Abstract: Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths include incorporating fluid bearings. An optical fiber is drawn from a preform along a first pathway, contacted with a region of fluid cushion of a fluid bearing, and redirected along a second pathway as the fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion.

Abstract: A non-contact method for measuring the tension applied to a drawn optical fiber includes drawing an optical fiber and displacing the optical fiber by applying a pressurized fluid to the optical fiber. The pressurized fluid may be applied to the optical fiber using a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a fiber support channel. The optical fiber may be directed through the fiber support channel and is displaced relative to the fluid bearing by supplying the pressurized fluid to the fiber support channel. The displacement of the optical fiber caused by the application of the pressurized fluid to the optical fiber may then be measured. The tension applied to the optical fiber may then be determined based on the determined displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a substrate assembly by applying a force to the assembly while simultaneously exposing the substrate assembly, and in particular a sealing material disposed between two substrates of the substrate assembly, to an irradiating beam of electromagnetic energy. The beam heats, cures and/or melts the sealing material, depending upon the sealing material to form the seal. The force is applied by directing a flow of fluid against the substrate assembly, and beneficially improves contact between the substrates of the substrate assembly and the sealing material during the sealing process, therefore assisting in achieving a hermetic seal between the substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a substrate assembly by applying a force to the assembly while simultaneously exposing the substrate assembly, and in particular a sealing material disposed between two substrates of the substrate assembly, to an irradiating beam of electromagnetic energy. The beam heats, cures and/or melts the sealing material, depending upon the sealing material to form the seal. The force is applied by directing a flow of fluid against the substrate assembly, and beneficially improves contact between the substrates of the substrate assembly and the sealing material during the sealing process, therefore assisting in achieving a hermetic seal between the substrates.

Abstract: Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths include incorporating fluid bearings. An optical fiber is drawn from a preform along a first pathway, contacted with a region of fluid cushion of a fluid bearing, and redirected along a second pathway as the fiber is drawn across said region of fluid cushion.

Abstract: A non-contact method for measuring the tension applied to a drawn optical fiber includes drawing an optical fiber and displacing the optical fiber by applying a pressurized fluid to the optical fiber. The pressurized fluid may be applied to the optical fiber using a fluid bearing. The fluid bearing may include a fiber support channel. The optical fiber may be directed through the fiber support channel and is displaced relative to the fluid bearing by supplying the pressurized fluid to the fiber support channel. The displacement of the optical fiber caused by the application of the pressurized fluid to the optical fiber may then be measured. The tension applied to the optical fiber may then be determined based on the determined displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a substrate assembly by applying a force to the assembly while simultaneously exposing the substrate assembly, and in particular a sealing material disposed between two substrates of the substrate assembly, to an irradiating beam of electromagnetic energy. The beam heats, cures and/or melts the sealing material, depending upon the sealing material to form the seal. The force is applied by directing a flow of fluid against the substrate assembly, and beneficially improves contact between the substrates of the substrate assembly and the sealing material during the sealing process, therefore assisting in achieving a hermetic seal between the substrates.

Abstract: A bonding plate mechanism for use in anodic bonding of first and second material sheets together, the apparatus comprising: a base including first and second spaced apart surfaces; a thermal insulator supported by the second surface of the base and operable to impede heat transfer to the base; a heating disk directly or indirectly coupled to the insulator and operable to produce heat in response to electrical power; and a thermal spreader directly or indirectly coupled to the heating disk and operable to at least channel heat from the heating disk, and impart voltage, to the first material sheet, wherein the heat and voltage imparted to the first material sheet are in accordance with respective heating and voltage profiles to assist in the anodic bonding of the first and second material sheets, and a thermal inertia of the bonding plate mechanism is relatively low such that heating of the first material sheet to a temperature of about 600° C. or greater is achieved in less than about one-half hour.

Abstract: An exciter circuit for firing one or more igniter plugs in an aircraft ignition system. The exciter circuit includes an input node capable of receiving an alternating-current (AC) voltage with a variable frequency and amplitude, a pair of tank capacitors used as energy storage devices, a charging circuit for charging the tank capacitors, a discharge circuit for providing spark energy from the capacitors to two igniters, and a spark gap to initiate the discharge once the capacitors have been charged to a sufficient voltage. The charging circuit includes a step-up ferro-resonant transformer network and a full-wave rectifier. The transformer network includes a saturating transformer, a choke coil in series with the transformer primary, and one or more tuning capacitors connected to a center tap on the primary.

Abstract: An exciter circuit for firing one or more igniter plugs in an aircraft ignition system. The exciter circuit includes an input node capable of receiving an alternating-current (AC) voltage with a variable frequency and amplitude, a pair of tank capacitors used as energy storage devices, a charging circuit for charging the tank capacitors, a discharge circuit for providing spark energy from the capacitors to two igniters, and a spark gap to initiate the discharge once the capacitors have been charged to a sufficient voltage. The charging circuit includes a step-up ferro-resonant transformer network and a full-wave rectifier. The transformer network includes a saturating transformer, a choke coil in series with the transformer primary, and one or more tuning capacitors connected to a center tap on the primary.