text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Jun 7, 1988
|Filing date
|Nov 6, 1985
|Priority date
|Nov 6, 1985
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|James A. Aberson, Jr., Ian A. White
|Original Assignee
|American Telephone And Telegraph Company At&T Bell Laboratories
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (4), Non-Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (56), Classifications (41), Legal Events (9)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This invention pertains to devices for coupling optical power from and/or into optical fiber, and to optical fiber communication systems comprising such devices.
Optical communications has undergone very rapid development, to the point where optical fiber transmission systems are becoming almost commonplace. Optical fiber is not only used for trunk (i.e., long-haul) applications, but also to transfer information over short distances, e.g., in local area networks, and potentially, in the subscriber loop.
In many applications it is necessary, or at least desirable, to inject optical power into a fiberguide at intermediate locations, and/or to extract optical power from the fiberguide at such locations, without the need for breaking or terminating the fiberguide, and without requiring special preparation of the coupling point in the fiberguide. Such couplers have been known in the art for some time. See, for instance, co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,518, ('518), issued Jan. 6, 1976, to S. E. Miller, which teaches a particular embodiment of a coupler type which will herein be referred to as a "grating" coupler.
The '518 patent teaches that optical power can be coupled from an optical fiber by impressing a periodic deformation onto the fiber, with the periodicity of the deformation chosen such as to induce coupling between appropriate modes of radiation. In this fashion power can be transferred resonantly from lower to higher order guided or bound modes, and nonresonantly from the higher bound modes to the so-called tunneling leaky (TL) modes, which are then removed from the cladding of the fiberguide with the aid of a dielectric body that is in contact with the fiberguide at a point downstream from the periodic deformation region and which has a refractive index which is approximately equal to or greater than the index of refraction of the cladding.
For an exposition of the relevant theory, see, for instance, D. Marcuse, Theory of Dielectric Optical Waveguides, Academic Press, 1974, especially pages 95-157. Briefly, it can be shown that it is possible to provide a coupling mechanism in multimode fiber such that the (i, j)'th and (p, q)'th bound modes are coupled to produce complete energy exchange over a coupling length Lc =π/Rij,pq, where the coupling constant Rij,pq depends upon fiber parameters such as the core radius, the refractive index difference between core and cladding, the operating wavelength, the fiber profile shape, and, in a coupler as disclosed in '518, on the amplitude of the distortion of the fiber. As the distortion amplitude increases, the coupling length Lc decreases. Thus, a prior art coupler as disclosed in '518 can be tuned for maximum efficiency by adjusting the amplitude of the distortions of the multimode fiber, to result in resonant energy transfer from low to higher order bound modes.
Although '518 teaches that optical power can be coupled from the single guided mode (usually referred to as the LP01 mode) of single mode fiber to one or more of the TL modes of such fiber, and that, therefore, couplers of the type disclosed in '518 could be used not only with multimode fiber but also with single mode fiber, this type of coupler has in fact only been used in conjunction with multimode fibers. The reason for this is as follows. It is generally understood in the art that the coupling process between bound modes in multimode fiber is a resonance process, and that consequently the coupling parameters can be adjusted to result in efficient resonant power transfer into high order bound modes, and from there nonresonantly into TL modes. On the other hand, the theory teaches that, in single mode fiber, the coupling between LP01, the bound mode, and a TL mode, e.g., LP11, is nonresonant, such that the radiation amplitude in LP01 decreases exponentially with distance along the propagation direction, due to the continuous transfer to the TL mode of a constant fraction of the power in LP01. See, for instance, page 112 of the above cited book by Marcuse, where it is stated that, for the case of a single-mode guide, the power coupled into TL (radiation) modes is radiated from the guide and does not interact with the guided mode. Since such nonresonant coupling cannot be tuned to result in efficient power transfer between LP01 and TL modes, it is generally accepted in the art that fiber taps of the "grating" type cannot be made to function efficiently in single mode fiber.
The fact that microbending-induced mode coupling in multimode fibers can involve a resonance mechanism has also been used to construct highly sensitive fiber optic displacement sensors. See, for instance, N. Lagakos, Digest of Technical Papers of the Conference on Optical Fiber Communication, New Orleans, La., January 1984, pp. 56-58.
G. F. Lipscomb et al, First International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors, London, April 1983, pp. 117-121, report on the result of experiments with single mode and multimode optical fiber, in which a single bend was induced in the fiber by bending the latter around a cylindrical mandrel. Interference effects between bound modes and TL modes were observed in both types of fiber. In particular, it was observed that the bending causes some of the core-mode power to convert into the cladding-mode power and, at specific angles, some of the cladding-mode power to convert back into core-mode power. It will be noted that the interference effects in the single-bend configuration of Lipscomb et al are not the desired resonance coupling effects that are of concern in this application. In this respect, see also pages 156-157 of the above cited book by Marcuse.
K. P. Jackson et al Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 41(2), pp. 139-141 (1982) report on a tapped single mode optical fiber delay line. The taps were formed by urging a tapping pin against the fiber, thereby inducing a 1.5 mm bend radius in the fiber. No resonant coupling is involved in this technique.
Since single mode optical fiber is rapidly becoming the fiber type of choice for long distance transmission, and is considered to be a promising medium even for short-haul applications in which a multiplicity of sending and/or receiving stations are connected by a single or dual fiber transmission path, it is clear that it would be very desirable to have available efficient means for coupling optical power into, and/or out of, single mode optical fiber without breaking the fiber and without permanently changing the characteristics of the fiber in the coupling region. This application discloses such coupling means.
An "optical fiber" (or fiberguide, or other equivalent term) is an elongated body comprising an interior region (the core) having a higher refractive index (at the signal wavelength λo) than the region surrounding the core, the cladding. Optical fiber can comprise cladding having a multiplicity of regions differing from each other with respect to the refractive index, and typically is enveloped by a coating, or multiple coatings. The coating typically is a polymer and may be transparent (and in fiber used in practicing the invention typically is transparent) to the radiation coupled into or from the fiber.
In optical communications systems frequently two or more lengths of fiber are spliced or otherwise joined together to form a continuous optical transmission path from a first fiber end to a second fiber end. One end often can be considered to be the input end and the other the output end of the transmission path. However, it is possible to operate a system such that a given path carries signals in both directions, with sending and receiving means at each fiber end.
The radiation guided in an optical fiber, or radiated therefrom, can be described in terms of "modes" of radiation. Herein the nomenclature introduced by D. Gloge, Applied Optics, Vol. 10, pp. 2252-2258 (1971) is used to identify the modes. With each mode LPij can be associated an attenuation constant αij and a propagation constant βij.
"Tunneling leaky"(TL) modes in single mode fiber are the low order radiating modes (LP11, LP12, LP21, . . . ) that have relatively small attenuation constants.
"Coupler" herein refers both to means for extracting optical power from an optical fiber at an intermediate fiber location, and to means for injecting optical power into an optical fiber at an intermediate fiber location.
A "grating" herein is an intermediate fiber region in which the transmission characteristics of the fiber are varying in a periodic or pseudo-periodic fashion. A grating comprises N elements, with repeat length Λ(z), where z is the longitudinal fiber coordinate. Associated with the grating is an "envelope amplitude" described by an "envelope" function g(z) that can be a constant or vary as a function of z. The fiber characteristics vary in a "periodic" manner if Λ(z) is a constant, and they vary in a "pseudo-periodic" manner if Λ(z) is a regular and predetermined function of z. The "amplitude" of an element of a grating is the maximum fiber axis displacement, or the maximum refractive index change, associated with the element.
The invention comprises means for efficiently coupling electromagnetic radiation of wavelength λo into or from an intermediate part of a single mode optical fiber, i.e., without breaking or terminating the fiber, and typically without permanently modifying the transmission properties of the fiber, e.g., by removal of all or part of the cladding material at the coupling location. The coupling means comprises means for forming a grating, e.g., means for locally changing the optical characteristics of the fiber by impressing a multiplicity of regularly (periodically or pseudo-periodically) spaced deformations on the fiber, or by changing the refractive index of the fiber in a multiplicity of regularly spaced fiber regions. In a coupling device according to the invention the grating spacing Λ(z) is chosen such that Ωo =(2πΛ)>β01 -2πncl /λo, where Λ is the average repeat spacing, β01 is the propagation constant of the LP01 mode in the fiber, and ncl is the refractive index of the fiber cladding. Furthermore, in such a device according to the invention the grating spacing Λ (z) is chosen such that Ωo ˜β01 -βrs, where βrs is the propagation constant of a TL mode LPrs in the fiber. This choice of repeat distance can result in quasi-resonant energy transfer between LP01 and LPrs (and adjacent modes), provided the power loss from LPrs is small over the distance NΛ. A typical upper limit on the attenuation constant αrp of the LPrp mode is about 1 dB/cm.
The grating can be produced by any appropriate means, including by urging one, or a pair of, suitably corrugated bodies against the fiber, thereby impressing deformations on the fiber, or by appropriately changing the refractive index of the fiber, for instance by means of the photorefractive or of the photoelastic effect.
