Abstract: A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method where the connector has a connector housing having a base side, a and pair of sidewalls upstanding from the base side that are spaced apart in relation to each other, and each of the housing sidewalls define at least one aperture through which optical signals can be transmitted into and out of the housing by an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, respectively, located in fixed positions outside the housing, and a unitary optical lens element is contained within the housing and is located between the housing apertures, wherein the optical lens is comprised of two segments optically bonded along confronting respective lens segment surfaces at an oblique angle effective to be able to transmit collimated light from the input fiber to the output fiber and reflect transmitted light reflected back from the output fiber to a photodetector integrally attached to the lens element and positioned to receive light reflected from the confronting resp

Abstract: A system such as for sensing strain or temperature of an aircraft and for transmitting information in communication systems. A sensor array includes a first light responsive Bragg grating sensor having a first operating bandwidth and a second light responsive Bragg grating sensor having a second operating bandwidth. Each sensor modifies light provided to it at a wavelength indicative of changes in strain or temperature. The second sensor operates within a bandwidth which is different from the operating bandwidth of the first sensor. A tunable light source such as an LED and tunable etalon provides light for illuminating the first and second sensors, the provided light having a wavelength which varies within a band including the first and second bandwidths. A detecting circuit provides signals representative of light modified by the first and second sensors. A processor processes the representative signals to determine the strain and/or temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solvent composition that is environmentally safe and has a palatable odor. The solvent composition can be used in numerous applications such as cleaning metal and non-metal surfaces and as a thinning agent. The solvent composition of the invention includes acetone, methyl propyl ketone, isopropyl alcohol, and n-butyl acetate; includes less than 3% methyl isobutyl ketone; and is substantially free of other undesirable chemicals such as methylene chloride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene. The present invention also includes a method of cleaning a metal or non-metal surface and thinning a composition using the solvent composition of the invention.

Abstract: System and method for photodynamic therapy using a phased array Raman laser amplifier including a beam generator for generating a fundamental laser beam and a Raman seed frequency laser beam, and a fiber optic laser amplifier array for forming a diffraction limited output laser beam at the Raman seed frequency by amplifying the fundamental laser beam to a power level corresponding to the Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) threshold to thereby pump the SRS process and provide Raman gain to the Raman seed frequency laser beam.

Abstract: Radiant energy sensor is protected from severe environments with a radiant energy sensor assembly that off-sets the sensor from the environment. The sensor assembly includes a radiant energy sensor, a pair of reflective walls facing one another, one of the walls having a transmissive aperture for receiving radiant energy over a wide angle of incidence, an entry, the other wall having a transmissive aperture for passing energy from behind the wall to the sensor, an exit, with the walls having the reflection characteristics such that the radiant energy entering the entry aperture at any angle is always reflected to the exit aperture. The reflective walls may be paraboloids or Fresnel surfaces in geometry.

Abstract: Native code for a CNC stitching machine is generated by generating a geometry model of a preform; generating tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including stitching instructions for making stitches; and generating additional instructions indicating thickness values. The thickness values are obtained from a lookup table. When the stitching machine runs the native code, it accesses a lookup table to determine a thread tension value corresponding to the thickness value. The stitching machine accesses another lookup table to determine a thread path geometry value corresponding to the thickness value.

Abstract: Pattern transfer process for manufacturing a patterned resistive sheet with reduced process steps, and the resulting article of manufacture.

Abstract: A visual display system, such as a flight simulation system, includes a number of display screens and a number of associated video projectors which project predetermined video images on the display screens in response to control signals provided by an operator. In one embodiment, the display screens are circumscribed by an imaginary sphere having a predetermined radius and centered about the design eye of the visual display system. The design eye is generally positioned in a predetermined fixed relation to the operator such that the distortion of the displayed video image is reduced. In another embodiment, the video projectors are mounted in a linear side-by-side relationship on a rear side of the display screens, thereby reducing the overall size of the visual display system.

Abstract: An air vehicle landing/takeoff area mapping system includes a plurality of transmitters located in the landing/takeoff area with each transmitter propagating a signal having a signal frequency indicative of the transmitter location. A receiver is located on the air vehicle and is capable of scanning the landing/takeoff area. The receiver processes a received transmitter signal to produce an output based on the received transmitter signal frequency. Control logic processes a sequence of receiver outputs to produce an image of the landing/takeoff area on a display device located within the air vehicle to assist a pilot during landings and takeoffs of the air vehicle under either clear or inclement weather conditions and/or either day time or night time visibility.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a dynamic nonlinear plant. An input signal controls the plant and an output signal represents a state of the plant in response to the received input signal. A memory stores input and output signals corresponding to m consecutive past states of the plant. A computer neural network predicts a set of future output states representative of the output signal corresponding to the next n consecutive future states of the plant in response to a set of trial control inputs. The trial control inputs represent the input signal corresponding to the next n consecutive future states of the plant. The neural network predicts the future output states based on the past input and output signals and the future trial control inputs. A processor generates the trial control inputs and determines a performance index, indicative of plant performance over time in response to the trial control inputs, as a function of the future output states.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the concentration level of a gas in a monitored environment, e.g., for monitoring the concentration level of a fire suppression agent in the engine bay and/or cargo bay of an aircraft. The system includes a light source for producing source light, an optical system that directs the source light along a plurality of different optical paths having different respective optical path lengths, and a plurality of photodectors that are positioned to receive the source light that traverses different respective ones of the plurality of different optical path lengths, and which produce a plurality of output signals indicative of the concentration level of the gas in the monitored environment. In the preferred embodiment, the system further includes a narrow band spectral filter positioned between the light source and each photodetector, wherein the narrow band spectral filter has a narrow band pass that is matched to a selected optical absorption wavelength of the gas.

