Abstract: A telescope employs folded optics with multiple reflections between a concave primary reflector, oriented towards incoming radiation, and a convex secondary reflector to produce reflected imaging rays which are nearly parallel to the optic axis of the telescope. Such geometry permits extremely long focal length (high f numbers) systems in a very overall short length, and the insertion of tubular barriers, both of which serve to intercept rays of radiation from a strong source which is sufficiently close, in an annular sense, to the object being viewed to produce a glare which would mask the image. The structure of the telescope includes apertures in both the primary and secondary reflectors situated along the optical axis to permit the reflected rays to pass beyond the secondary reflector to a point in front of the focus of the primary reflector as well as to a point behind the primary reflector, but which block out off-axis rays outside the field of interest.

Abstract: Feed-through vias (38) of 8 mil and smaller diameter are placed on 25 mil centers or smaller so that the feed-through vias serve only as electrical connections and do not block channels between conductors (24a and 42a). The method for forming such feed-through vias and interconnections utilizes a metallic resist (36 and 40) which covers the feed-through vias so that the metallic resist, along with conventional photoresist material, prevent undesired etching of the feed-through vias even in the event of misregistration of the photoresist material.

Abstract: An electrically energizable high intensity, radiant energy heater (8) having a general M-shape for providing a pocket (20) for localized high intensity isothermal heating for fusion and fiber processing. The heater is shaped to provide easy access for a fiber (18) at an entry (16) to enable insertion of the fiber into the isothermal high temperature zone in pocket (20). A second re-entrant wall external to the pocket provides radiant shielding and buffers the isothermal heating zone from the cool environment. The heater may be constructed from a ribbon of a resistively heated metal, such as platinum foil.

Abstract: A method for fabricating supported fine line electrical conductors comprises the steps of forming a pattern (16) which defines a configuration (18) of the desired conductors on a surface (12), placing electrically conductive material on the surface in a configuration defined by the pattern to form electrical conductors (20), removing only the pattern from the surface and thus leaving the configured electrical conductors thereon, adhering a support (22) to the electrical conductors with an adherence which is greater than that existing between the conductors and the surface, and separating the assembled conductors and support from the surface. One of the surface and of the support and assembled conductors is flexible and the other is relatively rigid, so that the flexible one can be peeled away from the rigid other.

Abstract: A dual field of view sensor, particularly adapted for use as a forward-looking infrared night vision detector, includes a single detector (24) for receiving a light signal and developing an output electrical signal therefrom. A rotating polygon scanner (16) having a plurality of reflective facet (14) thereon receives light (12, 34) from two separate optical systems (10, 32) and directs the light onto the facets (14) of the scanner (16) at positions offset by one-half the facet angle such that the light beams alternately strike a facet and the juncture between two facets. The reflected light is then directed through a beam splitter 40 onto the detector in an alternating, interleaved sweeping motion. The beam splitter permits only one at a time of the light (12, 34) from entering the detector. In one embodiment, both optical systems include a steerable dual field of view telescope.

Abstract: One or more electric conductors (36, 236) in a flexible hose (10, 210) are protected from tensile and compressive forces exerted on or by the hose by providing an enclosure (32, 232) for the conductor(s) whose radial dimension (46, 246) provides a path for movement of the conductor(s) that is greater than any movement thereon exerted on or by the hose which might otherwise harm or break the conductor(s).

Abstract: A test system (10) for a laser rangefinder (12, 14) having signal transmission and reception paths comprises a thick lens collimator (20) which receives energy (18) from a transmitter (12) for input through an optical fiber (32). The fiber has a partial reflector (34) and a full reflector (38) to simulate sites of targets, and the reflected energy is transmitted back through collimator (20) to a receiver (14). Partial reflection of energy is provided by gold (64) placed on a surface (53) of one of two aligned and spaced termini (32a, 32b) of fiber (32).

Abstract: A heat pipe cooling module assembly (20) for cooling electronic components (28) includes a plurality of heat pipe modules (22) comprising condenser and evaporator sections (24, 26) and working fluid therein. In a preferred embodiment, each evaporator section comprises a sandwich construction of a pair of flat outer plates (34), a pair of wick pads (36) and a separator plate (38) comprising channels extending from the evaporator section into the condenser section.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) provides a stable optical reference in the presence of optical source jitter. It comprises a beamsplitter cube (21) having an input surface 22, an output surface 23, a totally reflecting surface (24), and a partially reflecting diagonal surface (26) with a corner cube 27 disposed on a surface (25) opposite to the input surface. An input beam (30) applied to the beamsplitter cube results in two output beams (33, 33'), coplanar with an output optical axis (31), if the input beam deviates at 32 from an input optical axis. The two output beams deviate equally but oppositely from the output axis. This provides signals from which a stable output optical axis may be determined. A polarization-sensitive embodiment is also disclosed which eliminates problems associated with the use of coherent light sources.