The grating can have constant amplitude, or the amplitude can be a function of z. Furthermore, the grating can be periodic, i.e., with Λ being constant, or it can be pseudo-periodic, with the repeat spacing being a function of z. Appropriately shaped nonconstant amplitude may result in improved coupling between the fiber and an external radiation detector or radiation source, as will be described in detail below. Use of pseudo-periodic gratings may, inter alia, result in a coupler having enhanced frequency dependence. Such a coupler may, inter alia, be useful as a notch filter. The "shaping" of the grating to thereby increase coupling efficiency, frequency response, or other device characteristic, is considered to be a significant aspect of the invention.
Due to the fact that devices according to the invention can be made to be highly wavelength selective, such devices are considered to be potentially of utility as wavelength-dependent couplers in wavelength division multiplexed systems, or in Raman amplified soliton systems. Devices according to the invention are also potentially useful as notch filters, as photorefractive modulators, or as variable attenuators. Attenuators according to the invention possess a highly advantageous feature not typically found in prior art attenuators, namely, they do not cause power to be reflected back to the radiation source. Such reflection may affect the emission characteristics of sensitive sources and thus is undesirable. Furthermore, gratings according to the invention can be used in temporary taps such as are frequently required for repair or reconfiguration purposes. In such cases, the grating can advantageously be incorporated into a clamp-on device. Such devices can be used with coated or buffered individual fiber as well as with laminated ribbon fibers.
Disclosed is also an optical fiber communications system comprising a source of radiation of wavelength λo, a single mode optical fiber, means for coupling the radiation into the fiber at a first fiber location, means for detecting the radiation, after its transmission through the fiber, at a second fiber location spaced apart from the first location, means for coupling radiation (of wavelength λo, or possibly of wavelength λ≠λo) into and/or from the fiber at a third fiber location intermediate the first and second locations, with the coupling means being of the type described above. The system optionally may comprise couplers according to the invention used as attenuators, filters, or modulators.
FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary fiberguide communications system comprising means for injection and extraction of optical power at intermediate fiber regions;
FIG. 2 depicts schematically the axis of an optical fiber with periodic distortions that form a "grating" constant amplitude;
FIG. 3 is a plot of the Fourier transform of the grating function f(z)=A cosΩo z, (-πN/Ωo)<z<(πN/Ωo);
FIG. 4 is a plot of the grating function f(z)=g(z) cosΩo z, for the same range of z as in FIG. 3, where g(z)=exp(-z2 /a2);
FIG. 5 depicts the Fourier transform of the function shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows the radiation pattern of an exemplary semiconductor laser and the acceptance function of an exemplary single mode fiber;
FIG. 7 schematically shows an exemplary communications system comprising a photorefractive modulator;
FIG. 8 schematically depicts a photorefractive modulator FIG. 9 schematically shows aspects of an inventive communications system; and
FIG. 1 schematically depicts an exemplary communications system according to the invention, in which 10 is a length of optical fiber, 11 a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., a laser emitting at 1.55 μm, 12 means for coupling the radiation into an end of the fiber, and 13 is a radiation detector. Intermediate locations 14, 18, and 23 are sites at which coupling means according to the invention are deployed, with 15 being means for tapping radiation 16 from the fiber, 19 being means for injecting radiation 21 into the fiber, and 24 being means for both tapping and injecting of radiation. Receiving means 17 and 26 can be any means for receiving the tapped radiation, e.g., a detector, or another fiber. Similarly, sources 20 and 25 can be any source of radiation to be injected, e.g., a laser, a LED, or another fiber. Although means 22 for changing the shape of the radiation pattern are shown at only one coupling site, it is clear that such means can, but need not be, used generally.
A central aspect of the instant invention is the discovery that it is possible to achieve essentially resonant coupling between the propagating mode LP01 and TL modes, principally LP11, in single mode optical fiber. This discovery, which is not predicted by currently accepted theory, makes possible the construction of very efficient means for coupling radiation from, and/or into, single mode optical fiber at intermediate points along the fiber, without having to break or terminate the fiber.
If the loss of optical power from a TL mode in a fiber length of the order of a centimeter is only a small fraction of the power in the mode, then the radiation mode acts locally essentially as if it were a bound mode. That is to say, if the quantity NΛαrs <<1 for the TL mode LPrs then the power transfer between LP01 and LPrs can be essentially resonant. Under these circumstances, coupling conditions (e.g., grating spacing Λ(z), number of elements N, and amplitude of the envelope function g(z)) can be found such that the radiation can be efficiently coupled into, or from, a single mode optical fiber. Although useful coupling may also be possible if the LPrs mode attenuation constant is greater than about 1 dB/cm, we currently consider 1 dB/cm to be a realistic upper limit of the permissible attenuation of the selected TL mode or modes.
Many currently used single mode fiber designs are such that, at the design wavelength λo of the fiber, the lowest order TL mode (LP11) has a relatively small attenuation constant α11, such that the above discussed limitation generally can be met at least for LP11, and typically also for other TL modes.
As previously discussed, mode coupling is produced by means of a "grating" introduced into the fiber at or near the location where optical power is to be injected into, or removed from, the fiber core. The TL mode LPrs to which LP01 couples most strongly is selected by appropriate choice of grating parameters, principally of the repeat distance Λ(z) for a given wavelength. By choosing Λ(z) such that Ωo =(2π/Λ) >β01 -(2π/λo)ncl one insures that LP01 couples to one (or more) TL modes. By furthermore choosing Λ(z) such that Ωo =β01 -βrs the grating causes quasi-resonant coupling principally between LP01 and LPrs, if NΛαrs <<1. An exemplary value for Λ is of the order of 500 μm. Typically, the grating repeat distance in single mode fiber is less than about 1 mm, which is to be contrasted with the situation in multimode fiber, where the repeat distance typically is greater than 1 mm.
For realistic gratings in typical single mode fiber, the resonance is of finite width. By this is meant that, for Ωo =β01 -βrs, coupling occurs not only between LP01 and LPrs, but also, albeit weaker, between the former and TL modes LPij whose propagation constant is close to βrs. In particular, for an N-element grating one can show that a measure of the resonant coupling width is Ωo N-1, i.e., resonance coupling will occur to modes LPij if |βrs -βij |<Ωo N-1.
The required repeat distance for a given fiber can either be determined by computing the propagation constants for the relevant modes by known methods, or it can be determined experimentally. Frequently, it will be found advantageous to use a combination of the two approaches. As is well known, the value of the propagation constant of a given mode depends not only on the wavelength of the radiation but also on fiber parameters, including effective refractive index and index profile shape.
In order to characterize a grating, it is not only necessary to specify the repeat distance but also further parameters, including the envelope function. For instance, for a grating formed by spatially periodic distortions of the fiber, the envelope function specifies the amplitudes of the distortions impressed on the fiber axis. For a grating formed by spatially periodic variations of the refractive index of the fiber, the envelope function typically specifies the maximum refractive index of the various grating elements.
In a simple exemplary case, the grating is sinusoidal, i.e., it can be described by a function f(z)=A cosΩo z, for (-πN/Ωo)<z<(πN/Ωo), and zero otherwise. The coordinate origin has been selected such that the grating is symmetrical about the coordinate origin. This is done for the sake of convenience only, and has no fundamental significance.
This function is depicted in FIG. 2, with greatly exaggerated ordinate. In the above exemplary case the envelope function is a constant (A) independent of z. In general, however, the envelope function can be a function of z, and, as will be discussed next, gratings with nonconstant envelope can advantageously be used in devices according to the invention.
As is well known, the radiation pattern from a diffraction grating is described by the Fourier transform of the grating function. Similarly, the pattern of radiation emitted from a fiber that comprises a grating as discussed herein is proportional to the Fourier transform of the envelope function. Since reciprocity applies to the inventive devices, it can immediately be asserted that the Fourier transform of the envelope function also corresponds to the pattern of radiation that can be injected into the fiber by means of the grating. The Fourier transform F(1/3) of a function f(z) is defined as follows: ##EQU1##
By way of illustration, if a grating is described by
f(z)=AcosΩo z,
for (-πN/Ωo)<z<(πN/Ωo), then ##EQU2## A graph of the first term of this expression is shown in FIG. 3, and corresponds closely to F(Ω), since the second term does not produce a significant effect.
The Fourier transform of a grating function is related to the radiation pattern in the cladding of the fiber through the expression
θij =cos-1 (λo βij /2πncl), (1)
with the relative radiation amplitude in the direction that makes an angle θij with the undistorted fiber axis being proportional to the amplitude of the Fourier transform for Ω=β01 -βij. The radiation pattern outside of the fiber can be derived from the pattern in the cladding by a simple application of Snell's law, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. It will also be understood that, in the case of a grating that has a symmetry plane that contains the axis of the fiber, the radiation pattern is symmetrical about the same symmetry plane.
