Abstract: A cutting head for attachment to the end of the wire probe of an ultrasonic kidney stone disintegration instrument. The cutting head has a plurality of circumferentially arranged teeth formed at one end thereof to provide a cup-shaped receptacle for kidney stones encountered during the disintegration procedure. An integral reduced diameter collar diminishes stress points in the wire and reduces breakage thereof.

Abstract: An infrared photo-responsive element (R.sub.D) is monolithically integrated into a source follower circuit of a metal oxide semiconductor device (10) by depositing a layer of a lead chalcogenide as a photo-resistive element forming an ohmic bridge between two metallization strips (26, 28) serving as electrodes of the circuit. Voltage from the circuit varies in response to illumination of the layer by infrared radiation.

Abstract: A temperature responsive transmitter is provided in which frequency varies linearly with temperature. The transmitter includes two identically biased transistors connected in parallel. A capacitor, which reflects into the common bases to generate negative resistance effectively in parallel with the capacitor, is connected to the common emitters. A crystal is effectively in parallel with the capacitor and the negative resistance. Oscillations occur if the magnitude of the absolute value of the negative resistance is less than the positive resistive impedance of the capacitor and the inductance of the crystal. The crystal has a large linear temperature coefficient and a resonant frequency which is substantially less than the gain-bandwidth product of the transistors to ensure that the crystal primarily determines the frequency of oscillation.

Abstract: A reciprocating linear motor (10) is formed with a pair of ring-shaped permanent magnets (50, 52) having opposite radial polarizations, held axially apart by a non-magnetic yoke (20), which serves as an axially displaceable armature assembly (14). A pair of annularly wound coils (30, 32) having axial lengths which differ from the axial lengths of the permanent magnets are serially coupled together in mutual opposition and positioned with an outer cylindrical core (24) in axial symmetry about the armature assembly. One embodiment includes a second pair of annularly wound coils (36, 38) serially coupled together in mutual opposition and an inner cylindrical core (26) positioned in axial symmetry inside the armature radially opposite to the first pair of coils.

Abstract: A high frequency oscillator is provided by connecting two amplifier circuits in parallel where each amplifier circuit provides the other amplifier circuit with the conditions necessary for oscillation. The inherent noise present in both amplifier circuits causes the quiescent current, and in turn, the generated frequency, to change. The changes in quiescent current cause the transconductance and the load impedance of each amplifier circuit to vary, and this in turn results in opposing changes in the input susceptance of each amplifier circuit. Because the changes in input susceptance oppose each other, the changes in quiescent current also oppose each other. The net result is that frequency stability is enhanced.

Abstract: An optical scanner for imaging lines in an object plane (10) onto a linear array (18) in a focal plane (16) either continuously or discretely and comprising a set of four mutually perpendicularly oriented plane corner mirrors (28, 30, 32, 34) providing a reflecting path (L.sub.1, L.sub.2, L.sub.3, L.sub.4, L.sub.5) describing a parallelogram and a plane parallel scanning mirror (22) with a front and back reflecting surface (M.sub.o, M.sub.oo) located mid-way between the first and fourth corner mirrors (28, 34) and oriented so that in the mid scan position (45.degree.) it is parallel to the first corner mirror (28) and therefore perpendicular to the fourth corner mirror (34). As the scan mirror (22) rotates, rays (L.sub.o, L.sub.i) incident from a plurality of lines (15, 17) in the object plane (10) are selectively directed through the optical system arriving at a common intersection (P.sub.oo) on the back surface (M.sub.oo) of the scanning mirror where the rays are colinearly directed (L.sub.

