Abstract: An intelligent surveillance system is disclosed for the identification of suspicious behavior near the exterior of a vehicle. The system of the invention is comprised of a “fish-eye” visible camera imaging system installed on the interior ceiling of an automobile for the 360-degree imaging and observation of the lower hemisphere around the perimeter of the vehicle. The camera of the system is augmented with an embedded processor based on DSP (digital signal processor) or FPGA (field-programmable gate array) technology to provide for the automatic detection of suspicious/hostile activities around the vehicle. The system is preferably provided with wireless transmitter means for alerting a person (e.g. the owner) of detected suspicious behavior.

Abstract: A device and method for concurrently obtaining ultrasound and MRI image data are disclosed. A probe member comprises ultrasound imaging means at a first predetermined position on the probe member and an MRI coil at a second predetermined position on the probe member. An MRI imaging system having an MRI pulse sequence comprising an MRI image data acquisition period and an MRI pulse sequence time gap generates an MRI image data set. An ultrasound image data set is acquired only during the MRI pulse sequence time gap in which the operation of the ultrasound imaging means does not interfere with the MRI imaging operation.

Abstract: A multilayer electronic module for photon counting such as in the solar blind region of the ultraviolet electromagnetic spectrum is provided. The device comprises a photocathode for detecting photons and generating an electron output, a micro-channel plate for receiving the output electrons emitted from the photocathode in response to the photon input and amplifying same, readout circuitry and one or more bit-counting circuit layers used to count the electron output of the micro-channel plate.

Abstract: A thermally conductive heat spreader is disclosed comprising one or more electrically isolated through-hole vias to provide, for instance, one or more thermal management layers having one or more electrically insulated and electrically conductive through-hole vias in a microelectronic module for the rerouting of one or more electrical signals to one or more layers in a stack of integrated circuit chip layers. The method of the invention comprises disposing an electrically conductive member within an aperture in a heat spreader blank wherein the electrically conductive member is electrically insulated from the heat spreader blank by means of a dielectric layer to provide a vertical through-hole via for the vertical routing of an electrical signal through the heat spreader.

Abstract: A signal processing method and device for measuring the input rate of an FM micro-gyro having a modulation frequency FM and having an oscillator sense element having a nominal frequency FOSC is disclosed. In a first aspect of the invention, the method comprises defining a first time interval TWN and a second time interval TWP and measuring the first time interval and the second time interval by counting the number of periods of a predetermined reference frequency. The nominal frequency of the oscillator sense element FOSC is measured along with the modulation frequency FM. From these measurements, the proof mass period NW is calculated. The time difference ?t is calculated from the above measurements. The method then comprises calculating a modulation M that produced the measured ?t, preferably using an iterative method. From the above, the input rate ? is calculated by dividing M by a sensitivity S of the FM micro-gyro.

Abstract: A phase-sensing and scanning time-of-flight LADAR method and device are disclosed that take advantage of an atmospheric absorption bands within the solar IR spectrum. In the phase-sensing LADAR embodiment, an object is illuminated with electromagnetic energy such as a laser beam having a wavelength substantially equal to a predetermined atmospheric absorption band such as 1.39 microns. The transmitted laser beam is modulated at a predetermined frequency and has a first phase. The phase of the reflected and returned laser beam is altered proportional to the distance of the object and has a second phase. The first phase of the transmitted signal and the second phase of the received signal are compared and used to determine the distance of the object from the device. The system may comprise a modified laser that is tuned to operate in an atmospheric absorption band.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed comprising one or more electrically conductive nano-structures defined on one or more surfaces of a microelectronic circuit such as an integrated circuit die, microelectronic circuit package (such as a TSOP, BGA or other prepackaged IC) a stacked microelectronic circuit package, or on the surface of one or more layers in a stack of layers containing one or more ICs. In one embodiment, the electrically conductive nano-structure is in electrical connection with a monitoring circuit and acts as a “trip wire” to detect unauthorized tampering with the device or module. Such a monitoring circuit may include a power source such as an in-circuit or in-module battery and a “zeroization” circuit within the chip or package to erase the contents of a memory when the electrically conductive nano-structure is breached or altered. The device may be configured to blow one or more fuses or overcurrent protection devices when the electrically conductive nano-structure is breached or altered.

Abstract: A device for in-situ calibration of a thermal imager on a UAS is disclosed. A rotatable lens curtain is provided with an aperture for the lens of a thermal imager to observe a field of view. The lens curtain comprises a balancing weight and blocking portion having a thermally uniform interior surface that functions as a calibration surface. The lens curtain is disposed with respect to the lens such that when the UAS is in a substantially level flight path, the lens is exposed to the field of view through the aperture. The lens curtain is provided such that when the UAS is rotated about an axis, the lens curtain maintains its absolute position relative to the Earth by virtue of the balance weight and the lens rotates within the lens curtain such that the blocking position obscures the lens from the field of view and the lens is exposed to the thermally uniform interior surface such that a calibration operation can be performed by the thermal imager.

Abstract: An energy-harvesting buoy is provided comprising an air-pressure generator, such as a piezo-electric generator, or any other generator that can harvest energy from an air pressure. The energy harvesting buoy consists of a first float and a second float. An air pressure is created when relative vertical motion occurs between the first float and the second float which drives an air pressurization means such as a piston driven air pump using a linkage member pivotably mounted between the respective floats. The generator uses the air pressure from the air pressurization means to drive the generator to generate electrical power.

