Abstract: A system (4) for use in an automobile (2) for the detection of objects comprising: a light source (6); a plurality of spaced transmitter ports (10, 12) for respectively transmitting light to a plurality of fields of illumination (18, 20); an optical fiber coupling the light source to the transmitter ports; a plurality of receiver ports (10, 12) embracing respectively a plurality of fields of reception (34, 36) each having an area of overlap (38, 40, 42, 44) with each of the plurality of fields of illumination so as to receive light transmitted from one of the transmitter ports and reflected by an object present in an area of overlap; a receiver (22) for receiving light and for producing a signal representative thereof; an optical fiber (24) coupling the receiver ports to the receiver; and processing means (52) for sequentially activating each of the transmitter ports with each of the receiver ports, and for processing the signal produced by the receiver in response to each activation to detect the presence of

Abstract: An off-premises i.e. a negative or positive trap, jamming cable television or interdiction system, includes a picture carried controlled automatic gain control circuit. A broadband television signal output of a variable gain device is distributed by a radio frequency signal splitter to a number of subscribers. A portion of the output of the variable gain device comprising at least two contiguous television channels is passed to a power level detector. A detected power level is compared with a predetermined power level reference for adjusting the gain of the variable gain device. The predetermined power level reference is set to equal the attenuation between the off-premises equipment and the subscriber premises plus the desired level at the entrance to the subscriber's premises. The power level of a jamming or interdicting signal for denying access to unauthorized television programs is set to fall within a predetermined range of power levels related to the predetermined power level reference.

Abstract: An imaging device arrangement comprises infra-red radiation detector elements (10) and signal-processing circuitry including at least one charge-transfer line (30). The detector elements (10) are preferably cadmium mercury telluride photodiodes formed in a common body or body portion which is secured to a substrate (e.g. of silicon) comprising the charge-transfer line (30). Each detector element (10) is connected between an input connection (2,3) of the charge-transfer line (30) and a common electrical connection (4). At least one storage electrode (62) and at least one subtraction gate (63) are present at each input connection (2,3) for subtracting at least one portion (77) of the charge-signal so that only a portion (78) of the charge-signal from each detector element (10) is transferred along the charge-transfer line (30).

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a light source for producing a coherent beam of light. A beam splitter is provided for splitting the beam of light into a first, transmitted beam segment and a second, local oscillator beam. A mechanism is provided for frequency shifting the frequency of one or both beam segments and for directing the first beam segment to a target. A remote target for scattering the first beam is provided. A mechanism is provided for combining the scattered first beam segment returning from the target and the second beam segment into a combined beam, and detecting the combined beam. A detector is operative to generate a signal indicative of the crosswind along the path of the directed first beam segment. A mechanism for determining the wind speed normal to the path from the generated signal is also provided.

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope output optics detection system, including a rotational sensing system and cavity length control system for a multioscillator ring laser gyroscope, is disclosed herein that can operate with a simple upright symmetric optics mechanism, where the required signal separation is performed fully electronically. In a preferred embodiment, signal separation circuitry is provided which performs a 90.degree. or .pi./2 radians phase shift to one of a set of heterodyned signals in order to extract the sagnac effect modulated Faraday frequency signals W.sub.A and W.sub.B. In order to deal with the inherent problems of crosstalk present in a Faraday biased system, alternative signal separation schemes suggest the use of a 45.degree. or .pi./4 radians phase shift, as well as a 60.degree. or .pi./3 radians phase shift. Complementary cavity length control schemes are presented in both fixed component and digitally controlled formats.

Abstract: A passive ring resonator gyroscope comprising a single piece body having an integral first and second resonator cavity. The first resonator cavity contains a single frequency laser means to provide a sharply tuned single frequency light source to the second resonator cavity. The single frequency light source is sharply tuned and is split to form first and second sources. The second resonator cavity is a passive high Q cavity having a closed second optical path. The two light sources are fed to the second resonator and propagate as CW and CCW beams within the second resonator. A first servo tunes the frequency of the linear laser to the resonance peak of the CW beam in the second resonator. A second servo means is provided to shift the frequency of the CCW beam to its resonance peak. By converting both servo error outputs into frequency, the relative frequency difference between the CW and CCW beams are recorded as the frequency shift in response to the body rate rotation about the sensitive axis.

Abstract: An optical imaging system includes an array of small aperture subtelescopes each with heterodyne detectors. The array detects the amplitude and phase of light waves emanating from a scene under observation before they are combined into an image. The beam combining and interfering functions are performed after detection by the use of novel electronic signal processsing. Large-aperture resolution is synthesized by electronically detecting and correcting phase errors without optical phase compensating components. Parallel processing and atmospheric turbulence compensation are achieved. The system images laser illuminated or naturally illuminated targets as well as stationary or moving targets. The heterodyne detectors can also achieve similar results when arranged in a pupil plane array located behind a single large aperture telescope.

Abstract: A first or ranging light beam which functions as a carrier is amplitude modulated with a first radio frequency f.sub.1 ; a second amplitude modulated light beam source functions as a local signal at a frequency f.sub.2 for a heterodyne conversion of the first frequency f.sub.1 ; and an electro-optical detector receives both modulated light beams and functions as a mixer. Electro-optical heterodyning of the modulations on the ranging and local source light beams is accomplished by mixing RF modulations on the first light beam with RF modulation on the second light beam in the electro-optical detector to thereby produce a resultant, relatively lower difference frequency (f.sub.1 -f.sub.2) that is more readily processed by available electronic components. Distance measurement is represented by a phase shift of the relative low frequency difference of the heterodyned modulation signals when compared to a reference, unshifted phase of the same frequency.

