Abstract: A multiband waveguide feed network includes multiple transmit (TX) magic tees, multiple receive (RX)-reject waveguide filters configured to reject RX frequencies, and multiple branch-line couplers configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to the plurality of TX magic tees. The multiband waveguide feed network includes a quadrature junction coupler configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to an antenna port. The multiband waveguide feed network is configured to be fabricated in four pieces with three split planes, and the multiband waveguide feed network is circularly polarized.

Abstract: An interface assembly includes a constraint layer formed from a material that provides a coefficient of thermal expansion match between first and second circuit board substrates. The constraint layer includes a waveguide cavity that extends between first and second opposing outer surface the constraint layer. The first and second circuit board substrates are respectively coupled to the first and second outer surfaces of the constraint layer via single ground connections. Portions of the first and second circuit board substrates are aligned with the waveguide cavity and positive connections are made between components of the first and second circuit boards through the waveguide cavity.

Abstract: An imaging spectro-polarimetry system includes a polarizer, a tunable laser, a number of optical nodes and an image processing circuit. The polarizer produces polarized light using light received from an object. The tunable laser generates optical local oscillator (LO) signals. Each optical node receives the polarized light and an optical LO signal, performs a heterodyne mixing and generates a digital signal. The image processing circuit receives digital signals from the optical nodes and generates a magnetogram of the object. The polarizer, the tunable laser, the plurality of optical nodes and the image processing circuit are implemented on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), and the polarized light includes right and left circularly polarized light.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, reducing data signal bandwidth comprises receiving a multi-resolution image having a plurality of concentric regions that each have a different level of resolution, where the regions closer to the center having greater levels of resolution. Generating a representative image comprising first rasterizing the multi-resolution image into a pixel representation of pixel data with an array of pixel values. A ring of pixels for each region results from discarding duplicate pixels from each region such that only the interior pixels from each region are preserved. In a first circular direction, duplicate pixels along each ring are discarded, the preserved unique pixels resulting in ring fragments. The ring fragments are then moved towards the center so that there are no gaps between the ring fragments for each level of resolution.

Abstract: An adapter for aiding in the installation of a fastener assembly includes a body defining a first aperture formed in a first end thereof and configured to receive at least a portion of the fastener assembly. The first aperture is defined by at least one tapered sidewall of the body, wherein the first aperture is sized in a region or area of the at least one tapered sidewall to engage with a component of the fastener assembly when the fastener assembly is received therein. The body further defines a drive surface within the first aperture for engaging with a corresponding drive surface of a component of the fastener assembly when the fastener assembly is received within the first aperture. A second aperture is defined in a second end of the body, opposite the first end, and is configured to engage with a tool for installing the fastener assembly.

Abstract: A lens assembly includes a housing defining an interior volume having a substantially linear optical axis extending therethrough. A zoom group is disposed in the housing in an optical path segment on the optical path between a first lens and an aperture mechanism. The zoom group is movable between a plurality of field-of-view (FOV) positions along the optical path segment. An ultra-narrow field-of-view (UNFOV) lens group is movable between a first UNFOV position outside the optical path and a second UNFOV position in the optical path segment. The lens assembly has a plurality of FOV configurations with the UNFOV lens group in the first UNFOV position, and a UNFOV configuration with the UNFOV lens group in the second UNFOV position. The lens assembly accommodates a number of different FOVs within a limited volume with a small number of lenses, and without folding or otherwise redirecting the optical path.

Abstract: Water surface visualization during a simulation is disclosed. Elevation data that identifies an elevation of a water surface is accessed. Based on the elevation data, it is determined that a camera view location of a camera view is on a first side of a water surface. Object data is accessed that identifies a location comprising an elevation of each of a plurality of objects in the scene. An organization of a plurality of objects for rendering is determined based on the elevation of each object of the plurality of objects relative to the water surface. The water surface scene portion is rendered based on the organization.

Abstract: A reversible sealing mechanism for sealing a bulkhead having a first central aperture defined along a central axis and disposed between first and second compartments includes a cover member having a recess defined therein by a substantially cylindrical sidewall and adapted to cover the first central aperture. A wedge ring having a generally cylindrical body is accommodated by the first and second central apertures and is configured to operatively engage the cover member. A mechanical input is operative to reversibly rotate the wedge ring about the central axis such that a rotation of the wedge ring in a first direction urges the cover member in the axial direction into a sealed position.

Abstract: A horn antenna includes smooth-walls with multiple slope discontinuities. The horn antenna may have more than an octave bandwidth with a 2.25:1 bandwidth ratio to cover the frequencies of 20 GHz, 30 GHz, and 45 GHz, or all the desired bands for military or other communications.

Abstract: The present invention is a time division multiplexed beam combination for laser signal generation. In one aspect, the time division multiplexed beam combination employs a mechanical implementation. In a second aspect, the time division multiplexed beam combination employ a polarization interlacing.

Abstract: Provided is a method of reducing postal revenue losses associated with the processing and delivery of international mail pieces. Algorithmically-resolved image data associated with a mail piece is compared to international-mail-services postage data and a determination is rendered, based on the comparison, as to whether any postage indicated as paid is sufficient to further process the mail piece in accordance with the level of delivery service requested. In various aspects, an attempt to algorithmically ascertain the identity of the sender is undertaken for purposes of automated charge assessment relative to a mail piece for which it is determined that insufficient postage has been tendered. In accordance with alternative aspects, if the sender identity cannot be ascertained, the mail piece is variously (i) rejected for manual handling or (ii) routed for automated sortation and delivery in accordance with a “downgraded” delivery service level for which the amount paid is adequate.

