Abstract: A display system employing a stigmator coil disposed on the neck of a cathode-ray tube to widen an electron beam primarily in a direction normal to the electron beam scanning direction to produce a continuous shading effect for displaying weather information. A bidirectional pseudo-raster scan writing pattern is used to obtain maximum fill effect between scan lines and illumination uniformity with far fewer raster lines than in a conventional raster display.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing programmable fault insertion circuitry in a large scale integrated (LSI) circuit device thereby eliminating the need for external switches or relays to create faults. A fault parameter word is stored in a register and the outputs of the register are decoded to select the fault condition to be inserted by an interfacing circuit to the logic being tested. Test vectors and the fault parameter word are generated by a controller coupled to the integrated circuit and a test response from the integrated circuit is examined by the controller.

Abstract: A printed circuit board having a compliant layer sandwiched between a pattern of conductors and an insulating layer. The printed circuit board has leadless chip carriers attached to soldering pads on the board using conventional soldering techniques. The elasticity of the compliant layer between the pattern of conductors and the insulating layer provides mechanical decoupling for minimizing stresses on the solder joints due to the different thermal coefficients of expansion of contiguous materials.

Abstract: A random access memory having the capability to access one or more bytes in one or more memory word locations of a multi-byte memory array within one memory cycle. Variable length instruction and data words composed of multiple bytes are stored in a block of addressable locations in a memory so that individual bytes of each word are aligned in columns. Each column of bytes is addressable independently of the other byte columns via adders. A most significant bit portion of a memory location address is fed into a first input of column adders and the output of a first decoder circuit is fed into a second input of the adders for address incrementing within one memory cycle. A second decoder circuit generates a separate read or write enable line to each column of bytes. Both decoders are controlled by a least significant bit portion of the memory address and reference word byte size codes. A bi-directional multiplexer rearranges the order of the bytes so they appear in the proper order at the memory interface.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope having apparatus for compensating a gyroscope output signal for optical power variations in accordannce with variations of a dihedral frequency. A scaler quantity is determined based on operational data and it is used to compensate the gyroscope output signal. Alternatively, a gyroscope output signal is compensated via a feedback network by adjusting the gain medium in the laser gyroscope in accordance with variations in the dihedral frequency.

Abstract: A shift register comprising a plurality of memory cells serially coupled together along a signal bus. Each one of the plurality of memory cells comprises a first amplifier, fed by an input logic signal, for amplifying and inverting the logic state of the input logic signal. A first storage section is included for either enabling storage in the first storage section of an electric charge corresponding to the voltage level of the amplified and inverted input logic signal, or disabling storage in the first storage section of the electric charge, selectively in response to a first control signal. The stored electric charge is converted to an intermediate logic signal having a predetermined voltage level. Each memory cell additionally includes a second amplifier, fed by the intermediate logic signal, for amplifying and inverting the logic state of the intermediate logic signal.

Abstract: An improved monopulse radar system wherein target return signals received by a plurality of antenna elements are corrected with correction signals derived within the system in response to pilot pulses. The improvement comprises a plurality of receiver channels, each receiver channel being coupled to a single one of the plurality of antenna elements. The improvement also comprises means for generating a first set of quadrature components of video signals developed in the plurality of receiver channels in response to the pilot pulses received by the plurality of antenna elements, and for generating a second set of quadrature components of video signals developed in the plurality of receiver channels in response to return signals from the target received by the plurality of antenna elements. Digital signals representative of the first and second sets of quadrature components of video signals are generated.

Abstract: An interferometer wherein detected local oscillator beam power is variable without varying detected target-reflected return beam power. A P-polarized beam of energy is produced along a predetermined path. First and second waveplates are serially disposed in the predetermined path. Also included are a beamsplitter disposed in the path between the first and second waveplates, and a polarization analyzer disposed in the path between the beam producing means and the first waveplate. A first portion of the P-polarized beam couples through the first waveplate, the beamsplitter and the second waveplate, and is transmitted to a target, the first and second waveplates altering the polarization of the transmitted beam to circular polarization.

Abstract: A cathode-ray tube display system having a dynamic focus circuit to compensate for the inherent defocusing of an electron beam resulting from differences in the distance the beam must travel between an electron gun projecting such beam and a display screen as the beam is moved from position to position about the screen. The circuit is fed by a variable focusing signal having a predetermined bandwidth extending from zero hertz to a predetermined frequency. A combining network is included in the circuit for combining a reference voltage, an amplified, capacitively-coupled first portion of the applied variable focusing signal, and an amplified second portion of the applied signal to produce, at a focus electrode, a composite focusing signal. The produced composite focusing signal has a nominal focusing voltage level produced in response to the reference voltage and selected to provide proper focusing of the beam when the beam is positioned at the center of the screen.

Abstract: A vernier address scale reduces the number of addressable memory locations required for numerical look-up tables. Read-only memories (ROMs) store the data of linear or non-linear functions. Decoders determine which ROM is selected and advantage is taken of accuracy improvement as numbers become large by dropping least significant bits as the vernier address scale moves from one ROM table to another. Accuracy is further improved by using a method of one-half level quantization step for rounding. This reduces the size of numerical tables for math processing of reciprocals, roots of numbers, powers of numbers, logarithms, trigonometric and exponential functions.

