Raychem Limited

Omnipv, Inc.

Tyco Electronics Corporation

Lightwave Microsystems Corporation

John A Midgley

John P Kenney

William Pfenninger

Nemanja Vockic

Richard H Hulett

Jian Jim Wang

Hugh Duffy

Rong Jong Chang

David D Nyberg

Brian Thomas

Kai Shum

Justin N Chiang

John W Hoffman

Anthony J Ticknor

James Byron Burke

Lester T Toy

Linas Mazeika

Ken G Purchase

Marc A Stiller

David W Thornley

Valentine N Morozov

John T Kenney

David E Barnwell

Stephen A Hey

Axel T Esser

John Love

Mario A Gutierrez

Michael B Sullivan

An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [ABXX'X&#x2033;], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X&#x2032;, and X&#x2033; are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x&#x2032;, and x&#x2033; is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.

Optical devices including resonant cavity structures

Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes a set of photovoltaic cells and a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the set of photovoltaic cells. The spectral concentrator is configured to: (1) collect incident solar radiation; (2) convert the incident solar radiation into substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation; and (3) convey the substantially monochromatic, emitted radiation to the set of photovoltaic cells.

Solar modules with enhanced efficiencies via use of spectral concentrators

Described herein are optical devices including resonant cavity structures. In one embodiment, an optical fiber includes: (1) an elongated core including an outer surface; (2) an inner reflector disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the core and extending substantially along a length of the core; (3) an outer reflector spaced apart from the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core; and (4) an emission layer disposed between the outer reflector and the inner reflector and extending substantially along the length of the core, the emission layer configured to emit radiation that is guided within the optical fiber.

Described herein are solar modules including spectral concentrators. In one embodiment, a solar module includes an active layer including a set of photovoltaic cells. The solar module also includes a spectral concentrator optically coupled to the active layer and including a luminescent material that exhibits photoluminescence in response to incident solar radiation. The photoluminescence has: (a) a quantum efficiency of at least 30 percent; (b) a spectral width no greater than 100 nm at Full Width at Half Maximum; and (c) a peak emission wavelength in the near infrared range.

A conventional ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is modified to provide frequency-selective current protection. A control element is connected in series with the line path (or return path) of the GFCI, and a bypass element is connected in parallel with the combination of the control element and the line path (or return path) of the GFCI. Under normal conditions, little or no current flows through the bypass element. However, frequency response characteristics of the control and/or bypass elements are such that a frequency-selective component of the current (i.e. high-pass, low-pass or band-pass) is diverted through the bypass element. When the magnitude of the frequency-selective component reaches a predetermined value, the bypass current flow causes sensing of a resulting current imbalance and tripping of the GFCI.

Frequency-selective circuit protection arrangements

Hybrid integrated planar photonics provides silica waveguides for transport and polymer or hybrid silica/polymer waveguides for refractive-based active functions within a single integrated photonic circuit. Functions include modulation, attenuation, switching, filtering, and exceptionally low-loss transport. When the active and passive optical elements are integrated onto the same substrates, the resulting composite devices can exhibit strong functional response with little total optical loss as compared to known methods.

Photonic devices comprising thermo-optic polymer

Electrical circuit protection arrangements with PTC devices and mechanical switches. The combinations of this invention permit the use of mechanical switches and PTC devices to switch voltages and currents in normal circuit operations, wherein the voltage and/or current ratings of the mechanical switches and PTC devices are much less than the normal operating voltages and currents of the circuits. This feature permits the use of smaller and less expensive mechanical switches and PTC device than would otherwise be required in such circuits. The arrangements of switches and PTC devices also permit the PTC devices to limit the magnitude of the fault current passed to the circuit.