Under appropriate circumstances the coupling efficiency to an external radiation source (e.g., a laser, a LED, or another optical fiber) or a radiation receiver (e.g., a photodetector diode, another fiber or other optical waveguide, including a planar optical waveguide) can be increased by choice of grating shape (e.g., amplitude g(z). In particular, it is advantageous to form a grating such that the Fourier transform of the grating function f(z) approximates the radiation pattern of the external source or the aperture function of the receiver. This is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, which schematically show an exemplary grating with nonconstant (Gaussian, i.e., g(z)∝exp(-z2 /a2)) amplitude and the Fourier transform of the grating function, respectively. The Fourier transform is to be compared with FIG. 6, in which curve 60 is the exemplary radiance distribution of a semiconductor laser, and curve 61 is the output pattern of an exemplary single mode fiber. The close match between the shape of a peak of the Fourier transform (FIG. 5) and the shape of the curves of FIG. 6 is apparent, indicating the close possible matching between these sources and a coupler of Gaussian amplitude.
The pseudo-periodic grating function f(z)∝[J1 (ΩB z)/z]cos(ΩM z) has the Fourier transform F(Ω)=[1-(Ω-ΩM)2 /ΩB 2 ]1/2 for -ΩB <(Ω-ΩM)<ΩB, and F(Ω)=0 for Ω-ΩM >ΩB. In these expressions, J1 (ΩB z ) is the well known first order Bessel function, ΩM =2π/ΛM, where ΛM is the central grating spacing, and ΩB is a constant that determines the width of the Fourier transform. A grating that is described by the above grating function is particularly advantageous as a notch filter, since it will pass unattenuated all wavelengths of radiation, except those in a narrow spectral range.
As expressed by the principle of reciprocity, couplers according to the invention have identical radiation pattern and aperture function. Thus the curve of FIG. 5 also represents the radiation pattern of the coupler used as a tap. Similarly, curve 61 of FIG. 6 corresponds also to the aperture function of a single mode fiber. Thus it is possible to closely match an inventive coupler to a single mode receiving fiber. Frequently it is advantageous to alter the beam width by means of a lens or lenses, for instance, when coupling into the end, or from the end, of a single mode optical fiber.
As mentioned above, a method for forming a grating in a fiber is to mechanically distort the fiber, such that the axis of the fiber assumes the appropriate shape, i.e., as described by the grating function. Means for achieving this are known. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,931,518, 4,135,780, and 4,253,727. For instance, two corrugated metal, glass, ceramic, or plastic plates can be urged against the fiber, with the corrugations aligned to achieve a periodic fiber axis distortion. For instance, a grating can be introduced into an optical fiber by a clamp-on device, such as is schematically depicted in FIG. 9, which shows optical fiber 10, clamp-on device 90, and radiation detector 94. The clamp-on device comprises corrugated means 91, and means 92 for urging the corrugated means against the fiber. Also shown is detector 94 for detecting the radiation caused to be emitted from the fiber.
Another possible method for producing a grating in the fiber is the application of a spatially periodic stress to the fiber to induce a periodic variation in the refractive index via the photoelastic effect. Such a stress can be produced by means similar to those used for producing the axial distortion. In the case of grating-formation by axial distortion, it is typically not required to remove the fiber coating, whereas in the photoelastic case, at least with silica-based fiber, the necessary stresses are such that we currently consider it preferable to remove the fiber coating. However, the invention can be practiced with other than silica-based fibers, and other materials, e.g., plastics, can have a substantially larger photoelastic coefficient than SiO2, and therefore require smaller stresses.
Another method for forming the grating uses the photorefractive effect. The presence of an appropriate dopant (e.g., Fe or Bi) in the fiber core can result in a change of refractive index upon exposure of the fiber to light of appropriate wavelength. For instance, exposing Bi-doped silica to radiation of wavelength of about 568 nm is expected to produce a change in the refractive index of the exposed region.
The photorefractive method avoids the possibility of mechanical damage to the fiber, and offers the potential for forming a grating with time-dependent parameters. Such a grating can be used to modulate the amplitude of radiation guided in the fiber, by time-dependent removal of radiation from the fiber. Such a device can be used, for instance, on customer premises, to provide economical means for modulating an inexpensive cw light source. A portion of an exemplary communications system incorporating such devices is schematically depicted in FIG. 7, wherein 70 corresponds to a telephone central office or other major switching center connected by trunk lines 71 to other similar centers. Multiplexed optical pulses are transmitted over optical fiber lines 72 from and to local distribution points 73, of which only one is shown. Signals arriving in 73 from 72 are demultiplexed and distributed to subscriber lines 74 and transmitted to subscriber stations 75 (only one is shown). The subscriber apparatus typically would comprise a directional coupler 76 if 74 is used as a two-way transmission path. However, no such coupler may be necessary if 74 is a duplex line. In either case, signals arriving in 75 are detected by detector 77, whose output 78 is available for processing by known means. The station apparatus also comprises a cw light source 81 (e.g., an LED, or a wide band source such as an incandescent source together with appropriate narrow banding means, e.g., a filter), the output of 81 being coupled into a fiber comprising photorefractive modulator 80. The modulator is responsive to input signal 79, i.e., the amount of radiation transmitted through 80 and thence coupled into 74 varies in response to 79. The modulated cw signal arriving in 73 from 75 typically would be transformed into a standard pulsed signal and then be switched onto line 72 or onto another line 76. It will be understood that the depicted network is exemplary only, and that subscriber stations as described can be used with any fiber network geometry.
FIG. 8 schematically depicts an exemplary photorefractive modulator 80. The modulator comprises means for exposing a region of fiber 87 to spatially and temporally varying radiation. The means comprise a radiation source 82 whose output intensity is responsive to signal 79, and means 84 (e.g., a diffraction grating) for transforming output 83 of 82 into spatially varying radiation, with N maxima 851, 852, . . . 85N. The core of fiber 87 contains an appropriate dopant (e.g., Bi), and radiation 83 is chosen to have a wavelength that causes the dopant to undergo a transition which results in a change of the refractive index of the fiber core. The transformed state advantageously has a relatively short lifetime, such that modulation bandwidths of the order of 1 MHz can be achieved. The length of fiber 87 is coupled to conventional optical fiber (multimode or single mode) 10 and 10' by means of connectors 86, with cw radiation being introduced into 10'. If 83 is modulated temporally, then a temporally varying grating is formed in 87, causing coupling of a time-varying amount of radiation 88 from 87, and consequently amplitude modulation of the radiation in the fiber. For information on the photorefractive effect see, for instance, A. M. Glass, Optical Engineering, Vol. 17(5), pp. 470-479 (1978).
One of the advantages of the instant invention is that grating creation by axial distortion requires only such small deformations (typically <0.5 μm) that fiber damage (including damage to the coating) is essentially nonexistent. Thus, it is possible to attach such couplers to fiber for indefinite periods of time.
Pseudo-periodic inventive couplers may be particularly advantageous for filtering applications, since such gratings can be designed to have substantially no attenuation for radiation outside a well-defined wavelength range. However, it is also possible to achieve effective filtering with periodic, even constant amplitude, gratings. For instance, we have achieved 15 dB excess attenuation at 1.5 μm, with 0.02 dB excess attenuation at 1.3 μm, with a constant amplitude (N=60, Λ=560 μm) axial distortion grating.
In some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide means for enhancing the radiation of TL modes from the cladding of the single mode fiber. This can be achieved, for instance, by contacting the fiber with an appropriate dielectric body at a downstream location, or by producing a macrobend in the fiber downstream from the grating. Such means are known in the art. See, for instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,931,518 and 4,135,780. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to use a corrugated body not only to produce the grating but also to perform an optical function, e.g., to change the shape of the emitted radiation pattern. Such corrugated transparent dielectric bodies are known (see, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,727).
In commercially available single mode optical fiber (8.5 μm core diameter, 125 μm fiber diameter, dual polymer coating, diameter of coated fiber 245 μm, cut-off wavelength of LP11 ˜1.27μm) a grating was formed by squeezing an intermediate portion of the coated fiber between two corrugated PMMA members. The members were aligned such that valleys in one member were opposite peaks in the other member. Each corrugation had 10 periods, with a spacing of about 559 μm. A normal force of about 15 N was applied to the members, resulting in a deformation amplitude of about 0.2 μm. A commercially available 1.3 μm laser source was butt-coupled to one end of this optical fiber (to be referred to as the first fiber), the length of the transmission path between source and grating being about 1 km. A commercially available radiation detector was butt-coupled to a short length of single mode optical fiber of the above-described type (to be referred to as the second fiber), and the other end of the second fiber was placed at the focus of a graded index cylindrical lens of 2 mm diameter, with a normalized refractive index difference of about 0.04. The first fiber was mounted on a goniometer stage such that the center of the grating region was at the center of the circular measurement track along which a mounting platform could be moved. The lensed second optical fiber was attached to the platform, and the power of the laser radiation that was emitted from the first fiber and coupled into the second fiber was determined as a function of the angle θ between the axis of the first fiber and the optical axis of the lensed second fiber. The maximum of detected power was about 18.5 dB below the power coupled into the first fiber, and occurred for θ˜20�.
in a set-up substantially as described above (except that detector and laser source were interchanged), the power that was emitted from the lensed second fiber and coupled into the first fiber by means of the grating was determined. The maximum detected power was about 18 dB below the power coupled into the second fiber, and occurred for θ˜20�. The small difference between the powers observed in Examples 1 and 2 is due to the variation in the efficiency of the connectors attached to source and detector, respectively.