Abstract: A new approach for software debugging, verification and validation is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a knowledge-based reasoning approach to build a functional model of the software code for identifying and isolating failures in the software code. The knowledge-based reasoning approach of the present invention uses the software design, which is preferably based upon a flow chart or block diagram representation of the software functionality, to build the functional model. The software block diagram contributes to the functional model by defining the inputs and outputs of the various blocks of code, as well as defining data interconnections between the various blocks of code. In accordance with a method of the present invention, test points are strategically inserted throughout the code, and each test point is associated with a corresponding block of code. Expected values of the test points for an expected proper-operation execution of the computer program are generated.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant data processing system includes first and second microcircuits in a master/checker configuration. The first and second microcircuits perform identical transforming operations on identical data to generate respective outputs. The internal state of each microcircuit is encoded to a short code word and communicated to an external comparator. The comparator compares the encoded internal state data of the first and second microcircuits to determine if an error has occurred. Low error detection latency may be realized due to increased frequency of error detection, with minimal hardware and performance overhead.

Abstract: A method for reducing material property degradation during friction stir welding. More specifically, the method includes the steps of solution heat treating first and second structural members at a first predetermined temperature schedule. The first and second structural members are then quenched to a predetermined temperature at which the structural members are in a nonequilibrium state and have an incomplete temper. The first structural member is then positioned adjacent to the second structural member, thereby defining an interface therebetween. Thereafter, the first and second structural members are joined to form a structural assembly by friction stir welding the material along the interface prior to precipitation heat treating the structural assembly. The structural assembly is then aged, such as by precipitation heat treating, at a second predetermined temperature schedule to stabilize the material properties of the resulting structural assembly, thereby completing the temper of the material.

Abstract: A low-density, syntactic foam material is provided according to the invention. The syntactic foam material is prepared by mixing together a plurality of microballoons and a finely divided solid thermosetting resin. Fibers are also preferably incorporated into the material during processing to impart specific properties. The mixture is heated to allow the thermosetting resin to flow and wet the microballoons in the mixture. The mixture is then cured to set and crosslink the thermosetting resin to form the syntactic foam of the invention. The syntactic foam material has highly uniform properties and can be used in aerospace applications.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for aligning an optical fiber with an optoelectronic device inside an optoelectronic package using an internal automated micro-aligner and internal solder heater means for locking the optical fiber in a precisely aligned position with the optoelectronic device.

Abstract: The invention relates as a whole to composite structures and may be used, in particular, in the manufacture of bodies or compartments of flying vehicles used in rocketry and aeronautics.A composite shell shaped as a body of revolution comprises a load-bearing framework of a multilayer structure consisting of intersecting spiral and annular strips arranged at intervals and forming cross nodes and stiffening ribs therebetween, an outer load-bearing shell, fine-cellular layers consisting of spiral and annular strips therebetween, surrounding the stiffening ribs of the framework in the directions thereof, and having the width exceeding the width of the strips in the ribs and forming their bearing flanges. The spiral and annular strips of the framework and of the fine-cellular layers, and the outer load-bearing shell are made of unidirectional fibers and a polymer binder.

Abstract: A visual display system for producing a continuous far-focused virtual image according to the present invention includes a number of adjacent video image generation and display modules. Each module includes an image generator that generates a video image representative of a portion of a composite display image displayed on a video display. The visual display system also includes a number of optical viewing lenses associated with each video image generation and display modules and positioned between the operator and the video display. The lenses restrict the operator's field of view such that the operator views only a portion of the active display area of the video displays. The lenses of adjacent modules are joined together along their edges to form an enclosure partially surrounding the operator so that the operator views the composite display image displayed on the video displays through the lenses and perceives the composite display image as a continuous far-focused virtual image.

Abstract: The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for aiming an x-ray system at the surface of a target object, such that the x-ray beam will strike the surface of the target object at a predetermined angle and direction. A laser is positioned on the surface of the target object, such that the linear beam of light emitted from the laser forms an angle with respect to the surface of the target object corresponding to the predetermined angle and direction at which the x-ray beam is desired to strike the surface of the target object. A mirror is placed on the lens of the x-ray tube. The x-ray lens and the object are then configured such that the laser beam strikes the mirror and is reflected back to the point of origin. The x-ray device is thus aimed such that, when energized, the x-ray beam will strike the surface of the target object at the predetermined angle and direction.

Abstract: A method for producing a spatially stratified Optical System includes the steps of a) selecting a suitable, spatially stratified profile of index of refraction to achieve an optical system having a desired performance; b) selecting an atomic/molecular species having a suitable index of refraction in a desired operational wavelength band; c) forming sub-micron pellets of the species; and d) placing the pellets into a host material while controlling the density of the placement. The density is varied to achieve a local index of refraction value for the optical system in accordance with the selected stratified profile. The wavelength regime the optical system is designed for is much greater than the characteristic scale of stratification, which in turn is much greater than the spatial size of the pellets. The optical system is much greater than the wavelengths in the wavelength regime.