Abstract: A handheld, compact, self-contained transducer unit for electromagnetic generation and detection of ultrasound on or in metals and other media is realized by mounting short, flat cable sections directly on a small, powerful permanent magnet. The cable sections are interconnected in an electromagnetic transducer circuit configuration and the plane of the flat cable transducer circuit structure is perpendicular to the magnet magnetization axis. Fabrication of the device can be accomplished by selectively connecting the conductor ends of a flat strip electrical conductor segment and affixing the conductor segment to an appropriate surface of a samarium-cobalt permanent magnet.

Abstract: Effective shutter speed, focal plane exposure and film transport frame rate measurements are taken and displayed in user oriented format by a computing method and system for testing still and cinematic cameras. An analog signal pulse is generated that is responsive to the illuminance admitted to the camera focal plane during each camera shutter operation. Comparison of the analog signal pulse with various voltage threshold levels provides pulse period, overrange and underrange information. Cinematic frame rate is determined by dividing units by the time period, in seconds, between the beginnings of successive analog signal pulses; effective shutter speed is determined by dividing the peak amplitude value by the integrated value of the analog signal pulse; and focal plane exposure speed is determined by dividing the camera calibration constants by the integrated value of the analog signal pulse.

Abstract: A processing technique utilizing two separate silicon nitride depositions (one to form the memory regions and the second to form the nonmemory regions) is employed to provide a radiation hard drain source protected memory transistor. The amount of silicon dioxide used in the nonmemory regions is also minimized. A typical device comprises a mesa etched from a silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) wafer into which P+ source and drain regions are implanted. A 100 A layer of silicon dioxide and a second 1000 A layer of nonmemory silicon nitride covers the mesa and the two layers are etched to define a substrate gate window. The gate window is covered by a 25 A layer of tunneling oxide A final 500 A layer of memory silicon nitride covers the mesa structure. Contact windows are etched to accommodate source, drain and gate interconnect electrodes.

Abstract: Equalization and the individual control of the sensitivity of each element in a multi-element sensor array is achieved by means of a light transmitting element positioned to intercept light falling on the light receiving surface of each sensor element. Structurally the light transmitting device can be a single sheet of transparent ferroelectric ceramic having a long term polarization retention capability (or memory). A discrete portion of the sheet adjacent each sensor element is polarized in a manner that controls the level of light transmitted through the sheet at that locus and so controls the output level of the sensor adjacent to it. Equalization of sensor elements is accomplished by setting the polarization of each light transmitting element as a function of the difference between its associated sensor output voltage level and a standard voltage level in response to a constant intensity light source.

Abstract: A tool that permits assembly and disassembly of a variety of cannon plugs without the risk of plug damage commonly caused by pliers and other conventional assembly equipment. It comprises a multiplicity of differently sized Cannon plug holding members mounted on a wrench type fixture. A key and keyway arrangement prevents the plugs from turning while backshell and saddle clamps are attached or removed.

Abstract: Apparatus by which high explosive charges are propelled into and detonated at the center of an MHD-X generator. The high explosive charge units are engaged and propelled by a reciprocating ram device. Detonating in each instance is achieved by striking with a firing pin a detonator charge that is in register with a booster charge, the booster charge being in detonating communication with the high explosive charge. Various safety requirements are satisfied by a spring loaded slider operating in a channel transverse and adjacent to the booster charge. The slide retains the detonator charge out of register with the booster charge until a safety pin that holds the slider in place is pulled by a lanyard attached between the reciprocating ram and the safety pin. Removal of the safety pin permits the detonator charge to slide into alignment with the booster charge. Firing pin actuation is initiated by the slider at the instant the detonator charge and the booster charge come into register.

Abstract: The acceptance of all events and the processing of such events without lock-out in a multiple input data processing system is achieved by a random action event switching technique. Processing of all events in order of arrival is accomplished by providing an input line for each system input on which the priority of the received event is registered with the resolution of the switch timing clock. Events arriving on other lines during the same time resolution element are processed with equal priority but with identity preserved. At the end of each time interval accumulated events are switched to one of a multiplicity of event holding lines, there being fewer event holding lines than input lines, and the input lines are cleared to receive subsequently arriving events. Event holding lines are filled in selected sequence and are switched to the data system main processor for read-out according to the priority of arrival of the events they hold and in response to main processor availability signals.

Abstract: A conditioning circuit for a resistance bridge transducer that includes output signal amplification, a voltage regulated DC power source for transducer excitation and a calibration select circuit for selectively inserting a shunt calibration resistor into parallel with one bridge arm. The calibration select circuit comprises a field effect transistor switch that is connected in series with the calibration resistor between two adjacent transducer terminals. The field effect transistor switch is operated by the output of an operational amplifier in response to positive and negative DC control signals. The conditioning circuit is adaptable to miniaturization through the use of integrated and hybrid circuits.

Abstract: A film slewing device is incorporated into a contact printer of the type in which a free running inner copy film and a driven outer master film are transported in layered contact on the surface of a free wheeling drum through a light exposure region by use of a master film drive roller and a film coupling pressure roller. The slewing device can selectively provide independent drive of the master film while holding the copy film stationary. This is accomplished by use of a thin arcuate film separating member that is conformed to the outer surface of the drum and that slides on the outer surface of the copy film. The film separating member can be slideably inserted between copy and master films in the region of light exposure. It has idling rollers on its outer surfaces to permit free passage of the outer master film. The pressure roller is disengaged when the separating member is positioned between films to prevent movement of the copy film.

