Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber, the method including drawing a bare optical fiber from an optical fiber preform along a draw pathway. The method further includes during the drawing step, moving a first fluid bearing from a first position to a second position, the first position being removed from the draw pathway and the second position being disposed in the draw pathway such that the movement of the first fluid bearing to the second position causes at least a first portion of the draw pathway to change direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scribing and cleaving an optical fiber held by a ferrule are disclosed. The methods include operably supporting an optical fiber in a ferrule so that a bare fiber section of the optical fiber extends beyond a front end of the ferrule. The method also includes disposing a top-side location of a scribing medium to be in contact with a lower portion of the bare fiber section and a near-side location of the scribing medium to be in contact with the front end of the ferrule. The top-side location includes an abrasive feature while the near-side location is smooth. The scribing medium is moved relative to the bare fiber section to cause the abrasive feature to form a scribe mark at a scribe location at a distance from the front end of the ferrule. The smooth near-side location prevents substantial damage to the ferrule front end.

Abstract: A portion of a core of an optical fiber may be positioned eccentrically in a bore of a ferrule. The portion of the core may be part of an asymmetric cross-sectional region of the optical fiber, and the asymmetric cross-sectional region may include an asymmetric outer surface. The asymmetric outer surface may include an inclined portion spaced outwardly from the portion of the core in a first direction. There may be contact between the inclined portion and the ferrule, so that a lengthwise axis of the portion of the core is spaced apart from a lengthwise axis of the bore in a second direction, and the first and second directions extend substantially opposite from one another.

Abstract: Lengths of an optical fiber may be broken apart from one another while a cross-sectional region of the optical fiber is in a state of multi-axial compressive stress, and the multi-axial compressive stress extends across the optical fiber. The breaking can include propagating a crack across the optical fiber. The crack can be positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the cross-sectional region so that the multi-axial compressive stress restricts the crack from penetrating the cross-sectional region. At least a portion of the optical fiber may be in tension during the breaking.

Abstract: Lengths of an optical fiber may be broken apart from one another while a cross-sectional region of the optical fiber is in a state of multi-axial compressive stress, and the multi-axial compressive stress extends across the optical fiber. The breaking can include propagating a crack across the optical fiber. The crack can be positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the cross-sectional region so that the multi-axial compressive stress restricts the crack from penetrating the cross-sectional region. At least a portion of the optical fiber may be in tension during the breaking.