As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the repeat distance Λ(z) and amplitude function g(z) that are associated with a grating are nominal mathematical expressions, and that the actual repeat distance and amplitude of a grating in a fiber may depart from the nominal value, due to unavoidable manufacturing imperfections. However, typically it will be possible for actual repeat distances and amplitudes to be within �10%, preferably �5%, of their nominal values.
It will also be appreciated that, although in principle N, the number of elements in a grating, can be any integer greater than 1, typically N will be at least 5, frequently 10 or more.
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|Publication date
|Nov 12, 1987
|Mar 28, 1989
|Raychem Corp.
|Dynamic range reduction using mode filter
|Aug 17, 1987
|Jun 27, 1989
|American Telephone And Telegraph Company
|N�N single-mode optical waveguide coupler
|Oct 20, 1987
|Nov 21, 1989
|British Telecommunications, Plc
|Apparatus and methods for processing optical signal with waveguides exhibiting soliton effects
|Feb 8, 1989
|Feb 6, 1990
|Stc Plc
|Non-intrusive fibre optic tap
|Apr 10, 1987
|Mar 27, 1990
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Optical fiber communication system comprising mode-stripping means
|Apr 13, 1989
|Oct 16, 1990
|Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
|Device for coupling light to and from a light guide
|Oct 20, 1987
|Oct 16, 1990
|British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
|Optical device producing an intensity dependent phase shift
|Dec 9, 1988
|Nov 27, 1990
|British Telecommunications Public Limited Company
|Optical nonlinear cross-coupled interferometer and method utilizing same
|Jun 7, 1989
|Nov 27, 1990
|Martin Marietta Corporation
|Method and apparatus for securing information communicated through optical fibers
|Nov 13, 1989
|Dec 4, 1990
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Mode scrambler with non-invasive fabrication in an optical fiber's cladding
|Dec 21, 1989
|Feb 5, 1991
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Fabrication of optical components utilizing a laser
|Dec 21, 1989
|May 7, 1991
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Fabrication of an integrated optical fiber bus
|Dec 21, 1989
|Jun 25, 1991
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Fabrication of optical couplers
|Apr 6, 1990
|Aug 13, 1991
|Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
|Optical signal distribution network and method of converting independent optical/electrical signals
|Feb 15, 1991
|Aug 4, 1992
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Apparatus for fabrication of optical couplers
|Aug 12, 1991
|Aug 18, 1992
|At&T Bell Laboratories
|Soliton optical fiber communication system
|Jun 10, 1991
|Sep 8, 1992
|York Limited
|Optical fibre communication network
|Oct 22, 1992
|Aug 2, 1994
|Laser Precision Corp.
|Method of detecting breaks in multi-drop feeder systems
|Dec 20, 1993
|Feb 7, 1995
|United Technologies Corporation
|Method and apparatus for forming aperiodic gratings in optical fibers
|Jan 21, 1993
|Mar 21, 1995
|The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy
|Technique to prepare high-reflectance optical fiber bragg gratings with single exposure in-line or fiber draw tower
|Dec 22, 1994
|Jul 18, 1995
|Northern Telecom Limited
|Optical repeaters
|Aug 12, 1994
|Apr 29, 1997
|Brown; Thomas G.
|Optoelectronic device for coupling between an external optical wave and a local optical wave for optical modulators and detectors
|Jul 24, 1996
|Jan 13, 1998
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Optical components for live-fiber identifier and coupler
|May 17, 1996
|Feb 24, 1998
|Tir Technologies, Inc.
|High efficiency ejection of light from optical wave guide, by holographically produced light scattering means
|Feb 7, 1997
|Nov 3, 1998
|At&T Corp.
|Method and apparatus for cut-over of optical fibers
|Jun 30, 1997
|Dec 22, 1998
|Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
|Depressed cladding fiber design for reducing coupling to cladding modes in fiber gratings
|Jun 8, 1998
|Sep 19, 2000
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Article comprising a dispersive waveguide tap
|Dec 3, 1997
|Feb 6, 2001
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
|Optical attenuator and method of manufacturing same
|May 5, 1998
|Aug 21, 2001
|Schleifring Und Apparatebau Gmbh
|Device for transmitting optical signals between two dynamically decoupled systems
|Apr 14, 2000
|Mar 12, 2002
|General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.
|Adjustable optical fiber grating dispersion compensators
|Jun 18, 1999
|Jan 28, 2003
|Trw Inc.
|Broadcast optical communication system employing waveguide having grating normal to sources and detectors
|Nov 15, 1999
|Apr 1, 2003
|Fitel Usa Corp.
|Attenuator for buffered optical fibers
|Apr 22, 2005
|Mar 20, 2007
|Minebea Co.,, Ltd.
|Torque measuring device for rotating body having light conductive member provided with optical path converting means
|May 8, 2003
|Aug 28, 2007
|Galileo Vacuum Systems S.R.L.
|Device to determine the thickness of a conductive layer
|Jul 9, 2003
|Feb 26, 2008
|Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
|Optical amplification module, optical amplification apparatus, and optical communications system
|Jun 16, 2003
|Feb 10, 2009
|Schleifring Und Apparatebau Gmbh
|Device for transferring optical signals by means of planar optical conductors
|Feb 18, 2008
|Jun 28, 2011
|Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration
|Optical biosensor using SPR phenomenon
|Aug 1, 2008
|Feb 12, 2013
|Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
|Apparatus for transmitting data between two systems which move relative to one another
|Mar 26, 2010
|Jul 16, 2013
|Time Warner Cable Enterprises Llc
|Fiber to the premise service disconnect via macro-bending loss
|Jul 9, 2003
|Jul 22, 2004
|Motoki Kakui
|Optical amplification module, optical amplification apparatus, and optical communications system
|Jun 16, 2003
|Dec 16, 2004
|Harry Schilling
|Device for transferring optical signals by means of planar optical conductors
|May 8, 2003
|Nov 3, 2005
|Massimo Lasagni
|Device to determine the thickness of a conductive layer
|Apr 22, 2005
|Nov 17, 2005
|Atsushi Kitamura
|Torque measuring device for rotating body having light conductive member provided with optical path converting means
|Jun 16, 2003
|May 8, 2008
|Harry Schilling
|Device for transferring optical signals by means of planar optical conductors
|Aug 1, 2008
|Aug 12, 2010
|Markus Stark
|Apparatus for transmitting data between two systems which move relative to one another
|Mar 26, 2010
|Sep 29, 2011
|Time Warner Cable Inc.
|Fiber to the Premise Service Disconnect Via Macro-Bending Loss
|Nov 20, 1997
|Sep 8, 2005
|Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon
|Verfahren zur Herstellung eines optischen D�mpfungsgliedes
|Dec 21, 1990
|Mar 15, 2000
|United Technologies Corporation
|Optical waveguide embedded transverse spatial mode discrimination filter
|Aug 19, 1997
|Mar 4, 1998
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Optical planar waveguide notch filters
|Aug 19, 1997
|Jan 27, 1999
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Optical planar waveguide notch filters
|May 19, 1998
|Nov 25, 1998
|Nec Corporation
|Waveguide element, waveguide branch or coupler element and waveguide integrated circuit
|May 19, 1998
|Aug 2, 2000
|Nec Corporation
|Waveguide element, waveguide branch or coupler element and waveguide integrated circuit
|Nov 3, 1998
|May 19, 1999
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Method and apparatus for monitoring multi-wavelength optical systems
|Nov 3, 1998
|Jun 30, 1999
|Lucent Technologies Inc.
|Method and apparatus for monitoring multi-wavelength optical systems
|Apr 15, 2005
|Nov 16, 2005
|Minebea Co. Ltd.
|Torque measuring device for rotating body having light conductive member provided with optical path converting means
|May 5, 1998
|Jan 28, 1999
|Schleifring Und Apparatebau Gmbh
|Device for transmitting optical signals between two dynamically decoupled systems
|U.S. Classification
|385/37, 385/24, 385/28
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Nov 6, 1985
Owner name: BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, 600 MOU
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|Oct 15, 1991
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|Oct 30, 1995
|Fee payment
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|Nov 24, 1999
|Fee payment
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|Mar 28, 2001
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text:
Taking a swing at 2017 fantasy football rankings this early is always difficult, but when it's wide receiver rankings, you're basically trying to hit a 99-mph slider (not possible) your eyes closed (really not possible). DeAndre Hopkins, who was a top-five WR on nearly everyone's draft cheat sheet last year, flamed out, while rookie Michael Thomas stormed his way into the top 10 with ease. Who projected that?