Abstract: Improved fidelity and reduced computational requirements are achieved in a linear predictive coding (LPC) system that utilizes multichannel signal processing and reduced sampling rates. The input analog signal is divided by filters into multiple, contiguous, substantially equal bandwidth signal components and each component is digitized and processed by a separate standard LPC transmit-receive system. Each transmit-receive system operates at a sampling rate that is equal to the normal sampling rate for the signal being processed divided by the number of channels or signal components used. The received signal components are filtered, converted to analog, and summed.

Abstract: Plasma vortex structures generated by coaxial theta pinch guns are compressed and amplified by secondary adiabatic compression. A pair of vortex rings originating at opposite ends of a vacuum chamber are caused to meet at the chamber center by the confining and guiding effects of a primary magnetic mirror. A secondary magnetic mirror starts to compress the plasma as soon as the collision has occurred. The secondary compression amplifies the electrical currents and mass motions already in the vortex rings when they leave the conical theta pinch guns. The amplification process heats the plasma by a process of turbulent heating to very high temperatures.

Abstract: Optimum energy delivery in a high energy laser system is realized by intensity modulating the transmitted laser beam and demodulating the received reflected laser energy to obtain phase error signals. The error signals are used by a servo system to direct the transmitted beam. Beam intensity modulation is accomplished by angle/focus dither. In systems having relatively small slewing or scanning mirrors the angle dither is accomplished by manipulating the mirror itself. For systems having large slewing mirrors a small aperture mirror is positioned adjacent to the slewing mirror and used to impart the required dither to a small portion of the transmitted laser beam.

Abstract: The processing by an infrared television system of field of view radiant emission data such as spatial, radiometric and spectral information is facilitated by apparatus and operating methods that utilize a rotatable narrow band interference filter. The filter intercepts radiant emission from a selected scene at a 0.degree. angle of incidence and at other selected angles of incidence up to 45.degree.. Distinguishing between laser and graybody targets is accomplished by continuously rocking the filter between 0.degree. and 45.degree. at the television vidicon scanning rate or some harmonic thereof.

Abstract: A two-dimensional, AC-coupled, wide dynamic range, mosaic infrared sensor is realized by apparatus that divides incoming infrared radiation into two equal beams. Each beam is received with or without optical concentration by an infrared detector array consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, parallel columns of electrically insulated, independently wired infrared detector elements. The detector element column widths of each detector array are substantially equal to the intercolumn spaces of the other detector array and the columns of each are optically aligned with the intercolumn spaces of the other.

Abstract: A microstrip electronically scannable antenna is realized by means of an array of disc elements that are separated from a common ground plane by a dielectric medium. The center of each disc element is electronically short circuited to the ground plane. At least two pairs of diametrically opposed short circuitry switches (diodes) are connected between certain locations on the peripheral edge of each disc element and the ground plane. The polarization and phase of the reflected energy of each disc element is controlled by certain combinations of open circuited and short circuited pairs of short circuiting switches. Electronic scanning is achieved by control of the short circuitry switches, specifically by digitally controlling the forward and reverse bias of the diodes.

Abstract: An improved drain source protected MNOS transistor is realized by means of a fabrication technique that permits independent control of memory and nonmemory parameters. Self alignment of memory regions during fabrication is achieved by using nitride masking for gate oxidation. Independent control of memory and nonmemory parameters derives from a device configuration in which protected regions consist exclusively of gate oxide and silicon nitride is present only in the memory regions. Transistor radiation hardening is also achieved by elimination of the nitride layer above the device's thin silicon dioxide regions.

Abstract: Interference from polarized signals is minimized by controlling the polarization of antennas having orthogonal dipole radiating elements. The antenna system utilizes microwave hybrids and phase shifters in a coaxial cable feed circuit that divides the power between horizontal and vertical dipole radiating elements. The circuit provides a variable antenna polarization that can be controlled to discriminate against interfering signals having any given polarization characteristics. Coaxial double folded baluns connect feed circuits to the dipole radiating elements and provide proper phasing and impedance transformation for efficient dipole operation.

Abstract: The detection and indication of a probe contact to metalization and to junctions on chips during microcircuit analysis is achieved by means of a circuit comprising a complementary MOS transistor logic circuit and light emitting diodes (LEDs). A polarity switching circuit provides probe contact indication in response to "0" and "1" logic levels for both forward and reverse bias conditions. Other switching circuits provide sensitivity level selection and the transfer of probe output to an alternate microcircuit analysis device. An auxiliary sound indicator is connected in parallel with the visual LED indicators. Probe assembly capacitance is minimized by a plexiglass insulator that inserts a fixed capacitance between each probe contact.

Abstract: Ellipsometric parameters for a given structural member surface area are obtained by scanning the structural member surface area at an oblique angle with a polarized monochromatic light beam and receiving the reflected light beam with a rotating analyzer. The rotating analyzer outputs are detected at its 0.degree., 45.degree. and 90.degree. azimuth orientations by a photodetector. The photodetector outputs can be plotted in their proper relationship to the scanned surface area boundaries to provide maps useful in nondestructive testing and other applications. Equations are provided that permit the conversion of the photodetector outputs into ellipsometric physical parameter values for refractive index, absorption coefficient and material thickness. Scanning in one embodiment is accomplished by a structural member holding device that can be simultaneously rotated and vertically translated.

Abstract: The laser target simulator of the invention comprises two point sources of light energy (LEDs) aimed at a section of concave spherical mirror which collimates the light energy and projects it across the full aperture of a laser seeker. One of the point sources of light energy is positioned on the laser seeker boresight at the mirror focal point. The other is positioned in spaced adjacent relationship to it and is rotatable about the laser seeker boresight. A CW light source is positioned coaxially to the boresight point source of light. The simulator also includes light source control circuits that make it possible to test the various operational modes of the laser seeker including tracking rates and accuracies, acquisition logic, laser pulse coding, and false target rejection.