Abstract: The COPA accelerometer utilizes a sensing body having a non-zero product of inertia to sense acceleration when spun or oscillated about the y'-axis of an x'-y'-z' Cartesian coordinate system. The sensing body is pivotally attached to a platform and pivots about an axis parallel to the z-axis of an x-y-z coordinate system fixed in the sensing body, the z-axis being in the x'-z' plane. An orientation sensor provides a measure of the average angle between the y-axis and the y'-axis. The orientation sensor contains a laser diode which illuminates a plurality of regions of a photodetector thereby causing photodetector regional currents to flow out of the photodetector.

Abstract: The invention relates to high power, spark induced breakdown spectroscopy (SIBS) detectors with controllable delay time and to spark induced breakdown spectroscopy plasma generators with dual electrodes with specific electrode material, both for use in methods and apparatuses for detecting spectral signatures of atomic emissions, (e.g., from heavy metals such as lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, antimony and beryllium and radioactive materials such as uranium, plutonium, thorium and technetium) for measuring, for example, atomic concentrations of samples such as vapors and airborne particulates.

Abstract: A surgical tray retains surgical instruments adjacent an operating area or surgical field. The surgical tray comprises a base portion, and outer wall, a compartment for retaining surgical instruments defined by the base portion and at least a portion of the outer wall, and a plurality of clips spaced apart along the outer surface of the outer wall for securing the surgical tray to a surgical drape adjacent the operating area. The compartment includes a plurality of dividing walls having grooves for separating and retaining surgical instruments to enable members of an operating team to quickly and easily grasp surgical instruments in the surgical tray.

Abstract: A solid state dye laser incorporating a polyacrylamide gelatin solid host is doped with a laser dye such as rhodamine 6G and pyrromethene 556. The host is aligned within a lasing cavity and is excited to fluorescence by a pumping laser such as a second harmonic Nd:YAG. A container made from pyrex or inorganic oxide glass can be used to encapsulate and protect the gel solid. The solid state dye host exhibits "self healing" after photobleaching due to dye migration within the encapsulated form.

Abstract: A spectrometer comprises a tunable interferometer for producing a monochromatic continuous image at an image plane and including two mirrors having substantially parallel surfaces and an adjustable spacing therebetween, a radiation detector located at the image plane for recording the image, a filter arrangement for allowing at least one predetermined range of wavelengths to pass to the detector, and a lens arrangement for collecting radiation and limiting radiation incident on the interferometer to an angle which is substantially perpendicular to the substantially parallel surfaces of the two mirrors.

Abstract: The invention comprises a mirrorless iodine laser having an elongated sealed iodine cell for both receiving and emitting laser energy. A pumping laser is used for projecting a laser beam into the sealed cell along its long axis in order to excite the iodine molecules within the cell and cause their release of laser energy. A heater is used for heating the sealed cell to a temperature that increases the amplified spontaneous emissions (ASE) of the iodine in the sealed cell when it is excited by the pumping laser.

Abstract: A multichannel FM subcarrier broadcast system is disclosed which enables the transmission of multiple independent signals by generating independent sidebands of suppressed carriers in the subcarrier band of an FM transmitting station. Transmitting and receiving apparatus is disclosed which employs phase shift networks to minimize interchannel distortion, thus allowing close spacing of adjacent sidebands.

Abstract: An oxygen-iodine laser system that includes a source of gaseous singlet delta oxygen O.sub.2 ('.DELTA.) and a source of gaseous iodine monochloride, ICl, that directs their respective gases to manifolds and then to a mixing reacting nozzle. The nozzle discharges the mixed gases into a lasing cavity. When mixed the ICl dissociates into atomic iodine, I, and atomic chlorine, Cl, in the presence of the excited oxygen. The atomic iodine is subsequently excited to I(.sup.2 p1/2) lasing state by the excited oxygen. The lasing cavity, which includes optical means for extracting radiation, includes exhaust ports connected to an exhaust system. The advantage of using ICl in the laser rather than conventional source of atomic iodine is that for a given temperature the operating pressure of the laser can be higher without encountering efficiency reducing condensation of the iodine.