Abstract: A predetermined and variable synthesized capacitance which may be incorporated into the resonant portion of an electronic oscillator for the purpose of tuning the oscillator comprises a programmable operational amplifier circuit. The operational amplifier circuit has its output connected to its inverting input, in a "follower" configuration, by a network which is low impedance at the operational frequency of the circuit. The output of the operational amplifier is also connected to the non-inverting input by a capacitor. The non-inverting input appears as a synthesized capacitance which may be varied with a variation in gain-bandwidth product of the operational amplifier circuit. The gain-bandwidth product may, in turn, be varied with a variation in input set current with a digital to analog converter whose output is varied with a command word. The output impedance of the circuit may also be varied by varying the output set current.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing including a circular stator member having a plurality of circumferential pole faces and a suspended annular ring member with corresponding number of inward facing circumferential pole faces separated by respective air gaps. A source of DC magnetic flux circulates flux between the circumferential pole faces of the stator and the ring to provide axial stability along a central longitudinal axis. Flux coil means are included on the stator member for providing variable flux density along predetermined radial paths to provide active radial stabilization. Additionally, flux coil means are included on the stator to actively modulate the magnitude of the magnetic forces as well as their direction of differential flux control involving the DC magnetic flux to produce torquing moments about a pair of mutually orthogonal axes which are perpendicular to the central axis.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an X-ray spectrometer having imaging and energy resolution of X-ray sources. The spectrometer has an array of adjoining rectangularly shaped detector cells formed in a silicon body. The walls of the cells are created by laser drilling holes completely through the silicon body and diffusing n.sup.+ phosphorous doping material therethrough. A thermally migrated aluminum electrode is formed centrally through each of the cells.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit for sensing and indicating temperature by changing oscillator frequency with temperature comprises a programmable operational amplifier which is operated on the roll-off portion of its gain versus frequency curve and has its output directly connected to the inverting input to place the amplifier in a follower configuration. Its output is also connected to the non-inverting input by a capacitor with a crystal or other tuned circuit also being connected to the non-inverting input. A resistor is connected to the program input of the amplifier to produce a given set current at a given temperature, the set current varying with temperature. As the set current changes, the gain-bandwidth of the amplifier changes and, in turn, the reflected capacitance across the crystal changes, thereby providing the desired change in oscillator frequency by pulling the crystal.

Abstract: An optical instrument (10), such as a stability monitor or a target range finder, uses an unstabilized laser (12) to project a composite optical signal of coherent light having two naturally occurring longitudinal mode components. A beamsplitter (24) divides the signal into a reference beam (26) which is directed toward one photodetector (28) and a transmitted beam (42) which illuminates and is reflected from a distant target (44) onto a second photodetector (52) optically isolated from the first photodetector. Both photodetectors are operated on the square law principle to provide electrical signals modulated at a frequency equal to the separation between the frequencies of the two longitudinal mode components of the optical signal projected by the laser (12).

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting multiple spectral bands, individually or concurrently, using linear detector arrays (30, 36). The system employs a beamsplitter (12) to divide the optical source (10) into two or more optical beams (24, 32), which beams are directed at the linear detector arrays (30, 36). Filter trays (38, 40) are positioned in the focal planes of the optical beams (24, 32) so that the beams pass through the filter trays prior to impinging upon the detector arrays (30, 36). Multiple filters (42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52) are placed on the filter trays (38, 40). Linear actuators (62, 64) positioned adjacent the filter trays (38, 40) translate the trays across the focal planes of the optical beams (24, 32) so that individual filters are positioned in the path of beams, such that those frequencies of the beams that fall within the spectral ranges of the individual bandpass filter through which it passes may be detected by the detector arrays for further examination and analysis.

Abstract: An unobscured three mirror wide-angle telescopic imaging system comprised of an input baffle which provides a 20.degree. (Y axis).times.30.degree. (X axis) field of view, a primary mirror having a convex spherical surface, a secondary mirror having a concave ellipsoidal reflecting surface, a tertiary mirror having a concave spherical reflecting surface. The mirrors comprise mirror elements which are offset segments of parent mirrors whose axes and vertices commonly lie on the system's optical axis. An iris diaphragm forming an aperture stop is located between the secondary and tertiary mirror with its center also being coincident with the optical axis and being further located at the beam waist of input light beams reflected from the primary and secondary mirror surfaces. At the system focus following the tertiary mirror is located a flat detector which may be, for example, a TV imaging tube or a photographic film.