Our early rankings might tilt a little too much toward veterans, particularly guys like Demaryius Thomas, Alshon Jeffery, and Hopkins, who likely seem "boring" to many owners trying to hit the next big thing, but we're fine with that. If you want to take Tyreek Hill or DaVante Parker over some of these other guys, go for it. It's your team.
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end
For now, we'll favor known quanities and consistency a little more, but as things like free agency and the draft change the NFL landscape, our rankings will change with them.
Fantasy football rankings 2017: Wide receivers
1. Antonio Brown, Steelers.
2. Julio Jones, Falcons.
3. Odell Beckham Jr., Giants.
4. Mike Evans, Buccaneers.
5. A.J. Green, Bengals.
6. Jordy Nelson, Packers.
7. T.Y. Hilton, Colts.
8. Dez Bryant, Cowboys.
9. Amari Cooper, Raiders.
10. Michael Thomas, Saints.
11. Brandin Cooks, Patriots.
12. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos.
13. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks.
14. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans.
15. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles.
16. Sammy Watkins, Bills.
17. Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers.
18. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs.
19. Allen Robinson, Jaguars.
20. Donte Moncrief, Colts.
21. Tyrell Williams, Chargers.
22. Michael Crabtree, Raiders.
23. Julian Edelman, Patriots.
24. DaVante Parker, Dolphins.
25. Davante Adams, Packers.
26. Jordan Matthews, Eagles.
27. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals.
28. Terrelle Pryor, Browns.
29. Marvin Jones Jr., Lions.
30. Sterling Shepard, Giants.
31. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins.
32. Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos.
33. Golden Tate, Lions.
34. Brandon Marshall, Giants.
35. Jamison Crowder, Redskins.
36. Rishard Matthews, Titans.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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This note was uploaded on 03/25/2012 for the course EAC 2212 taught by Professor Whitaker during the Spring '10 term at FIT.
- Spring '10
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HCA offers unlimited career advancement opportunities within our system of more than 250 hospitals and freestanding surgery centers located in 20 U.S. states and the UK.
A career with the nation's largest provider of hospital and healthcare services starts here.
Join our talent network and stay connected to the largest healthcare employer in the U.S. You'll never miss an opportunity to find a rewarding career in healthcare.
Over 4,400 Military Veterans hired in 2016We're committed to hiring Military Veterans and Military Spouses
We provide job opportunities for military veterans in patient care, supply chain and logistics, IT, engineering and technical, administrative and managerial, finance and more...
Our family of more than 241,000 healthcare professionals is dedicated to developing innovative strategies and practices to better the human condition. Are you looking for a fulfilling career with a healthcare leader? You've come to the right place.
Local Physician Practices
Surgery Centers
R. Milton Johnson
Serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HCA since 2014, Milton Johnson began his 33-year healthcare career with the company in 1982.
Dr. Jane Englebright
Named Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive in January 2015, Dr. Englebright joined HCA in 1992 as a critical care nurse at Lewisville Medical Center in Texas.
Samuel Hazen
As President and Chief Operating Officer for HCA, Sam Hazen oversees the company's operations across its 42 domestic markets and in the United Kingdom.


text:
This entry was posted in SR Thoughts and tagged foursquare, location services, social media, solomo.
SocialRadar was founded on a singular vision: everyone connected.
Today over 1.1 billion people have smartphone devices that can broadcast their locations, and over 2.8 billion people have social profiles online. In the future, technology will inevitably combine the smartphone's location with the power of social networks enabling users to walk into a room and already be aware of the people and connections around them.
We are building that technology today for the iPhone, Android and Google Glass.
We believe that you are connected to the people around you in more ways than you may first realize. SocialRadar opens your eyes to the world around you. It puts you in-the-know, allowing you to connect with friends and discover new people. SocialRadar empowers you to see the connections that used to be hidden right in front of you – not only who you know but who you want to know.
SocialRadar begins by combining location and profile data from all the major social networks (Facebook, FourSquare, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+) as well as our own proprietary network.
Then we give you the ability to discover people nearby based on individual characteristics and interests. You can personalize your settings to only search for people that you are connected to or are of interest to you. There's also an alert feature that notifies you when someone you are interested in is within a pre-set range – even when you are not using the app.
Finally, we promise a high degree of security and privacy. You can easily share your information publicly, broadcast your information anonymously, or be invisible.
I firmly believe SocialRadar is going to fundamentally change the way we meet and connect. I'm excited for all the possibilities that lie ahead and I hope you are too.
No comments yet.


text:
The flick of a lighter, the illumination of the end of a cigarette, and one glorious draw in of delicious tobacco, and all stress was relieved from the gambler's shoulders. He exhaled smoke through his nostrils like a dragon and tilted his head backwards, staring up at the light-polluted sky. How did he end up in Atlantic City? It was a wild goose chase. He was at the end of the line of the chase. He owed that one wrong man some money and he had to pay it off somehow before he could make Swiss cheese envious.
"Nicky, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing, sweetheart. Only you being here with me now."
The gambler took another drag on his cigarette and held it in his lungs. It was difficult for him to feel it burning his already sullied lungs. He slowly blew out the smoke in a puff, watching it disperse in the air.
"Mm, Nicky, you promised me something to eat…"
Nick winced at the sound of the woman's voice. A blonde broad dressed in a midnight blue cocktail dress and pretty diamonds snaking around her wrist, gold around her neck and in her ears. Nick knew a leech when he saw one.
"Well, sweetheart, how's pizza sound like?"
The broad broke out in laughter. He couldn't stand her voice when she was normally talking, but laughter was just painful to listen to.
And what the hell was her name again?
Whatever. When morning would come, he'd be gone like the wind with her sparkling jewelry and on his way to what would be most likely at a Native casino.
"You're kidding, right?"
"Yeah, honey. I am. What is it that you wanted?"
"Lobster at that restaurant across the street. You can afford it, right?" Nick inhaled his cigarette, held it in his lungs, and pressed his lips against hers, forcing the smoke into her lungs. She jumped back a bit in surprise but started kissing him back, almost passionately. "There's nothing I can't afford." Smoke expelled from both their mouths as they pulled away, lust being breathed out of Nick's mouth as he kept close to her ear. She outwardly shivered and took hold of the folds of his white jacket and pulled him closer to her, pressing her body against his.
"I do believe dinner can wait."
Nick grinned from ear to ear but wouldn't allow her to see it. "You sure? It would be a pretty good meal."
She gave a few deep chuckles and kissed his exposed chest. "There's a pretty good meal standing in front of me."
Her lips traveled along his nick and brushed off onto the collar of his jacket, staining it as she proceeded to kiss his neck. A nibble and bite later and a hickey had been marked on his neck. She was now deep within his grasp.
"You don't know just what kind of meal you have in front of you, darling…it's all your choice."
"Oh, I know." She grinned and looked up at him and wrapped her lips around his, the two exchanging a deep kiss, Nick holding up his cigarette so it wouldn't get tangled in her mess of blonde hair.
She had no idea that she was dancing right into the devil's snare. No idea that he was going to get up way before she did in the morning and disappear even before the sun would shine.
Nick hadn't slept the entire night. He had broken open a bottle of wine, slipped a few sedatives inside the broad's glass, and had fun with her until the sedatives kicked in and she was too tired to continue. He had stopped feeling terrible about it probably after the first three times he had done it. Especially since they were his sedatives to begin with. Prescription pills. He was never able to sleep right. Insomnia had a powerful grip on him out of sheer fear that he would be hunted and killed like a dog because of all the money he owed to people, all the people he had gunned down. All the people that haunted and plagued his subconscious and with invisible nails, dragged them beneath his eyelids and making it painful for him every time he closed his eyes.
He needed no religious demons to chase him down in hell when he was already running from them on earth.
Silently, he pulled his clothes on and reached over to the sleeping woman. She was out like a light. He unclasped her bracelet and necklace and undid the earrings from both ear lobes and stuffed them in his pocket. It paid to be cautious in Atlantic City. It was a place of money and swindlers after all. It was only her fault for sleeping with a complete stranger. The gambler turned away from the sleeping woman and headed for the door, not even bothering to look back as he exited the room.
His hands fumbled inside his jacket pocket for a cigarette and lit it up as soon as he reached outside, inhaling the intoxicatingly wondrous tobacco and nicotine. The broad wouldn't get up before noon at the earliest. He had his money, his car, a gun hidden in his pants, and he had perfectly covered his tracks for the next few hours, which was plenty of time to get a fair distance between himself and the broad he just stole from. He made his way over to his white '86 trans-am and got in, pulling his chair back and staring up at the sky once more through the windshield. He reached over to the radio and turned it on, rock-and-roll coming on. He listened to it for a bit and pulled out the diamond bracelet, staring at it for a while as he stuck the cigarette in his mouth and let it burn there for a while.
"Why ain't ya happy, Nick!"
Nick could hear his wife's Southern drawl come out long and thick as a result of the three bottles of wine she had put down herself.
"Anne…just put the bottle down for now…"
His hand unconsciously ran through his hair in reminiscent of how he now kept it long enough to sleek back and hide the scar that a wine bottle had inflicted upon him. God, there was blood everywhere.
