Abstract: A beam delivery system is provided that includes a beam delivery photonic integrated circuit. The beam delivery photonic integrated circuit includes one or more optical inputs; a plurality of waveguide outputs; and a plurality of beam paths. Each beam path connects one of the plurality of waveguide outputs to at least one of the optical inputs. The plurality of waveguide outputs are configured to emit a plurality of parallel beams. The beam delivery photonic integrated circuit is on a chip. The beam delivery system further includes a telecentric optical relay assembly. The telecentric optical relay assembly is configured to receive the plurality of parallel beams provided by the waveguide outputs and focus each received beam on a corresponding one of a plurality of positions of an atomic object confinement apparatus in a telecentric manner.

Abstract: A learning management system having a teacher terminal. The system obtains, over a wireless computer network and form an educational robot, actual performance data of a lesson performed by a student, where the actual performance data of the lesson includes several instructions that are executed by the educational robot to cause the educational robot to perform a task. The system analyzes the actual performance data according to expected performance data of the lesson. The system determines a proficiency score of the student based on the analyzes of the actual performance data.

Abstract: An interferometer is provided that minimizes the introduction of non-linear errors into displacement measurements. In one embodiment, non-linear errors are reduced by isolating reference and measurement beams over most of their respective optical paths leading to the detector, and by employing a separate amplitude-splitting non-polarizing optical beam splitter for each beam input into the interferometer. Additionally, the interferometer is scalable to an arbitrary number of optical axes or inputs.

Abstract: A refractive optical system may be a collimator, focusing optical system, reducer, or expander and includes an entrance optical element, an exit optical element, and a volume disposed between the entrance and exit optical elements. The volume is configured to have an index of refraction that is insensitive to changes in atmospheric conditions of the ambient environment. A surface of curvature of an input surface of the entrance optical element is parallel to a wavefront curvature of an input light beam and an output surface of the exit optical element is parallel to a wavefront curvature of an exit light beam. Accordingly, the wavefront curvature of the exit light beam is insensitive to the ambient environment permitting the production and operation environments to change without a change to the performance of the optical system.

Abstract: At least two discrete quarter wave plates are provided for use as plane mirrors or reflectors in a displacement measuring interferometer, where the plates share common or substantially common reflecting surface geometries. A plurality of geometrically matched discrete matched quarter wave plates reduces the amount of tilt between an input beam provided to, and an output measurement beam provided by, an interferometer, resulting in increased interferometer dynamic range.

Abstract: A lens assembly is provided that has an index-of-refraction invariant structure. In one embodiment, a void between two lenses or lens elements in a lens assembly is filled with a desired gas, liquid or vacuum, the gas, liquid or vacuum having a pre-determined index of refraction. Once the void has been filled with the desired gas or liquid or been drawn down to a complete vacuum, the void is sealed by any of numerous appropriate means to render it leaktight. The lens assembly may then be tested or calibrated to ensure an appropriate level of optical performance prior to subsequent deployment under actual field conditions. Because the vacuum or filled void disposed in the lens assembly provides optical performance that is index-of-refraction invariant, the lens assembly may be employed successfully under widely varying atmospheric conditions and yet still provide the same high quality results.

Abstract: A method for designing a base includes (1) selecting a location of a first center of expansion of a child part (CEchild) relative to a parent part; (2) determining a location of a second center of expansion of a bond joint (CEbond) bonding the child part to the base; and (3) determining a location of a third center of expansion of the base (CEbase) on a centerline, which is defined by the CEchild and the CEbond, so the CEchild does not substantially move relative to the parent part under a temperature change. To determine the location of the CEbase, the method further includes (a) determining a length change to the child part from the CEbond to the CEchild under the temperature change; (b) determining a length of the base that produces the same length change under the temperature change; and (c) locating the CEbase at the length away from the CEbond.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus has a pivotal mounting unit attached to the bed of a pickup truck for supporting a cooking unit thereon. The pivotal mounting unit comprises a vertically extending pivotal support member which supports a pair of horizontally extending parallel rods or tubes which extend into and support a cooking unit slidably mounted thereon. The rods or tubes extend nearly the entire length of the cooking unit and support the cooking unit in a variety of positions.