Abstract: An improved fiber optic tap monitor has characteristics that are flatter over the wavelength range of interest. The polarization dependence of the characteristics of the tap monitor is reduced, and the package for the tap monitor is smaller. The tap monitor reduces the amount of light reflected back to the source. The tap monitor is also assembled in a manner to improve temperature stability, so that its characteristics over a range of temperatures are more nearly constant.

Abstract: Two sub-assemblies in a fiber optic device are fitted to mounting faces of a central section. The mounting faces are typically flat and mutually orthogonal, thus permitting the adjustment of the two sub-assemblies in decoupled degrees of freedom. This results in a simpler adjustment procedure for aligning the two sub-assemblies. Furthermore, the mounting of the sub-assemblies using the orthogonal mounting faces permits the use of relatively thin layers of adhesive that reduce misalignment problems arising from mismatched thermal expansion when the temperature changes.

Abstract: An isolator unit includes a mount for mounting three isolator components, resulting in a smaller package. The isolator components are attached to the mount using a technique that reduces the possibility that the orientations of the components change with a change in temperature. Consequently, the operational characteristics of the isolator have a reduced temperature dependence.

Abstract: In an improved approach to mounting optical elements in a fiber optic device, the positioning and orientation of the element are more accurate and the temperature dependent variations of the position and orientation are reduced. The mount has a protruding tip contact region on a mounting surface. Adhesive is supplied between the optical element and the mounting surface, and the optical element is pressed into contact with the protruding contact tip region, substantially expelling the adhesive from between the optical element and the protruding contact tip region. The adhesive is cured at a temperature exceeding the predetermined temperature range. This permits the adhesive to pull the element on to the contact tip region throughout the operating temperature range. This also permits the optical element to contact the mounting surface so that the optical element's surface is oriented parallel to the mounting plane.

Abstract: Two sub-assemblies in a fiber optic device are fitted to mounting faces of a central section. The mounting faces are typically flat and mutually orthogonal, thus permitting the adjustment of the two sub-assemblies in decoupled degrees of freedom. This results in a simpler adjustment procedure for aligning the two sub-assemblies. Furthermore, the mounting of the sub-assemblies using the orthogonal mounting faces permits the use of relatively thin layers of adhesive that reduce misalignment problems arising from mismatched thermal expansion when the temperature changes.

Abstract: Two sub-assemblies in a fiber optic device are fitted to respective end faces of a central section, along a longitudinal axis. The end faces of the central section are non-parallel. Butting the sub-assemblies to respective ends of the central section permits relative adjustment of the two sub-assemblies in substantially decoupled degrees of freedom. This results in a simpler adjustment procedure for aligning the two sub-assemblies. Furthermore, the mounting of the sub-assemblies using angled faces permits the use of relatively thin layers of adhesive that reduce misalignment problems arising from mismatched thermal expansion when the temperature changes.

Abstract: A structural step including relatively moveable parts wherein pressure step contact therebetween generates an impact audible mechanical sound alarm in a selected decibel range.

Abstract: A disc stabilizer for use in a spin-stand tester having a spindle motor for rotating a disc is provided. The spin-stand tester is capable of positioning a transducing head adjacent a first surface of the disc. The disc stabilizer includes a vacuum plate coupled to a spindle of the spindle motor. The vacuum plate has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least one of the top and the bottom surfaces is a grooved surface including multiple vacuum channels. The grooved surface is substantially in contact with a second surface of the disc. Vacuum distributed through the multiple vacuum channels of the grooved surface is applied directly to the second surface of the disc, thereby holding the disc in place.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic tap monitor has characteristics that are flatter over the wavelength range of interest. The polarization dependence of the characteristics of the tap monitor is reduced, and the package for the tap monitor is smaller. The tap monitor reduces the amount of light reflected back to the source. The tap monitor is also assembled in a manner to improve temperature stability, so that its characteristics over a range of temperatures are more nearly constant.

Abstract: A structural step including relatively moveable parts wherein pressure step contact therebetween generates an impact audible mechanical sound alarm in a selected decibel range.

Abstract: A retractable grounding device for a spindle motor having a rotor shaft is provided. The retractable grounding device includes a grounding connector configured to connect the rotor shaft to ground and a position adjuster coupled to the grounding connector. The position adjuster moves the grounding connector between a first position where the grounding connector is in contact with the rotor shaft and a second position where the grounding connector is retracted from the rotor shaft. In addition, a method of selectively grounding a rotor shaft of a spindle motor is provided.

Abstract: A disc stabilizer for use in a spin-stand tester having a spindle motor for rotating a disc is provided. The spin-stand tester is capable of positioning a transducing head adjacent a first surface of the disc. The disc stabilizer includes a vacuum plate coupled to a spindle of the spindle motor. The vacuum plate has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. At least one of the top and the bottom surfaces is a grooved surface including multiple vacuum channels. The grooved surface is substantially in contact with a second surface of the disc. Vacuum distributed through the multiple vacuum channels of the grooved surface is applied directly to the second surface of the disc, thereby holding the disc in place.

Abstract: A retractable grounding device for a spindle motor having a rotor shaft is provided. The retractable grounding device includes a grounding connector configured to connect the rotor shaft to ground and a position adjuster coupled to the grounding connector. The position adjuster moves the grounding connector between a first position where the grounding connector is in contact with the rotor shaft and a second position where the grounding connector is retracted from the rotor shaft. In addition, a method of selectively grounding a rotor shaft of a spindle motor is provided.

Abstract: A wear protection device for disposition between two relatively moveable members and particularly adapted for use for protecting rungs of extension ladders, the protection device being mountable on a ladder rung, the device including a fastener guide to enhance fixing and firmly gripping the device in place on the ladder rung.

Abstract: A ladder wall stand-off accessory for mounting on a ladder rung between the spaced side rails of a ladder section including arm stand-off means with wall surface pad means extending therefrom and having rung gripping means pivotally mounted thereon to engage with the ladder rung to be fastened thereto in clamping relation therewith, a novel rung adapter bar being provided to mask the ladder rung if required.

Abstract: A recording/playback apparatus in which movable datum pins are held in a base casting. Upon insertion of a cartridge into a holding tray, within the apparatus, the pins are released to move into datum holes in the cartridge when the holes are positioned directly above the pins. The cartridge is then lowered onto the drive spindle and positioned on surfaces of the base casting. During the load cycle, the cartridge is allowed to move relative to the holding tray while continuing to be held in place relative to the base casting by the datum pins.

Abstract: A rung lock assembly for selectively and releasably locking a pair of adjacent rungs of relatively slidable fly ladder and base ladder sections of an extensible ladder including a rung lock frame pivotally mounted within the fly ladder section to be normally urged into engagement with adjacent rungs of the ladder sections and a pulley and cable system cooperative with the rung lock frame to release and move the same away from such engagement for relative slidable movement of the ladder sections.

Abstract: A method of making foldable ladder structure wherein plastic material is injected and expanded in molds to form several parts of a foldable ladder which includes front and rear ladder sections that can be pivotally hinged at their upper portions, a collapsible shelf and spreader linkage to allow the sections to be relatively pivoted from collapsed face-to-face relation to erected position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating preselected areas of metallic ladder rungs wherein such metallic spaced rungs are moved in a path substantially normal to the longitudinal axes of the rungs with preselected areas of the spaced rungs passing through a controlled longitudinally extending heating zone to heat such preselected areas to a desired annealing temperature.