Abstract: There is provided by this invention a controller for cavity dumping a laser which maintains a consistent output pulse energy level. The constant output pulse energy level is due to the clipping of the circulating power within the laser's cavity upon its reaching a threshold level. In order to further insure that the output pulses are of equal energy even within a laser that is pulse interval modulated, the threshold level for the circulating power within the laser's cavity is adjusted according to a predetermined ratio of the number of times the circulating power is clipped to the number of times the circulating power is not clipped so that the predetermined ratio is maintained.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel nose assembly for an installation tool for crimping or swaging nuts onto threaded bolts to form a lock-bolt combination. The nose assembly is configured such that its spindle has a bight section or slot to receive a projected head of a pull piston. This provides quick engagement and disengagement of the nose assembly from the installation tool that allows easier and faster change without the use of special tooling.

Abstract: An optical projection system is provided wherein a light valve supplies an aperture consisting of spatially separate colors for projection by a plurality of projection lenses to a projection plane. A color correction lens is placed at a selective pupil of the projection system wherein microscopic amounts of selective power are applied to at least one of the spatially seperated colors of the image at the selected pupil to cause a shift of the wavelength to bring all the wavelengths of the spatially separate colors to a common focus.

Abstract: A microstrap patch antenna with a substantially omni-directional radiation pattern includes an upper hemisphere microstrip patch radiator working against a ground plane and a lower hemisphere microstrip patch radiator working against a ground plane, the ground planes being oriented in close proximity and spaced apart from each other. One of the radiators is excited in left hand circular polarization and the other in right hand circular polarization such that their fields add constructively across their ground planes to achieve an omni-directional radiation pattern.

Abstract: There is provided an optically pumped laser having highly reflective coatings on opposite sides such that multiple reflections of radiation between the reflective coatings of the opposed sides produce lasing in a transverse mode. A plurality of diode lasers mounted in a linear array along the opposed sides with reflective coatings provide pumping emission to the laser. An optical alignment means consisting of prisms receive the stimulating emission from individual diode lasers and align individual stimulating emission such that it is colinear with the reflective radiation within the laser cavity.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention an optical heterodyning device comprised of a semiconductor heterostructure having a forward biased electrode connected thereto for optically mixing an input signal frequency with a local oscillating frequency in the separate confined laser cavity and a reverse biase electrode connected thereto for detecting the intermediate frequency produced. The local oscillator provides preamplification in the laser cavity and can be effectively phase locked to the input signal frequency.

Abstract: An optical instrument is provided which can be configured as a gyro, spectrometer, or other sensor of effects that can influence the transmission of light through a light conduit wherein a beam of light is split and introduced into both ends of an optical fiber which in the gyro case is a fiber-optic coil. Two fixed frequency shifters and two variable frequency shifters, one each at each end of the coil, which are switched on in alternate pairs, are used to adjust any nonreciprocal phase shift caused by rotation of the coil. The beams are mixed backed together and the resultant beam is detected and analyzed by suitable circuitry to provide an output indicative of the angular position, direction of rotation, and angular rate of the motion of the fiber-optic coil as well as any frequency bias and scale factor changes. When configured as a spectrometer, the coil is made insensitive to rotation so that changes are the result of changes in the light source.

Abstract: A fiber-optic rotation sensor particularly adapted to be placed adjacent a drill head to measure the orientation of a drill string with respect to the axis of rotation of the earth during or after drilling for minerals such as oil and gas. The analog sensor is based on a Sagnac interferometer and uses light beams counterrotating in one or more oblong circular shaped coils of optical fiber in which dual phase modulators are used to generate an AC signal to enable detection of a rotation rate output. The sensor also includes means to mechanically or electrically flip to sensitive axis of the rotation sensor to null out bias drift. If one coil is used, the flipping is in 90.degree. segments. When two coils at 90.degree. to each other are used, they are flipped 180.degree..

