Abstract: Strong narrowband signals interfering with the reception of a desired broadband signal in systems such as spread spectrum systems are continuously suppressed by converting the received signal to a frequency-domain representation thereof wherein strong narrowband interference components appear as strong impulse components. These impulsive components are blanked or clipped at a level that is a function of the average magnitude of the input signal. Resulting suppressed frequency-domain signals are reconverted to time-domain signals that are then available for further processing by conventional broadband signal receivers.

Abstract: An improved flight control system for initiating and thereafter controlling the automatic capture of a preselected altitude is described. At any point in the flight and in any autopilot pitch submode, the remaining time before an altitude capture is to commence is computed and used as a limiting signal such that the aircraft is precisely aligned with the commanded capture flight path when the capture maneuver commences thereby obviating mode to mode transients. The aircraft's altitude rate is continuously monitored during the capture maneuver and the flight path command is automatically altered between asymptotic and circular paths to assure that the acceleration normal to the flight path will not exceed a predetermined value while at the same time allowing a timely altitude capture.

Abstract: A surface acoustical wave (SAW) filter is provided by placing at least one pair resonator channels consisting of reflectors and input and output transducers on the surface of a suitable substrate, such as a piezo-electric crystal. One channel of the pair consists of an input transducer and an output transducer which are aligned in a path along which the SAW progresses. The two channels are identical except that the separation distance between the transducers and the reflectors, in one channel is slightly different than the corresponding distance in the other channel. This separation difference serves to broaden the passband for applications which require a broader passband than is obtainable with a single channel resonator filter. Differential detection of the SAW in one section with respect to the other channel is achieved by using a symetrically inverted output transducer, in one embodiment. In another embodiment an offset transducer is used to accomplish the differential sensing.

Abstract: An automatic baling machine for forming round bales and wrapping them with twine is provided with a microprocessor-controlled signal processing circuit for controlling movement of a bidirectional motor which drives a pair of twine tubes. Retract/extend switches are manually actuated by an operator to store in the signal processing circuit a sequence of control words which are subsequently executed to control movement of the twine tube drive motor. In addition to being connected to the input of the signal processing system, the retract/extend switch are connected in parallel with the signal processing circuit to actuate the twine tube motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing correlated clutter introduced in radar video by standard video enhancers. A differencing network provides the difference between an enhanced radar video signal and the previous enhanced radar video signal appropriately weighted. This difference is a video signal with decorrelated clutter.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing and measuring changes in inclination and providing a digital readout. By sensing pulse width changes rather than amplitude, the apparatus provides improved immunity to instability and environmental changes. A variable frequency scale factor oscillator allows choice of readout units. Any preset angle may be selected as a zero reference. The capability is provided to hold any reading displayed for any desired period of time. An overrange indicator is actuated when the linear range of the sensor has been exceeded. Digital output signals derived from the sensor are applied to gate an angle generator which is responsive to correction factor signals to adjust the digital count in accordance with stored offset data. The digital signal count is incremented or decremented in accordance with a signal representing the sign of inclination, derived from the sensor pulse widths and applied to gate the angle generator accordingly.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider for supporting a flying head on a magnetic disk has a plurality of rails extended longitudinally between the slider and the disk which provide the air bearing surface and define a channel parallel to the motion of the data track. A flexible beam is affixed to the leading edge of the channel providing a cantilever structure. A magnetic head is mounted on the free end of the cantilever. A pair of oppositely polarized piezoelectric crystals are mounted on the cantilever assembly. When energized by an electrical driving source, the cantilever beam is flexed upwards or downwards thereby changing the distance of the magnetic head from the disk. A capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to the magnetic head for sensing the height of the head above the data track. The output of the sensor is fed to the driving source and energizes the piezoelectric crystals in the polarity desired for the corresponding deflection of the cantilever structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin magnetic film having improved magnetoresistive readout characteristics as a binary memory device is disclosed. The film is initially formed from a metal vapor as a series of discrete grains upon a substrate surface that is heated to approximately 300.degree. C. Upon continued growth of the film, the grains merge at their boundaries forming a continuous thin film, the grain boundary heights of which, e.g., 1000 .ANG., are substantially greater than the thickness, e.g., 320 .ANG., of the eventual thin magnetizable film. The thin film is then rotated while being ion milled at an oblique angle to a substantially uniform film thickness of e.g. 320 .ANG..

Abstract: A fluid sphere gyroscope is used as the north-seeking sensing element in a gyrocompass. A sensor responsive to angular deviation of the gyroscope from the horizontal provides a tilt signal which is used to energize heating elements located along the independent spin axis of a rotating fluid mass. Application of a thermal gradient along the spin axis of the fluid mass causes a controlled precession of the gyroscope, thereby compensating for bias and acceleration sensitive drift errors and precessing the gyroscope about a vertical axis in a controlled manner. Rotary transformers permit inductive coupling of the heating elements to the tilt signal and to a power source with minimal disturbing torques.

