Abstract: The virtual interferometer is an improved method for generating multiple ultaneous transmit beams as effected by a phased array radar. The technique is particularly suited to a solid state active radar array having a transmit/receive (T/R) module that is located at each radiating element. Potential applications to radar systems include environments such as air traffic control in which wide area surveillance with high search rates may be required. With multiple simultaneous beam generation coupled with parallel receiver beamformers and processors, such a radar system could support large volume searches while preserving the narrow beam characteristics by using the full aperture for generation of each of the multiple beams. The multiple simultaneous beams are generated by applying a particular phase shift at each radiating element, with no requirement for amplitude modulation.

Abstract: Improved carriage for selectively engaging and disengaging a load for transporting same from one location to another such that the carriage upon full engagement with the load is positively coupled thereto for effecting its transport with minimal risk. To this end, the carriage is advantageously made up of a pair of guide blocks, a pair of actuating rods and a biased pivotally mounted pawl. Each actuating rod is biasingly mounted in its associated guide block. All of the aforementioned elements on the carriage cooperate with a pair of recessed guide plates and an upstanding lug as affixed to any load to be transported. Once the carriage is fully engaged with any load, resilient pads are provided on the carriage to assure positive coupling engagement between the engaged load and the carriage. After transporting any coupled load, the load is also provided with a pair of sliding rods for initially engaging the base or support to which the load has been transported.

Abstract: Improved collapsible roll or spin-stabilizing fin subassembly means of reively lightweight molded construction for missile means and the like that is generally made up of base or hub means, a series of four interconnecting fork means and a series of four fin means. The base means is suitably affixed in concentric fashion to the trailing end of the missile means. Each one of the interconnecting means is hingedly connected to its associated radially aligned bifurcated means of the series of four bifurcated means. At the same time, each fork means is biasingly interconnected to its associated bifurcated means so that any fork means is biasingly urged in a trailing or rearward direction, once the missile means is launched, to an outward and inward extended partially rotated position as limited by stop means provided on the base means.

Abstract: An improved programmable analog voltage multiplier circuit means (PAVMCM) cluding various embodiments thereof that are operable in linear/nonlinear fashion. The PAVMCM is generally made up of multiplier circuit means, at least one switch means and at least one capacitor means. The switch means is connected to a programmable analog voltage (PAV) input and the capacitor means. The circuit means is composed of a high impedance analog voltage (HIAV) programming input, an analog voltage input and current source output means. The capacitor means is connected to the switch means and the HIAV programming input. The capacitor means receives and dynamically stores a PAV input when the switch is closed and then applies the dynamically stored PAV input to the HIAV programming input of the circuit means when the switch is opened. The product of the PAV input and the analog voltage input for a circuit means provides the multiplied current output of the output means thereof.

Abstract: An improved laser-driven, two-way optic communication system for atmosphe use and enabling communication between remote stations. The system is generally made up of a transmitter-receiver (TR) arrangement at one station and a cooperative transmitter-receiver (CTR) arrangement at another station. The TR arrangement is generally made up of laser source beam means, polarizer means, polarized beam rotater means and appropriate lens means. The CTR arrangement is generally made up of appropriate lens means, beam splitter means and first and second phase conjugate mirror (PCM) means. The PCM means are mounted on piezoelectric means that are selectively dithered so as to enable control of the return signal. The TR means causes propagation of a rotated laser source beam polarization output via the atmosphere to the CTR arrangement during system use.

Abstract: A pulsed CO.sub.2 laser that eliminates the nitrogen tail on the pulse by placing a Brewster angle absorption cell inside the optical cavity of the laser. This Brewster angle absorption cell contains a gas which exhibits a preferential absorption in the 10 .mu.m spectral regime. This preferential absorption causes the laser to lase in the 9.6 .mu.m regime which allows for easier harmonic generation and elimination of the nitrogen tail.