Abstract: A solder spacer device and method for use in positioning a grid pin array having a plurality of pins over a circuit board having a plurality of pin holes respectively receiving the pins. The spacer is pulled through a central opening in the circuit board after the pins are soldered in the holes to the circuit board. The spacer has a cylindrical body which is positioned in the central opening and has a plurality of radial legs having respective flexure portions for separating the pin grid array from the circuit board during soldering and for folding into the central opening during extraction through the central opening after the soldering is finished.

Abstract: A gimbal module for installation in a gimbal assembly and for operation by a simple type of robot device for use in a space environment. The module has a stator, which is fixedly connected to a first gimbal, and has a coaxial rotor, which is fixedly connected to a second gimbal. The stator and first gimbal have respectively a stator spline and a gimbal spline for aligning and installing the stator in the first gimbal. The stator has a bearing which rotatably supports the rotor. The first gimbal has a bearing which rotatably supports the second gimbal. The stator and first gimbal have respective connector components. A first force is applied along the gimbal axis on the module for aligning and installing the stator and its connecotr component into the first gimbal and its connector component. The rotor and the second gimbal have respective rotor connector components.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator having a sensor for sensing an amount of applied force is provided. The actuator maintains an adjustable force by adjusting a current in its coils. the actuator includes an armature and a stator. The stator has a U-shaped back iron, which has a first end portion with a first coil and which has a second end portion with a second coil. The coils form a magnetic flux path from the armature through the back iron and back to the armature. There is a flux density between the armature and each polar enlargement of the back iron. A first sensor unit is mounted on the first pole face, and a second sensor unit is mounted on the second pole face of the back iron, for sensing the flux densities. The first sensor includes a first Hall generator subassembly having a first input for receiving a reference voltage and having a first output for providing an output voltage.

Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving very wide instantaneous bandwidth signals. Synchronized short pulse generators are positioned at the feed location of each element of a linear array of short capped monopole antennas to sequentially excite the antenna elements which are spaced in accordance with the sequential interval to provide a beam in the desired direction and space. Reflections of the radiated short pulses are received by a feed monopole backed by a reflecting monopole and coupled to a short pulse receiver through a duplexing switch.

Abstract: A baseband receiver with a range gate interval in the order of nanoseconds. A tunnel diode, set to the low level state, is coupled across the output terminals of a bridge that is balanced in the absence of a received signal, during the range gate interval. Signals received by an antenna are coupled to a tunnel diode in an arm of the bridge causing it to change from its low level state to its high level state thereby unbalancing the bridge and establishing a voltage at the output terminals of the bridge that fires the tunnel diode coupled thereacross.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a short pulse signal in the presence of an interfering jamming signal wherein the jamming signal is utilized as the local oscillator in a diode mixer when it is received at a sufficiently high level for efficiently mixing with a short pulse signal. When the received jamming level is insufficient to act as a local oscillator, an internal local oscillator signal is coupled to the diode to maintain an efficient mixing operation.

Abstract: A short pulse radar receiver having a detector with a threshold automatically adjustable with the level of noise and interfering signals. Interfering signals at signal levels which exceed the maximum for which a threshold may be achieved to prevent a false alarm are attenuated prior to coupling to the variable threshold detector by an attenuator variable automatically in accordance with the received signal level.

Abstract: An electron beam magnetic deflection system capable of raster and stroke deflection and providing minimum power dissipation in raster mode. Automatic switching of the voltage demanded in raster mode is obtained by continuously sampling the yoke current, the power supply voltage being switched in magnitude and polarity corresponding to the direction of change and polarity of the yoke current. By returning energy stored in the yoke to the power supply during portions of the raster cycle, power efficiency is substantially enhanced.

Abstract: An improved method for the automatic acceleration of an aircraft to a preselected speed is described. At any point in the climb portion of flight, a capture of a computed altitude that is increased at a specified rate is performed to provide optimal acceleration.

Abstract: A high frequency target seeking device, using a stabilized reflector antenna, performs range search and tracking functions and target angle search and tracking functions. A technique is provided for target range discrimination using several narrow band i.f. filters, also thereby improving signal-to-clutter ratio and signal-to-receiver noise ratio. Target search is accomplished with simultaneous range and antenna azimuth scanning, with the range bins and the antenna beam swept across the target. A multiplexer selects the range bin having signals indicative of the target. Target range tracking is accomplished by the multiplexer additionally automatically selecting range bins adjacent to the target's range bin and comparing their output signals. Antenna stabilization is accomplished utilizing signals from vehicle pitch, roll, and yaw rate sensors, and antenna elevation and azimuth rate and angle sensors.

