Abstract: The approach of one embodiment of the present invention is to mechanically vibrate a length of fiber optic cable transmitting coherent laser light, so that a mechanical resonance in the optical fiber is excited. This is achieved by suspending the fiber optic cable between two points and controlling both the axial tension on the suspended fiber optic cable as well as the mechanical forcing frequency. The cyclic, high-frequency mechanical perturbations of the fiber rapidly vary the path length and internal reflection angles of one or more respective modes of the transmitted laser light. In certain embodiments, the system may be tuned to induce a standing mechanical wave in the fiber. Higher-harmonic waveforms and higher amplitudes in the resonant fiber produce excellent speckle reduction and uniform intensity distributions.

Abstract: The approach of one embodiment of the present invention is to mechanically vibrate a length of fiber optic cable transmitting coherent laser light, so that a mechanical resonance in the optical fiber is excited. This is achieved by suspending the fiber optic cable between two points and controlling both the axial tension on the suspended fiber optic cable as well as the mechanical forcing frequency. The cyclic, high-frequency mechanical perturbations of the fiber rapidly vary the path length and internal reflection angles of one or more respective modes of the transmitted laser light. In certain embodiments, the system may be tuned to induce a standing mechanical wave in the fiber. Higher-harmonic waveforms and higher amplitudes in the resonant fiber produce excellent speckle reduction and uniform intensity distributions.

Abstract: Routability (or wiring congestion) in a VLSI chip is becoming increasingly important as chip complexity increases. Congestion has a significant impact on performance, yield, and chip area. The present invention targets the optimization of congestion early in technology independent synthesis prior to physical design. Instead of attempting to optimize the logic structure as well as the spatial placement of a circuit, we pose a more modest goal limiting such optimization to the scope of logic synthesis. That is, we propose an aggressive optimization approach that is cognizant of circuit structure during technology independent synthesis and produces more predictable implementations which give better routability and yield.

Abstract: A polyolefin composition comprising a discontinuous polymer phase dispersed in a continuous polyolefin phase is disclosed. The discontinuous polymer is polymerized by a method comprising reacting a blend or mixture of the polyolefin and one or more polyethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a free radical initiator. Articles and materials made from he composition exhibit several advantageous properties as compared to the corresponding unmodified polyolefins, for example printability, paintability, and dyeability in the case of spun fiber, sheets, automotive applications such as interior parts and bumpers; toughness and abrasion resistance in the case of flooring, and impact strength in the case of siding.

Abstract: A lever activated toy vehicle includes a body, a chassis and a lever. The chassis accommodates the body and has a front wheel and a rear wheel. A motor is disposed within the chassis and is drivingly coupled to at least one of the wheels. The lever is movably supported on the toy vehicle so as to be accessible by a user for movement between a first position and a second position. The toy vehicle further includes a moveable part and an actuator mechanism. The moveable part has at least a portion on the exterior of the body and a portion on the interior of the body. The actuator mechanism is operably coupled with the motor and the moveable part and is configured to move the moveable part from the concealed position to the revealed position after the lever is moved from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: Leak test adaptor apparatus for facilitating leak testing face mask respirators including an outer member having a bore therethrough, the bore having a first end and a second end; an inner member disposed in the bore of the outer member, the inner member having a channel therethrough defining a flow path for passage of the gas through the channel from the first end to the second end of the bore; a pressure responsive valve connected to the inner member for regulating the flow of the gas through the channel; and a gas sampling port in communication with the bore for sampling the gas in the bore. The pressure responsive valve closes the channel when the gas pressure near the second end of the bore is greater than the gas pressure near in the channel and opens the channel when the gas pressure nearer the second end of the bore is less than the gas pressure in the channel.