Abstract: An outdoor lighting fixture or luminaire includes an enclosure having within it a light source for projecting light through an opening in the enclosure and a motor train for slowly moving a transparent plastic film across the opening and over the light emitting surface of the light source, thereby preventing the light emitting surface or lens from becoming dirty over time.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer system and method for facilitating communication between a primary software program on a computer and at least one secondary software program loaded on a computer circuit card via a communications bus. Both the primary software program and the secondary software program have predefined register storage space for storing data, and in particular, for storing data relating to system and fault status, among other things. The primary software program communicates, direct and controls the data between itself and among the various secondary software programs by interaction between the predefined registers. The primary software program communicates, direct and controls the data through the use of common headers present in the registers.

Abstract: An ANVIS aid, such as an ANVIS goggles set, with a first optical filter is described. A second optical filter blocking light in an opposite sense from the first optical filter is placed at a color display, which may otherwise present offending light that would interfere with the ANVIS.

Abstract: A system and method for accurate and in real time determination of factors relating to the state of health of a storage battery. The system measures the values of battery temperature, voltage and current flow into and out of the battery. This data is multiplexed into a computer and the battery's internal resistance (IR), polarization resistance (PR), state of charge (SOC) and its cold cranking amp (CCA) capability are computed and displayed. The presence of shorted and mismatched cells also can be determined and displayed. The state of health of the battery is related to these displayed measured values and calculated factors which are made known to the user of the battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using ultrasonic sensors for determination of the pointing vector described by two points separated in space in the coordinate frame of the measuring system. For measurement, acoustic signals are transmitted from two emitters whose spatially separated coordinates form the desired pointing vector. Three detectors, associated receiver electronics and software are required to compute six distinct spheres from the time of flight measurements. The intersection of the three spheres, associated with each emitter, describe the desired location in the detector coordinate system of that emitter. With the coordinates of each emitter, the pointing vector is computed using standard geometry. A reference is required to determine the time of flight of the signals to each detector. Another embodiment uses an active reflective technique, where the timing is obtained through round trip transmission and reception of the signal with a known fixed delay at the vector points.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip for interfacing a digital computer to sensors and controlled devices can be configured to accept and provide a variety of analog and discrete input and output signals. The circuit includes a plurality of signal conditioning cells, a plurality of signal conversion cells, and input and output signal multiplexors.

Abstract: An integrated fault circuit includes a fault switch interposed between an input power source and an electronic subsystem power bus. A power converter is connected to the electronic subsystem power bus and converts power derived therefrom to at least one voltage output to supply power to an electronic subsystem and at least one fault protection output controlling the fault switch. A fault detection circuit is operatively connected to detect an out of range current on the electronic subsystem power bus and has at least one fault detection output connected to the power converter. When the out of range current is detected on the electronic subsystem bus, the fault detection circuit instructs the power converter, via the at least one fault detection output, to open the fault switch, thereby isolating the input power from the electronic subsystem bus.

Abstract: A second-order filter that blends accurate position information from a one source, and velocity information from another source, both suitably scaled, in a second-order complementary filter. The filter is arranged such that an internal integrator maintains a value that represents the difference in the rate of change of the accurate position information, and the velocity input of the other source. This velocity difference is applied to another integrator outside the filter, whose initial condition is the position error between the two sources to the second order filter. The output of this latter integrator is a correction signal that grows at a rate equal and opposite to the rate of error build-up of position data from the source whose velocity is used in the second order filter. This correction signal is summed with the original position signal. In addition, the output of the second order filter may be used as a highly accurate position signal.

Abstract: The visibility of an image projected onto a background of spatially and temporally varying brightness can be optimized by dynamically adjusting the brightness of the projected image. The brightness of the background is detected on a zone-by-zone basis and the brightnesses of the corresponding portions of the projected image are adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: High luminance display devices, typically utilized in applications requiring sunlight readability, require unique design methodologies as the thickness approaches a maximum of one-inch. The present invention relates to a high intensity light generation engine and associated light transmission apparatus for transmitting the light generated by the engine to a remote location. The invention is especially applicable for use in constructing a back lighted display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), of minimal thickness, i.e., one-inch or less. A display of minimal thickness is achieved by separating a light source and other peripherals from the display device, using a remote enclosure. Such a display is most suited for use in high ambient lighting conditions where space is at a premium, such as in the cockpit of an aircraft.

Abstract: A computerized method for organizing data from multiple databases into a single database for optimal access. The method includes providing multiple databases, each for storing data in the form of records. A record from each database is read, and the several records are stored in a single record within a combined database. The single record has a format such the several records are each stored in accessible portions of the single record so that they can be retrieved individually or together.

