The invention relates to optical switching. Rapid, low-power optical switching is achieved by selectively substantially depleting majority carriers in a plurality of planes of semiconducting material to alter their transmissive response to incoming radiation.

Two full-wave bridge rectifier circuits embodying the invention are disclosed. In each rectifier circuit four transistors and four sets of transformer windings for controlling base current are connected in a bridge configuration. Each transistor is connected in an inverted mode so that voltage blocking is performed by its collector-base junction. High efficiency is achieved by controlling the base current of each transistor in response to the emitter current thereof so that the base current is p...

A linearizing correction unit (104) carries out a linearizing correction process on the output of an image sensor (8) based upon linearizing correction data stored in a linearizing correction data holding unit (102), and a light-irregularity correction unit (108) carries out a light-irregularity correction process on the image sensor output that has been subjected to the linearizing correction process based upon light-irregularity correction data stored in a light-irregularity correction data ho...

A method for the formation of a thin optical crystal layer (e.g., a thin LiNbO.sub.3 optical single crystal layer) overlying a low dielectric constant substrate (e.g., a low dielectric constant glass substrate). The method includes implanting ions (e.g., He.sup.+) through a surface of an optical crystal substrate. The implanting of the ions defines, in the optical crystal substrate, a thin ion-implanted optical crystal layer overlying a bulk optical crystal substrate. A low dielectric constant s...

Apparatus for pulling loads along as vertical cable, which apparatus includes: two plates constituting a support member; two shafts mounted for free rotation relative to the support member; two pulleys each mounted for rotation on a respective shaft and each having a groove for receiving the cable, the pulleys being positioned so that the grooves lie in a common plane and the cable can be wrapped in an S-shaped configuration around the pulleys; two toothed wheels each fixed to a respective shaft...

A manual winch with dual locking dogs is designed to be easily retrofitted into existing winches. The design of the winch includes a housing supporting a rotatable drum upon which the cable is reeved. A pair of gears are attached to the drum with locking dogs that may be independently engaged with each gear, wherein the drum is prevented from unwinding with at least one locking dog engaged with a respective gear.

A tearable bottle cap comprises a top planar disk, an approximately cylindrical skirt depending from said planar disk to snugly fit around the neck of said bottle, a first inner bead extending throughout the circumference of said skirt at a predetermined distance from the lower end of said skirt, to engage the lower portion of the upper bead of the bottle neck, a second inner bead extending throughout the circumference of said skirt at a predetermined distance above said first inner bead, in ord...

The object of this invention is a lidded barrel with a barrel lid and a clamping-ring closure. Between its flat lid plate and its outer rim, the barrel lid is provided with a circular, perimetric groove while also featuring in its periphery at least one bung well with or without a bunghole. When a barrel is dropped, the areas around the bung well are most vulnerable to breakage, i.e. it is in these areas that the barrel lid is most likely to slip out of the clamping ring with leaks resulting. In...

A tear open bottle cap comprises a top planar disk 2, a cylindrical skirt 1 depending downwardly therefrom, a slant score line 9 extending upwardly from the lower edge of the skirt, a pull tab 7 projecting downwardly from the lower edge of the skirt at the score line, and an inner bead 4 extending around the circumference of the skirt and spaced from the lower end thereof to engage an upper bead of the bottle neck. The score line crosses the inner bead and has severable transverse partition wall...

A drive for an elevator installation which drives a car and a counterweight with a supporting and driving belt includes a drive shaft and at least one drive pulley driven in rotation by a motor. An air guide element is arranged in the region between the motor and the drive pulley and guides air from the region of the supporting and driving belt along the drive shaft and through the motor.