Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fiber optical loop for conducting a first and a second pulse having a corresponding first and second wavelength, a first splitter for separating the first and second light pulses in the optical loop into a first and second light path to introduce a predetermined time delay between the first and second light pulses, a coupler for tapping a replica of the pair of light pulses from the loop, an auto-correlation module, coupled to the coupler, for correlating the replica of the pair of light pulses with each other to produce a set of data points comprising a plurality of multiplied and correlated pair of pulses and a transform module, coupled to the auto-correlation module, for transforming the data points into a channelized frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A method and system for image processing comprising an opening for entrance of light for forming an image by the system; at least one optical element through which the light passes; a variable aperture operatively associated with the at least one optical element placed in the optical train at an image plane and comprising a plurality of settings comprising first mask settings for shielding portions of the light and second mask settings for selectively masking portions of the light that pass through the first mask settings; an imager, the at least one processor being operatively connected to the variable aperture and imager for controlling the passage of the light through the variable aperture by selecting one of plurality of first mask settings and associated second mask settings, obtaining image results using the settings, comparing image results obtained by the respective mask settings, and determining the optimal first mask setting.

Abstract: A method for forming a device having nanopillar and cap structures on a substrate in which the substrate is first coated with a first resist having a first exposure dose to electron beam radiation, and that after coating the first resist with a second resist having a second exposure dose less than the first resist. Electron beam lithography is then used sequentially to form the nanopillars and cap structures or, alternatively, a template for the nanopillar and cap structures.

Abstract: Provided among other things is an electrical device comprising: a first component that is a semiconductor or an electrical conductor; a second component that is an electrical conductor; and a strong, heat stable junction there between including an intermetallic bond formed of: substantially (a) indium (In), tin (Sn) or a mixture thereof, and (b) substantially nickel (Ni). The junction can have an electrical contact resistance that is small compared to the resistance of the electrical device.

Abstract: An improved method and system for removing time-varying Doppler shifts and the effects of turbulence from data comprising at least one processor operating to estimate the average instantaneous frequency; reduce or remove noise from the state space variables estimates describing the frequency of the target; compensate for the motion of the target to obtain motion compensated data and increase the coherency of the data, and reduce or remove the noise from the state space variables describing the frequency of the target using a filter or smoother. Alternately, the method and system may comprise at least one processor operating to estimate the average instantaneous frequency of the first harmonic of a moving target; the average instantaneous frequency being inputted into an error reduction subroutine; using state space estimates of the frequency, calculating a time warping to remove the effect of the Doppler shift; and focusing the data using a modified PGA.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting targets comprising at least one first receiver for receiving radiation, the radiation comprises beams of radiation spaced horizontally; at least one second receiver for receiving radiation, the radiation comprises beams of radiation spaced horizontally and vertically such that the beams of radiation received by the second receiver travel through different predetermined heights from the horizontal plane; at least one processor for receiving data from the first and second receivers, the at least one receiver operating to locate a target passing in the vicinity of the first and second receivers and determine the height of the target based upon the recordation of certain of the beams at a predetermined heights relative to the horizontal plane and the width of a target based upon the horizontal spacing of the beams.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods of autonomously self-righting a maneuverable robot. In one embodiment, an autonomous method for self-righting a maneuverable robot to affect recovery from an overturned state to its nominal upright configuration may include: defining a convex hull and center of mass of each link of the robot; determining the convex hull and overall robot center of mass for each joint configuration of the robot; analyzing each convex hull face to determine its stability or instability; grouping continuously stable orientations of the robot and joint configurations together defining nodes and transitions there between; assigning a cost to transitions between nodes; computing an overall cost for each potential set of transition costs resulting in achievement of the goal; and determining a sequence of one or more actions to self-right the robot such that the sequence of actions minimizes the overall cost of self-righting the robot.

Abstract: Embodiments of present invention are directed to near infrared (IR) laser-induced vibrational absorption systems and methods for material detection. According to one embodiment, a system for detecting materials may include: at least one laser configured to output light in the near IR spectrum so as to excite at least one vibrational overtone frequency, at least one combination band frequency, or a combination thereof, of a sample comprised of one or more of materials; a detector configured to detect a physical phenomenon of the sample in response to laser excitation; and an analyzer configured to the analyze the detected physical phenomenon and to identify the one or more materials based comparison of the detected signatures with known signatures of one more materials.

Abstract: A method and system for storing information in a nonvolatile memory comprising: a substrate comprising magnetic material operatively associated therewith, the magnetic material having at least one first portion of low permeability and at least one second portion of high permeability; a reader comprising a sensor for reading information by measuring the magnetic permeability for the at least one first portion and the at least one second portion; whereby the at least one first and second portions are subjected to a magnetic probe field from one of an external source, the sensor, or a combination of an external source and the sensor.

