Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS)/distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously employ chirped interrogation pulses (sensing signals) that exhibit a smooth amplitude profile produced by appending leading and trailing edges of the sensing signals with out-of-band chirps. By appending leading and trailing out-of-band signals to a chirped pulse sensing signal to produce a “smooth” amplitude profile a coexistence of sensing and telecommunications signals on a same optical fiber is facilitated.

Abstract: A photonics-assisted platform for time series prediction and classification that performs signal processing directly after the signal acquisition before any analog-to-digital conversion by using a hardware neural network with recurrent connections, implemented in a silicon photonic chip. This neural network recurrency can be implemented in silicon photonics with a much lower latency than state-of-the-art electronic systems. The recurrent neural network can detect temporal correlations and extract features from the time series signal, and therefore reduce the latency constraints for the analog-to-digital conversion and further digital signal processing.

Abstract: A reconfigurable thin-film photonic filter weight bank comprises at least one photodetector and at least one optical filtering device comprising a pair of reflective thin film stacks with an interstitial medium cavity therebetween forming an optical cavity. Operation of a bank occurs when the reflective film is more selectively reflective to a range of frequencies and is more translucent to frequencies outside the range. The bank can reconfigurably weight signals by varying the cavity sizes or complex indices of refraction, with one photodetector integrating the weighted signals. Detectors can also be embedded inside the individual cavities to output unweighted, but demultiplexed, electrical signals. A neuromorphic opto-electronic system comprises a plurality of interconnected artificial optical neurons, each including at least one thin film neuromorphic opto-electronic device with a reconfigurable thin-film photonic filter weight bank. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for photonic computing, preferably including: an input module, computation module, and/or control module, wherein the computation module preferably includes one or more filter banks and/or detectors. A photonic filter bank system, preferably including two waveguides and a plurality of optical filters arranged between the waveguides. A method for photonic computing, preferably including: controlling a computation module; controlling an input module; and/or receiving outputs from the computation module.

Abstract: A hybrid neuromorphic computing device is provided, in which artificial neurons include light-emitting devices that provide weighted sums of inputs as light output. The output is detected by a photodetector and converted to an electrical output. Each neuron may receive output from one or more other neurons as initial input. Interconnects between neurons may be optical, electrical, or a combination thereof. The neurons also may provide imaging sensor and/or display capabilities.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an all-optical thresholder device is disclosed. The all-optical thresholder device includes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) coupled to a Mach-Zehnder coupler (MZC). The MZI includes at least one microring resonator (MRR) and a first tunable element, where the MRR further includes a second tunable element. The MZC includes a third tunable element. The first, second, and third tunable elements are configured to control biases of the all-optical thresholder device to achieve a desired power transfer function.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an all-optical thresholder device is disclosed. The all-optical thresholder device includes a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) coupled to a Mach-Zehnder coupler (MZC). The MZI includes at least one microring resonator (MRR) and a first tunable element, where the MRR further includes a second tunable element. The MZC includes a third tunable element. The first, second, and third tunable elements are configured to control biases of the all-optical thresholder device to achieve a desired power transfer function.

Abstract: A processing device comprises a plurality of artificial neurons comprising first and second artificial neurons, at least one optical connection between an optical output of the first artificial neuron and an optical input of the second artificial neuron, the optical input comprising a photosensitive element, at least one weighting element connected to the optical input of the second artificial neuron, configured to modify a gain of the optical input of the second artificial neuron, and at least one nonlinear element having an input and connected to the optical output of the first artificial neuron, configured to activate the optical output when a signal received at the input of the at least one nonlinear element rises above a threshold, wherein the optical output of the first artificial neuron comprises at least one thin film light-generating component. An LED neuron is also described.

Abstract: A system for photonic computing, preferably including: an input module, computation module, and/or control module, wherein the computation module preferably includes one or more filter banks and/or detectors. A photonic filter bank system, preferably including two waveguides and a plurality of optical filters arranged between the waveguides. A method for photonic computing, preferably including: controlling a computation module; controlling an input module; and/or receiving outputs from the computation module.

Abstract: A system for photonic computing, preferably including: an input module, computation module, and/or control module, wherein the computation module preferably includes one or more filter banks and/or detectors. A photonic filter bank system, preferably including two waveguides and a plurality of optical filters arranged between the waveguides. A method for photonic computing, preferably including: controlling a computation module; controlling an input module; and/or receiving outputs from the computation module.

Abstract: A system for photonic computing, preferably including: an input module, computation module, and/or control module, wherein the computation module preferably includes one or more filter banks and/or detectors. A photonic filter bank system, preferably including two waveguides and a plurality of optical filters arranged between the waveguides. A method for photonic computing, preferably including: controlling a computation module; controlling an input module; and/or receiving outputs from the computation module.

Abstract: A wear pad for use with large machines used to pick up or push material from a flat surface, in which a wear pad is secured to the lip of the apparatus that pushes the material. The pad includes a plurality of similar abradable sections sandwiched together under compression with a pair of parallel edges, either of which may be positioned to function as the lead edge of the wear pad.

Abstract: A wear pad assembly for the bottom of a large machine operated device has a number of wear pads, each of which has a number of sections which are compressed and sandwiched together. The sections have an inclined front surface to assist in scooping debris or snow from a floor surface or a street. The sections are mounted in a frame which has a top plate, a pair of end plates which are perpendicular to the top plate, and a pair of rods which extend between the end plates and are parallel each other and to the top plate. The sections may include fabric reinforced rubber, molded rubber, polyurethane, or a combination of these materials.

Abstract: A foot support plate adapted for mounting on a foot end of a rigid stretcher comprising a base rectangular plate of rigid construction having connected by a first hinge to a first support arm and a second hinge attached to the base of a second arm, the first and second arms being adapted to be mounted on the support plate for movement between an open position and a closed secured position for securely supporting the foot support plate in a generally perpendicular relationship with said rigid stretcher. The base plate also comprises a series of at least two pins extending an orthogonical relationship for engaging matching sockets in the base of the rigid stretcher for providing an anchoring for the base plate.

Abstract: This invention is directed at chafing gear for a fishing drag. The drag has a bottom portion comprising metal rings loosely connected by metal links. The chafing gear comprises rubber disks, each of which have a central aperture through which a metal link is passed thereby positioning the disk between two adjacent rings.