Overcurrent protection circuits comprising combinations of PTC devices

An electrical protection system which uses a ground fault interrupter (GFI) to protect a circuit from (A) ground faults and (B) overcurrents and/or overvoltages. For overcurrent protection, a control element may be coupled in series with the line or return input to the GFI, and a bypass element may be coupled in parallel with the control element and the GFI. In case of an overcurrent, the control element causes current to be diverted through the bypass element, thereby creating a current imbalance in the GFI circuitry causing the GFI to open the circuit. For overvoltage protection, a bypass element (e.g. a varistor) may be coupled between, e.g., the line sense input of the GFI and the return sense input of the GFI. In case of an overvoltage, the bypass element conducts current, thereby creating a current imbalance in the GFI circuitry causing the GFI to open the circuit.

Circuit protection arrangements using ground fault interrupter for

Electrical insulator

Cable blocking

An insulator member comprises a porcelain insulator head and a polymeric shed secured to the insulator head. The insulator member can be used, for example, in an improved electrical line insulator which comprises a) an insulator unit comprising a porcelain head, and a polymeric shed secured to the porcelain head; b) a metal cap and a metal pin each situated at a surface of the insulator unit opposite to the other, the porcelain head forming a recess to receive the pin; c) cement mechanically securing the cap to the insulator unit; and d) cement within the recess and about the pin mechanically securing the pin within the recess. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed.

Cap and pin insulator

A method for covering a substrate comprising the steps of: positioning over the substrate an assembly including a recoverable elastomeric sleeve and a mandrel upon which the sleeve is mounted under tension in an expanded condition such that upon release of the tension the sleeve tends to assume a smaller cross-sectional dimension and thereupon cover the substrate; the mandrel having a generally tubular configuration and defining a series of spaced apart, substantially longitudinal projections extending radially outwardly, the sleeve being in substantial contact with the longitundinal projections; and, withdrawing the mandrel from the sleeve by sliding the mandrel longitudinally away from the sleeve while maintaining its position over the workpiece, the sleeve thereby progressively assuming a smaller cross-sectional dimension to cover the substrate as the mandrel is progressively withdrawn. The substrate may be a high voltage termination or cable splice, and the mandrel may include a medial annular transverse tearline enabling breaking and separation of the mandrel into two segments for facilitating withdrawal from, and recovery of, the sleeve. A lubricating agent may be placed between the longitudinal projections. The sleeve may be provided with end segments which avoid contact with the lubricating agent and which are unfolded following release of the sleeve onto the substrate thereby to seal the ends thereof.

Recoverable elastomeric sleeve and method for installation and use

The invention relates to a sealed cable article and method for sealing the area between two or more cables and between the cables and an enclosure with a shaped article at a location where the cables exit from the enclosure, the method comprising (a) providing a shaped article of a polymeric gel said gel having (i) a cone penetration value of about 30 to about 450 (10.sup.-1 mm), and (ii) an elongation of from about 25% to about 750%; (b) positioning the shaped article around the cables; and (c) positioning the enclosure such that it surrounds the shaped article. An article aspect of the invention comprises two or more cables, an enclosure surrounding the cables, and a polymeric gel having the properties as described above sealing the area between the cables and the enclosure. This invention also relates to a sealed cable end article and a method of sealing the end of a cable, the method comprising positioning a shaped article of a polymeric gel having the properties as described above to cover the end of a cable and positioning an enclosure around said shaped article and adjacent region of the cable. The article comprises one or more cable ends with a portion of the cable end exposed, a shaped article of a polymeric gel having the properties as described above positioned at the cable end, and an enclosure which surrounds the shaped article and the adjacent region of the cable.

Cable sealing

Elongate electrical devices, comprising two conductors with electrical elements connected in parallel between them, have improved performance if the power supply is connected to one conductor at the near end and to the other conductor at the far end. Particularly useful devices are heaters, e.g. PTC conductive polymer heaters. The power supply is connected to the far end of the device through a connection means whose electrical properties can be correlated with those of the device in order to obtain a wide range of useful results. For example the connection means can have PTC, NTC or ZTC character and can be a simple conductor or another elongate device. The power supply can be DC or single-phase, two-phase or three-phase AC.

Growing community of inventors

San Carlos, CA, United States of America

John A Midgley