Abstract: High-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic systems, and methods of making, are presented herein. A ternary high-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic system includes: a solvent of copper (Cu) metal; that comprises 50 to 95 atomic percent (at. %) of the metallic system; a first solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system; and a second solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system. The internal grain size of the solvent is suppressed to no more than 250 nm at 98% of the melting point temperature of the solvent and the solute metals remain uniformly dispersed in the solvent at that temperature. Processes for forming these metallic systems include: subjecting powder metals to a high-energy milling process, and consolidating the resultant powder metal subjected to the milling to form a bulk material.

Abstract: A corrosion prevention and control composition and method comprises combining primarily two-component polyurethane foam formed by reacting polyols with an isocyanate compound, and a 2 to 10 percent by weight of either an organic or inorganic gas-phase corrosion inhibitor. The closed cell foam provides a barrier protection for the underlying corrodible surface, while the inhibitor protects the metal from the absorbed moisture vapor, thereby preventing corrosion from occurring at the foam/metal interface. The resulting foam and inhibitor composition maintains better adhesion to the underlying corrodible structure in corrosive environments.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for continuously sampling particles from air. In one embodiment, a system for continuously sampling particles from air may include: an airflow system configured to continuously draw air including airborne particles into the system; a photophoretic trap that uses photophoretic forces of a laser beam to trap one or more of the airborne particles from the drawn air; a measurement device configured to measure one or more properties of the trapped one or more airborne particles; and a controller configured to repeatedly trap, measure and release one or more airborne particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a layered piezoelectric actuator comprising: a first conductive layer and second conductive layer disposed on a first piezoelectric layer. The apparatus further comprising a third conductive layer and fourth conductive layer disposed on a second piezoelectric layer. Further, adhesive is disposed between the second conductive layer and third conductive layer, wherein the conductive layers further comprise a bending area and non-bending area. The non-bending area comprises the mounting area and connection area The connection area further comprises the connection points, opening to access the connection point of adjacent layer and overlap area, providing the stability/robustness of stack during the fabrication, adhering and exploitation of the bending actuator.

Abstract: A protective device for an imager which is contained within a housing and in which the imager is aligned with an opening in the housing. The protective device includes a cover which overlies the housing opening and is manually detachably secured to the housing by three or more resilient clips. A plurality of openings are formed through the cover to enable operation of the imager.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a frequency spectrum of an RF signal comprising a gate switch for generating a series of pulses from a laser of wavelength lambda modulated by an input RE signal, a first fiber optical loop for circulating a first percentage of a first pulse of the series of pulses from the gate switch, for a predetermined number of cycles n where each cycle takes time t1, a second fiber optical loop for conducting a second percentage of the first pulse for predetermined number of cycles “k”, where each cycle takes time t2, where t2*k=t1*n, a first switch with a first state for coupling the first pulse from the gate switch to a coupler, the coupler coupling the first pulse into the first fiber optical loop and tapping replicas of the pulse from the first fiber optical loop, and a second state for coupling the second percentage of the first pulse to the coupler to increase intensity of the tapped replica pulses, a processor for correlating the replicas of the pulse with each other to produce a set o

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multiple functions using nanotube threads comprising: a first nanotube thread and a second nanotube thread, the first nanotube thread and the second nanotube thread arranged to form a mesh, wherein the first nanotube thread further comprises a measurable invariant property and the second nanotube thread comprises a measurable variant property.

Abstract: A planar antenna comprising: a substrate, a resonant element generating an electromagnetic wave, a plurality of parallel, spaced apart conductive strips on the substrate, wherein conductive strips form collinear rows of at least two strips that are physically separated by a slot to guide the electromagnetic wave in a specific direction.

Abstract: A method and system for improving picture quality of images by providing a series of frames of a given region of interest.

Abstract: An electromagnetic bandgap structure comprising a progressive cascade of a plurality of patterns of cells. The cells of each pattern are dimensioned so that each pattern has a reflection phase response centered at a different, but closely-spaced, frequency compared with the reflection phase response of an adjacently positioned pattern, so that the combined reflection phase response of the plurality of patterns provides a continuous wideband operational range.

Abstract: A probe for use in Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM) to provide an image of a sample comprising: a magnetic field source adapted to orient the spin of the nuclei in a sample; a detector capable of detecting a magnetic field comprising an oscillator; at least one conductor substantially surrounding the oscillator for forming a RF antenna for transmitting a radio frequency electromagnetic field; whereby the at least one conductor transmits a radio frequency electromagnetic field that influences the nuclei in the sample, and whereby the detector detects how the nuclei are influenced through the oscillations of the oscillator to provide identification information concerning the content of the sample. Also included is a method for magnetic resonance force microscopy of a sample.