"I'm happy, Anne, I'm happy! Let's just…talk this over, alright?"
"There ain't nothin' t'talk about! Yuh ain't no happy man if yew gotta go an' gamble and have people runnin' tuh me in the middle of work askin' me fer money! Don't I make yew happy! If I do, why ain't what I do enough!"
God, he hated Southern accents now. They used to send shivers down his spine, but even in memory, he hated the sound of that Southern mark. He counted the number of diamonds being held inside the gold encasement.
"You make me happy, Anne! God, I love what you do! Helping kids, being a nurse in pediatrics is hard, I know! I just…I wanted to get you something nice out of my own wallet. I promised to find work and I just can't!"
"Y'ain't good fer nothing! You've been livin' off me fer too long now!"
"I made a hundred thousand in cash the other day! I got you a car! I paid off half of your house! When I win, I win!"
"Y'almost lost the house once, Nick! Jesus Christ, when are you going tuh find a real job!"
"I applied, I need to get called back!"
"As what, Nick! I ain't never seen yew pick up th' phone an' call people! If what I do don't satisfy you, you best stop this gamblin' an' find a right proper job!"
Twenty seven. Twenty seven little diamonds beaded beautifully around his prize.
He slipped it back in his pocket and fired up the engine, the music cutting for a moment and flaring back to life. He inhaled the cigarette once more and breathed out the noxious fumes as he backed out of the parking and took off south. To the place he hated the most.
With the flu in the air and people falling ill left right and center, he had no qualms about sinning to his heart's content for those sporadic happy moments.
Money, women, and sex.
He'd have his fill while running. With any luck, his persecutors would drop dead before he was caught. With a final drag, he threw his cigarette out of the window and lit another one, coughing a bit on the smoke. He took a good look at himself in the rearview mirror and gave a small chuckle. What had he become?
"Ya ain't worth nothin', Nick, if yeh can't even bring in money."
"Honey, I'm paying off your debt too however I can…and your brother's debt too, with the gambling money. I'm good at it. I'm really good at it. If it'll help get us through this…"
"Yew ain't no good man! Worth shit! Trash!"
Nick gave a small smile and put the pedal to the metal, the car roaring to life as he blazed down the empty highway ahead and away from Atlantic City.
He'd become someone who just gave up on giving a damn about people. Women and Southerners, most of all. Especially if they had those damnable Southern accents.
"Just gonna look out for number one from now on."
He spoke to the mirror and adjusted it a bit, letting his car take him to a pawn shop away from trouble, letting his arm dangle outside the car window while flicking his cigarette free of ash.
AN: Just because it's been floating around my head for a while _ enjoy!


text:
Justice Buy 1 Get 1 Free Today Only
If your girls love Justice, here's a great sale good online today only! Hurry over for Buy 1, Get 1 Free Mix & Match Anything & Everything! Plus, shipping adds a flat rate of just $5.99. Be sure to use coupon code 457. This sale is good today 6/08/14.


text:
£165 £275
The Emile-D shirt features an elegant, high-collar with ruffles for a romantic look. Wear this satin devoré shirt with a wool-pleated skirt and low boots for evening occasions or team it with high-waist culottes during workdays.
£416 £595
Wear the glamourous Alexia polka-dot maxi dress with mirror embellishments. Style it with heels for a sophisticated yet headturning evening look or dressed down in the day for a boho chic vibe.
£339 £485
The Jennifer B is the perfect maxi-dress for a smart/casual dinner. The fabric is a light and delicate, with a subtle velvet polka dot devoré print. Style it with a clutch bag and some high heels to make an impression.
Sold Out - £249 £415
This new version of Saloni's classic Tilly silk dress is stunning with a cascade of frills and a slightly oversized shape. The versatile Porcelain print makes this dress a must-have for any chic occasion this summer.
£297 £495
The Mary dress in Navy combines a velvet devoré polka dot, high ruffled neckline with an elegant silhouette. This maxi-dress is perfect for a romantic dinner when worn with a clutch bag and some heels.
£270 £450
Combine this voluminous Naomi skirt with matching crop top for an romantic look that combines retro elegance with a modern twist. The versatile print lends itself well to both warmer and cooler climates, making this an essential investment this season.
£240 £480
The lovely Dina silk georgette short dress in the delicate Plum Botany print is flattering to wear with boots this winter. The detail of the pleated skirt gives a graceful silhouette to the dress. Style it with a leather jacket and a clutch bag for a cocktail party.
Sold Out - £297 £495
The Molly silk shirt dress is a Saloni signature. Made from luxurious crepe de chine, the Molly silk dress is easy to wear during the day, or style with a pair of low boots and clutch bag for an effortless evening look.
Sold Out - £455 £650
The glamourous Isa silk dress in Damson Garden print is beautifully embroidered on the sleeves and its ruffled asymmetric hem. Wear it for a cocktail party or a romantic dinner with a long wool coat and some high-heeled boots.
£270 £450
Style this lovely Naomi printed skirt with the matching Abbie crop top in Humbug for a very elegant look. The print gives a modern twist to this perfect combination of off-the-shoulder top and volumious crinkle skirt.
£339 £485
The Alice jumpsuit is very feminine shape with an elegant and flattering off-the-shoulder detail, fitted waistband and an adjustable tie on the waist. Style it with some open-toe heels and a leather jacket for a cocktail party.
£270 £540
This elegant Grace silk dress in Saffron Polka dots is flattering with its off-the-shoulder detail and discrete opening in the back. Perfect to wear from work to a cocktail party, when styled with a leather jacket or wool tailored jacket and some high heels.
£193 £275
The Ali devoré shirt is a flattering number to pair with a wool shirt and tights this winter. Wear it chiffon with some low boots for evening occasions or team it with high-waisted trouser during workdays.
£165 £275
Wear the effortless-chic Peggy silk shirt in the delicate saffon polka dots print with a pair of black denim for a perfect everyday outfit. Add some low boots and a clutch bag to transform your look for an evening out.
£385 £550
A simple yet stunning cut, the Martine dress in Berry is an instant classic that will flatter most shapes and skintones. Wear to work and be the talk of the office or as an occasion dress for sophisticated glamour.
£385 £550
Fall in love with this elegant Isa short black dress with its sheer sleeves and ruffled asymmetric hem. Wear it for any occasion or an elegant dinner party with a wool coat and some high-heels.
£215 £430
The Naomi midi-skirt in Garnet Raffia print has a textured fabric that enhances the fluidity to the skirt. Team with the Eve crop-top in matching print for the complete look.
£287 £575
The victorian detail of the high-neck and the fluted cuffs make the Rio dress perfect for an evening occasion. Style it some high heels and a clutch bag for a perfect look.
Sold Out - £285 £475
The Natalie criss cross print cotton dress is perfect for every occasion. The A line silhouette gives a sophisticated look, style this ankle length dress with a little leather jacket and wear it with a pair of heels.
£198 £330
One of Saloni's most famous signature shapes, the Tilly ruffle dress is an oversized yet feminine shape, coming with a detachable belt to accentuate the waistline. This stunning Tilly ruffle is decorated with colourful mirror embellishments on the sleeves. Style this dress with a black leather jacket to perfect your look and some earrings to complement your look for an evening occasion.
£324 £540
The Ruth, in this season's signature lace placement print, is a very flattering off-the-shoulder neoprene dress designed with a glamourous hand-painted lace print and fitted on the waist to flatter all body shapes.
£212 £425
The Thea top is a romantic chiffon blouse delicately finished with some crocheted and colourful mirror embellishments. Wear it with a leather slim trouser and some high-heels for a perfect evening look.
£290 £415
One of Saloni's most famous signature shapes, the Tilly ruffle dress is an oversized yet feminine shape, coming with a detachable belt to accentuate the waistline. Match this short dress in Crest print with a leather jacket and boots this autumn.
£138 £230
The Ophelle top in delicate printed lace is a straight crop with an open-back and t-shirt sleeves. Combine it with Loulou high-waist trousers in Cranberry for a strikingly modern look.
£231 £330
The Ruth dress is one of Saloni's most famous signature shape. This neoprene mid-length dress in Dark Blue is a fun take on a classic shape. This silhouette has been designed to flatter and would look perfect styled with a contrasting clutch.
£237 £395
Saloni's signature Tilly silk dress, made from luxurious crepe de chine, is effortlessly pretty and easy to wear. Style this oversized printed dress with a little jacket and wear it with a pair of low boots and a trousseau bag for a casual chic look.
£207 £415
One of Saloni's signature shapes, the Tilly ruffle silk dress is an oversized yet feminine shape, coming with a detachable belt to accentuate the waistline. Wear this romantic dark plum dress with a long wool jacket and low boots this winter.
£297 £495
The silk Molly shirtdress is a Saloni classic, combining ease and elegance with its vibrant Sky Blue Blossom print. This dress comes with a detachable belt should you wish cinch in the waist for an effortlessly chic look.
