Abstract: This invention provides provides a separable nosecap for the forward end of a homing torpedo, the nosecap and torpedo comprising a missile that is launched into the atmosphere for a ballistic trajectory to a distant underwater target. The nosecap comprises a nosecap shell having a volume of rigid cushioning foam material within its interior space defining a cavity into which is mounted a pneumatic apparatus including a flexible inflatable sleeve for forcefully disengaging the nosecap from the torpedo after the missile has entered the water environment. The inflatable sleeve engages the forward end of the torpedo and, upon inflation and axial extension, the sleeve disengages the nosecap from its mounting to the torpedo such that a homing mechanism of the torpedo may guide it to the intended target.

Abstract: An improved system for continuously detecting and correcting the display in a cathode ray tube for errors in size and linearity. The system employs a crystal oscillator as a reference frequency to determine absolute error which is represented as "size" on the display screen, and relative error which is represented as linearity. The error is determined from the index pulse feedback, which is an output of a phase lock loop voltage controlled oscillator which is compared to the reference frequency to provide an error voltage level. This output level is then digitized and processed in terms of general control, interpolation, extrapolation, filtering, etc., testing, and stored in digital memory. The digital error data is converted back to analog levels for insertion into a horizontal auxiliary amplifier circuit for linearity correction. A main horizontal amplifier circuit receives size correction.

Abstract: A technique for laying out large multistage interconnection networks. The invention provides for the division of a network into sub-networks which may be maintained on printed circuit boards and then provides for the addition of switching circuitry at the inputs or outputs of such boards such that pin locations on the boards may be swapped with each other to allow for a parallel interconnection of corresponding pins between the boards. Such parallel interconnection eliminates the existence of rat's nests in the wiring harness.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to aircraft countermeasures and more particularly to an infrared decoy flare which operates in a substantially aerodynamic configuration and effectively shields aerodynamic cooling associated with its operation when ejected into the adjacent windstream of a tactical aircraft. The decoy provides an enhanced infrared signature to IR and heat-seeking threats to effectively decoy them away from the protected aircraft.

Abstract: A device which is deployable in the ocean environment to defeat an active torpedo comprises a mesh net structure constructed of a plurality of flat ribbons oriented in a particular geometric orientation with uniform spacings between adjacent ribbons, the ribbons being comprised of synthetic materials and more particularly of SPECTRA yarns in combination with yarns taken from the group comprising nylon, polyester, aramid, and KEVLAR. The net structure has stitched interconnections of the ribbons and a diameter of at least ten feet and exhibits a packing density of about 45 lbs/ft.sup.3 and a substantial neutral buoyancy in salt water.

Abstract: An aircraft windshield transparency includes a base frame defining an opening into which an inboard-positioned transparency is mounted with at least one outboard-positioned transparency and an interlayer between the two transparencies. The interlayer exhibits a stronger adhesion to the outboard transparency than to the inboard transparency. The peripheries of the outboard transparency and interlayer carry a means which functions to expose a groove penetrating to the surface of the inboard transparency such that the outboard transparency and interlayer may be removed and the inboard transparency thereafter functions as the primary windshield transparency of the aircraft.

Abstract: An optical fiber pressure sensor in a double polarimetric configuration comprises a first polarimetric circuit including an optical fiber sensing coil in a planar, substantially circuitous orientation between two flat plates to provide an optical signal indicative of a pressure within a fluid medium, the circuit including light detection and signal demodulation means to provide an output signal indicative of the pressure; and a second polarimetric circuit intercoupled to the first circuit through an optical coupler, the second circuit providing a source of light which is divided by the coupler between the two circuits and the second circuit includes optical and electronic circuit means to provide a feedback signal to stabilize the operation of the source of light. The pressure sensor is configured and packaged to enhance its sensitivity to pressure while substantially immunizing it against changes in temperature.

Abstract: An improved camera for recording stimuli received by the pilot of an aircraft. The camera features an improved mount for alignment of a charge-coupled device image forming element with respect to the housing of the camera. The improved mount comprises inner and outer eccentric adjustment members fitting within a bore in the camera housing. Each adjustment member comprises a cylindrical outer surface and a cylindrical bore, the axes of the cylindrical bores and cylindrical outer surfaces being parallel to but not coincident with one another, such that axial misalignment of an image forming element mounted on the inner adjustment member may be corrected by relative rotation of the adjustment members. Skew adjustment may also be provided. During assembly, the camera according to the invention is mounted on an alignment fixture bearing a predetermined relation to a target.

Abstract: An improved digital demodulator capable of demodulating a frequency multiplexed input signal is disclosed. The frequency division multiplexed input signal is sampled in an analog-to-digital converter. The samples are translated by mixing with base band frequency signals to yield real and imaginary values corresponding to phase information in the original modulation signals. After translation, the translated samples are filtered in real and imaginary digital filters. After filtering, the original modulation information is recovered by analysis of the position of vectors in the complex plane represented by the real and imaginary values. In the preferred embodiment, a successive approximation technique is used to determine the angle of the vectors to the real axis. Low pass output filtering may be employed after recovery of the modulation signal for improvements in signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: An assembly comprises drive key wearplates mounted in pairs to longitudinal side surfaces of each of a plurality of wheel key bosses and retaining members are fastened transversely across the top of a boss to engage both wearplates of the pair. A heatshield is positioned within the wheel bore between adjacent wheel key bosses and its opposite lateral edges engage respective wearplates in a manner such that it may not move either axially or radially within the bore.

