Abstract: Described herein are alkali-free, boroalumino silicate glasses exhibiting desirable physical and chemical properties for use as substrates in flat panel display devices, such as, active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs) and active matrix organic light emitting diode displays (AMOLEDs). In accordance with certain of its aspects, the glasses possess good dimensional stability as a function of temperature.

Abstract: A transparent cover glass for applications such as, but not limited to, touch screen devices that embody antimicrobial properties that include s being antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. The antimicrobial glasses contain nanoparticles of Cu or Cu2O on the surface of the glass. The antimicrobial glasses can further have a fluorosilane coating or other coating on the surface to make the glasses easy-to-clean. Also, glass surfaces having an antibacterial or antimicrobial surfaces and a protective coating on the surface that do not inhibit the antibacterial or antimicrobial properties of the glass are described. The disclosure is further directed to methods of making such articles.

Abstract: A down-drawable glass ceramic. The glass ceramic has a composition which yields a liquidus viscosity that enables formation of the parent glass by down-draw techniques such as fusion-draw and slot-draw methods. The resulting glass ceramic is white or translucent in appearance with high strength achieved through heat treatment of the fusion-formed glass.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical fiber cooling system includes a first cooling tube oriented substantially in parallel with and spaced apart from a second cooling tube such that an optical fiber pathway is positioned between the first cooling tube and the second cooling tube. The first cooling tube includes a plurality of cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the first cooling tube which are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the second cooling tube. The second cooling tube includes a plurality of cooling fluid outlets positioned along an axial length of the second cooling tube which are oriented to direct a flow of cooling fluid across the optical fiber pathway towards the first cooling tube.

Abstract: A non-contact method of measuring an insertion loss of a DUT connector is disclosed. The DUT connector has a first ferrule with a first optical fiber and a first end face. The method utilizes a reference connector having a second ferrule with a second optical fiber and a second end face. The method includes: axially aligning the first and second ferrules so that the first and second end faces are confronting and spaced apart to define a gap with an axial gap distance d; measuring values of the insertion loss between the first and second optical fibers for different gap distances d>0; and estimating a value for the insertion loss for a gap distance of d=0 based on the measured values of the insertion loss when d>0.

Abstract: Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly includes a tray body having a supporting surface operable to support a ceramic article for passage through a microwave drying apparatus during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover associated with the tray body. The microwave coupling cover envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%-60 dry.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to fusion formable highly crystalline glass-ceramic articles whose composition lies within the SiO2—R2O3—Li2O/Na2O—TiO2 system and which contain a silicate crystalline phase comprised of lithium aluminosilicate (?-spodumene and/or ?-quartz solid solution) lithium metasilicate and/or lithium disilicate. Additionally, these silicate-crystal containing glass-ceramics can exhibit varying Na2O to Li2O molar ratio extending from the surface to the bulk of the glass article, particularly a decreasing Li2O concentration and an increasing Na2O concentration from surface to bulk. According to a second embodiment, disclosed herein is a method for forming a silicate crystalline phase-containing glass ceramic.

Abstract: A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘Dance’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 38-48 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green colored foliage (measuring about 25-40 cm length and about 2.7-3.7 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; bracts are red-purple in color (closest to RHS 61A) compound inflorescence, measuring about 12 cm in height and about 15 cm in diameter; and long-lasting habit.

Abstract: A fixture apparatus for positioning an optical component has a transparent base. An adjustment plate that is formed from a transparent material is kinematically coupled to the base. Support posts extend from the adjustment plate for seating the optical component. A number of alignment elements extend from the transparent base for aligning one or more edges of the optical component seated on the support posts.

Abstract: A glass forming apparatus and method include a weir on at least a first side of a molten core glass reservoir. The weir includes an inclined surface that, in the intended direction of molten glass flow, slopes downward in the vertical direction while extending away from the molten core glass reservoir in the horizontal direction. A source of molten clad glass is configured above the glass forming apparatus such that when molten clad glass is flowing down and molten core glass is flowing over the weir, the molten clad glass drops onto the molten core glass at a highest upstream contact point that is located directly above the inclined surface of the weir.

Abstract: Laser-processed gradient-index (GRIN) lenses and optical interface devices and assemblies that utilize the laser-processed GRIN lenses are disclosed. A GRIN lens assembly includes a cylindrical central section having a GRIN index profile, planar front and back surfaces, an outer surface, and a diameter D1 where 200 micrometers?D1?420 micrometers. An annular cladding of outer diameter D2 surrounds the central section outer surface and has front and back annular surfaces and a constant or a varying refractive index. One or both of the front and back annular surfaces may be curved. An optical fiber is optically coupled to the central section at the planar back surface. An optical interface device is formed by operably supporting at least one GRIN lens assembly with a support member. An optical interface assembly is formed by interfacing two optical interface devices.

