Abstract: A lateral transfer accessory (LTA) expands the capabilities of overhead ceiling lifts(OCLs). The accessory includes passive mechanical components requiring no electrical power supply or batteries. The accessory is powered by the OCL. In a particular embodiment, the LTA is a mobile unit positioned adjacent to the side of a patient's bed or gurney. A pair of releasable patient draw straps are secured to and coiled around patient draw pulleys. The free ends of the draw straps are attached to the draw sheet beneath the patient. A drive pulley carries a drive strap. The drive strap is secured to the pull strap of the overhead ceiling lift (OCL) positioned over the accessory. The OCL is controlled to draw out the drive strap from the accessory to thereby operate the main drive. The main drive, in turn, actuates the patient draw pulley to retract the patient draw straps attached to the draw sheet and thereby laterally transfer the patient.

Abstract: A variable decision threshold apparatus includes a comparator for receiving the electrical signal and for comparing it to a threshold level. A signal strength monitor monitors the strength of the electrical signal and a scaler scales the decision threshold level to the measured amplitude of the electrical signal so that the percentage set as the threshold level is maintained.

Abstract: A lateral transfer accessory (LTA) expands the capabilities of overhead ceiling lifts(OCLs). The accessory includes passive mechanical components requiring no electrical power supply or batteries. The accessory is powered by the OCL. In a particular embodiment, the LTA is a mobile unit positioned adjacent to the side of a patient's bed or gurney. A pair of releasable patient draw straps are secured to and coiled around patient draw pulleys. The free ends of the draw straps are attached to the draw sheet beneath the patient. A drive pulley carries a drive strap. The drive strap is secured to the pull strap of the overhead ceiling lift (OCL) positioned over the accessory. The OCL is controlled to draw out the drive strap from the accessory to thereby operate the main drive. The main drive, in turn, actuates the patient draw pulley to retract the patient draw straps attached to the draw sheet and thereby laterally transfer the patient.

Abstract: A variable decision threshold apparatus includes a comparator for receiving the electrical signal and for comparing it to a threshold level. A signal strength monitor monitors the strength of the electrical signal and a scaler scales the decision threshold level to the measured amplitude of the electrical signal so that the percentage set as the threshold level is maintained.

Abstract: A pluggable optical module for use with optical communication systems, wherein the pluggable optical module comprises a housing having an opening arranged to receive a subassembly, wherein the subassembly is capable of being removably inserted into the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interface adaptor for an opto-electronic device, the interface adaptor comprising: a first portion for receiving an optical connector; a second portion for receiving an opto-electronic device; and a third portion for connecting the first portion to the second portion, wherein the second portion comprises a first aperture to receive the opto-electronic device within the second portion of the interface adaptor; and a second aperture to receive the opto-electronic device, the first and second apertures comprising one or more projections located at the periphery of the apertures.

Abstract: A fibre optic transceiver in which the optical components, interface, management functionality and management interface are all integrated on a single module, capable of being plugged into and removed from the telecommunication's parent system includes a housing having disposed therein a transmitter and a receiver. The housing further includes a pair of rails disposed on opposite sides of the housing to enable the module to be plugged into a suitably configured board. The module is designed primarily for use in 10Gbit serial optical systems, but is equally applicable for use in WDM applications, as well as at other speeds and wavelength.

Abstract: In an optical communications system, it is known for system diagnosis, to label a data stream with a data tag signal comprising information such as the originating laser device of the data stream. In order to recover the data tag signal from the data stream it is known to remove the data tag signal using a sense resistor in the voltage bias path of a photodetector employed to receive the data stream. Such a method complicates accurate biasing of the photodetector. The present invention therefore provides a data tag recovery apparatus (50) comprising a photodetector (54) to receive an optical signal (120) comprising a data input signal and a data tag input signal. The photodetector (54) is coupled to an amplifier (58) having outputs (60, 62) coupled to a data output module (64) and a data tag output module (90) arranged to recover the data input signal and the data tag input signal respectively from the data path of the photodetector (54).

Abstract: Apparatus for optical communications, the apparatus being adapted for mounting on a circuit pack and including, as a single, self-contained module, circuitry comprising at least one of an optical receiver for converting a received optical signal into a received electrical signal and an optical transmitter for converting an electrical transmission signal into an optical transmission signal, at least one electrical connector for conveying at least one of said received electrical signal and said electrical transmission signal, and at least one optical connector for conveying at least one of said received optical signal and said optical transmission signal. The circuitry further comprises at least an optical detector for detecting said received optical signal based on a decision level, and the receiver includes at least one decision block having a selectively variable decision level.

Abstract: An optoelectronic component, such as an optical transceiver, contains one or more optoelectronic devices, such as a semiconductor laser or a photodiode. It also contains a metallic or metallized housing within which the optoelectronic devices are mounted, and an optical connector part to allow optical radiation to be coupled between the optoelectronic devices and fibres of a fibre optic communications network. The optical connector is disposed at least partly within an aperture in the housing. A metallic or metallized barrier is disposed between the one or more optoelectronic devices and the optical connector substantially to shield against transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the aperture (except of course for the transmission of optical radiation to be provided to, or received from the fibre optic communications network). This barrier can be provided as part of a metallized clip, adapted to fit around the optical interface between the optoelectronic devices and the outside of the transceiver.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a fibre optic transceiver in which the optical components, interface, management functionality and management interface are all integrated on a single module capable of being plugged into and removed from the telecommunication's parent system. The optical transceiver module comprises a housing having disposed therein a transmitter and a receiver. The housing further comprises a pair of rails disposed on opposite sides of the housing to enable the module to be plugged into a suitably configured board. The module is designed primarily for use in 10Gbit serial optical systems, but is equally applicable for use in WDM applications, as well as at other speeds and wavelength.

Abstract: A vehicle (10) includes a pair of hybrid track assemblies (12) mounted on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis (A) of the framework (11) of the vehicle (10) for cooperating to steer the vehicle (10). Each of the hybrid track assemblies (12) includes a first lead track (14) entrained about a first plurality of wheels (16) and a second lead track (18) entrained about a second plurality of wheels (20). A plurality of first lead rollers (26) are rotatably supported in spaced and parallel relationship to one another along the longitudinal axis of the first lead track (14). A plurality of second lead rollers (38) are rotatably supported in spaced and parallel relationship to one another along the longitudinal axis of the second lead track (18). The assembly is characterized by the first and second axes of the first lead rollers (26) and second lead rollers (38) being disposed in opposite directions, i.e., a herringbone configuration.