Abstract: In an optical system such as a ring laser gyroscope cavity, oscillations occur in many transverse modes. The desired modes are allowed to exist by suppressing undesired modes utilizing a light stop apparatus. One light stop is made by treating a dielectric mirror with an electron beam causing a phase change to occur to the undesired reflected waves. An alternative light stop is made by depositing an absorptive material on a dielectric mirror for absorbing some of the energy of the undesired modes. Both light stop embodiments are adjustable with respect to a laser wave in a resonant cavity.

Abstract: A system for in situ heating of oil shale by radiating electromagnetic wave energy from a dipole radiator positioned beneath an overburden in a body of oil shale. Radio frequency power is supplied from the surface through a transmission line to the radiator dipoles whose diameters are substantially greater than the spacing between the transmission line conductors. The dipole radiator is center fed by the transmission line through a reentrant choke structure substantially filled with a solid dielectric medium and concentric with one of said dipole elements.

Abstract: A raster display apparatus for converting radar input data which is formatted to produce a Plan Position Indicator (PPI) presentation on a cursive display to a format which achieves a PPI type image on a raster display. The apparatus generates radar images on a raster display screen which appear as targets having continuous arcs of the proper length around the placement position of a radar. Average video levels within successive discrete fixed azimuthal standard angle increments are stored in a radial buffer memory for various increments of range. These video levels are used for all points within the presently active standard angular increment. Radial distance of a given image is computed for changes in orthogonal components such as X or Y using simple prestored sine and cosine functions. Conversion calculations comprise primarily additions using adders.

Abstract: In an optical system such as a ring laser gyroscope cavity, oscillations occur in many transverse modes. The desired modes are allowed to exist by suppressing undesired modes utilizing a light stop apparatus. One light stop is made by treating a dielectric mirror with an electron beam causing a phase change to occur to the undesired reflected waves. An alternative light stop is made by depositing an absorptive material on a dielectric mirror for absorbing some of the energy of the undesired modes. Both light stop embodiments are adjustable with respect to a laser wave in a resonant cavity.

Abstract: A coaxially fed applicator for in situ RF heating of subsurface bodies with a coaxial choke structure for reducing outer conductor RF currents adjacent the radiator. The outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line supplying RF energy to the radiator terminates in a coaxial structure comprising a section of coaxial line extending toward the RF radiator from the termination for a distance approaching a quarter wavelength at the RF frequency and a coaxial stub extending back along the coaxial line outer conductor from the termination for a distance less than a quarter wavelength at said frequency. The central conductor of the coaxial transmission line is connected to an enlarged coaxial structure approximately a quarter of a wavelength long in a region beyond the end of the outer conductor coaxial choking structure.

Abstract: A byte-addressable memory system having an array of transceivers with control logic which enables memory to be addressable on individual byte boundaries rather than on two byte (word) or four byte (longword) boundaries. The memory system has two independent even-address and odd-address segments allowing parallel access to two longwords (eight bytes or one quadword) simultaneously. Logic determines which of the eight bytes should be placed on a four byte bus and the sequential order of the bytes on the bus. The entire operation takes place in one memory cycles time period and can start at any byte address.

Abstract: An adjustable two-port microwave network having digitally controlled switches which enable the network to be set to a plurality reflection and transmission coefficients. The network facilitates the collection of a plurality of measurements which are necessary to characterize a non-linear device. An embodiment of the network is constructed using a 3dB directional coupler feeding two identical power divider networks each comprising two cascaded directional couplers. One divider network is connected directly to the coupled port of the 3dB directional coupler and the other divider network is connected through a phase shifter to the output port of the 3dB directional coupler. The non-linear device to be characterized is connected to the input port of the 3dB directional coupler and for this application, the isolated port is terminated in its characteristic impedance.

Abstract: A photon absorber minimizes the mixing of unwanted reflected electromagnetic waves with the main clockwise and counter-clockwise propagating electromagnetic waves of a ring laser gyroscope. A round hole in the middle of the absorber allows the main waves to pass and an angulated front surface deflects reflected waves away from the main waves. Most of the reflected waves which impinge on the photon absorber are absorbed. A photon absorber is fabricated from light absorbing filter glass with anti-reflection coatings or from beryllium-copper with an absorptive coating.

Abstract: A display system line generator network having an error correction feedback loop which achieves high positional accuracy for both plan position indicators PPI and synthetic character and line data. Digital reference position and relative beam motion data are fed into separate D/A converters. The staircase effect at the output of the D/A that processes the relative beam motion data is eliminated in a constant current integrator. The output of the integrator is combined with the reference position signal in a summing amplifier and the summed signal is fed to a deflection amplifier. A feedback circuit picks off the inputs to the summing amplifier and uses their comparison to synchronize time with beam position by compensating for errors due to component drift and aging.

Abstract: In a radar or sonar system wherein the detection of a target is to be accomplished with a constant false alarm rate (CFAR), a circuit is provided for adjusting the input to a comparator which compares the received echo signals against the value of a threshold in order to detect targets of interest. The mean value of the background noise is subtracted from the signal, and the resulting difference is divided by the square root of the variance of background noise. The use of the variance compensates for sweep-to-sweep correlation and non-stationarity (in the statistical sense) as is found in clutter so that the clutter, upon the customary sweep-to-sweep integration of the signal, does not tend to introduce a false echo.