Abstract: The invention is a fine line electrical cable with two ends having a plurality of first conductor lines in a plane. The lines of the cable are embedded in an insulating laminate material, are closely spaced at one end to be compatible with the closely spaced contacts from IC chips and are fanned out along the length of the cable to the other end where the lines are spaced somewhat apart and compatible with conventional electrical connectors. Contact posts extent from each line end so that external connections may be made with the IC chips and the conventional connectors. At least one second conductor line may be embedded within the other side of the laminate material and appropriate contact posts extend from the line ends so that external connections may also be made at these locations. A method for fabricating the fine line elecrical cable is also disclosed.

Abstract: A passive ranging system functions in conjunction with an electro-optical imaging system to compute a range measurement based on determined changes of the image of a designated object or objects or image features representative thereof in the scene of an image sensor which is transported from one position to another with respect to the designated objects. In the present embodiment, the image sensor generates frames of image information corresponding to the one and another positions thereof while maintaining substantially a common image scene in its field of view. Image features representative of the designated image objects are extracted from at least a selected portion of the two frames for registration in accordance with a predetermined matching criteria.

Abstract: An imaging radiometer for scanning an area of interest from a platform moving in an orbital trajectory comprises at least one moving scanning mirror directed toward the area of interest. The mirror produces a changing scan area image representing a portion of the area of interest within the scan area of the mirror. A fixed optical viewer is mounted on the platform for viewing the scan area image and directing the image along its optical path. A detector in the optical path receives the changing scan area image over a selected time interval and periodically produces an electrical output, each output representing a different scan area image of the mirror over each time interval. In one embodiment the detector has a plurality of areas of different spectral response. Image motion compensation, electronically controlled light intensity gain and electronically controlled image size correction are incorporated in the apparatus.

Abstract: An architecture for a monopulse, active aperture array is provided which functions as a high precision error compensation system correcting both the Sum and the Difference beams simultaneously. The architecture incorporates; a radiating antenna, a transmit-receiver, a -3.01 dB Wilkinson divider operable to split the signal received from the transmit-receiver, a Sum plus Difference network, a Sum minus Difference network both of which accept the split signal from the -3.01 dB Wilkinson divider and simultaneously error compensate the beams, and a four port magic tee operable to output the error compensated signals from the Sum plus Difference network and the Sum minus Difference network.

Abstract: A frequency selective limiting device is described incorporating a planar ferrite member and at least one signal-carrying conductor positioned thereon. A conductor is located on the ferrite member to confine a portion of an RF magnetic field produced by the microwave signals within the ferrite member. In one embodiment of the invention, the conductor comprises coplanar ground planes positioned adjacent to the signal-carrying conductor, thereby forming a coplanar waveguide. Alternatively a pair of coplanar conductors may form a slot line. In another embodiment a second ferrite member is positioned in confronting relationship with the first ferrite member carrying the conductors.

Abstract: A system for real beam radar ground mapping using a monopulse antennae to determine off-boresight angle of target returns. Off-boresight angle is converted to azimuth bins. After processing, return energy for each contiguous azimuth bin of an illuminated area is dumped during a respective "look" of the antenna.

Abstract: A thermal heat transfer member is disclosed for use in electronic or microwave systems with particular application to advanced avionic systems. This thermal heat transfer member for line replaceable module (LRM) comprises; a bottom cover, a grid partition bottom means, a solid thermal plane material fixedly interconnected to the grid partition bottom means, a grid partition top means fixedly interconnected upon the thermal plane, sandwiching the thermal plane between the grid partition top and the grid partition bottom, and finally, a top cover. The utilization of a "building block" approach and composite high strength heat-conductive materials designed to dissipate heat away from electronic devices and components mounted within the LRM operate to produce a radio frequency LRM of high heat conductivity with reduced weight ideal for utilization in advanced development avionic systems subject to extreme G-force and stress in avionic system operation.

Abstract: A plurality of frequency selective limiting units are prepared on a common substrate. A plurality of generally linear signal carrying conductors are formed in spaced relation on a first ferrite member, the opposite side of which contains a lower ground plane. A second ferrite member is bonded to the first ferrite member with a nonconductive adhesive to form a layered structure. Grooves are formed in a free surface of the structure to a depth sufficient to cut through the first and second ferrite members and to expose the lower ground plane. The structure is metallized in a conformal manner so that the metallization is in contact with the lower ground plane. The units are separated by dicing to thereby provide a plurality of individual FSL's.

Abstract: A procedure for calculating maintainability and testability parameters of a complex system uses computer software to enable the calculations to be made repeatedly during the development of the system. Failure modes and failure rates, elemental task times and test path data from a branching test flow diagram are input. Screens which identify the data to be input are displayed for ease of data entry. A hierarchical relationship between the modules in the system can be entered so that failure modes and failure rates need only be entered for lowest level modules. The procedure iteratively calculates maintainability and testability parameters starting at the lowest level and using previously calculated data in the next highest level. Fault isolation ambiguity is automatically taken into account by ordering the modules in descending order of total test path/module failure rate isolated by each test path. The ordered data are used in many of the calculations of the maintainability and testability parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and removing specular multipath reports from terminal ATCRB systems for aircraft targets having Mode 3/A transponder reporting capabilities. Reports are delayed for a first time, or azimuth, interval to determine whether the report is multipath or to identify future occurrences of multipath reports. After the first azimuth interval, the report is released for display and a fragment of the report is retained for an additional azimuth interval. Of two reports with matching Mode 3/A code, the one with the greater range is considered to be a multipath reply. If the multipath report range falls within a multipath range interval and has not been released for display, it is discarded by the system as an erroneous report.

