Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining a core-to-ferrule offset of a ferrule for a fiber optic connector. A reference ferrule is physically aligned with a core imager by positioning the reference ferrule so that edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images are aligned with fiducial markers in the images. The reference ferrule is incrementally rotated about its longitudinal center access, a core image captured at each rotational angle, and a reference core-to-ferrule offset determined based on the core images. A test ferrule is physically aligned with the core imager by positioning the test ferrule so that edges of the test ferule are aligned with the edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images. The core-to-ferrule offset of the test ferrule is then determined based on an offset between the test and reference cores in a composite core image.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which apply inorganic particles to a plugged honeycomb body comprising porous walls, an inlet end and an outlet end. The apparatus comprises a particle counter and the method comprises counting a selected portion of the inorganic particles from a first sampling port upstream from the plugged honeycomb body and a second sampling port downstream from the plugged honeycomb body. The selected portion of the inorganic particles are in a preselected inorganic particle size range. Filtration efficiency can be determined while inorganic particles are being deposited, for example to increase filtration efficiency.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems of manufacturing an optical fiber are disclosed herein. The methods may include heating an optical preform in a draw furnace, drawing an optical fiber from the optical preform, cooling the optical fiber with a slow cooling device, and annealing the optical fiber by passing the optical fiber through an RF plasma heating apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which are capable of being used to determine filtration efficiency of a filter body even in a clean state. Methods of determining a filtration efficiency of a filter including forcing an inlet flow comprised of a gas (such as air) flow into the inlet end of the filter at a set flow rate, introducing particles such as smoke particles into the inlet flow, and optically counting the number of particles entering and exiting the filter during a sampling event, such as with diffraction based optical particle counters positioned upstream and downstream of the filter. Preferably the gas flow is a soot-free flow stream which does not load the honeycomb filter body with contaminants that need to be removed or burned out. The filter body can thus remain in an essentially clean state even after testing its filtration efficiency.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which apply inorganic particles to a plugged honeycomb body comprising porous walls, an inlet end and an outlet end. The apparatus comprises a particle counter and the method comprises counting a selected portion of the inorganic particles from a first sampling port upstream from the plugged honeycomb body and a second sampling port downstream from the plugged honeycomb body. The selected portion of the inorganic particles are in a preselected inorganic particle size range.

Abstract: A system, having: an RF power source; an RF matching network electrically coupled to the RF power source; an impedance matching circuit electrically coupled to the RF matching network, wherein the impedance matching circuit has a first adjustable capacitor connected in series with the RF matching network and a second adjustable capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor; and an inductive process load electrically coupled to the impedance matching circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for measuring signal loss in a fiber optic cable. The tail ends of reference and test fiber optic cables are illuminated with a diffuse light. The head end of each of the reference and test fiber optic cables are positioned in a measurement area. A core imager captures an image of the core of each head-end while it is in the measurement area. Reference and test radiant fluxes emitted from the reference and test head-ends are determined from the respective core images. The relative signal loss of the test fiber optic cable is then determined by comparing the test radiant flux to the reference radiant flux.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining a core-to-ferrule offset of a ferrule for a fiber optic connector. A reference ferrule is physically aligned with a core imager by positioning the reference ferrule so that edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images are aligned with fiducial markers in the images. The reference ferrule is incrementally rotated about its longitudinal center access, a core image captured at each rotational angle, and a reference core-to-ferrule offset determined based on the core images. A test ferrule is physically aligned with the core imager by positioning the test ferrule so that edges of the test ferule are aligned with the edges of the reference ferrule in a plurality of profile images. The core-to-ferrule offset of the test ferrule is then determined based on an offset between the test and reference cores in a composite core image.

Abstract: A system, having: an RF power source; an RF matching network electrically coupled to the RF power source; an impedance matching circuit electrically coupled to the RF matching network, wherein the impedance matching circuit has a first adjustable capacitor connected in series with the RF matching network and a second adjustable capacitor connected in parallel with the first capacitor; and an inductive process load electrically coupled to the impedance matching circuit.

Abstract: A method for applying a surface treatment to a plugged honeycomb body comprising porous wall includes: atomizing particles of an inorganic material into liquid-particulate-binder droplets comprised of a liquid vehicle, a binder material, and the particles; evaporating substantially all of the liquid vehicle from the droplets to form agglomerates comprised of the particles and the binder material; depositing the agglomerates onto the porous walls of the plugged honeycomb body; wherein the agglomerates are disposed on, or in, or both on and in, the porous walls.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems of manufacturing an optical fiber are disclosed herein. The methods may include heating an optical preform in a draw furnace, drawing an optical fiber from the optical preform, cooling the optical fiber with a slow cooling device, and annealing the optical fiber by passing the optical fiber through an RF plasma heating apparatus.