Abstract: A multibeam acoustic apparatus utilizing a linear array of hydrophone elements in a sonar system includes a cascaded ladder capacitance-inductance network for coupling electrical signals to and from the individual hydrophone elements. The hydrophone elements are connected in series and the natural capacitance of these elements provides the capacitive characteristics of the network. Shunt inductors supply the inductance characteristics and provide a phase characteristic inversely related to frequency. Variable cumulative phase delays are provided for signals applied to successive hydrophone elements whereby a sonar beam is formed in a direction determined by the frequency of the exciting signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for control of an anode voltage power supply for reduction of fluctuation in anode power supply output during the vertical retrace period, resulting in improvements in overall CRT display performance parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting jet engine failures during aircraft flight. Low and high speed rotor rotation velocities of one engine are compared with low and high rotor rotation velocities of other engines and the difference between them utilized to determine engine failure. Equivalent low speed rotor velocity of an engine is computed from the high speed rotor velocity of that signal. This computed value is compared with measured low speed rotor velocity of the same and of different engines. Differences between the computed values and the actual values are compared to a computed threshold, which allows for normal differences between engines, to determine the operational state of the engine. Additional engine testing is performed by comparing low speed rotor rotational velocity to a computer windmilling value for each engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing terminal-to-terminal circuit resistance and enhancing heat transfer in a rotary power transfer apparatus of the roll ring type comprising a connecting thimble for attaching an external power cable to a cone shaped terminal which is attached to a tab integral to an outer ring. An inner ring having a spherical recess mates with the spherical end of a tie connector. A cone shaped terminal is fitted to a second connecting thimble for attaching a second external power cable.

Abstract: An inclinometer includes two coplanar electrodes positioned within a chamber of a metallic housing containing a high relative dielectric constant fluid and a gas. With the inclinometer positioned on a level surface equal areas of the two electrodes are immersed in the dielectric fluid creating two equal capacitors formed by the electrodes and the metallic housing. When the inclinometer is rotated through an inclination angle, unequal areas of the electrodes are immersed in the fluid causing a capacitance differential that is a measure of the inclination angle.

Abstract: A controller for maintaining a motor operation at a desired rotational speed utilizes a phase locked loop that receives input signals from a tachometer coupled to the motor shaft. Reference frequencies for the phase locked loop are generated by a voltage control oscillator in response to voltages selected in accordance with the desired motor speed. These selected voltages are coupled to the motor speed control to establish a motor speed within the lock-in range of the phase locked loop. Tachometric feedback is applied in parallel for the phase locked loop. The open loop drive provided by the selected voltage guarantees degraded open loop control of the motor should the control circuit fall.

Abstract: A drive circuit for servomotors that eliminates the need for microswitches to protect the motor when the system is driven to its limits of travel. The circuit monitors the current to the motor, identifies overload currents and terminates current flow to the motor when an overload occurs. The current flow is restored only when a reverse rotation command signal is received by the drive circuit.

Abstract: A differential capacitance detector comprising two pulse generators and a comparator. The width of each pulse generator output is representative of the capacity of each of two capacitors whose differential is to be determined. A comparator provides a third pulse whose width is the difference of the width of the pulses input from the pulse generators and is representative of the capacitance differential between the two capacitors.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing precise convergence measurements of electron beams in a CRT display by sensing the displacement of brightness peaks as an array of phosphorescent regions are sequentially illuminated by energy from the electron beams deflected by the deflection apparatus of the display system and an independent external time varying magnetic field applied by enclosing the CRT housing within a pair of external coils. Convergence is calculated by calibrating the recorded brightness peaks as a function of beam displacement. The system is adaptable to measuring both vertical and horizontal components of convergence as well as linewidth. The apparatus operates independently of and does not require interruption of dynamic functions which operate in synchronism with the deflection circuits, such as dynamic convergence correction.

Abstract: A magnetic actuator for providing a single-axis, noncontacting force capability with unconstrained cross-axis mobility utilizes flux feedback force linearization. Electromagnets cooperating with an armature suspended therebetween are energized by a bias flux and a signal derived from flux densities sensed in the air gaps. The bias flux density may be optimized to minimize the peak power required by the actuator. The flux density signals are applied in a closed force loop to provide a net force directly proportional to the commanded flux.