Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment, a belt conveyor located in the storage compartment and having a slat belt supported by a pair of rollers, and a shelf operatively coupled to the slat belt and configured to move between a lower stowed position within the storage compartment and an upper deployed position extending outward from the storage compartment.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first data pertaining to an outage in a first portion of a communications system, obtaining second data pertaining to a relationship between the first portion of the communications system and a second portion of the communications system, analyzing the first data the second data to identify a risk to communication services facilitated by the second portion of the communications system, determining that the risk is greater than a threshold, and generating, based on the determining, a recommendation for reducing the risk. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a storage compartment, a belt conveyor located in the storage compartment and having a slat belt supported by a pair of rollers, and a shelf operatively coupled to the slat belt and configured to move between a lower stowed position within the storage compartment and an upper deployed position extending outward from the storage compartment.

Abstract: A protective case for a portable computing device in accordance with one example includes a cavity in the case to be a plurality of electronic devices. The cavity includes a first recess to receive a first electronic device and a second recess to receive a second electronic device. The case also includes a cover removably coupled to the cavity.

Abstract: A protective case for a portable computing device in accordance with one example includes a cavity in the case to be a plurality of electronic devices. The cavity includes a first recess to receive a first electronic device and a second recess to receive a second electronic device. The case also includes a cover removably coupled to the cavity.

Abstract: A fuel system comprises a fuel actuation arrangement 28 operable to split a metered flow of fuel into at least a first stream and a second stream, a control unit 25 controlling the operation of the fuel actuation arrangement 28, and wherein the control unit 25 controls the operation of the fuel actuation arrangement 28 in response to the output of a temperature sensor 34 sensitive to a gas temperature downstream of the high pressure compressor 14 of an associated engine and the output of a gas sensor 24 sensitive to at least one parameter of the composition of a gas downstream of a combustor 15 of the engine.

Abstract: This sling is designed to help reduce shoulder subluxation and forward shoulder roll in patients with shoulder problems By using the uninjured arm to support the weight of the injured arm through two arm cuffs and semi-elastic straps that cross over the back this sling was specially designed to be worn under clothing like a coat, to be slept in, to be worn while preforming daily task/therapy while holding the shoulder joint comfortably in place and still allowing full range of motion in both arms and hands

Abstract: A hybrid laser comprising a semiconductor pump laser and small-cavity rare earth fiber laser where laser cavities of both lasers are butt coupled or otherwise optically coupled to form a plurality of laser cavities that produce a plurality of emission wavelengths, one which may be the pump laser emission wavelength at the output of the fiber laser thereby forming a multi-wavelength combined output. The wavelengths in such an output may substantially match distinguishing spectral characteristic features along at least a portion of a characteristic optical spectrum of the analyte under examination providing a method of determining the concentration of an analyte in a specimen undergoing examination.

Abstract: Highly compact vertical cavity surface emitting laser structures formed by a lateral oxidation process are provided. Specifically, well-controlled oxidized regions bound and define the aperture of a laser structure in a current controlling oxidation layer, wherein the aperture comprises a conductive region in the oxidation layer. These oxidized regions are formed by the use of a pre-defined bounding pattern of cavities etched in the laser structure, which allow the embedded oxidation layer to be oxidized, and which results in a highly reproducible and manufacturable process.

Abstract: A near-field optical apparatus having one or more solid state lasers and an aerodynamically shaped slider which comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers. The optical head comprising a single semiconductor substrate including a first region which defines a slider having an air bearing surface, and at least one second, laser region which defines a diode laser, with the diode laser having an emission face which is substantially co-planar with the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A monitoring system for detection of defects in an optical fiber coating during production of the fiber has first and second beam generating means which produce planar coherent beams which cross each other at the fiber passing through the system creating one or more diffraction patterns. A first plurality of photodetectors are mounted in a mount, the front face of which is impinged by the planar diffraction pattern, and a second plurality of photodetectors is similarly mounted in position below the impinging pattern. A defect in the fiber coating, regardless of shape or orientation, will cause the pattern or patterns to be tilted or shifted upward, downward, or planarly tilted to impinge one or more of the photodiodes which, as a result, generates a signal which is applied to a comparator and control circuit.

Abstract: The polarization instability inherent in laterally-oxidized VCSELs may be mitigated by employing an appropriately-shaped device aperture, a misoriented substrate, one or more cavities or employing the shaped device aperture together with a misoriented substrate and/or cavities. The laterally-oxidized VCSELs are able to operate in a single polarization mode throughout the entire light output power versus intensity curve. Combining the use of misoriented substrates with a device design that has an asymmetric aperture that reinforces the polarization mode favored by the substrate further improves polarization selectivity. Other device designs, however, can also be combined with substrate misorientation to strengthen polarization selectivity.

