Glossary

calibration

To calibrate the production system, a number of functions have to be found that can be used to estimate the heating temperature that corresponds to a given temperature sensor voltage, and the heating current that results in the heating temperature reaching, but not exceeding, a given target temperature.

These estimation functions are found during the calibration procedure, which consists of a number of heating stages that use different heating currents. At the end of a stage, when the temperature sensor voltage has become reasonably stable, the user is asked to take a temperature measurement, which is recorded along with the heating current used and the temperature sensor voltage at the time of the measurement. After a reasonable number of heating stages, which may take several hours to complete, the estimation functions are fitted to these data.

calibration procedure
The operation that is performed to calibrate the production system. See calibration.
calibration stage
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client
The clients of a class or function are the classes or functions that use the functionality it provides. A sapient entity that uses the application is a user, not a client.
device
The FCI-7011 fiber coupler production system controlled by the application. Used when that term production system could be misunderstood as referring to an instance of ops.system.ProductionSystem.
estimation function
One of the functions that need to be fitted for the production system to be calibrated. See calibration.
heater
The part of the production system used to heat the fiber. The heater can be moved forewards and backwards, and can be operated with a range of heating currents. It’s heating temperature is measured by the temperature sensor.
heating current
The current, always expressed in mA, that is used to operate the production system’s heater. In most cases, heating the system to a given target temperature will be more convenient than explicitly setting a heating current.
heating stage
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heating temperature

The temperature, always expressed in °C, that the production system’s heater is heating with. The system does not directly report its heating temperature, however. Instead, its temperature sensor reports its voltage, which can be linked to an estimated temperature if the system is calibrated.

Under some circumstances, the temperature sensor voltage – and consequently the reported heating temperature – may not be an accurate reflection of the actual heating temperature. See temperature sensor.

If the system is calibrated, it is also possible to heat the system to a given temperature. See target temperature.

heating unit
The heater.
production system
The FCI-7011 fiber coupler production system controlled by the application, or an instance of ops.system.ProductionSystem. In contexts where it might be ambiguous which one is meant, the term device is used to refer to the physical production system, and the term production system instance is used to refer to an instance of the class.
safe mode
In order to prevent damage to the production system, the application monitors its heating temperature and temperature sensor voltage. If either exceeds its safe limits, the system is switched into its safe mode, where its heating current is lowered to a value that is known to be safe. The current may then be changed again, at which point the system leaves its safe mode.
system
Short for production system.
target temperature
A temprature, always expressed in °C, the production system’s heater is supposed to reach, but not exceed. In order to set a target temperature, the system needs to be calibrated.
temperature measurement
A measurement of the heating temperature that has been taken by the user. A number of temperature measurements are necessary to calibrate the production system.
temperature sensor

A sensor that measures the temperature of production system’s heater. The application receives its measurements in the form of the temperature sensor voltage, however, and in order to determine which heating temperature a given voltage corresponds to, the system needs to be calibrated.

If the heater is not in its foremost position, the reported voltage will not be an accurate reflection of the heater’s temperature. Also, the temperature sensor can be moved aside by the user for easier access to the production system. If it is, the temperature sensor voltage will be unrelated to the actual heating temperature.

temperature sensor voltage
The voltage, always expressed in V, the application receives from the production system’s temperature sensor. Used to estimate the heating temperature if the system is calibrated.

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