Abstract: A transparent polyurethane has exceptionally high heat distortion temperatures, that is at least 280.degree. F. at 264 psi, as well as good light transmission, ultraviolet light resistance, abrasion resistance, and the like. The urethane intermediate is one or more very low equivalent weight, multifunctional hydroxy containing compounds so that when reacted with a polyisocyanate and cured with a low equivalent weight, multifunctional polyol, a highly crosslinked polyurethane is produced.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multilayer circuit board assembly capable of operating at microwave frequencies. Specifically, multilayer circuits such as complex beam forming networks and antennas having internal via holes may be fabricated in a single bonding cycle. This is accomplished by first preparing individual circuit boards (10) by pre-forming holes (18) through circuitry (14,16) etched on opposite sides of a substrate (12). The holes (18) are next selectively plated with a conductive layer (20) and then with a material (24) capable of forming a melted fusion bond and/or a solid-state fusion bond. Bonding film (56) is placed between each board-to-board interface of a multi-board assembly and the assembly of boards is subjected to a bonding cycle of heat and pressure wherein an integral unit is effected.

Abstract: A nosepiece for the forward end of a missile that is launched into the atmosphere for a ballistic trajectory and a water entry impact comprises a frangible base and a separable nosecap, the base having multiple segments of rigid foam defining an axial bore into the base and a volume of soft cellular foam within the bore to protect the forward end of the missile. The nosecap is in seated relationship within the bore opening on the tip end of the base during airborne flight and separates therefrom to expose the axial bore opening prior to water entry impact such that upon impact the base is fractured by the force of water entering the exposed bore and thus separated from the missile.

Abstract: A digital antiskid system for utilization with the braking system of an aircraft. Analog wheel speed signals are digitized and manipulated by a digital processor, under program control, to generate a control signal as a function of the deceleration activity of the wheels. The digital control signal is converted to an analog signal for application to a brake valve to effect application or release of brake pressure.

Abstract: Fail-safe brake valve driver (10) is provided for controlling a dual coil (A,B) brake valve. A pair of identical circuits (12, 14) are each uniquely associated with one of the brake valve coils. By means of control of an operational amplifier (16) and dual-stage current driver (18), the circuits (12, 14) each provide one-half of the current necessary for achieving brake valve control under normal operations. In the event that one of the coils (A, B) or circuits (12,14) fails, relays (56, 156) are provided for removing the failed circuit or coil from operation and allowing the remaining coil and circuit to carry the full operational load.

Abstract: An airborne spin dispensing apparatus (100,101) and method of dispensing a plurality of sub-units (60) such that the ground plane impact pattern of the plurality of sub-units substantially corresponds to a particular geometric ground target. An onboard microprocessor (24) which receives flight data (26) and a selected target data (28) also has a program store of sub-unit ejection sequences each of which corresponds to a particular target impact geometry. The microprocessor (24) selects an appropriate sub-unit ejection sequence in accordance with the flight and selected target data and effects a release of the sub-units (60) from the spinning apparatus such that their ground impact pattern substantially matches the geometry of the ground target.

Abstract: An airborne system (10) and method of dispensing a plurality of sub-units (22) such that the ground plane impact pattern of the plurality of sub-units (22) substantially corresponds to a particular geometric target area. An onboard control module (150) including a microprocessor (130) which receives flight data (138) and a selected target data (140) also has a program store of sub-unit ejection sequences (132) and a logic selection of sub-unit ejection velocities (134). The microprocessor (130) selects an appropriate sub-unit ejection sequence and individual sub-unit ejection velocity in accordance with the flight and selected target data and effects a release of the plurality of sub-units in a manner such that they disperse and impact in the pattern of the selected target.

Abstract: An apparatus (32) and technique for compensating for motion in an electro-optical camera system. An image system is maintained on an aircraft for generating an image of terrain while the aircraft is in flight. A high resolution linear array (24) generates an image from a field of view (30), while a rectangular array (26) generates a corresponding image on a periodic basis. The rectangular image serves as a reference for the pixels of the linear array for determining if features in the linear array have shifted or distorted. An error is generated corresponding to the differences between the linear array and the rectangular array, the linear array being corrected as a function of the error.

Abstract: The invention herein relates to a computer organization capable of rapidly processing extremely large volumes of data. A staging memory is provided having a main stager portion consisting of a large number of memory banks which are accessed in parallel to receive, store, and transfer data words simultaneous with each other. Substager portions interconnect with the main stager portion to match input and output data formats with the data format of the main stager portion. An address generator is coded for accessing the data banks for receiving or transferring the appropriate words. Input and output permutation networks arrange the lineal order of data into and out of the memory banks.

Abstract: This radar system makes it possible to collect complete stereo data in a single pass by utilizing an orbiting, side looking, bi-static, synthetic aperture radar. This system utilizes at least two orbiting spacecraft in synchronous parallel orbits with each other and separated by a tether. A transmitter transmits radar signals to a planet's surface which are reflected back and received by two receivers, one carried by each spacecraft. When the signals are combined, the layover produces a three dimensional picture in which vertical height information may be determined.