Abstract: A portion of a core of an optical fiber may be positioned eccentrically in a bore of a ferrule. The portion of the core may be part of an asymmetric cross-sectional region of the optical fiber, and the asymmetric cross-sectional region may include an asymmetric outer surface. The asymmetric outer surface may include an inclined portion spaced outwardly from the portion of the core in a first direction. There may be contact between the inclined portion and the ferrule, so that a lengthwise axis of the portion of the core is spaced apart from a lengthwise axis of the bore in a second direction, and the first and second directions extend substantially opposite from one another.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scribing and cleaving an optical fiber held by a ferrule are disclosed. The methods include operably supporting an optical fiber in a ferrule so that a bare fiber section of the optical fiber extends beyond a front end of the ferrule. The method also includes disposing a top-side location of a scribing medium to be in contact with a lower portion of the bare fiber section and a near-side location of the scribing medium to be in contact with the front end of the ferrule. The top-side location includes an abrasive feature while the near-side location is smooth. The scribing medium is moved relative to the bare fiber section to cause the abrasive feature to form a scribe mark at a scribe location at a distance from the front end of the ferrule. The smooth near-side location prevents substantial damage to the ferrule front end.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a body, which includes a first end side, a second end side, and cells extending through the body from the first end side to the second end side, is provided. The system includes at least one light source configured to project light through and out of at least one corresponding group of the cells, a target configured to display the light projected through and out of the at least one corresponding group of the cells, an imaging system configured to determine at least one location of the displayed light on the target, and a system processor configured to compare the determined at least one location of the displayed light with a location of the at least one light source and calculate, from the comparison thereof, at least one of a pointing angle and a pointing vector for the at least one corresponding group of the cells.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a body, which includes a first end side, a second end side, and cells extending through the body from the first end side to the second end side, is provided. The system includes at least one light source configured to project light through and out of at least one corresponding group of the cells, a target configured to display the light projected through and out of the at least one corresponding group of the cells, an imaging system configured to determine at least one location of the displayed light on the target, and a system processor configured to compare the determined at least one location of the displayed light with a location of the at least one light source and calculate, from the comparison thereof, at least one of a pointing angle and a pointing vector for the at least one corresponding group of the cells.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Lengths of an optical fiber may be broken apart from one another while a cross-sectional region of the optical fiber is in a state of multi-axial compressive stress, and the multi-axial compressive stress extends across the optical fiber. The breaking can include propagating a crack across the optical fiber. The crack can be positioned in sufficiently close proximity to the cross-sectional region so that the multi-axial compressive stress restricts the crack from penetrating the cross-sectional region. At least a portion of the optical fiber may be in tension during the breaking.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cooling optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, In some embodiments, a cooling apparatus for cooling an optical fiber in a production process includes a channel defined by at least one sidewall assembly and a plurality of interior cavities positioned along the interior of the sidewall assembly. The interior cavities include at least one plenum, a first plurality of fluid supply cavities in fluid communication with the at least one plenum, and a second plurality of fluid supply cavities in fluid communication with the at least one plenum. Cooling fluid is supplied from the at least one plenum to the first plurality of fluid supply cavities in a first direction and the second plurality of fluid supply cavities in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assemblies, and related fiber optic connectors, cables, and methods. In certain embodiments, an optical fiber stub is pre-installed in a ferrule bore of a ferrule of a fiber optic connector sub-assembly, to provide the pre-terminated fiber optic connector sub-assembly. The optical fiber stub can be pre-installed in the ferrule bore prior to termination of the fiber optic connector sub-assembly. Because the pre-terminated optical fiber stub disposed in the ferrule bore is not directly accessible through a ferrule body of the ferrule when a field optical fiber is disposed in the ferrule bore for fusion splicing, the ferrule has properties that allow thermal energy to be directed through the ferrule body into the ferrule bore. In this manner, the optical fiber stub pre-installed in the ferrule bore can be fusion spliced with the field optical fiber to terminate a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for cooling optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, In some embodiments, a cooling apparatus for cooling an optical fiber in a production process includes a channel defined by at least one sidewall assembly and a plurality of interior cavities positioned along the interior of the sidewall assembly. The interior cavities include at least one plenum, a first plurality of fluid supply cavities in fluid communication with the at least one plenum, and a second plurality of fluid supply cavities in fluid communication with the at least one plenum. Cooling fluid is supplied from the at least one plenum to the first plurality of fluid supply cavities in a first direction and the second plurality of fluid supply cavities in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention a fuel cell system comprises: (i) a plurality of fuel cell packets, each packet comprising at least one fuel inlet, at least one fuel outlet, a frame, and two multi-cell fuel cell devices, the fuel cell devices situated such that an anode side of one fuel cell device faces an anode side of another fuel cell device, and the two fuel cell devices, in combination, at least partially form a fuel chamber connected to the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet; (ii) a plurality of heat exchange packets, each packet comprising at least one oxidant inlet, at least one oxidant outlet, and an internal oxidant chamber connected to the at least one oxidant inlet and the least one oxidant outlet; the heat exchange packets being parallel to and interspersed between the fuel cell packets, such that the heat exchange packets face the fuel cell packets and form, at least in part, a plurality of cathode reaction chambers between the heat exchange packets and the fuel cell packets; (

Abstract: Methods of optimizing optical alignment in an optical package are provided. In one embodiment, the optical package includes a laser diode, a wavelength conversion device, coupling optics positioned along an optical path extending from the laser diode to the wavelength conversion device, and one or more adaptive actuators. The method involves adjusting the optical alignment of the wavelength conversion device in a non-adaptive degree of freedom by referring to a thermally-dependent output intensity profile of the laser diode and a thermally-dependent coupling efficiency profile of the optical package.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present disclosure relate systems and methods for evaluating visible light sources. According to one embodiment, a method of evaluating a visible light source including a semiconductor laser having a gain section, a wavelength selective section, and a phase section includes applying a gain drive signal to the gain section of the semiconductor laser at a gain modulation frequency, and applying a triangular wave drive signal to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser at a wavelength selective modulation frequency that is greater than the gain modulation frequency. The light source emits a plurality of optical output pulses. Output power values of the optical output pulses at a selected wavelength are detected. The output power value of one or more selected output pulses is compared with an output power threshold value to generate an indication of whether the visible light source satisfies an output power specification.