£195 £325
The Sadie crepe de chine jumpsuit is a great outfit to wear during the summer holidays. Choose this summer jumpsuit in silk and jump easily from a relaxed day at the beach to an evening cocktail party with some open-toed sandals.
£177 £285
The Stephanie light denim jacket is perfect for a relaxed summer night. Wear it with any short for a casual chic look.
£237 £395
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After four days roaming the old imperial capital, they reported no bad experiences. 'The elevators here are more dangerous than the crime,' said one of the group, art writer Christian Troester.
At the end of their stay, however, as the journalists gathered in a bar, one of them rushed in and said she had just been robbed.
Is crime in Russia exaggerated? The Russian government and the police certainly do not think so. Last Thursday, ministers met to discuss organised crime, after the police said the country was 'awash' with firearms leaked or stolen from the army, and that the murder rate had risen by 43 per cent over the past five months.
Ministers are drafting a bill, soon to be put to parliament, which aims to co-ordinate law-enforcement agencies and empower the police to target the mafia bosses.
President Boris Yeltsin, acutely aware of hardline political rivals' popularity, regularly agonises over the collapse of law and order, and promises that firm action will be taken. But in private, the poorly paid and badly equipped police admit their virtual impotence to combat an increasingly fearless and brutal criminal class.
An attempt on the life of Boris Berezovsky, head of the Logovaz car dealership, hit the headlines last Tuesday. He was leaving his Moscow office in his limousine when a bomb in a parked car was triggered by remote control. The car dealer's chauffeur was decapitated by the blast, but Mr Berezovsky suffered only minor injuries. Journalists homed in on this story - but they could equally well have written about two other bomb blasts in the city within hours of the attack on the Logovaz boss. Bombings are becoming 10 a penny in Russia these days, and several newspapers are carrying 'explosion round-up' columns. And shootings are so common that they are not reported unless a VIP is killed.
The press is also becoming weary of hostage-taking cases. When four gunmen kidnapped a group of schoolchildren last December and took them on a hair-raising helicopter journey over southern Russia, Russian and foreign journalists covered the crisis as it unfolded; but a copycat incident last month prompted Komsomolskaya Pravda to comment: 'This is getting boring.'
The media paid little attention last Wednesday when four prisoners in Yekaterinburg held a group of visitors hostage. One prisoner was killed by police, one escaped and two went back to their cells. The visitors were unharmed.
Journalists may be 'bored' but they are also afraid, which is why few of them are undertaking investigative reporting. And who can blame them? Crime investigation is a dangerous business, as a team from Tass found out to its cost. After the contract killing of a Georgian underworld figure a few weeks ago, journalists dared to describe him as a mafia godfather instead of the mealy-mouthed 'head of a sports veterans' fund' favoured by other reporters. Later their apartments were burgled - and now they are 'not in the mood' to reveal anything else about the case.
Some observers are tempted to shrug and say that while violence is indeed rising sharply, it does not really matter, because rival gangs are simply settling scores, and the law-abiding citizen is not much affected. But this is not true. Good people are suffering - and not just the passers-by when a bomb goes off. Tourists may be a frequent target, but those who are bearing the brunt are poor Russians.
They have been falling victim to two particularly mean types of crime. In the first, though no violence is involved, pensioners and people on low incomes have been losing their savings to the many 'investment funds' that have been offering fabulous rates of interest, then disappearing with cash.
The second reflects the present lack of morality and mercy in Russia, and often involves murder. Confidence tricksters are persuading old people, alcoholics and the mentally subnormal to give them power of attorney over their financial affairs and property.
This can seem an attractive proposition to a pensioner who needs advice about, say, renting out a flat. As soon as the papers are signed, giving the criminals all rights to the property, the victims are either turned out of their flats to join the army of homeless on the streets, or are simply killed.
My landlady is an alcoholic. Last week a gang threatened her with a knife and made her sell them the flat in which I am living. We went to the police, which few victims here do. Though I am still staying in the flat, my landlady has been forced to move in with relatives. We are waiting to see who will turn out to be stronger: the police or the mafia.
(Photograph omitted)
- More about:
- Bombing
- Country Of Georgia
- Hamburg
- Russian Politics


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I wrote minecraft
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|Message view
|« Date » · « Thread »
|« Date » · « Thread »
|"Robert Muir (Commented) (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] [Commented] (LUCENE-3869) possible hang in UIMATypeAwareAnalyzerTest
|Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:03:38 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/LUCENE-3869?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:comment-tabpanel&focusedCommentId=13230069#comment-13230069 ] Robert Muir commented on LUCENE-3869: ------------------------------------- linux amd64. I can try to dig into this, and ill try upgrading my jvm etc too, its a bit outdated :) > possible hang in UIMATypeAwareAnalyzerTest > ------------------------------------------ > > Key: LUCENE-3869 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/LUCENE-3869 > Project: Lucene - Java > Issue Type: Bug > Components: modules/analysis > Affects Versions: 4.0 > Reporter: Robert Muir > > Just testing an unrelated patch, I was hung (with 100% cpu) in UIMATypeAwareAnalyzerTest. > I'll attach stacktrace at the moment of the hang. > The fact we get a seed in the actual stacktraces for cases like this is awesome! Thanks Dawid! > I don't think it reproduces 100%, but I'll try beasting this seed to see if i can reproduce the hang: > should be 'ant test -Dtestcase=UIMATypeAwareAnalyzerTest -Dtests.seed=-262aada3325aa87a:-44863926cf5c87e9:5c8c471d901b98bd' > from what I can see. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. If you think it was sent incorrectly, please contact your JIRA administrators: https://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/ContactAdministrators!default.jspa For more information on JIRA, see: http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: email@example.com For additional commands, e-mail: email@example.com
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The Columbia Economics Review is proud to present the following article by Mohammed Rishad Karim, a student at Stuyvesant High School and the winner of our Fall 2016 High School Student Essay Contest. Among a number of impressive entries, Mohammed's analysis of John Kenneth Galbraith's achievements was selected after extensive deliberation by our High School Essay Competition board. KEEP READING >>
An Analysis of Ted Cruz's Balanced Budget Amendment
The Columbia Economics Review is proud to present the following article by John Staunton, a student at Bronx High School of Science and the winner of our Fall 2015 High School Student Essay Contest. Among a number of impressive entries, John's analysis of Senator Ted Cruz's economic proposals was selected after extensive deliberation by our executive board. As 2016 has begun, so has the Republican nomination process taken off. Of the many candidates running for office, Senator Ted Cruz has a considerable chance of winning the Republican nomination. One position he is "an emphatic advocate" for is the Balanced Budget Amendment. On face, the economic benefits seemingly include an efficiently run government; however, another look reveals that a Balanced Budget Amendment would disable the government from continuing public investments and destroy a stable point of investment for banks, both of which have catastrophic effects on the economy. Understanding the effects of the KEEP READING >>
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Winners 1st Place Team Members: Zoraya Hightower, Jacob Bukoski and Kate Heller (Yale University) and Robert Goldfin (George Washington University) 2nd Place Team Members: Khristopher Nicholas and David Neher (Columbia University) 3rd Place Team Members: Charlie Jiang, Minjia Zhong, Robert Young and Shane Johnson (Stanford University) Honorable Mentions: Team Members: Will Cassidy and Max Miller (University of Pennsylvania) Team Members: Brandon Blaesser, Joel Sam Li and Patrick Reed (Yale University) KEEP READING >>
2014 EPC: Winners
On January 15th, 2014, CER announced the winners of its Second Annual National Environmental Policy Competition. The winning team including Andy Zhang, Raymond de Oliveira, and Francesca Audia hails from Columbia University. The winners will take home a grand prize of $500, generously funded by PER. All 7 finalists presentations including the winners can be accessed on the CER Youtube Channel. KEEP READING >>


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PlayStation 4™ | Playstation Vita™ | PlayStation 3™ | Xbox One™ | Xbox 360™ | Nintendo Switch™ | Nintendo 3DS™ | PC Games | Other systems
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift
Aksys GamesCompatible with PlayStation 3™ (PS3™)
Works on all systems sold worldwide.
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descriptionThe blaze roars up again in Continuum Shift. The game is quite a storm in the arcades, now you don't have to worry about not having enough quarters or the arcades closing for the night, you can take the game home and fight the whole 24 hours.
Enter the tournament and challenge all the people in the battle roster. All battle modes are re-adjusted, with the addition of the Legion mode and the tutorial mode. Everyone has new skills sets and powers. Besides upgrades, there are new characters and bosses. Throw your punches and pick a fight with the best from the net.
