1. An optical waveguide comprising:
a joined assembly of a core layer and a cladding layer;
said core layer having a light entrance region and a light exit region, said light entrance region having a width greater than said light exit region;
said light entrance region having at least a side surface shaped as a reflecting surface for reflecting light applied to said light entrance region toward said light exit region; and
a light source disposed in contact with or in facing relation to another surface of said light entrance region than said side surface.
2. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said side surface of the light entrance region is of a parabolic shape, a semicircular shape, or a polygonal shape as viewed in plan.
3. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein at least said side surface of the light entrance region is covered with a light reflecting metal film.
4. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said core layer has at least two cores each having said light entrance region, said cores being joined together at said light exit region to provide a common light exit end.
5. The optical waveguide according to claim 4, wherein light signals having different wavelength ranges are collected and combined together by said cores.
6. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said light source is integrally disposed in the cladding layer beneath said core layer, said light source having a light-emitting portion held against said light entrance region.
7. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said core layer is progressively linearly reduced in width from said light entrance region toward said light exit region.
8. The optical waveguide according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light-emitting diode.
9. An optical information processing apparatus comprising:
an optical waveguide according to any one of claims 1 through 8;
light applying means for introducing light into the core layer of said optical waveguide; and
light receiving means for receiving light emitted from said core layer.
10. The optical information processing apparatus according to claim 9, for use as a display for projecting said light emitted from said core layer through scanning means.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An electricity generation system comprising:
a first generator;
a first controller coupled directly to the first generator;
a second generator;
a second controller coupled directly to the second generator;
a remote control and monitoring node coupled to the first and second controllers to monitor and control the first and second generators; and
wherein the first generator is a fossil-fuel based generator, and the first controller comprises a continuous emissions monitoring system to monitor qualitative emissions relative to the first generator.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first generator includes a primary power source selected from a group consisting of a reciprocating diesel engine, reciprocating gas engine, gas turbine, steam turbine, package boiler, and waste heat boiler.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller includes an embedded personal computer (PC) controller.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller provides local monitoring and control relative to the first generator.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller senses a phase of electricity in a power grid to match a phase of electricity generated by the first generator to that of the power grid.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the node is coupled to the first and second controllers through a communication medium selected from the group consisting of a wireless interface, a local area network interface, a wide area network interface, and a fiberoptic link.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control node includes an Application Service Provider.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller measures power output of the first generator.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first controller measured power generation cost of the first generator.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first controller measures thermal efficiency of the first generator.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller is adapted to receive data indicative of a parameter of the first generator, and provide an input to the first generator based upon an optimization algorithm.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of exhaust gas composition, unburned fuel in an emission stream, emission volume, emission heat, emission noise, engine speed, engine hours remaining before maintenance, engine throttle position, engine oil pressure, engine temperature, engine oil level and fuel composition.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the input is selected from the group consisting of a start signal, a shut-down signal, and a throttle signal.
14. The system of claim 1, wherein the control node is adapted to report data relative to the system.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data facilitates area monitoring.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the node adjusts the first and second generators through their respective controllers to reduce aggregate pollution.
17. The system of claim 1, and further comprising Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) equipment adapted to monitor an environment of the first generator.