Abstract: A microwave integrated circuit, comprised of one or more Josephson junctions and short sections of microstrip or stripline transmission line, is fabricated from thin layers of superconducting metal on a dielectric substrate. The short sections of transmission line are combined to form the elements of the circuit, and particularly, two microwave resonators. The Josephson junctions are located between the resonators, and the impedance of the Josephson junctions forms part of the circuitry that couples the two resonators. The microwave integrated circuit has an application in Josephson voltage standards. In this application, the device is asymmetrically driven at a selected frequency (approximately equal to the resonance frequency of the resonators), and a D.C. bias is applied to the junction. By observing the current-voltage characteristic of the junction, a precise voltage, proportional to the frequency of the microwave drive signal, is obtained.

Abstract: A recognition system for robots is responsive to encoded information from a plurality of sources for enabling a robot to recognize and identify the sources. A receiver located on the robot detects incoming signals and decodes them. The decoded signal is compared with information stored in the robot memory to provide source identification. A direction determining sub-system incorporated into the receiver provides source direction information. The system may utilize either digital or analog techniques.

Abstract: Apparatus for testing a glancing-incidence mirror system for an X-ray telescope, wherein the system has an even number of coaxial and confocal reflecting surfaces, includes an X-ray laser for generating a collimated beam of X-rays directed along the axis of the system so that the beam is incident on the reflecting surfaces and illuminates a predetermined area thereof. An X-ray detector, such as a photographic film, is located at the common focus of the surfaces so that the image thereon produced by the X-rays will provide a measure of the resolution and efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A predetermined amount of segregation is introduced into a molten sample of a composite that exhibits the Soret effect, such amount approximating the amount of segregation resulting from directional solidification of the sample. The molten sample is then directionally solidified starting at the end opposite the end richer in the constituent that would migrate toward the cooler part of a liquid solution of the composite maintained in a temperature gradient. Since solidification commences at the end deficient in such constituent, its migration toward the interface between the solid and liquid during the solidification will compensate for the deficiency yielding a more homogeneous product.

Abstract: A frequency modulated push-pull oscillator in which the non-linear characteristic of varactors producing frequency modulation is compensated for by an opposite non-linear characteristic of a field effect transistor (FET) providing modulating bias to the varactors.

Abstract: A tape record/playback system is tested by first deriving an analog test signal and a band-limited digital reference signal from a pseudo-noise (PN) sequence generator driven by a clock signal and recording said signals on respective tracks of the system during operation thereof in a record mode. During the playback mode of operation of the system, a delayed analog reference signal without time base variations is reconstructed from the played back reference signal and compared with the played back test signal in order to obtain an error signal that is a measure of the performance of the system.

Abstract: A signal transformation network which is uniquely characterized to exhibit a very low input impedance while maintaining a linear transfer characteristic when driven from a voltage source and when quiescently biased in the low microampere current range. In its simplest form, it consists of a tightly coupled two-transistor network in which a common emitter input stage is interconnected directly with an emitter follower stage to provide virtually 100 percent negative feedback to the base input of the common emitter stage. Bias to the network is supplied via the common tie point of the common emitter stage collector terminal and the emitter follower base stage terminal by a regulated constant current source, and the output of the circuit is taken from the collector of the emitter follower stage.

Abstract: An attitude control system for a space vehicle in which angular rate signals are generated by rate gyros mounted closely adjacent to gimbaled engines at the rear of a vehicle, and wherein error signals representative of a commanded change in vehicle angle or attitude are obtained from a precision inertial platform located in the nose region of the vehicle. The rate gyro derived signals dominate at high frequencies where dynamic effects become significant, and platform signals dominate at low frequencies where precision signals are required for a steady vehicle attitude. The blended signals are applied in a conventional manner to control the gimbaling of vehicle engines about control axes.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell array consisting of parallel columns of silicon filaments, each being doped to produce an inner region of one polarity type and an outer region of an opposite polarity type to thereby form a continuous radial semi-conductor junction. Spaced rows of electrical contacts alternately connect to the inner and outer regions to provide a plurality of electrical outputs which may be combined in parallel or in series.

Abstract: An aircraft-crash location transmitter tuned to transmit on standard emergency frequencies is shock mounted in a sealed circular case retained in a recess atop the tail of an aircraft by means of a shear pin designed to fail under a G-loading associated with a crash situation. The antenna for the transmitter is a metallic spring-blade having a curved cross-section and coiled like a spiral spring around the outside of the circular case, the free end of the antenna abutting the surface of the recess when the case is retained therein by the shear pin for maintaining the antenna in a furled state. A battery within the case for powering the transmitter is kept trickle-charged from the electrical system of the aircraft through a break-away connector on the case that also serves to mechanically hold-open the transmitter key until the connector separates.