Abstract: A high speed optical sensor comprising a parallel array of vertical field effect transistors and optical fibers disposed in the recesses between the transistors is disclosed herein. Each of the vertical field effect transistors includes a substrate of doped gallium arsenide divided by a depleted region. One side of each of the gallium arsenide substrates is flanked by an optical fiber which transmits an optical signal into one side of the depleted region, while the other side of the substrate includes a gate electrode for controlling the flow of photo charges induced in the depleted region by the light signals. The gate electrode serves not only to control the flow of charges through the transistor but also reflects back a portion of the light emanated by the optical fiber so that it passes a second time through the depleted region.

Abstract: A microwave transmit/receive module comprises a single multi-layer substrate having at least two opposed mounting surfaces. The substrate including a plurality of integrated dielectric layers, electrical conductors and thermal conductors selectively interconnected between the layers of the substrate. A microwave signal processing means is mounted on at least one of the mounting surfaces of the substrate for processing microwave radar signals. A control signal processing means is mounted on at least one of the mounting surfaces of the substrate for providing control signals for the microwave signal processing means via selected electrical conductors. A power conditioning means is mounted on at least one of the mounting surfaces of the substrate for providing power to the microwave signal processing means and the control signal processing means via selected electrical conductors.

Abstract: A passive, broadband, millimeter wave, fin-line, gas discharge device operable for use in a radar system as a receiver protector. The preferred embodiment of this device comprises: a rectangular waveguide housing having a free electron emitting radioactive primer mounted upon one interior wall, an inert gas under pressure contained within the housing by two thin, low loss dielectric windows at opposing ends of the waveguide housing, and two bevelled, tapered fins operable to provide a narrow discharge gap region. Incident ratio frequency signals entering the radar system pass through the fin-line receiver protector. Signals entering the waveguide housing through the thin dielectric windows excite the free electrons causing the electrons to collide with the inert gas molecules. A spontaneous breakdown of gas occurring in the narrow discharge gap region between the two bevelled, tapered fins greatly attenuates the incident ratio frequency signal from entering the receiver thereby protecting it.

Abstract: An improved floating gate photosensor is operable in either an enhanced voltage sensitivity mode or an enhanced transit speed mode. This photosensor has a floating gate assembly that includes two overlapping, independent and complementary-shaped gate electrodes connected to separate circuits as a means of controlling the depth of the channel in which the signal charge flows. As a result, the two key operating parameters of responsivity and signal transit time are variable. Structurally, each gate includes a plurality of prongs that overlap the recesses defined by the prongs of the other electrode. The photosensor may be operated in the WC (side channel) mode where the two gate electrodes are both used as floating gate sensors. In this instance the photosensor operates like that of a conventional floating gate sensor, with the width of the channel equal to that of the entire floating gate assembly and the depth of the channel being about 4 microns below the surface of the device.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device is disclosed which performs frequency channelization in a relatively small volume. The invention utilizes a wide band incline step frequency transducer each step feeding an independent beam width compressor waveguide combination. The waveguides fan out with a wide radius of curvature to contain the wave in off pure mode axis propagation. The output of each waveguide then feeds an independent beam width expander and frequency selector interdigital transducer. The use of the waveguides as a tapping and narrow aperture transport mechanism minimizes defraction, allows the output transducers to be widely separated achieving isolation and permits a larger number of filters per substrate.

Abstract: An opto-electronic XOR gate includes a pair of diode type light sources connected back to back in parallel by a pair of input leads to which first and second electronic logic signals are applied. With only one logic signal in the high state, one of the diode-type light sources is forward biased while the other is reverse biased. With both logic signals high or low neither diode-type light source emits. A two to one fiber optic combiner (FOC) provides a single optical output which is on only when only one electrical signal is high. If an electronic output is desired, a single photodetector converts the output of the FOC to an electronic logic signal. For performing the exclusive OR operation on optical input signals, a pair of photodetectors and buffer amplifiers and connected to the input leads. For 10 to 12 GHz switching speeds laser diodes are used as the diode-type light sources. When lower switching speeds are satisfactory, light emitting diodes can be used as the diode-type light sources.

Abstract: A plurality of frequency selective limiting (FSL) units are concurrently prepared on a common substrate by depositing a first ferrite member onto a metallized surface of the substrate. The first ferrite member is formed by sputtering a first ferrite film onto the metallized surface and subsequently growing a ferrite layer thereon. A plurality of signal carrying conductors are positioned in spaced relation on the first ferrite member. A second ferrite member is deposited on top in the same manner as the first ferrite member. The overall structure is diced into individual units that are then metallized thereby providing a plurality of FLS's.

Abstract: An improved light shield for selectively shielding selected light sensitive elements in a visible sensor semiconductor device from incident light comprising a layer of high resistance semiconductor material carried upon the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The high resistance semiconductor material is selected to have a band gap narrower than the silicon semiconductor material it is shielding in order to substantially absorb light which would otherwise fall upon the shielded photosensitive elements.