Abstract: The disclosed invention is a unique apparatus for converting signal formats. For example, the apparatus can convert from a single-ended to a differential format without the necessity of additional control circuitry. A cross-circuit arrangement prevents an undesired reversal of direction for conversion of signal formats.

Abstract: An alternate path selection structure is provided which reduces the effects of aborting an operation. The present invention comprises a structure and method that allows efficient retrieval of alternate paths to pursue in a microcode sequence.

Abstract: An emulator enables a UNIX program to operate with a block mode terminal, even though the UNIX program is designed to operate with a character mode terminal. Initially, the emulator receives from the UNIX program, a UNIX output sequence of characters which produces a display on a video screen in the character mode terminal. Then the emulator converts the UNIX output sequence of characters into an input sequence of characters for the block mode terminal which there produces an emulated display and which protects the emulated display from operator alteration except for certain fields. Thereafter, the block mode terminal transmits a response character sequence which includes data characters written by an operator into the unprotected fields and no characters from the protected portions of the display.

Abstract: A microburst precursor detector samples radar returns from meteorological radar signal reflectors and processes the signal returns in a statistical manner to determine average radar reflectivity and to extract Doppler signal parameters. The vertical velocity in still air and the vertical velocity of the meteorological radar reflectors are respectively determined from the average reflectivity and the Doppler signal parameters. The difference between the two vertical velocities is taken to determine the vertical wind velocity. The vertical wind velocity and the average reflectivity are processed to predict the occurrence of a microburst.

Abstract: In a system of multiple digital modules which is operated synchronously via common clock means, there is provided circuitry for halting each module at the same simultaneously clock-moment after sensing of a selected condition in any one of the digital modules.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that provides control of access to a module. In particular, the module should not be accessed while in a busy or unstable state. The module disclosed herein, by way of example, is a timer module. Access to the timer is controlled by the disclosed apparatus while the timer is changing state.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for verifying the result of an arithmetic operation. The invention provides a time and cost efficient method of performing error detection on the result of an arithmetic operation; especially for a division operation. It does so through the novel use of a Carry-Save Adder (CSA). A CSA is known in the art to be faster and less costly to implement than the use of a full adder.

Abstract: An ECL driver, such as an ECL cut-off driver, is provided with settable output rise time and settable output fall time, in order to reduce noise at the output of the driver while limiting the delay resulting from such noise reduction. A method is also provided for so controlling an ECL driver. The driver includes a current switch and a current source. The current switch includes a NOR side including one or more transistors, and an OR side including one or more transistors. The input to the NOR side can be buffered with an input emitter follower, and the output from the current switch can be buffered with an output emitter follower. A capacitance is connected across the collector(s) and emitter(s) of the NOR side transistor(s) of the current switch, and a capacitance is connected at one electrode both to the collector(s) of the OR side transistor(s) and to the base(s) of the output emitter follower transistor(s).

Abstract: This invention is a multiple segment flextensional transducer shell that is easily and quickly manufactured and modified. The shell may comprise two adjustable, flexible plates and two buttress bars or two J-shaped adjustable, flexible plates. When the buttress bars and plates or the J-shaped members are connected together at or near the nodal points of the transducer, the assembled shell will have the same shape as the flextensional transducer shells used in the prior art. The open ends of the assembled transducer shell are covered with flanges and a boot is placed over the shell and flanges to make the interior of the shell air tight.

Abstract: A voltage sharing circuit which allows use of low voltage semiconductor devices to obtain higher output voltages is made up of a series stack of the low voltage devices with diode limiters provided to bias the low voltage devices such that the maximum voltage across any one of the low voltage devices is limited to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A novel radio receiver capable of simultaneously and instantaneously determining the frequency and azimuthal and elevational position of many radio signal sources is disclosed. The invention makes use of an antenna array and associated beamforming networks capable of producing an omnidirectional reference signal, and a directional signal in which amplitude depends upon the relative elevational position of the radio frequency source and complex phase depends upon the relative azimuthal position of a radio frequency source.The use of a two-dimensional compressive receiver in one embodiment provides a way for instantaneously and reliably producing the Fourier transform of these signals, allowing accurate and continuous measurement of phase and amplitude difference. The antenna geometries disclosed additionally provide such signals for a wide input bandwidth.

Abstract: An interactive simulation system in which a complex system is simulated by means of a plurality of function modules, each defining a predetermined mathematical operation, are enabled to be processed by an executive program in an order defined by an operator in, for example, a script. Each function module has one or more input variables and one or more output variables, each having a set of flags indicating whether they have been provided during a simulation run. During a simulation, the executive program sequences through the script to process the function modules, if neessary more than once. At each function module, the executive determines whether the function module can be considered based on the flags, and if so, whether it needs to process the function module. Each function module also has a set of flags indicating whether it has been considered, and, if it has been, the executive program skips the function module during subsequent sequences through the script during a simulation run.

