Abstract: An initiator includes a reactive panel having a substrate and a plurality of reactive layers disposed on the substrate. The initiator further includes a transition manifold coupled with the reactive panel. A system for venting a container includes a venting device and an initiator coupled with the venting device. The initiator includes a reactive panel having a substrate, a plurality of reactive layers disposed on the substrate, and a transition manifold coupled with the reactive panel. A method of initiating a venting system includes providing a venting system operatively associated with the container, reacting a first material of the venting system with a second material of the venting system to produce an exothermic reaction, and venting the container as a result of reacting the first material with the second material.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes a ceramic portion including an ionizable material, an explosive charge adapted to project at least part of the ceramic portion upon detonation at a velocity sufficient to ionize the ionizable material, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. A plasma antenna generator includes a housing defining a plurality of openings therein and a plurality of shaped charge devices or a plurality of explosively formed projectile devices received in the openings. Each of the devices includes an explosive charge, a detonator coupled with the explosive charge, and a ceramic liner, the ceramic liner comprising an ionizing material. A method includes providing an explosive device and a ceramic portion comprising an ionizable material disposed proximate the explosive device, detonating the explosive device to propel the ceramic portion, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail.

Abstract: A penetrator includes a fore body comprising a pin and having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity and a stabilizing portion comprising a material of lower density than that of the fore body and a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile and defining a bore in which the pin is received for removably attaching the fore body thereto such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a control surface includes a first spur gear; a first drive assembly engaged with the first spur gear; a second spur gear; and a second drive assembly engaged with the second spur gear. The apparatus further includes a gear assembly engaged with the first spur gear and the second spur gear and adapted to be coupled with the control surface.

Abstract: A plasma antenna generator includes an ionizable material, an explosive charge capable of projecting the ionizable material upon detonation, and a detonator coupled with the explosive charge. An electromagnetic pulse transmitting system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator and a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator. A method includes providing an explosive device comprising an ionizable material, detonating the explosive device to propel the ionizable material, and ionizing the ionizable material to form at least one plasma trail. A sensing system includes an electromagnetic pulse generator, a plasma antenna generator capable of reradiating an electromagnetic pulse emitted from the electromagnetic pulse generator, and a sensing system capable of receiving and analyzing at least a portion of the electromagnetic pulse after being reflected from an interface.

Abstract: A photodetector for detecting the polarization or wavelength of incident infrared radiation (IR) is described. The polarization sensitive photodetector operates using two sets of patches and corresponding cavities, the first set resonating with IR having a first polarization, while the second set resonates with IR having an orthogonal, second polarization. The polarization sensitive photodetector thus outputs two signals, proportional to the first and second polarizations, respectively. The wavelength sensitive photodetector operates using two sets of patches and corresponding cavities, the first set resonating at a first IR wavelength, while the second set resonates at a different IR wavelength. The wavelength sensitive photodetector thus outputs two signals, proportional to the first and second wavelengths, respectively. The patches have a length corresponding to odd multiples of the effective wavelength of the IR, while the thickness of the photodetector is typically one fourth of the effective wavelength.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating a control surface includes a first spur gear, a first drive assembly engaged with the first spur gear, a second spur gear, a second drive assembly engaged with the second spur gear, and a gear assembly capable of being coupled with the control surface and engaged with the spur gears. The gear assembly includes a first screw, a first gear engaged with the first spur gear, a thrust nut mounted to the first gear and threadedly engaged with the first screw, a second gear engaged with the second spur gear, a second screw mounted to the second gear and mechanically coupled with the thrust nut and a translation nut threadedly engaged with the second screw and capable of being coupled with the control surface. The second screw and the thrust nut rotate independently and translations of the thrust nut are transmitted to the second screw.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for detecting diseased tissue based upon infrared imaging in two different bands of infrared wavelengths is described. The use of two series of infrared images taken in two different bands of infrared wavelengths increases sensitivity to the subtle temperature changes caused by diseased skin and tissue, especially in the case of cancerous tissue. By sensing skin temperature, the homogeneity thereof, the time variations thereof and the correlation between the two series of infrared images, the present invention decreases the rate of false positives and false negatives. The increased discrimination due to two series of infrared images allows for reliable detection of diseased or cancerous tissue even in the presence of skin tone variations such as birthmarks, tattoos and freckles. The present invention finds special application in the field of breast cancer detection where subtle skin temperature variations may readily be sensed using two series of infrared images.

Abstract: A photodetector for detecting infrared radiation (IR) using a slab waveguide is described. The slab waveguide photodetector operates by resonating transverse magnetic or electric modes within the slab from the incident IR. An IR absorbing layer is located within the slab waveguide photodetector where the magnitude of the electric field vector is greatest. This permits the use of a thinner IR absorbing layer without sacrificing photoresponse. Multi-color slab waveguide photodetectors are permitted because multiple transverse magnetic or electric modes resonate within the slab waveguide. A reflective or transmissive grating is used to launch the IR into the IR absorbing layer through a cladding or antireflection layer.