Abstract: A readout circuit is disclosed for use in an AM chirp LADAR system. The circuit comprises a photodetector such as a metal-semiconductor-metal detector coupled to a passive electronic filter. The filter output coupled to a capacitive-coupled transimpedance amplifier with an output coupled to an analog storage register. The analog storage register output is coupled to a sample-and-hold circuit which in turn is coupled to a sample and hold circuit. The output of the sample and hold circuit is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter circuit for further processing. The circuit may be used as a cell for the readout of an individual pixel on a photodetector or a plurality of cells used in a stack of integrated circuit chips for the read out of a plurality of pixels in a photodetector array.

Abstract: A micro-combustion power system is disclosed. In a first embodiment, the invention is comprised of a housing that further comprises two flow path volumes, each having generally opposing flow path directions and each generally having opposing configurations. Each flow path volume comprises a pre-heating volume having at least one pre-heating heat exchange structure. Each flow path volume further comprises a combustion volume having a combustion means or structure such as a catalytic material disposed therein Further, each flow path volume comprise a post-combustion volume having at least one post-combustion heat exchange structure. One or more thermoelectric generator means is in thermal communication with at least one of the combustion volumes whereby thermal energy generated by an air/fuel catalytic reaction in the combustion volume is transferred to the thermoelectric generator to convert same to electrical energy for use by an external circuit.

Abstract: A selectively positionable lens cover is disclosed comprising a lens housing volume and comprising an arcuate lip portion for the selective engagement to and disengagement from a lens. The lens cover further comprises a first engagement structure whereby the first engagement structure may be releaseably engaged with and removed from a second engagement structure. In a preferred embodiment, the lens cover further comprises an aperture having a first longitudinal axis whereby the first engagement structure may be selectively engaged with and removed from the second engagement structure in a first position that is substantially aligned with a user-defined second longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A micro-image acquisition and transmission system is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system is comprised of an image acquisition chip comprising an electronic imager, control electronics and a micro powered rotary stage comprising a transceiver array that acts as a hub to optically link a group of distributed image acquisition chips. A preferred embodiment is further comprised of a transceiver array chip comprising one or more micro-powered rotary stages having a transceiver array assembly disposed thereon. The micro-powered rotary stage is supported by a micro-brush bearing.

Abstract: An artificial synapse array and virtual neural space are disclosed. More specifically, a cognitive sensor system and method are disclosed comprising a massively parallel convolution processor capable of, for instance, situationally dependent identification of salient features in a scene of interest by emulating the cortical hierarchy found in the human retina and visual cortex.

Abstract: Piezoelectric elements for power generation and/or actuation are described. An aspect is directed to generators utilizing piezoelectric elements for electrical power generation. Such a generator can use one or more arrays of piezoelectric cantilevers for electrical power generation in conjunction with modulated air pressure used for exciting the cantilevers. The pressure level/modulation and cantilever area can be controlled variables for maximizing the bending, and hence energy generation, of the cantilevers. A further aspect is directed to hydraulic fluid actuators utilizing a pumping mechanism that includes a piezoelectric element. The linear actuators can advantageously utilize the high force and high frequency characteristics of a piezoelectric membrane in conjunction with a large stroke and actuation direction conversion afforded by hydraulic transmission.

Abstract: A known good die is economically fabricated. A tested integrated circuit is provided which includes a die having a bonding location on an upper surface and a lead. An upper portion of the integrated circuit package is removed or ground away to expose the bonding location. The lead is removed leaving the die and exposed bonding location to provide a known good die. The backside portion of the integrated circuit package is removed or ground away to expose the backside of the die. A contact pad is disposed on the bonding location. The bonding wire and exterior lead are also removed or ground away. The upper portion of the bonding ball is removed to provide a flattened bonding location. Preferably, the tested integrated circuit package provided is a thin small outline integrated circuit package (TSOP), and advantageously may be a packaged flash memory integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing electrical connections to electronic elements within a multilayer module. The method includes providing first and second active layers having first and second edges, respectively. Each active layer includes a flexible, polymer substrate and at least one electronic element formed within the substrate. Electrically-conductive traces provide electrical connections from the first and second edges to the electronic elements. An adhesive is applied to at least one of a top surface of the first active layer and a bottom surface of the second active layer and the top surface of the first active layer is adhered to the bottom surface of the second active layer. The first edge and the second edge are aligned with each other thereby forming a side of the multilayer module. Electrically-conductive lines are applied along the side of the multilayer module to provide electrical connections to the traces.

Abstract: A chip stack includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and an auxiliary component coupled to the FPGA with intercommunicated clock, control and/or data signals. The auxiliary component has a functionality mapped into the FPGA. The pin definition of the FPGA is redefined so that the FPGA and the auxiliary component in combination operate as a modified FPGA. A test circuit is programmed into the FPGA to exercise the auxiliary component to test functionality and timing performance at full speed. The functionality of the auxiliary component mapped into the FPGA is parameterized, such as for the data word width for reading and/or writing data words of different lengths into the auxiliary component in both an aligned and nonaligned manner. A memory interface allows multiple auxiliary circuits to be accessed through the FPGA either together to generate a wider data word or serially to achieve a greater memory depth.

Abstract: An anti-tamper module is provided for protecting the contents and functionality of an integrated circuit incorporated in the module. The anti-tamper module is arranged in a stacked configuration having multiple layers. A connection layer is provided for connecting the module to an external system. A configurable logic device is provided for routing connections between the integrated circuit and the connection layer. Specifically, the configurable logic device is programmable to create logical circuits connecting at least one of the input/output connectors of the integrated circuit to at least one of the input/output connectors of the connection layer. Configuration information for programming the reconfigurable logic device is stored in a memory within the module.

Abstract: Layers suitable for stacking in three dimensional, multi-layer modules are formed by interconnecting a ball grid array electronic package to an interposer layer which routes electronic signals to an access plane. The layers are under-filled and may be bonded together to form a stack of layers. The leads on the access plane are interconnected among layers to form a high-density electronic package.