Abstract: A triple resonance circuit is provided for improving the efficiency of high voltage pulses for pulse transformer applications. This circuit provides high transfer of energy when the normal mode frequencies of the coupled circuit are in the ratios of certain whole numbers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for sealing lids to chip carrier assemblies that increases the efficiency and reliability of batch processing operations for integrated circuit manufacturing. A mounting fixture captively locates individual chip carriers with their covers in a recessed pocket that provides accurate lid-to-carrier positioning. A tension plate having a plurality of convex-type protrusions is mounted on the fixture that covers the chip carriers and lid assemblies such that a protrusion rest upon each chip carrier and lid assembly. A cover plate having a pattern of multiple apertures covers the fixture and tension plate. The relationship of the diameter of the apertures in the cover plate to the maximum protrusion diameter in the tension plate can control the amount of tension that the convex-shaped protrusion place on the individual chip carriers and lid assemblies for the sealing process.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention an optical sensing system utilizing a Sagnac interferometer having a frequency shifter within the Sagnac counterpropagating loop that is generally comprised of a plurality of acoustic transducers mounted on acousto-optical material to frequency shift and beamsplit a light beam simultaneously within the material while at the same time having the capability of switching between an upshifted or downshifted frequency in either a Bragg or Raman-Nath mode of operation without realigning the optical beams. The acousto-optical material has a special configuration to eliminate back reflections of the acoustic waves that can interact with the light beam. In addition, special alignment of the transducers with dampening configurations also serves to prevent back reflections of the acoustic wave from interacting with the light beam.

Abstract: There is provided a fiber optic sensor for sensing environmental effects on counterpropagating light beams in an optical loop by comparing the modulation of the light beams in an optical coil exposed to the environmental effects and comparison with a reference fiber shielded from the environmental effects. The counterpropagating light paths contain optical phase modulators for creating nonreciprocal phase shifts and may comprise elongated sections forming a long line array.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention packaging for fiber optic devices that utilizes two concentric cylinders such that one end of the inner cylinder is rigidly fixed to the outer cylinder, while the other end is flexibly attached to the outer cylinder. This attachment isolates the inner tube which supports the fiber optic device from the axial compressive strain subjected to the outer tube. An overall flexible sealing material is applied to seal the device.

Abstract: There is provided by this disclosure a method and apparatus for making fiber optic couplers that is comprised generally of the steps of stretching a fused optical fiber pair at a predetermined rate to produce first a tapered section, second a constant diameter cylindrical section, and third a final tapered section. The two optical fibers are placed in juxtaposition under a predetermined load, heated to a predetermined temperature until they fuse together to form a single entity having a predetermined width, length and circular cross section. The two moveable platforms apply a predetermined tensile load to the fibers and move the fibers past a heat source in a controlled manner to form the different sections.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler is provided having first and second optical fibers fused together along a predetermined length having fused tapered ends for the input and output of optical energy and a constant diameter section therebetween to facilitate coupling of optical energy between the first and second optical fibers. The constant diameter section provides a higher efficient coupling action and a stronger, more rugged coupler.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a fiber optic transducer for accelerometers and gyroscopes that utilize an optical fiber suspended between two points and supported on a vibrating platform such that the optical fiber is deflected to cause light passing through the fiber to be phase modulated. When the device is accelerated, the deflection of the vibrating fiber is assymetrical, and the light passing through the fiber is phase modulated at frequency `f` and odd harmonics of `f`. The first in odd harmonic phase modulation has an amplitude proportional to the acceleration and a phase relative to the driving signal that depends on the direction of acceleration.

Abstract: There is provided an optical scanning apparatus having an angular positioning means that is generally comprised of a variable capacitor including a rotor disc with a plurality of equally spaced conductors and a stator disc with twice as many equally spaced conductors axially spaced from the rotor disc for capacitive coupling. Excitation of the variable capacitor provides a feedback signal to the controller of the optical scanning apparatus that is proportional to the angular position.

Abstract: A fiber-optic rotation sensor particularly adapted to be placed adjacent a drill head to measure the orientation of a drill string with respect to the axis of rotation of the earth during or after drilling for minerals such as oil and gas. The analog sensor is based on a Sagnac interferometer and uses light beams counterrotating in one or more oblong circular shaped coils of optical fiber in which dual phase modulators are used to generate an AC signal to enable detection of a rotation rate output. The sensor also includes means to mechanically or electrically flip the sensitive axis of the rotation sensor to null out bias drift. If one coil is used, the flipping is in 90.degree. segments. When two coils at 90.degree. to each other are used, they are flipped 180.degree..

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a broad band acoustic transducer comprising a piezoelectric crystal with a two layer dampening backing having very high attenuation properties. Each layer has an impedance matching the acoustical impedance of the crystal, however, the second layer has an attenuating additive that greatly increases its attenuation factor. The surface interface between the two dampening layers is tilted and roughened to induce wave scattering that prevents back reflections.

Abstract: An automated machine tool is provided having an adjusting apparatus for changing the cutting radius of a cutting tool by changing the tool's position on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cutting tool. A constant cutter feed rate is maintained by adjusting the rotation rate of the cutting tool in proportion to the distance of the cutting tool from the centerline of rotation.