Abstract: A missile (20) includes a missile body (22) and a structure for controlling the flight path of the missile body. The control structure includes at least one control fin (28) and an actuator shaft (38) that supports the control fin (28) for rotational missile control movement about a control axis (30) perpendicular the axis (23) of the missile body (22).

Abstract: An improved imaging system. The inventive imaging system (10) is adapted to transmit a plurality of first radar signals at millimeter wave frequencies at an area including an object along with background clutter. The return signals are processed to provide a three dimensional image for applications demanding visibility through fog, haze, smoke and other obscurants. Such applications include enhanced vision for helicopters, ships, buses, trucks, traffic observation stations for an intelligent highway or security cameras for plants and military installations. In a guidance system application, for example, the inventive system would include an electronically scanning antenna (12) to provide range and amplitude signals representative of a target area. The range and amplitude signals (18, 20) are compared to stored signals (26, 30) to create the three dimensional image. The stored signals are selected for comparison based on the dive angle of the missile (28, 32).

Abstract: An improved high volume/low pressure spray gun for spraying liquids such as paint. The spray gun includes a nozzle for mixing a liquid, such as paint in a solvent carrier, with a higher-than-atmospheric pressure gas, such as compressed air, and projecting the mixture towards the surface to be coated. The liquid is conveyed to the nozzle through a tube. A valve, ordinarily operated by a manual trigger, turns liquid flow on or off. Compressed air is conveyed through a hose to a vortex tube, then from the vortex tube to the nozzle. The vortex tube receives compressed gas at a selected temperature, ordinarily room temperature, and divides it into a high volume warm stream sent to the nozzle and a cool stream which is ordinarily exhausted to the atmosphere. The resulting high volume, low pressure, warm propellant air produces improved painting quality with less overspray.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor having a planar array of sensor elements, each of which produces an output responsive to an energy input. The sensed energy reaching the sensor elements is controlled by at least two, and preferably a plurality of, light valves. A controller selects one of the light valves at a time to transmit energy of a scene segment impinging upon the light valve. An optical fiber bundle includes an optical fiber cable for each light valve extending from the sensor to the respective light valve. Each optical fiber cable has an optical fiber for each element of the sensor array. Preferably, each light valve is divided into a plurality of pixels, arranged such that the optical fibers of each optical fiber cable map the energy impinging upon each pixel of one of the light valves to a corresponding respective planar sensor element of the sensor array. A lens focuses a scene onto the light valves, such that a segment of the scene is imaged onto each of the light valves.

Abstract: A missile (20) includes a missile body (22) having a propulsion motor (26), a gimballed target seeker (32), and control fins (30) for altering the flight path of the missile (20). The missile (20) has a missile flight control unit (44) which provides an indicator of the launch status of the missile (20) as to whether the missile (20) is launched from a fixed location or from a moving vehicle. The initiation of the guidance of the missile (20) toward a target (60) by the control fins (30) and the guidance law of the missile (20) are established responsive to the launch status indicator.

Abstract: A vehicle such as a missile (20) includes an aerodynamically shaped missile body (22) having a longitudinal centerline, a set of control surfaces (26) joined to the missile body (22), and, preferably, a propulsion system (28) operable to drive the missile body (22) forwardly. A cylindrical rotational bearing (32) is mounted on the missile body (22) with its cylindrical axis parallel to the longitudinal centerline (24) of the missile body. A flexible band wing (38) is supported from the rotational bearing (32). The flexible band wing (38) may rotate about the centerline (24) of the missile body (22) responsive to aerodynamic forces exerted on the missile body (22) and the flexible band wing (38) to aid in making maneuvers without requiring the missile (20) to bank to align the flexible band wing (38) with the direction of the maneuver.

Abstract: An image discriminator which automatically enhances the ability of a system to discriminate between sources that can not be removed by fixed spectral cancellation. The invention (10) includes a mechanism (12, 14, 16, and 18) for separating input energy into first and second frequency bands and providing first and second signalscorresponding thereto. The ratio of the amplitudes of the first and second signals are varied by variable gain amplifiers (20 and 22) and subtracted from each other by a subtractor 24 to provide a control signal. The control signal is used in a tracker circuit 24 to control the gain of the first and second signals. Third and fourth signals are extracted by dual on-track signal rejection (28 and 30) from the first and second signals which represent energy from non-tracked objects. Circuitry (34 and 36) is provided for varying the ratio of the amplitudes of the third signal and the fourth signal in at least two trials.