Abstract: Differential phase measurement techniques and apparatus for accurately loing unknown transmitters over great distances at radio frequencies below HF. A network of separated, time- and phase-synchronized, pairs of receiving stations having vertical whip antennas and having a known base-line geometry with respect to each other are used to accurately measure VLF phase differentials. The measured phase differences are compared against theoretical calculated values to provide highly accurate transmitter location information.

Abstract: An electromagnetic assembly includes a gimbal pivotally mounting an electromagnetic device to a housing, a magnetic body secured to the electromagnetic device producing a magnetic field coaxial with a first orthogonal axis; coils secured to the housing so as to be magnetically coupled to the magnetic body and oriented such that current through them produces a magnetic field along second and third orthogonal axes, respectively; and a current source for applying electrical current to the coils such that the magnetic fields produced thereby, interacting with the magnetic field produced by the magnetic body, produce a torque controlling the position of the electromagnetic device with respect to the second and third orthogonal axes.

Abstract: A focus spot size controller for a variable depth triangulation ranging system, the ranging system including apparatus for emitting light beam to be focused onto an object, light sensitive apparatus, lens apparatus for imaging reflected light onto said light sensitive apparatus, and apparatus for calculating system geometry and range from signals received from the light sensitive apparatus. The present invention includes a focus spot size controller for receiving the light beam from the light beam emitting apparatus and for focusing the light beam into a focused spot on an object, the controller positioning the focused spot axially to achieve sufficient focus spot size for imaging.

Abstract: A detector of pulses of electromagnetic radiation, especially of laser pulses, comprising as sensor at least one cylindrical body of material translucent to the electromagnetic radiation having a capture window on its surface of revolution. The cylindrical body is provided with an internal metallization delimiting the cylindrical body in two parts subject to selective photodetection, to obtain a sensitivity in bearing and/or in elevation. The body is extended at one end by a non-diffusing transparent part, likewise traversed by the internal metallization. The extension is externally metallized and serves for the link with photodetectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring digital data between time-domain multiplexed communication links of a telephone system which forms part of a computer network. A time-domain multiplexed communication link interface unit for transferring digital data between a first channel on a first time-domain multiplexed communication link and a second channel on a second time-domain multiplexed communication link of a multipoint communication network is disclosed. The multipoint communication network includes a plurality of network units with at least two of the network units comprising said time-domain multiplexed communication link interface units. The network units are coupled to telephone system communication links. The network units transmit and receive digital data in a frame mode in which the data is organized into frames on the communication links.

Abstract: An optical gauging apparatus utilizing a light projected toward an object to be gauged and reflected on the object to gauge a distance to the object or an amount of change occurring in the object. The gauging apparatus includes light projecting elements adapted to project two light beams from first and second light sources or split from the light of a single light source toward the object so that these two light beams provide the object with respective different luminance characteristics thereon, a light receiving member adapted to receive the light reflected on the object, and a signal processor adapted to calculate a ratio of different luminances for the two light beams from the ouptut of the light receiving member and thereby to output an information on the gauged result.

Abstract: A novel falling cylinder extensional rheometer is provided for measuring elongational viscosity of a polymeric solution at stretch rates comparable to those associated with aerodynamic liquid breakup and which is suitable with toxic liquids. The rheometer consists of an upper cylinder and a lower cylinder, both vertically arranged or oriented and having their longitudinal axes coincidental. A small quantity of liquid is inserted between the end of the two cylinders that are vertically spaced one above the other. The upper cylinder is held fixed while the lower cylinder rests initially on top of an air cylinder piston. When the piston is activated, it quickly retracts downwardly allowing the lower cylinder to fall and stretch the liquid sample adhering between the ends of the upper and lower cylinders. A high speed camera is used to photograph the falling lower cylinder and the ligament stretching.

Abstract: A signal classifier system is disclosed that includes an on-line apparatus for monitoring various electrical signal inputs derived from vibration signals without data interruption, and providing an output from each of several levels of classifications. Classification is by a three-level classification algorithm. A first level of classification provides for the independent processing without structural or operational information of each signal input. The output of the first level is stored according to a strain gauge in a spatial file. The second level of classification provides a combination of the output of the spatial file with structural information (such as compressor structural information) and on-line operational information to provide an output indicative of event probabilities which are stored.

Abstract: In protective coveralls with a head covering with a transparent permanent lens over the face area, a separate removable lens cover attached over the permanent lens which is adapted for very rapid removal in situations when the lens cover is clouded by a foreign material.

Abstract: Methods for accurately measuring the range between two platforms with relative motion between them using a stable clock located on each platform. A series of pulses are sent from one platform to the other at times known to each platform by prearrangement, the arrival times measured, and statistical methods used to calculate a correction from the clocks to bring them into greater synchronization, thus allowing highly accurate determination of the range between the two platforms.

Abstract: A sensor for a rocket system which provides information of rate of separation of stages after separation is desirable for telemetry. A simple sensor consists of a coil of wire on one body with the free end of the wire attached to another separating body. The wire has magnetic pulses pre-recorded on it. As the wire uncoils during separation the pulses on the wire are detected by a coil. The pulse signals are sent to the telemetry.

Abstract: X-rays are created from a pulsed laser using a gaseous medium by focusing a aser pulse to a focal point in a gaseous medium causing a laser induced plasma in the gas which plasma emits x-rays.