High reflectivites were achieved with short exposure times in the tapers. Both multimode and single mode grating reflections were achieved in the fiber tapers. By tapering the photonic crystal fibers scattering that would otherwise have occurred was lessened and light external to the fiber could reach the core effectively to write a grating.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for varying the index of refraction of a material using an interference pattern is disclosed. The method and apparatus incorporate an ultra short duration pulse laser source. Electromagnetic radiation provided from the laser propagates to a diffractive element positioned in close proximity to the target material. The diffracted electromagnetic radiation forms an interference pattern, the peaks of which are sufficiently intense to cause a change in index of refraction.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for varying the index of refraction of a material using an interference pattern is disclosed. The method and apparatus incorporate an ultra short duration pulse laser source. Electromagnetic radiation provided from the laser propagates to a diffractive element positioned in close proximity to the target material. The diffracted electromagnetic radiation forms an interference pattern, the peaks of which are sufficiently intense to cause a change in index of refraction.