Abstract: A multi-spectral super-pixel photodetector for detecting four or more different bands of infrared radiation is described. The super-pixel photodetector includes two or more sub-pixel photodetectors, each of which includes a diffractive resonant optical cavity that resonates at two or more infrared radiation bands of interest. By detecting infrared radiation at two or more different applied biases and by generating a spectral response curve for each of the sub-pixel photodetectors at each of these biases, the response to each of the individual bands of infrared radiation can be calculated. The response to each band of infrared radiation can be found by deconvolving the response at each bias. The super-pixel photodetector finds use in military and medical imaging applications and can cover a broad portion of the infrared spectrum.

Abstract: A planning system for developing new products includes resource and projected financial performance information as inputs. By selecting various combinations of possible new products to develop, a planner can determine a product mix that maximizes future profits as well as can actually be implemented using available resources. A product development schedule is generated along with projected financial information.

Abstract: An electronic commerce system (10) includes a server (40) operating on one or more computers that communicates a search query for one or more products to one or more seller databases (32) that contain product data. Each seller database (32) generates local search results that are responsive to the search query. The server (40) also communicates one or more sorting parameters to the seller databases (32). The sorting parameters direct each seller database (32) to sort local search results generated at each seller database (32) according to the sorting parameters in response to the search query. In addition, the server (40) receives sorted local search results from one or more of the seller databases (32) and merges the sorted local search results received from the seller databases (32) to generate merged search results. Furthermore, the server (40) sorts the merged search results according to the sorting parameters and communicates the sorted merged search results to a user.

Abstract: A penetrator includes a fore body comprising a pin and having a center of aerodynamic pressure forward of a center of gravity and a stabilizing portion comprising a material of lower density than that of the fore body and a plurality of outwardly extending fins for improving an aerodynamic stability of the projectile and defining a bore in which the pin is received for removably attaching the fore body thereto such that, when attached to the fore body, a center of gravity for the penetrator is forward of a center of aerodynamic pressure for the penetrator.

Abstract: A fin assembly includes a fin base, a fin tip rotatably connected with the fin base, and means for selectively locking the fin tip in a chosen configuration. A vehicle includes a body defining a cavity therein and defining an opening through a wall thereof, a fin control mechanism disposed within the cavity, and a fin base having an axle extending through the opening and engaged with the fin control mechanism. The vehicle further comprises a fin tip rotatably connected with the fin base, and means for selectively locking the fin tip in a chosen configuration. A method for configuring a fin assembly on a vehicle includes providing a fin tip rotatably connected with a fin base being operably coupled with the vehicle and selectively locking the fin tip in a first position relative to the fin base.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a restraint for restraining a first control surface in a stowed configuration and a severing mechanism for parting the restraint to allow the first control surface to move into an operational configuration. A vehicle includes a body, a first control surface rotatably mounted to the body, and a restraint attached to the first control surface for restraining the first control surface in a stowed configuration. The vehicle further includes a severing mechanism for parting the restraint to allow the first control surface to move into an operational configuration. A method includes attaching a restraint to the control surface to restrain the control surface in a stowed configuration and cutting the restraint to allow the control surface to move to an operational configuration.

Abstract: The described embodiments of the present invention include a method for forming a radiation detector. A radiation absorption layer is formed on a substrate. A wider bandgap layer is formed on the radiation absorption layer. A passivation layer is formed on the wider bandgap layer. A doping layer is formed on the passivation layer. The doping layer is then patterned and dopant is driven from the patterned doping layer into the junction layer and the radiation absorption layer to form a doped region. The passivation layer is patterned to expose the doped region and an electrical contact to the doped region is formed.

Abstract: A cable includes a first portion, a second portion, and a first fold between the first portion and the second portion. The cable further includes a first shim bonded between the first portion and the second portion. A method for making a cable includes adhesively bonding a first surface of a first shim to a first surface of the cable, folding the cable over the first shim, and adhesively bonding the first surface of the cable to a second surface of the first shim. A method includes folding a cable and adhesively bonding a shim in the fold to the interior surfaces defined by the fold.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring force systems is provided. The device measures and displays one or more components of a force system generated by medical or dental appliances or body tissues. The invention provides a probe or attachment device for engaging the structure to be measured, such as orthodontic springs, wires, and appliances; surgical fixation devices; and body tissue. The probe transmits the force system produced by the structure to a sensor bar which is attached to the probe. The sensor bar resolves the force system being measured into electrical signals. A device is used to display representations of the electrical signals.

Abstract: The present invention is a prosthesis (10) for replacing a body part which includes a first element (16) adapted to receive at least a portion of a second element (18) in an operative manner. The present prosthesis (10) also includes a variable locking ring (20) made of a shape memory material having a transformation temperature range ("TTR"). The locking ring (20) is used to allow insertion of the second element (18) into the first (16) at least at temperatures below the TTR and to lock the elements (16, 18) together at least at temperatures above the TTR. With it at a temperature below its TTR, the locking ring (20) is positioned between the two elements (16, 18). With it so positioned, the locking ring (20) is adapted to interlock the elements (16, 18) together at temperatures above its TTR by at least attempting to change its shape.