Abstract: The axial positions of two or more fibers are simultaneously controlled in three grinding or polishing stages. The fibers (72) are first ground flush with the guide (120) in which they are housed. The fiber ends and faces of the guides are then ground flat and square. The fibers are thereafter polished to their optical quality and required length. The tool for accomplishing these steps includes a retainer (74) which holds the assembly (73) of fiber optic ferrules (70) and their optical fibers (72) therein at a tool surface (16). This tool surface is protected by a guard (18) from being too rapidly ground away while the fibers and fiber/guide combinations are ground flush with the surface. The surface and its retained guides and fibers are then axially moved to an unprotected position (FIG. 3) so that the surfaces and the fibers within their ferrules may be polished on a suitable polishing wheel or similar device.

Abstract: An interchangeable multi-channel hermaphroditic fiber optic connector (10) for cables (12), having different numbers of optical fibers (18) and contacts (22) therefor, comprises a connector shell (34) having a specifically configured interior surface (38) and a plurality of inserts (26) each having an exterior surface (36) which is configured substantially as the connector shell's interior surface. This substantially similar configuration permits interchangeable insertion of any of the inserts within the connector shell. The inserts have different numbers of cavities (28) in order to accommodate any number of optical fibers and their contacts, without needing to change the entire connector structure.

Abstract: Trade-off between dynamic range and sampling rate in a charge coupled device is virtually eliminated in the serpentine charge coupled device of the present invention. In this device, for each charge packet transferred in a first direction, a plurality of n charge packets are transferred in a second transverse direction in the serpentine register. Accordingly, for a given charge transfer rate in the first direction, the charge coupled device clock frequency is increased by a factor of n. The serpentine register is formed on the semiconductive substrate having two parallel channel stops extending in a first direction and a plurality of parallel interlaced channel stop fingers extending in a second direction which are alternately connected to the two parallel channel stops.

Abstract: A sun shield (16) is placed in front of an RF reflector (12) for thermal protection thereof. The shield comprises a Kapton substrate (20) with a thin aluminum capacitive grid (26) on the shield's reflector side (24), and a partially reflecting layer (28) of germanium on its sun side (22). Other materials and combinations thereof may be placed on either or both sides singly or in layers to obtain desired reflectance and thermal energy rejection away from the reflector.

Abstract: A non-destructive charge subtraction output system for charge coupled devices (CCD) in which a floating electrode is clamped in the presence of a first charge so that when the first charge leaves the potential well and a second charge enters, the signal sensed is representative of the difference between the first and second charges with excellent common mode rejection, high bandwidth, and low power. The system operates so as to either provide a difference of adjacent charges along a channel either with or without an isolating bit or bits or to provide subtraction of the charges selected along a sequence of charges passing through the CCD channel. One use of the system in accordance with the invention is to sense moving targets in a scene having a substantially fixed or non-moving background.

Abstract: A U-shaped body (12) receives a plunger assembly (31) including a pair of push rods (30) which are rigidly secured together by a beam (32). Springs (36) normally bias the plunger assembly rearwardly so that the rod ends and slides (40) coupled thereto are normally positioned at terminal portions (18) at the end of the U-shaped body. Movement of plunger assembly beam (32) toward the body extends plates (46) of the slides outwardly against a connector half (20a) for separation thereof from its mating connector half (20) in a straight-line motion to prevent bending of any electrical contacts or breakage of the connector body. A strain relief (49) and the straight-line motion also reduces the possibility of damage to any electric or electronic devices coupled to either connector half.

Abstract: The combination of headset receivers (10) and storage system (50) therefor is used in an aircraft passenger entertainment system. Each receiver comprises a housing (12) including electronics for receiving infrared wireless transmission, which is converted into audible signals and supplied to a listener's ears through stems (14). Storage of the receivers is in a case (56, 58, 72) having grid plates (74, 76) and a slitted sanitizing pad (78), for receiving and storing the receivers, and for sanitizing their housings and stems.

Abstract: Flexible or conventional wire cables are terminated and interconnected at connectors with only a pressure type contact. Two cable terminations are fabricated from identically chemically milled thin metallic wafers, in which one wafer is plated with metallic buttons. The two wafers are placed opposing each other and pressed between pressure plates with contact made only by the buttons. A compression pad of silicone rubber is placed between the plates so as to prevent deformation beyond the elastic limit of the buttons by plastic flow and to evenly distribute forces between contacting wafers whose surfaces may be irregular.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in the surgical correction of strabismus comprises a clip (10) attachable to the sclera (52) of an eye, and a dynamometer gauge (12) coupled to the clip to measure torques exerted on the muscle of the eye.

Abstract: Apparatus useful in the surgical correction of strabismus comprises a clip (10) attachable to the sclera (52) of an eye, and a dynamometer gauge (12) coupled to the clip to measure torques exerted on the muscle of the eye.

Abstract: Precisely curved, lightweight and low-cost reflectors for electromagnetic radiation are fabricated by use of a tool and a process in which a blank is planar stretched by uniformly applied isotropic and radially extending forces followed by deformation of the stretched blank to a precisely curved surface.