Abstract: A reconfigurable position detection system demodulates an LVDT sensor via software in a microprocessor instead of hardware. The LVDT output is sampled and undergoes a root mean square calculation or an averaging calculation to obtain an LVDT position value. The lack of hardware demodulation circuitry allows the system to be reconfigured to accept sensors other than LVDT sensors by modifying the software in the microprocessor, without requiring any changes to hardware components in the system.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of producing a series of substantially uniform spot welds between two metal parts using a servomotor driven movable electrode and an axially opposing fixed electrode. Target values for electrode displacement in producing a weld indentation and electrode squeeze force are determined for the electrodes and workpieces. During welding operations electrode displacement and electrode force measurements are continually taken and compared with the displacement and force target values. While the measured values are within a tolerance range of the target values, welding is continued using the preset parameters. When either or both of the measured electrode displacement or force value falls outside the target range the total welding current is adjusted in small increments to correct the displacement and/or force values and, thereafter, welding is continued using the new total welding current.

Abstract: An optical spectroscopy apparatus determines the concentration of analyte in a specimen that utilizes a single radiation source which is hybrid laser comprising a semiconductor pump laser and small-cavity rare earth fiber laser where laser cavities of both lasers are butt coupled or otherwise optically coupled to form a plurality of laser cavities that produce a plurality of emission wavelengths, one which may be the pump laser emission wavelength at the output of the fiber laser thereby forming a multi-wavelength combined output where the wavelengths substantially match distinguishing spectral characteristic features along at least a portion of a characteristic optical spectrum of the analyte under examination.

Abstract: A near field optical apparatus comprising a conductive sheet or plane having an aperture therein with the conductive plane including at least one protrusion which extends into the aperture. The location, structure and configuration of the protrusion or protrusions can be controlled to provide desired near field localization of optical power output associated with the aperture. Preferably, the location, structure and configuration of the protrusion are tailored to maximize near field localization at generally the center of the aperture. The aperture preferably has a perimeter dimension which is substantially resonant with the output wavelength of the light source, or is otherwise able to support a standing wave of significant amplitude. The apparatus may be embodied in a vertical cavity surface emitting layer or VCSEL having enhanced nearfield brightness by providing a conductive layer on the laser emission facet, with, a protrusion of the conductive layer extending into an aperture in the emission facet.

Abstract: A hybrid magnetic-optical head apparatus wherein one or more solid state lasers, magnetic field biasing elements, magnetic sensing elements, and an aerodynamically shaped slider comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material into an optical head. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser and magnetic elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers or magnetic elements. The hybrid magnetic-optical head apparatus includes a magnetic-optical function region having a semiconductor laser and at least one magnetic element. Preferably, the magnetic-optical function region of the substrate includes a magnetic field biasing element associated with the semiconductor laser, as well as a magnetic sensing element.

Abstract: A near field optical apparatus comprising a conductive sheet or plane having an aperture therein with the conductive plane including at least one protrusion which extends into the aperture. The location, structure and configuration of the protrusion or protrusions can be controlled to provide desired near field localization of optical power output associated with the aperture. Preferably, the location, structure and configuration of the protrusion are tailored to maximize near field localization at generally the center of the aperture. The aperture preferably has a perimeter dimension which is substantially resonant with the output wavelength of the light source, or is otherwise able to support a standing wave of significant amplitude. The apparatus may be embodied in a vertical cavity surface emitting layer or VCSEL having enhanced nearfield brightness by providing a conductive layer on the laser emission facet, with, a protrusion of the conductive layer extending into an aperture in the emission facet.

Abstract: A single monolithic semiconductor substrate comprises a first side and a second side. The first side includes an air bearing surface. A laser integrates with the first side. The laser has an emission facet substantially co-planer with the air bearing surface. A contact pad on the second side electronically bridges to the laser.

Abstract: A method of establishing the properties of a three-mirror laser, where the properties are the three mirror reflectivities and the two cavity lengths (i.e., the separations between the mirrors). Initially, a conventional two-mirror laser is designed, providing values for a laser cavity length and for power reflectivities of a high reflectance mirror and an effective mirror. Then, the effective mirror is replaced by a pair of mirrors with a separation equal to an external cavity length, and reflectivities that may be varied in tandem so that when the reflections from the pair of mirrors are in phase, the combined power reflectivity of the pair of mirrors is equal to that of the effective mirror. A quantity ? is defined to measure the relative shift in power reflectivity between the pair of mirrors. ? is varied over all its possible values, and various criteria are evaluated with respect to ?.