Abstract: A contactless precision, optical distance and angle measurement method and system optically measuring the position of a moveable object, the bending of the object, the torque applied to the object and the object's rotational velocity. The present invention includes a plurality of optical sensors placed around and adjacent to the moveable object which transmit optical signals to a surface of the object and receives the optic signals when predefined marker means are sensed. The received optic signals are then processed by non-linear estimation techniques known to those of skill in the art to obtain the desired information.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and reporting on the condition of a vehicle battery which measures battery voltage and current drain during engine start, and computes the battery dynamic internal resistance (IR) and dynamic polarization resistance (PR) from these quantities. Also, the quiescent voltage (QV) of the battery, which is that measured while the vehicle electrical system has a current drain of from 0 to a predetermined amount, is measured and the battery state-of-charge (SoC) is computed from the QV. From these quantities, calculations are made of quantities such as rate of change of dynamic IR and PR to analyze battery condition, rate of change of QV and SoC to predict the time during which the battery can still start the engine, and minimum ambient temperature at which the battery will be able to start the engine, and of other conditions.

Abstract: A collimated or partially collimated light beam is sent through a substrate matrix of a plurality of nested individual joined geometrically shaped cells wherein each of the cells contains a patterned volume holographic diffuser which produces a transmitted diffused light beam from each of the cells and then superimposes each transmitted diffused light beams from each of the cells to produce a combined resultant diffused light beam. The geometrically shaped cells are clustered in a contiguous arrangement of nested cell subgroups, which are themselves geometrically shaped. When graphed, an angular luminance distribution profile curve with sharply vertical profile slopes at halfpeak points and with a substantially flat and wide peak is resultant which produces a uniform resultant luminance over a wide range of view with a predetermined beam spread and beam deflection angle in relation to a predetermined location of view of the combined resultant diffused light beam.

Abstract: A circuit (M) to monitor and protect individual cells (12-1 . . . 12-n) of a multi-cell battery (10) from over-charge and acquire data to be used to determine various characteristics of the cell state-of-health is connected to each individual cell (12) of a multi-cell battery as the battery is being charged. The circuit includes a portion (Q1-R5) to bypass charging current from the cell, this portion being variably pre-settable to bypass current above a desired high voltage (V-By) limit for the cell. As the battery is being charged, the bypass circuit will shunt current around a cell when the preset high voltage level is exceeded, thus preventing any damage to the cell. The circuit (Q2) can be operated to produce a pulse of current and the change in voltage of the monitored cell in response to the change in current, dV/dl, can be used to determine the cell internal resistance. The cell polarization resistance also can be determined.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling contrast for a liquid crystal display (“LCD”), especially active-matrix LCDs, while receiving large dynamic range video data to be displayed to the user by the LCD. Contrast settings of the LCD correspond to a single look-up table from a set of different and multiple look-up tables rather than using the contrast setting of the LCD to select different voltage values from a single look-up table. The values of the reference voltages of the LCD are varied so that all shades of gray are available with each contrast selection resulting in a high image quality and a high contrast.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which perform efficient projection of 4-dimensional data (3 spatial and 1 time dimension) onto planar grids are described. Multiple frames of data are drawn from a limited time history data buffer and projected onto a planar grid, which need not be flat, defined in its own coordinate system. Higher dimensional data structures can also be formed from multiple projection grids. Measurement data from multiple data frames is projected into the planar grid such that distance out of plane is the z-dimension. Computational efficiency is achieved by processing only those data samples that are relevant to the planar grid. To be considered relevant, the impulse response of the sensor's measurement rays must cross the planar grid. Samples of relevant rays must also map onto the planar grid's coordinate mesh to be relevant. Multiple data measurements may determine the planar grid's final amplitude result.

Abstract: A system for testing a hardware unit containing sensitive information, while inhibiting access to that information, includes a secure program in an Automated Test Station and an interface circuit. The test station has a programmed processor, as well as generating equipment which generates pseudo test signals and measuring devices which measure the response of the unit to actual test signals. Within the processor of the test station there is a test program which does not indicate the sensitive information and a run-time program that interprets the test-program to generate encoded commands for carrying out the test. The interface circuit receives the encoded commands and the pseudo test signals from the test station, decodes the encoded commands and generates the actual test signals. These actual test signals are routed to the unit under test by the interface circuit.

Abstract: A device for both sensing an angular rate of an object and applying an angular rotation torque to the object. The device includes a rate sensing mechanism, such as a fiber optic gyroscope, which senses the angular rate of the object. The device also includes a reaction/momentum wheel mechanism, including a flywheel, for applying the angular rotation torque to the object. The rate sensing mechanism is contained within the reaction/momentum wheel mechanism or attached thereto such that the input axis of the rate sensing mechanism is coaxial with the spin axis of the reaction/momentum wheel mechanism.

Abstract: A method for determining the state of charge (SOC) of a battery by measuring its open circuit voltage (OCV) either with the battery in a fully rested state of chemical and electrical equilibrium or an active state during a period in which the battery settles after charge or discharge is stopped. A first type algorithm is developed to correlate the OCV in a fully rested condition (OCVREST) to the state of charge at which that measurement is taken. A second type algorithm is developed that predicts a final settling OCV of a battery (OCVPRED), based on the set of parameters of OCV, rate of change of OCV, and battery case temperature, acquired during the settling period of a battery not at rest. To determine the SOC of a battery being tested that is in the fully settled state the measured OCVREST is applied to the first type algorithm.