Abstract: A dual-section spatial modulator transmitter consists of a collector surrounding a source of radiation to collect the energy from the source and form it into multiple beams. The collector is configured in two sections, a rotatable section and a stationary section such that spatial modulation is obtained by rotating only the rotatable section.

Abstract: An electromagnetic dispersive delay line (10) includes a dielectric strip (28) as well as a coupler (24, 34, 36, and 38) for launching surface electromagnetic waves into the dielectric strip. The upper surface of the dielectric strip (28) is left exposed to the air in order to provide an interface with a lower-permittivity medium of propagation. This permits a surface-electromagnetic-wave propagation mode. The thickness of the dielectric strip (28) is varied along its length so as to result in a linear relationship of delay to frequency throughout a predetermined frequency range. Preferably, a conductive strip (26) spaced from the dielectric strip extends along the surface-wave propagation path in the region occupied by the evanescent field external to the dielectric strip (28). This conductive strip (26) modifies the phase relationships between the electric and magnetic fields in the evanescent-field region so as to cause some of the power transmission to occur outside of the dielectric strip.

Abstract: A device for repeatably and accurately testing an antenna coupler of the type used to connect a test antenna adjacent an onboard antenna of an aircraft to inject a test signal into the aircraft's onboard radar system to test its continuity. A base member is provided with the verification antenna mounted therein. Alignment tabs are provided on the base member for receiving points along the periphery of the antenna coupler. In a preferred embodiment, the base member is mounted inside the lid of a packing case for carrying a plurality of antenna couplers and individual alignment tabs are provided and provided with indicia for properly aligning each of the antenna couplers over the verification antenna. In another embodiment, retractable shielding is provided for electromagnetic shielding of the base member, verification antenna, and antenna coupler during operation.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting components to a microwave circuit, using plated through bore holes that extend from the ground plane of the circuit through the insulating substrate to the surface on which the components are mounted. The components have a conductive outer surface that functions as its ground plane. This surface is in electrical contact with the plated through bore holes, creating a uniform ground plane between the microstrip circuit and the component. The insulating dielectric can be provided with a recess in which the component can be housed. The base of the recess can be plated and the plated through bores connected between the cavity plating and the ground plane. The component can then be positioned inside the recess so its ground plane is in contact with plating so as to form a uniform ground plane between the circuit and the component.

Abstract: A test system for microwave circuits such as employed in aircraft wherein a plurality of antennas are connected to a single processor whereby the continuity of the antennas and connectors between the antennas and the processor can be determined. A test signal is applied to the various antennae of the aircraft and the return signals therefrom received by a test antenna disposed in conjunction with a low-loss coupler from outside of the aircraft. An automated test circuit provides for inputting an identifier of the antenna and circuit portion being tested, and for determining the fault location within the circuit as a function of the circuit portion under test and the distance to the fault; and for displaying the fault location within the circuit. In one embodiment, the low-loss coupler includes the use of a plurality of test antennas in combination with a divider circuit connected to the test antennas by transmission lines.

Abstract: A device for determining the frequency range and chirp rate of chirp radars or other sources of frequency-modulated signals includes a compressive receiver (16, 22, 24) for time-compressing single-frequency signals and a discriminator (26) for generating an output that represents the instantaneous frequency of the compressive-receiver output. For narrow-band signals, the frequency-modulated components in the output of the compressive receiver do not last long enough to cause a response from the discriminator (26). When the input of the compressive receiver is a chirp signal, on the other hand, the resultant compressive-receiver output lasts long enough to cause a discriminator response, and its time of occurrence and rate of frequency change are indications of the frequency range and chirp rate of the compressive-receiver input. The discriminator (26) accordingly generates an output whose slope is an indication of the chirp rate of the compressive-receiver input.

Abstract: A simulator for simulating the response of a network of predefined processing elements to a set of input stimuli. The network processing elements are arrayed in a plurality of rows and columns and a representation of each element is stored in a storage location in a symbol memory, the storage locations of which have row and column addresses corresponding to the rows and columns in the network array. A control circuit iteratively receives representations from the symbol memory identifying a processing element at a location in the network and controls an arithmetic and logic unit to generate an output signal representative of the output of the corresponding processing element in response to input stimuli which are represented by data signals from a data memory and an intermediate storage register. The control circuit then controls the storage of the output signal from the arithmetic and logic unit in the data memory and the intermediate storage register.

Abstract: A vertically polarized omnidirectional antenna adapted for use in airborne, Very High Frequency (VHF) applications is disclosed. The antenna is configured as a conductive patch spaced over its virtual image. The addition of a number of switching devices allows operation over a five-to-one bandwidth while maintaining a two-to-one Voltage Standing Wave Ratio.