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Over Breakfast
Chapter 17
Haruhi and the twins headed to the Hitachiin town car that was waiting at the curb. Once inside they headed to the grocery store where Haruhi would be picking up the grocery's that she would need to prep for the next day, and the twins where positive that their staff wouldn't mind her using the kitchen because they had already informed them that she would need to use it. Once they were done and Haruhi had had the chance to get the twins away from the "commoners market" long enough to check out and go to the car. Once everything was loaded and they were headed to the mansion Haruhi pulled out her book hoping to get a bit of studying in before they got there already knowing she wouldn't have time to do so later. Hikaru was sitting on the seat opposite her and Kaoru was sitting next to her and each had his head bent over a sketch pad doodling designs she was only able to hope had nothing to do with her. She cared about them as they were her best friends. That didn't mean however that she had to put on every design they said they had made for her. It was embarrassing and often not even appropriate attire. If she wanted to look like a girl all the time she would. But her gender wasn't nearly as important to her as it seemed to be to them and to Tamaki. Maybe that was why she found it hard to feel feelings for them like what she had for Honey and Mori. They were always interested in doing things that made her who they wanted to be and not who she wanted to be. And she could not see her self with someone that made her feel like she had to change for them. She liked who she was and wanted to stay that way. Sure its only clothes now. But who knew what it would turn into later. Her hair? How she put her room together? The host club already had a lot of control and pull over her life and it wasn't that she minded, even she had to admit that she didn't feel as lonely as she once had, even if those lonesome feelings were few and far between. And she was having new experiences all the time that she would not normally have. But sometimes they bordered on the side of overbearing and it frustrated her because should she refuse, or decline it was not so much the possible debt that would be added but the idea that she would be disappointing them. And if she couldn't find a way past it at those times, she wasn't about to during the times when they wanted her to do something that would require going against the person that she wanted to be, even if that meant her clothes. They could give them to her but she didn't have to wear them except for when her dad found them in boxes in her closet and under her bed and would repack her over night bags for her when she had host missions to attend. She shuddered. Those were times that she was even mad at her dad for trying to change her.
A shuffling of papers and the snap of a note book brought her out of her thoughts and to the mansion waiting outside the window. It was truly magnificent, but was very western compared to Honey's mix of modern and traditional Japanese. It was only to be expected seeing as their mother was a fashion designer, and the gardens outside were truly breath taking, but somehow it just didn't feel quite right, not quite like home, and she found her self wishing that her stay would be short lived. No that she didn't care for the twins she did. They just didn't seem to understand her.
Shuffling her books back into her bag and sitting forward in her seat she waited for the door to be opened as she had been taught in the past. Both boys let her out first, and the driver was careful to help her out and see her safely to the entry steps.
"Fujioka-san, I will take the car around to the kitchen, and the staff will unload your purchase. Hitachiin-sama has given us instructions, everything will be ready when you come to the kitchen." the driver told her. Haruhi nodded with a smile;
"thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it, I just hope I am not too much trouble." she told him. The man shook his head;
"not at all Fujioka-san, we are happy to help!" the man told her cheerily, and with that he turned and went back to the car, to do as he said.
The twins came up beside her and took her at the elbow on each side.
"So Haruhi,"
"What do you want to do?" the twins asked her in their alternating speech.
"I don't know I hadn't really thought about it, though I really need to finish up my homework get started with some planning stuff. I had hoped I could get your opinions on costumes and decor for the Nekozawa banquet and for the coming weeks. You know just take a look at what I have, see if there is anything in the store room that we have I might have missed." she told them hopefully. At first she thought that maybe the idea of having to do work after school would upset them. However the more she talked the more she could see the wheels turning in their heads, steadily speeding up as she continued to talk about decoration and clothes.
"Well, I guess we could help you..." Kaoru started in a nonchalant tone,
"Since your willing to admit that you need us." Hikaru said, their devilish grins matching.
"Okay guys, just remember I really want to keep it to just the things we have." she reminded them thinking of how happy Kyouya was about their budget receiving barley a scratch. She liked that he was happy about her thrifty ways, and wanted to keep showing improvement.
"Of course Haruhi."
"But there is nothing that doesn't say we can't take something old and make it something new!" they told her chuckling. Distantly Haruhi felt ice run in her veins at the prospect of what they would do except that once said, things were pretty much out of her hands and she would get little choice in that matter, well at least not with out a fight.
"Thank you guys." she told them. They had placed their bags in their rooms, and had managed to make it to the kitchen. This was a smaller kitchen that was used by those in the house who enjoyed cooking. There was a larger one in back but this would provide her everything she needed, with out having to deal with such a large space. There were two cooks standing there waiting patiently when they arrived. On was holding an apron and the other what looked to be a binder with paper in it and a writing utensil.
"Haruhi this is Ketsu, and Reha, they offered to help out today. We'll sit at the table and stay out of the way." Hikaru told her.
"And we can get started on the decor and costumes." Kaoru said holding a portable hard drive, and a laptop indicating their intent. Haruhi nodded and turned to the man and women standing there.
"Thanks for your help guys. This should go pretty quickly its mostly odds and ends and some fillers." she explained. Ketsu and Reha nodded.
"If you would like Fujioka-san we can take a look at your list of ingredients and recipes. We can prep all of the items based on those, and make a list so that we can work more efficiently." Ketsu explained.
"That sounds like it will work really well this way we are not bumping in to each other. But if we are going to work together please just call me Haruhi, it would be much easier." Haruhi told them.
"As you wish Haruhi." they said together.
They all got to work, and the twins started theirs. While Haruhi prepped one item Ketsu and Reha would then work on other things and Haruhi would talk to the twins about their ideas. Things were going quite well. When Haruhi decided that Ketsu and Reha could handle the other things, she decided to put together a snack for them all for their hard work, and set to making a few things she was sure that most if not all would enjoy. When she had finished things she placed them on the other end of the table by the twins and turned to go get plates and cups.
"I made some snacks for everyone if you guys would like to join us." Haruhi called to the two still in the kitchen. The twins smiled and pushed their things to the side ready to eat. Ketsu and Reha looked at Haruhi strangely for a moment.
"Haruhi, do you think that is really appropriate?" Ketsu asked timidly looking at the twins who didn't seem displaced by the offer at all.
"Well why not you guys have helped me so much." Haruhi told him confused.
"If I may Haruhi, I think what Ketsu is trying to say is that normally the staff does not sit to a meal with the members of the household, not that we can't just that it simply is not normally done." Reha volunteered, fighting with her fingers a bit showing how nervous she was about speaking up.
"Hm, well I assume it is also not normal for those of their status to make friends with commoners, and as a commoner I sit to eat with any one. Boys any objections?" she asked the twins who were stuffing their faces with bits of dip and chips. Kaoru looked up surprised that she would ask. "Of course not, to day we are equals you two, helping Haruhi is important to us too, and if its time to sit and eat there is no reason you two can't sit as well." Kaoru told them pointedly. Hikaru nodded his agreement unable to speak around the mouthful of cheese.
Ketsu and Reha sensing no hostility or lies about what the twins were saying. Ketsu caught him self realizing just how much the friendship with Haruhi had changed them, because in the past they would have never thought of being in the same room as them unless they were being served by them. Ketsu chose to keep his mouth shut however and instead removed his apron signaling the shocked Reha to do the same thing. Once they were all seated Haruhi distributed the rest of the snacks so the twins would not eat them all, and they settled down to eat.
The twins kept her busy by talking to her about the upcoming events, but they seemed to be having some trouble putting something decent together for the Nekozawa banquet, because it was supposed to be a religious evening and they had no idea about what the religion itself that made it harder to come up with things to serve, seeing as she didn't want to offend anyone by the decor or by the food. While they knew that some religions were particular about what foods they could and could not eat on what they called a holy day, it was hard to tell for sure if this would be the same case, it was during this conversation that Reha decided to help out.
"Haruhi, young masters, I believe I may be able to help you in this matter if I may." she told them a bit hesitant. Haruhi looked up at her surprised but happy that she made the offer and the twins sat patiently waiting for what she would say.
"Please by all means, I would appreciate the help immensely." she told the young women, pulling up a blank page to jot down notes.
"Well you see I am only half Japanese, my mother is actually an American, who is a generational practitioner of Paganism. This being the case she has taught me much about their beliefs and practices. I believe I may be of use in planning this event, but I will need to speak with my mother to get some specifics. But as far as I know you can rest easy that practitioners of magic do not typically have food specifications as all food eventually comes from mother earth. If you would like I can speak with my mother about some recipes and such that may prove useful to you and help you find the proper decorations for the event by looking in some of her books. I will bring everything with me tomorrow if you would like." Reha explained. Haruhi, and Kaoru nodded enthusiastically but Hikaru seemed confused.
"Wait I have herd about Paganism before, but I believe Nekozawa-sempai practices black magic. Is it the same?" He asked her. She shook her head vigorously.
"Well I believe that your friend uses the words dark magic to play into a stereo type that has been developed by people who do not understand the practice. According to my mother no magic is good nor evil, black nor white, it is up to the person practicing to choose what they wish to be. Mostly how ever Pagan's are the basis for most of this religion so the traditions should be the same. If you use magic for evil your not necessarily a black magic user only someone who wishes to cause harm, someone who takes the practice to another level it was never meant for. Black magic is not evil only a different way to do things." she explained. Hikaru nodded seeming to understand and they all set a time for them to meet with her when it was convenient and would not interfere with her work. With that accomplished and only a minimal amount of clean up left they were soon in search of something else to do, with Ketsu and Reha going back to their own duties.


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