Abstract: A system for controlling the application of firing signals to electrically fired ammunition rounds which are chambered in the gun or the like. A plurality of insulated contacts are installed in the firing chamber wall so as to connect electrically to mating insulated contacts which are built into the case of the chambered round. Various configurations of annular contact rings are provided for both the inner surface of a gun firing chamber and for the mating exterior surface of a cartridge to be positioned therein. Timing control circuitry for such systems is also disclosed, suitable for use in a single barrel gun or a multiple barrel gun of the Gatling type or a revolving chamber gun with one or more fixed barrels.

Abstract: Optical fibers are removably held in place on a payout bobbin using a silicone-based adhesive. The adhesive in a liquid carrier is applied to the optical fibers as they are wound onto the payout bobbin, and holds the fibers in place during the winding of subsequent turns. The fiber is readily unwound from the bobbin during payout without disruption of adjacent turns or layers, even after long-term storage. The preferred adhesive has about 5 percent by weight of a mixture of 25 percent by weight of a fluorosilicone and 75 percent by weight of a polydimethylsiloxane, and is carried for deposition in 95 percent by weight/volume of a liquid carrier selected from the group consisting of 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A portable missile launcher (12) has all of the infrared tracker (20) mounted to the same housing (48). The infrared missile beacon image beam (26) is intercepted by a rotating prism (28) which directs a portion of the beam to a narrow field detector (32) and reflects a further portion from a coating (30) onto a wide field detector (34). The detectors (32,34) provide yaw and pitch signals (40,42) which are compared with on-course information producing error signals communicated to the missile for course correction, if needed.

Abstract: An optical fiber canister (40) comprises a tapered cylindrical bobbin (42) having a length of optical fiber (28) wound thereon to form a fiber pack (43). The optical fiber (28) is wound so as to pay out with a preselected circumferential payout direction component (45), as well as a longitudinal payout direction component. The canister (40) has an optical fiber payout opening (50) through which the optical fiber (28) is paid out. An air duct (60, 62, 90) from the exterior of the canister (40) to the interior of the canister (40) has an air outlet (70) within the interior of the canister (40) oriented to direct the air flow oppositely to the preselected circumferential payout direction (45).

Abstract: A two-color focal plane array sensor arrangement (10) operative to simultaneously sense optical energy within first and second wavelength spectra from a scene within a field of view is disclosed herein. The sensor arrangement (10) includes a telescope (12) for collimating the optical energy within the field of view into first and second substantially overlapping beams. The first beam includes optical energy within the first wavelength spectrum, and the second beam includes optical energy within the second wavelength spectrum. A wedged beamsplitter (14) having a pair of non-parallel reflective surfaces (34, 36) redirects optical energy within the first and second beams to a focusing lens (18). The focusing lens projects the redirected optical energy from the first and second beams on first and second regions of a focal plane, respectively. First and second detector arrays (20, 22) positioned in the focal plane generate electrical signals in response to illumination by the projected optical energy.