Abstract: A hinge providing multi-directional motion to a hinged object. In one embodiment, the hinge includes a first hinge member having at least one first outwardly-protruding mounting projection and a second hinge member defining a recess for movably receiving the projection. In one embodiment, the recess and mounting projection are complementary configured for non-rotational linear movement of the projection in a first portion of the recess, and for rotational movement of the projection in a second portion of the recess. A preferred embodiment includes a pair of spaced-apart recesses and projections. The hinged object may be squarely slid into engagement with a supporting unit or frame via the first portion of the recess, yet rotated or pivoted via the second portion to provide access to the supporting unit. The supporting unit or frame in one embodiment may be part of a module in an active antenna array.

Abstract: A method for identifying potential targets as far away as possible is disclosed. In a simple background scene such as a blue sky, a target may be recognized from a relatively long distance, but for some high clutter situations such as mountains and cities, the detection range is severely reduced. The background clutter may also be non-stationary further complicating the detection of a target. To solve these problems, target detection (recognition) of the present invention is based upon temporal fusion (integration) of sensor data using pre-detection or post-detection integration techniques, instead of using the prior art technique of fusing data from only a single time frame. Also disclosed are double-thresholding and reversed-thresholding techniques which further enhance target detection and avoid the shortcomings of the traditional constant false alarm rate (CFAR) thresholding technique.

Abstract: A device and method for sequencing trays includes a tray receiving conveyor and a recirculating conveyor. Trays are placed on the recirculating conveyor and merged with ejected trays into a multiple of sequenced trays at one or more merge locations. The system can include more than one merge location, with one of the merge locations providing a merge of trays into a contiguous sequence of trays.

Abstract: A system comprises a processor configured to receive incoming data and configured to apply a subchannelizer algorithm to the received data. The subchannelizer algorithm segments the received data into time segmented data samples and distributes the time segmented data samples into a plurality of data streams for transmission across one of a plurality of interfaces to a network. The system further comprises a register generally coupled to the processor for storing each time segmented data sample prior to transmitting the time segmented data sample across the plurality of interfaces, wherein the time segmented data samples are written to the register at a first frequency and the time segmented data samples are read out of the register at a second frequency. The system is further arranged to receive a plurality of outgoing data streams from the network, and recombine the plurality of outgoing data streams for output to a downlink device.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a hybrid geometry type acoustic transducer. A hybrid geometry type acoustic transducer as embodied herein leverages different type transducer physical configurations. More specifically, embodiments of the hybrid transducer combine specific features of traditional Tonpilz resonators and PZT-composite transducers to exploit the beneficial characteristics of both. The outward construction of an embodied hybrid transducer mimics a Tonpilz resonator incorporating a headmass and a tailmass sandwiching a piezoelectric active material. However, rather than using a conventional ceramic ring stack or plate form of active material, a layer of diced or “pillared” active material is provided between the headmass and the tailmass with no filler material other than a gas, such as air, for example, or others, or a vacuum environment.

Abstract: A method for guiding an intercept vehicle to intercept a ballistic target includes conceptual setup of a line-of-sight (LOS) extending between the vehicles. The interceptor is accelerated in a direction perpendicular to the LOS until its velocity in that direction equals that of the target. At this time, the thrust of the interceptor accelerates it along the line-of-sight, thereby guaranteeing an intercept.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a circularly polarized horn antenna may include a circular polarizer having a step shape. In some embodiments, a circularly polarized horn antenna may include a choke that is offset in position with respect to the antenna aperture. Such antennas may have a relatively constant beamwidth with respect to frequency, compact size, and/or low weight.

Abstract: A chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapon detection system is disclosed that heightens its acuity and alertness when it senses that a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapon attack is more likely. For example, it is well understood that a chemical gas attack is likely to be less effective when it is raining than when it is clear because the rain will suppress and dilute the chemical agent. Therefore, the likelihood of a chemical gas attack is higher when it is clear. In light of this and similar knowledge, the illustrative embodiment checks for evidence of an attack more frequently and with great acuity than when the ambient environmental (e.g., meteorological, etc.) characteristics (e.g., whether is it precipitating or not, whether it is sunny or not, etc) suggest that an attack is more likely. This enables the embodiment to conserve consumables that are used in detecting attacks for when the attacks are more likely.

Abstract: An FFT correlation tracker that is capable of effectively tracking targets against non-uniform backgrounds in realtime, includes a background correction implemented using a FFT with the 2-dimension sinc function. The tracker tracks an object by effectively computing the first and third terms of the mean-square-error function C(s,t) defined as C ? ( s , t ) = 1 N ? ? N ? f 2 ? ( x , y ) + 1 N ? ? N ? g 2 ? ( x - s , y - t ) - 2 · 1 N ? ? N ? [ f ? ( x , y ) · g ? ( x - s , y - t ) ] This is done by first transforming the first and third terms into the frequency domain, where the first term, the background correction term, can be computed much more efficiently in real-time by using the 2-dimension sinc function. Multiplications and additions necessary to carry out the computations in the frequency domain are then performed.