Abstract: An integrating sphere (10) comprised of a uniform diffusely reflecting spherical cavity (24) having mutually transverse input and output ports (42, 46) and a linear sample transport mechanism (12) secured thereto so that the multiple samples (136) can be brought into registration with the input port, one at a time, without having to open or disassemble the apparatus when a change of a sample (136) is desired. A vacuum tight seal (72) is provided between the cavity (24) and transport mechanism (12) for maintaining the integrity of a vacuum generated within the sphere when attached to source of optical energy. The device is utilized, for example, to test the emissive characteristic such as the relative fluorescence quantum efficiency of a dye sample placed in the path of a monochromatic optical energy source coupled to the input port (42) while having a light detector coupled to the output port (46).

Abstract: A thermal probe (10) for averaging temperature fluctuations over a prolonged period is formed with a temperature sensor (22) embedded inside a solid object (12) of a thermally conducting material. The solid object is held in a position equidistantly spaced apart from the interior surfaces of a closed housing (16) by a mount (14) made of a thermally insulating material. The housing is sealed to trap a vacuum or mass of air inside and thereby prevent transfer of heat directly between the environment outside of the housing and the solid object. Electrical leads (24) couple the temperature sensor with a connector (26) on the outside of the housing. Other solid objects of different sizes and materials may be substituted for the cylindrically-shaped object to vary the time constant of the probe.

Abstract: A method for coating a substrate with rapidly solidified metal which comprises spraying a mixture of rapidly solidified metal powder and small peening particles at high velocity against the substrate, said velocity being sufficient for the rapidly solidified metal powder and peening particles to impact the substrate and simultaneously bond the metal powder to the substrate. If the substrate is metallic, the method may provide the simultaneous mechanical working of the substrate surface.

Abstract: A high frequency oscillator circuit is provided using a low cost junction type field effect transistor (T.sub.1) with a tuned circuit connected to its gate. The frequency of operation is determined by the tuned circuit and the capacitance reflected from the source to the gate. The transistor is matched to the frequency of operation so that this frequency falls within the roll-off portion of the transistor's transconductance verses frequency curve, preferably somewhat above the 3 db point in frequency. Phase shifting necessary to sustain oscillation occurs due to the operation of the transistor in the roll-off portion of the curve and the addition of a phase shifting network (R.sub.1, C.sub.1) at the source. The resulting oscillator is small, stable, linear and inexpensive.

Abstract: A frequency control system is provided which makes an initial correction of the frequency (f.sub.CLK) of its own timing circuit (50, 52, 54, 56) after comparison against a frequency (f.sub.REF) of known accuracy and then sequentially checks and corrects the frequencies of several voltage (13a . . . 13e) controlled local oscillator circuits (12a . . . 12e). The timing circuit initiates the machine cycles of a central processing unit (30) which, over a sampling interval having a duration of a fixed number of machine cycles, applies a frequency index (FI) to an input register (22) in a modulo-sum frequency divider stage (20) and enables a multiplexer (16) to clock an accumulator register (26) in the divider stage (20) with a cyclical signal derived from the oscillator circuit being checked.

Abstract: A gallium arsenide photo-responsive device (40) is provided with an intermediate, transparent layer (28) of refractory metal or alkaline earth metal forming a tenacious bond between a non-hydroscopic oxide layer (24) and a noble metal Schottky barrier layer (30). The device has a gallium arsenide substrate with a predetermined type conductivity and a gallium arsenide epitaxial layer (16) with the same type conductivity but a lower charge carrier concentration grown on the substrate. The oxide layer (24) is formed to cover the epitaxial layer (16) and the transparent metal layer (28) followed by the noble metal layer (30) are deposited upon the oxide layer. An interdigitated ohmic contact (32) is then formed upon the noble metal layer.

Abstract: A cable reel assembly particularly adapted for, but not limited to, a system for providing electrical connection of power and data signals between an orbiter vehicle (12), such as a space shuttle, and a recovered satellite (14) and being comprised of two mutually opposing ring type structures (18, 20) having .+-.180.degree. relative rotation with one of the structures being held in fixed position while the other structure is rotatable. Motor controlled berthing latches (16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 16.sub.3) and umbilical cable connectors (17.sub.1, 17.sub.2) for the satellite are located on the rim (26) of the rotatable ring structure (18).