Abstract: This invention comprises an optically pumped iodine monofluoride laser operating on the B.sup.3 .pi.(0.sup.+).fwdarw.X.sup.2 .SIGMA..sup.+ system. Ground state IF was produced by the reaction between I.sub.2 and F.sub.2 in an optical cavity which was subsequently optically pumped with a high energy, broadband dye laser to produce lasing energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for switching kilovoltages in times of the order of one nanosecond or less, using optical radiation with energy input 10.sup.-7 Joules, applied to a cryogenically cooled, suitably doped block of semiconductor material that is positioned across an electrical gap.

Abstract: A halogen mass flow rate detection system having an absorption cell through which a halogen entrained inert gas can be passed. An electromagnetic beam of preselected wavelength in the bound-continuum absorption region is passed through the cell while the halogen entrained inert gas is passed therethrough and also while only an inert gas is passed through the cell. By measuring the intensity of the beam passing through the absorption cell, molecular absorption can be utilized for determining the concentration and, therefore, the mass flow rate of the halogen passing through the absorption cell. By incorporating the halogen mass flow rate detection system in an iodine/oxygen chemical laser, for example, the mass flow rate of the iodine into the resonant cavity of the laser can be simply, accurately and reliably ascertained.

Abstract: A security terminal for use with a two-way interactive cable system. The security terminal develops alarm and supervisory signals, and controls their transmission over the cable when polled by a central station. The terminal discriminates between four different types of alarm condition (burglary, fire, medical and general emergency), and transmits respective coded signals over the cable, or over a switched telephone network if cable transmission is not successful. To further insure that alarm signals are properly transmitted in the event of a cable outage, the terminal responds to a cable-sent test command from the central station by causing the dialer to dial the central station over the switched telephone network; in this way, the dialer mechanism can be tested periodically to insure that it will be operative if needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually analyzing gaseous flow fields. A vaporous substance that fluoresces when irradiated by a particular laser beam is injected into a structure containing a flowing gas in a manner such that a uniform dispersion of the vaporous substance throughout the gas flow is achieved. The beam from a pump laser in optical communication with the gas flow pumps the ground state of the vaporous substance to an excited state and causes the vaporous substance to fluoresce in the area illuminated by the beam, thus providing a visual indication of the pattern of gas flow in the structure.

Abstract: An optically pumped atomic iodine laser with a lasing cavity formed by a sealed cell containing iodine vapor as the lasing medium. A tunable dye laser having an output wavelength in the 493-501 nm range is oriented so that its beam is directed into the lasing cavity. This pumps the iodine vapor and results in its dissociation into an atomic iodine medium that lases at 1.315 microns. An optical cavity is formed by two mirrors mounted around the sealed cell on the optical axis of the lasing cavity in a substantially confocal configuration. The two mirrors are more than 99.9% reflective of radiation emitted by the lasing iodine vapor, but pass more than 80% of the radiation from the dye laser. A total reflector to radiation from the dye laser is positioned outside the optical cavity to reflect radiation from the dye laser back through the lasing cavity. Mode matching lenses are mounted between the dye laser and the sealed cell to shape the dye laser beam to the approximate mode shape of the lasing cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for closed loop testing of first and second modulators and demodulators from the modulated signal side of the first modulator and first demodulator. During ordinary communication, the first modulator and second demodulator are connected in series and the first demodulator and the second modulator are connected in series. In response to each test initiate signal, a loop is established between the second modulator and the second demodulator on their modulated signal side. Upon reception of some test initiate signals, a loop is established between the first modulator and first demodulator on their demodulated side and they are disconnected from the second demodulator and second modulator.

Abstract: A data communication system is described in which dial access control signals such as RING, DATA SET READY, DATA TERMINAL READY, CARRIER DETECT, and OUT OF SERVICE are transmitted between a central processing unit (CPU) and remote terminals in the form of frequency-modulated signals. A special frequency signal is transmitted from a remote terminal whenever a RING or DATA SET READY control signal is present and a CARRIER DETECT signal is not. Preferably, this special frequency is midway between the center frequency used for data communication and the frequency of either the MARK or the SPACE signal. Upon reception, this special frequency signal is processed in a particular fashion to generate signals comparable to the RING or DATA SET READY signals of the prior art. DATA TERMINAL READY and CARRIER DETECT control signals are transmitted as carrier signals and the OUT OF SERVICE signal is transmitted as a center frequency signal.