Abstract: A method for protecting a sheet surface by forming a discontinuous layer of a long-chain organic material having a main carbon chain comprising at least 12 carbon atoms and a hydrophilic group at one end of the main chain on the sheet surface. The protective layer is easy to remove using standard cleaning method, while providing satisfactory surface protection against particle contamination and scratches, at a very low coating thickness. The invention is particularly useful for protecting glass sheet surfaces during glass sheet finishing such as edge grinding and polishing. The invention is especially useful for the finishing and packaging of LCD glass substrates.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system, a monolithic Offner spectrometer, and two methods for manufacturing the monolithic Offner spectrometer are described herein. In one embodiment, the monolithic Offner spectrometer comprises a transmissive material which has: (1) an entrance surface which has an opaque material applied thereto, where the opaque material has a portion removed therefrom which forms a slit; (2) a first surface which has a first reflective coating applied thereto to form a first mirror; (3) a second surface which has a second reflective coating applied thereto to form a diffraction grating; (4) a third surface which has a third reflective coating applied thereto to form a second mirror; and (5) an exit surface.

Abstract: A flexible substrate are disclosed comprising an amorphous inorganic composition, wherein the substrate has a thickness of less than about 250 ?m and has at least one of: a) a brittleness ratio less than about 9.5 (?m)?1/2, or b) a fracture toughness of at least about 0.75 MPa·(m)1/2. Electronic devices comprising such flexible devices are also disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for making a flexible substrate comprising selecting an amorphous inorganic material capable of forming a substrate having a thickness of less than about 250 ?m and having at least one of: a) a brittleness ratio of less than about 9.5 (?m)?1/2, or b) a fracture toughness of at least about 0.75 MPa·(m)1/2; and then forming a substrate from the selected inorganic material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to coated glass articles which reduce glass particle formation caused by glass to glass contact in pharmaceutical glass filling lines.

Abstract: Methods of reducing transient temperature variations in a microwave drying process for drying partially dried ceramic logs are disclosed. The methods include sending the logs through an output microwave dryer having multiple applicators, each applicator being capable of generating an adjustable amount of microwave power. A transient drying model is employed based on microwave-drying process parameters to determine a predicted log exit temperature at the output end of the output microwave dryer. The exit temperature of each log is measured. The transient drying model, which is used to control the amount of microwave power applied, is adjusted based on a difference between the predicted and measured log exit temperatures.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable assembly includes an optical tracer fiber, an optical data transmission fiber, and a cable jacket. The optical tracer fiber defines a tracer scattering profile having a scattering loss of >15 dB/km at a tracer wavelength or wavelength range ?T that lies in a visible spectrum. The optical tracer fiber is wound about a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber cable assembly and is either physically coupled to the cable jacket or contained within an inside diameter of the cable jacket. The cable jacket may be engineered to generate light at an optically visible shifted tracer wavelength or wavelength range ?T* from visible light at the tracer wavelength or wavelength range ?T. The cable jacket may include an optically reflective material such that a portion of dispersed visible light from the optical tracer is reflected by the optically reflective material of the cable jacket.

Abstract: A dishwasher insulation blanket includes a sound absorbing layer, a sound reflecting layer; and a heat activated adhesive layer on a first side of the sound reflecting layer. The heat activated adhesive layer is configured to be activated by heat that emanates from a dishwasher during normal operation of the dishwasher.

Abstract: Mirror systems securing optical fibers to ferrules by thermally securing bonding agents within fiber optic connector housings are disclosed, along with related methods and assemblies. A fiber optic connector includes an optical fiber secured within a ferrule by a temperature-sensitive bonding agent to prevent attenuation-causing movement. The bonding agent is activated (e.g., cured) by heat provided by laser energy incident upon the ferrule, which is at least partially disposed within a fiber optic connector housing and which may be damaged by the laser energy. By shaping and disposing at least one mirror of a mirror system, the laser energy may be reflected to be incident upon the ferrule in a controllable intensity distribution. In this manner, the laser energy may be absorbed uniformly or substantially uniformly along a partial length of the ferrule extending into the housing to accelerate securing of the bonding agent while avoiding damage to the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include fiber optic cable crimp assemblies employing integrally connected cable strain relief boots to provide a single component crimp assembly. Related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods are also disclosed. A fiber optic cable crimp assembly is employed for securing a fiber optic connector assembly to a fiber optic cable to form a terminated fiber optic connector. The fiber optic cable crimp assembly includes a cable strain relief boot configured to receive an end portion of a fiber optic cable to provide bend and strain relief for the end portion of the fiber optic cable. A fiber optic cable crimp band is integrally connected to the cable strain relief boot. The fiber optic crimp assembly is further configured to secure the end portion of the fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector assembly.