Abstract:
An antifuse (89) may include one of more interfacial oxide film layers (84) surrounding an antifuse dielectric layer (86) to provide narrowing of the antifuse programming voltage distribution and to improve the antifuse yield and long term reliability.
Abstract:
An active noise control system is provided with a plurality of error sensor arrays (50, 77) which provide signals on lines (64-74, 90-100) to beam forming and beam steering logic (76) which cause the arrays (50, 77) to exhibit acoustic response profiles (104, 106), respectively. The profiles (104, 106) intersect in a predefined region (116) to be quieted. The logic (76) provides signals on lines (118), one for each region to be quieted, to active noise control (ANC) logic (20) which also receives inputs from feedforward sensing microphones (10) and provides output signals to acoustic speakers (24) which generate anti-noise (26) to cancel the noise in the quiet region (116). The quiet region (116) may be selectively positioned to any region in the room by steering the beams (104, 108). Alternatively, the system may have a plurality of distributed sensors which, when taken together, have an overall maximum (main lobe) acoustic response at a predetermined selectable quiet region.
Abstract:
An engine case (20) of a gas turbine engine (10) is selectively coated with a thermal barrier coating (60) to control axial clearance between rotating (22) and stationary (24) airfoils. The coating (60) is applied to the thinner portions of the engine case (20) to retard thermal expansion of these portions of the engine case during transient conditions of the gas turbine engine operation. The selectively coated engine case responds substantially uniformly to heating and thermal expansion during transient conditions, thereby reducing axial vane (24) lean in gas turbine engines.
Abstract:
A dual-wavelength pumped low noise fiber laser includes a fiber laser (10) comprising a pair of Bragg gratings (14, 16) at opposite ends of a fiber laser cavity (18) which is co-doped with two rare-earth dopants, Er Yb , so as to allow lasing to occur at a lasing wavelength lambda L. A first pump signal (20) efficiently pumps the Yb to the excited state and the Yb energy is transitioned to the Er atoms which ultimately lase at the desire lasing frequency. Because Yb is pumped so efficiently, high pump absorption is achieved, thereby providing high laser output power and, consequently, reduced RIN. Simultaneously, a second pump signal (52) directly pumps the Er at a different wavelength lambda P2 which populates the lasing transition more quickly, thereby allowing sufficient bandwidth of a closed loop control on the second pump signal (52) to control low frequency RIN spiking due to relaxation oscillations in the laser.
Abstract:
A polarized fiber laser source includes a fiber laser (10) comprising a pair of Bragg gratings (14, 16) at opposite ends of a fiber laser cavity (18) which is doped with a rare-earth dopant so as to allow lasing to occur at a lasing wavelength lambda L. A grating tap (26) is provided along a portion of the laser cavity (18) to couple-out a predetermined amount of light along one polarization, e.g., the "s" polarization, at the lasing wavelength lambda L. This causes one polarization mode to experience more loss than the other, thereby allowing the fiber laser to lase only on the less lossy polarization mode and causing the laser output light (40) to be polarized only along such polarization.
Abstract:
A low NOx fuel nozzle assembly (10) includes a nozzle (24) with a tangential entry (TE) swirler (46) and centerbody element (48) each releasably mounted to an assembly support structure (26) by means of threaded bolts or studs, such as to readily provide for operator access to the nozzle's major elements for the purpose of repair or replacement.
Abstract:
A shielded connector assembly for interconnecting individual conductors in an electrical wire harness is provided with a ground ring which eliminates unshielded conductor wire segments after the individual conductor shielding has been stripped. A filter ring assembly is included in the connector assembly for filtering high frequency signals to eliminate cross talk between high and low frequency signal conductors in the same wire harness. Transmission leakage is also eliminated at the juncture between the individual conductors and a circuit board included in the assembly.
Abstract:
An optical corrosion sensor employs an optical fiber Bragg grating (20) embedded within an optical fiber (18). The grating (20) has a coating (40) made of a material, such as aluminum, which corrodes or can otherwise be removed. The coating (40) exerts forces (46) radially inward around and along the grating (20) so as to cause the wavelength bandwidth of the grating reflectivity profile to become broader and to be shifted relative to its uncoated condition. Also, the forces on the grating (20) are reduced when the coating corrodes, thereby causing the wavelength bandwidth and shift of the reflectivity profile of the grating to narrow and to return to its uncoated condition.
Abstract:
A cleaning method for gas turbine engine (10) airfoils (30) includes a step of immersing an ultrasonic agitator, such as a welding horn (60), into a tank (52) with a cleaning solution (54) and a step of directing the ultrasonic agitator onto the portion of the airfoil (30) having the crust layer. A subsequent step of high pressure water jet spray removes the crust debris. The cleaning method of the present invention significantly increases the power density of the ultrasonic cleaning.