Abstract: A low-profile full aperture traveling wave monopulse antenna assembly including a circular faceplate having a plurality of parallel rows of radiating apertures formed therethrough, a circular backplate having a pair of feed openings each extending across the backplate on opposite sides of and parallel to a centrally located chord perpendicular in orientation to the rows of radiating apertures, a circular backplate mounted between and spaced apart from the faceplate and the backplate by a plurality of walls forming a plurality of parallel waveguide channels therein, a pair of feed waveguides each mounted adjacent the backplate above a different feed opening and each electromagnetically coupled to opposite ends of the waveguide channels, and a monopulse comparator network mounted adjacent the backplate and coupled to the pair of feed waveguides.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge-safe connector comprising mating male and female connectors, that includes an insulated connector pin and a shorting member comprising an electromagnetic interference (EMI) sandwich structure that shorts the connector pin to the body of the connector when the mating portions are unmated. The EMI sandwich structure comprises an EMI gasket material sandwiched between two layers of insulating material. The EMI gasket material has a bulk resistivity of less than 10 ohms per square. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector, the EMI sandwich structure moves away from the conducting portion of the connector pin and rides against the insulating sleeve that surrounds the connector pin. This prevents conduction of electrical charge to the pin from the shell or vice versa. The present connector thus provides protection against electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: A method for preparing an optical fiber canister includes providing a length of a wire (44) having a diameter of about that of the optical fiber (60), and winding the wire (44) onto a mandrel (40) in a preselected winding pattern to form a base layer (46). A replicating strip (48) having a flexible substrate (50) with a patterning layer (52) of b-staged epoxy on one side thereof is provided, and the patterning layer (52) is pressed against the base layer (46) to form a groove pattern (62) in the patterning layer (52). The b-staged epoxy layer (52) is cured to harden it to preserve the groove pattern, and then the flexible substrate (50) is applied to an optical fiber bobbin (56) with the grooved patterning layer (52) facing outwardly. An optical fiber (60) is wound into the groove (62) of the patterning layer (52) to form an optical fiber pack (66).

Abstract: An axisymmetric dome (28) located between a radiation emitting target (14) and a radiation sensor (10) has an outer surface area (33) where a principal ray (16) from the target (14) impinges on the dome (28) that is parallel to the dome inner surface area (31) where the principal ray leaves the dome. This dome construction reduces image aberration in the pitch plane (Y, Z'). For correction aberration in the roll plane, a focusing reflector (31) is constructed of a piezo-electric plate (32) with a plurality of spaced apart electrodes (38) on its non-reflective surface, which reflector (31) reflects radiation from the target (14) onto a secondary reflector (20) which, in turn, reflects the radiation onto the sensor (10). Selective electrical energization of the electrodes (38) modifies the reflector (31) shape to correct roll plane aberration.

Abstract: An active suspension system is disclosed for a motorized vehicle and the like. Generally these types of active suspension systems have an impact harshness to sharp road irregularities higher than that of passive suspension systems. This invention incorporates a frequency response shaping network (42) which alters the frequency signal from a hub sensor (36) by analyzing the frequency signal in view of its components of magnitude and phase, and shaping these components into a desired form. The modified or shaped signals are then applied to the basic control laws of the vehicle dynamics to modify the damping signal applied to an active actuator (38) in such a way that the actuator (38) applies the appropriate damping to the vehicles wheels (32) with greatly reduced harshness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for discharging a group of projectiles for simultaneous impact at a target wherein the projectiles in the projectile group are sequentially fired at incrementally increasing velocities. More particularly, electrothermal gun technology may be employed and the energy imparted to each successively fired projectile may be increased so as to achieve the desired simultaneous target impact at a designated range.

Abstract: A polarimetric antenna (20) comprises a length of circular waveguide (30) having a sidewall (32) with a cylindrical internal surface (34). The sidewall (32) has two longitudinal slots (38) that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis (36) of the waveguide (30) and are symmetrically positioned with respect to the circumference of the circular waveguide (30). A first rectangular waveguide (40) communicates with one of the longitudinal slots (38), and a second rectangular waveguide (42) communicates with the other longitudinal slot (38), but is short circuited by a closure (44) at one end thereof. A transverse closure (46) is positioned over the circular waveguide (30) at one end, the closure (46) having a first and a second transverse slot (48, 50) therein. These slots (48, 50), which are preferably arcuate in form, are positioned symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis (36) of the circular waveguide (30).

Abstract: A linear optical fiber waveguide dispenser (10) comprising a linear payout leader holder (15) including an optical fiber waveguide having an unjacketed portion (16) and leader (17) comprising a coiled jacketed portion disposed within a housing (11). The housing (11) has an exit aperture (14) through which the jacketed fiber waveguide protrudes. A fiber optic connector (18) is connected onto the end of the jacketed portion of the waveguide. The linear dispenser (10) accommodates the leader (17) without having to increase the size of the payout helix generated thereby. The linear payout leader holder (15) may be used with a balloon assisted dispenser that has its helix sufficiently dampened to create a linear payout. It allows a strengthened leader (17) to be coiled inside the dispenser (10), an arrangement that would not normally fit into the exit of a conventional linear payout dispenser.