Abstract: During a transition of a VTOL aircraft such as a helicopter, from one altitude held without its ground effect zone to another to be held within its ground effect zone, or vice versa, a collective stick position synchronizer which can memorize the proper trim condition at the previous altitude in conjunction with the stick force sensor out-of-detent logic and a low vertical speed sensor, together constituting a ground effect zone detector, is used to drive the collective stick trim actuator in a direction which relieves any force being exerted by the pilot in order to maintain the new commanded altitude.

Abstract: A full time three-cue (roll control, pitch control and collective control) for helicopters flight director and/or autopilot wherein the collective control cue is automatically activated when airspeed is below a predetermined low value or above such value when path errors naturally or manually produced, or airspeed errors exceed predetermined values in magnitude or time.

Abstract: An automatic round or roll baler includes a microprocessor controlled signal processing circuit for controlling the wrapping of bales in a predetermined wrapping pattern. The wrapping pattern is generated by selectively actuating switches to produce a wrap sequence table containing control words. The control words are subsequently accessed in sequence to control the application of control signals to a motor which drives a twine dispensing mechanism. The last control word stored in the sequence table includes a "home" code which causes the motor to be driven in a direction toward a home position. A home position switch is provided for sensing when the twine dispensing mechanism is in the home position. In response to the home code the twine dispensing mechanism is driven toward the home position until the home switch is actuated at which time the drive to the twine dispensing mechanism is terminated. This insures that each bale wrapping sequence begins with the twine dispensing mechanism in the home position.

Abstract: A lockable compliant end effector apparatus is useful with a robotic arm for the automated assembly of electronic equipment. The end effector includes a main body portion having first and second ends. A socket is formed in the first end. A first fluid passageway connects the socket with the second end of the main body portion. A member is mounted for multi-directional movement in the socket. The member is retainable in a stationary position relative to the socket and has a second fluid passageway formed therethrough. The second passageway has a first end adjacent the first passageway and a second end adjacent the first end of the main body. A sealing member is connected to the mounted member adjacent the second end of the second passageway. The end effector retains an electronic component in original orientation from a pickup point to an insertion point.

Abstract: A high performance pipelined virtual first-in first-out stack structure has a data stack portion and a split control stack portion. The stack structure is intended for use in a pipelined high performance storage unit that can pipeline up to R input requests without having received an acknowledge that a request has been honored. The data stack incorporates R+1 data stack registers to provide over-write protection to ensure that at least R data stack registers are protected from over-write. The split control stack utilizes even address and odd address stack registers. Memory bank request signals are stored sequentially and alternately between the even address and odd address stack registers.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining an angle of incidence of a received signal utilizes two widely spaced interferometers with equal length crossing baselines. The time differential of a signal arrival between the two elements of each interferometer is established and the difference between the two time differentials is determined. Multiplying this difference by a predetermined constant provides the desired angle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of offset correction which can be applied to control systems, primarily phase-locked-loop systems, and which permits sampling of the error signals for use as an auxiliary input to the system in order to center the error signal around zero.

Abstract: The problem of re-establishment of initial precision registration of end-effectors used in automatic robotic assembly following failed insertion attempts is avoided due to a positive registration compliant apparatus having a support member including a bearing mount spaced apart from a shaped seat. A holder for holding and mounting electronic components is movably mounted on the support member and extends through the bearing mount. The holder has a portion correspondingly shaped for mating engagement with the shaped seat. The holder is resiliently urged into engagement with the seat. A rotation limiter is provided for limiting rotation of the holder relative to the support.

Abstract: In a cache/disk sybsystem employing the post-store technique, each file is assigned a file number. The file number is an address in a directory on a disk, this address containing pointers to the physical disk space assigned to that file. During normal operation of the subsystem a device number and address are utilized to transfer written-to segments of data from a cache store to a disk. If a failure occurs which prevents the cache-to-disk transfer of a segment of data, a storage control unit forms a status word and a sense message. The sense message includes the file number and information defining the fault. A host processor is then notified that the status word is available. The host processor obtains the status word and indexes into a status action branch table. The branch table entry directs the host processor to issue a Sense I/O command to obtain from the storage control unit the sense message identifying the fault.

Abstract: In a type of manure spreader including an auger rotatably mounted in a tank and an expeller disposed adjacent an opening in the tank to discharge manure from the tank, a material breakup device is pivotally mounted on a sidewall of the tank. The material breakup device is movable toward the auger to break up manure that is bridged above the auger. In operation, the material breakup device moves between an upper position where it is adjacent a sidewall of the tank and a lower position where it is adjacent the auger.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a roll baler having upper and lower bale forming devices that cooperate with each other to define a bale starting zone. The upper bale forming device extends around a drive member and around an indexing guide member which has a home position for disposing the upper bale forming device proximate to the lower bale forming device at the rear of the bale starting zone. The drive member is engaged with a power source such as a tractor PTO to move the upper bale forming device in a direction to start a roll bale in the bale starting zone. When the roll bale reaches a predetermined diameter, the indexing guide member is moved in a substantially circular path of travel generally about the periphery of the roll bale. The drive member is disengaged from the power source when the indexing guide member has moved to another position. Subsequently, the drive member is reengaged with the power source when the indexing guide member has returned to its home position.