Abstract: A power tool chuck includes a body with a central bore extending along an axis and configured to receive a tool bit, a plurality of angled passageways, and a plurality of jaws received in the passageways and moveable between an axially forward and radially inward clamping position and an axially rearward and radially outward retracted position. At least one jaw has a rear end lying in a first plane transverse to the axis. A first key drive member coupled to a tail portion of the body is configured to be engaged by a second key drive member on a power tool output shaft to non-rotationally couple the body to the output shaft. The first key drive has a forward end lying in a second plane transverse to the axis. The second plane is axially forward of the first plane when the jaws are in the retracted position.

Abstract: A power tool is provided including a tool housing including a motor housing and a handle portion extending longitudinally from the motor housing; a battery receptacle disposed at an end of the handle portion opposite the motor housing, the battery receptacle being configured to receive a battery pack; and a brushless DC (BLDC) motor including an electronically-commutated stator assembly and a rotor assembly configured to rotate with respect to the stator assembly, the stator assembly comprising a stator lamination stack sized to be received within the motor housing having a circumference of approximately 140 to approximately 190 mm. The motor produces a maximum power output of at least 1600 watts for driving an output shaft at a maximum torque of at least 30 inch-pounds and a maximum speed of at least 8000 rotations-per-minute.

Abstract: A hysteresis-start permanent magnet rotor having a non-magnetic rotor shaft, a permanent magnet rigidly attached to a center portion of the non-magnetic rotor shaft, a non-magnetic spacer on each side of the permanent magnet, each non-magnetic spacer rigidly attached to the non-magnetic rotor shaft, to form a non-magnetic spacer-permanent magnet-non-magnetic spacer combination, a hysteresis ring on each side of the non-magnetic spacer-permanent magnet-non-magnetic spacer combination, each hysteresis ring being rigidly attached to the non-magnetic rotor shaft. A stator-segment is around each of the hysteresis rings and a stator-segment is around the permanent magnet, each stator-segment separated from a next stator-segment by a non-magnetic spacer.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection system includes a photonic band gap structure. An internal surface of the photonic band gap structure defines a core region, and is coated with a film formed of conjugated polymer molecules. The core region is filled with a sample fluid or gas having a plurality of either chemical or biological analytes dispersed therein. An optical source generates excitation light directed to the sample fluid. In response, a binding event between a bacterium or chemical species in the fluid or gas and one or more of the conjugated polymer molecules generates a fluorescent signal whose wavelength falls within the photonic band gap. The fluorescent signal is guided through said core region by resonant reflections, and is guided onto a detector. A plurality of photonic band gap structures may be combined so as to form a biosensor array.

Abstract: A photonic crystal interferometric optical gyroscope system including a light source for providing a primary beam of light, a photonic crystal sensing coil having a rotational axis, and a beam controlling device configured to split the primary beam into first and second counter-propagating beams in the photonic crystal sensing coil and configured to direct return of the counter-propagating beams wherein the power of the returning counter-propagating beams represents the phase shift between the counter-propagating beams and is indicative of the rate of rotation of the coil about the rotational axis.

Abstract: An optical accelerometer for detecting an acceleration of a proof mass includes a source of optical radiation for generating a pair of beams of output radiation. The pair of beams of optical radiation exerts radiation pressure on the proof mass, so as to maintain the proof mass in an equilibrium position along a sensing axis. A position detecting system detects a displacement from the equilibrium position of the proof mass along the sensing axis in response to an inertial force acting on the proof mass. A modulator adjusts the intensity of each one of the pair of beams, so as to restore the proof mass to the equilibrium position along the sensing axis. The difference in the adjusted intensities of each one of the pair of beams is representative of the acceleration, resulting from the inertial force, of the proof mass along the sensing axis.

Abstract: A photonic crystal interferometric optical gyroscope system including a light source for providing a primary beam of light, a photonic crystal sensing coil having a rotational axis, and a beam controlling device configured to split the primary beam into first and second counter-propagating beams in the photonic crystal sensing coil and configured to direct return of the counter-propagating beams wherein the power of the returning counter-propagating beams represents the phase shift between the counter-propagating beams and is indicative of the rate of rotation of the coil about the rotational axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for wavelength stabilization of a broadband optical source. The method and system are based on utilizing an optical power divider to generate two optical signals for each of the broadband source and a reference wavelength source. The difference in the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the broadband source and the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the reference wavelength source is determined. Because the power ratios are similarly affected by component aging and changes in environmental factors such as temperature and incident radiation, the difference in the power ratios can be used to adjust the wavelength of the broadband source so that its center wavelength is stabilized to the center wavelength of the reference source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for wavelength stabilization of a broadband optical source. The method and system are based on utilizing an optical power divider to generate two optical signals for each of the broadband source and a reference wavelength source. The difference in the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the broadband source and the power ratio of the two optical signals derived from the reference wavelength source is determined. Because the power ratios are similarly affected by component aging and changes in environmental factors such as temperature and incident radiation, the difference in the power ratios can be used to adjust the wavelength of the broadband source so that its center wavelength is stabilized to the center wavelength of the reference source.

Abstract: A fluorescence detection system includes a photonic band gap structure. An internal surface of the photonic band gap structure defines a core region, and is coated with a film formed of conjugated polymer molecules. The core region is filled with a sample fluid or gas having a plurality of either chemical or biological analytes dispersed therein. An optical source generates excitation light directed to the sample fluid. In response, a binding event between a bacterium or chemical species in the fluid or gas and one or more of the conjugated polymer molecules generates a fluorescent signal whose wavelength falls within the photonic band gap. The fluorescent signal is guided through said core region by resonant reflections, and is guided onto a detector. A plurality of photonic band gap structures may be combined so as to form a biosensor array.

Abstract: An optical accelerometer for detecting an acceleration of a proof mass includes a source of optical radiation for generating a pair of beams of output radiation. The pair of beams of optical radiation exerts radiation pressure on the proof mass, so as to maintain the proof mass in an equilibrium position along a sensing axis. A position detecting system detects a displacement from the equilibrium position of the proof mass along the sensing axis in response to an inertial force acting on the proof mass. A modulator adjusts the intensity of each one of the pair of beams, so as to restore the proof mass to the equilibrium position along the sensing axis. The difference in the adjusted intensities of each one of the pair of beams is representative of the acceleration, resulting from the inertial force, of the proof mass along the sensing axis.