Disclosed are stable microcapsule compositions each containing a microcapsule dispersed in an aqueous phase and a stabilizing agent. The microcapsule compositions are stable for at least 4 weeks when storing at 45° C., and the microcapsule composition is considered stable when (i) the composition has a viscosity of 3000 cP or less and (ii) 20% or less water by volume of the composition is separated from the composition. Also disclosed are consumer products having such a stable microcapsule composition.

An apparatus arranged for deflecting an optical component for alignment purposes of the optical component with a further optical component, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacently placed elongate carriers, extending mutually parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, wherein two adjacently placed elongate carriers have a spacing between them for receiving a first optical component such that the received optical component rests against two adjacently placed elongate carriers, wherein the two elongate carriers have slopes such that the spacing between the two adjacently placed elongate carriers is smaller at a bottom side compared to the spacing at a top side of the carriers, wherein the carriers comprise piezoelectric material configured to deflect the carriers in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by actuating the piezoelectric material.

The present disclosure relates to methods, devices and systems for co-axially aligning first and second optical fibers to provide an optical coupling between the first and second optical fibers. A fiber engagement element is used to force the first and second optical fibers into an alignment groove.

An example apparatus includes an optical fiber, an actuator, and a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber. The joint includes a neck extending along an axis. The optical fiber is threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck. The optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis. The joint also includes a collar extending along the axis. The actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis. The joint also includes a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar. During operation, the joint couples a force from the actuator to the optical fiber to vary an orientation of a portion of the optical fiber extending from the neck with respect to the axis.

Fiber optic connectors, connector assemblies, and associated methods having tuning features and aspects. The tuning features/aspects allow for a tuning mechanism of a rear housing to be moved axially between an anti-rotation region and a tuning chamber defined by a front housing. The rear housing is rotationally coupled to a ferrule assembly for tuning an optical fiber terminated at the ferrule assembly.

A passive self-alignment fiber-to-fiber optical device is provided. The device includes a silicon base, a fiber alignment region, and an actuation region. When the device is configured as a fiber optical attenuator, displacement of a plunger in the actuation region alters the alignment of two optical fibers in the fiber alignment region, thereby varying the optical intensity between the two fibers. A series of beams in the actuation region successively reduces an initial displacement of a first beam to a smaller displacement of the plunger. When the device is configured as an optical switch, displacement of the plunger in the actuation region displaces the first optical fiber from a first position in alignment with the second optical fiber into a second position in alignment with a third optical fiber.

Fiber optic connectors, connector assemblies, and associated methods having tuning features and aspects. The tuning features/aspects allow for a tuning mechanism of a rear housing to be moved axially between an anti-rotation region and a tuning chamber defined by a front housing. The rear housing is rotationally coupled to a ferrule assembly for tuning an optical fiber terminated at the ferrule assembly.

Disclosed are stable microcapsule compositions each containing a microcapsule dispersed in an aqueous phase and a stabilizing agent. The microcapsule compositions are stable for at least 4 weeks when storing at 45 C., and the microcapsule composition is considered stable when (i) the composition has a viscosity of 3000 cP or less and (ii) 20% or less water by volume of the composition is separated from the composition. Also disclosed are consumer products having such a stable microcapsule composition.

An example apparatus includes an optical fiber, an actuator, and a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber. The joint includes a neck extending along an axis. The optical fiber is threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck. The optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis. The joint also includes a collar extending along the axis. The actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis. The joint also includes a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar. During operation, the joint couples a force from the actuator to the optical fiber to vary an orientation of a portion of the optical fiber extending from the neck with respect to the axis.

The present disclosure provides methods and mechanisms for measuring small masses attached to a substrate within a microcantilever. Specifically, the disclosure describes the measurement of small particles accumulated at a substrate that cannot be flowed through a microchannel within a microcantilever. A resonance measurement is acquired at a first time. A pair resonance measurements is then acquired at a second point in timeone with the test mass at a first position off or along the microcantilever, the second with the test mass at a second position along the microcantilever. Comparing the resonance frequencies determined for the two test mass positions allows for disambiguation of changes in the mass of the particles from changes in the resonant behavior of the microcantilever itself.