Abstract: A hot/cold therapy device includes a hot/cold pad assembly remotely connected to a control module. The hot/cold pad assembly includes a flexible pad filled with a convection (gel) or conduction (laminated metal, rubber impregnated with metal particles, etc.), or combination thereof (a conductive metal layer immersed in a gel). A thin plate of conductive material (copper) forms an extension of the cold plate of a thermoelectric heat pump, both of which are in thermal contact with the pad. An air cooled heat sink of the thermoelectric heat sink is mounted in a housing or shroud, the shroud is connected by a flexible umbilical line to the control module. The control module includes a fan for drawing or blowing air through the shroud to maintain the temperature difference between the heat sink and attached plate of the thermoelectric heat pump element.

Abstract: A transport apparatus, for hauling data storage media requiring environmental protection to and from a permanent storage site, includes a portable transport module and a transport cart. The transport module includes an insulated housing having guides for receiving shelves adapted to hold motion picture films, audio and video tapes, and photography film and provide ready access to and protection against movement during transit. A thermoelectric heat pump assembly heats or cools the interior of the insulated housing. A temperature sensor and a humidity sensor in the housing produce temperature and humidity measurement signals. Connectors are provided to connect power to the thermoelectric heat pump assembly and to output the temperature and humidity measuring signals. An ancillary power supply and control system are included to operate the transport module when separated from the transport cart.

Abstract: A refrigerator/food warmer includes an insulated food compartment and lid. A thermoelectric heat exchanger and air circulator are mounted in the lid with both a heatsink of the thermoelectric heat exchanger and an air impeller of the air circulator above and below the lid, respectively. The air impeller above the lid draws air through the corresponding heat sink for improving the temperature differential between opposing sides of the thermoelectric heat exchanger, and the air impeller below the lid forces air of the insulated housing through the corresponding heat sink for conditioning the air hot or cold, as desired, and circulating the conditioned air throughout the insulated housing.

Abstract: A radar system comprising an RF transmitter and receiver means for mounting in a moving carrier for transmitting RF energy and receiving RF energy returns and a non-rotating modulating radar reflector which has a lens means for focusing incident impinging RF energy onto a spot opposite the incident side and a plurality of solid state modulating radar reflectors positioned at the spot locations for selectively reflecting the RF energy and dissipating the RF energy for providing RF energy returns modulated with a lens identification code and frequencies for determining true ground speed, range, glide slope, and azimuth position.

Abstract: An analog signal conditioning and digitizing integrated circuit is provided having a multiplying digital to analog converter means (MDAC) including a gain capacitor array and an offset capacitor array, an operational amplifier, a feedback circuit including a feedback capacitor and a feedback clamping transistor, the operational amplifier and feedback circuit connected to the gain and offset capacitor arrays for setting the gain and the amount of offset correction of the MDAC, a correlated double sample circuit including a series capacitor connected to the operational amplifier and a series clamping transistor connected to the junction of the series capacitor and a buffer amplifier for sampling the noise to be substracted and/or nulled across the series capacitor, and an analog to digital converter operatively connected to the MDAC for digitizing the output of the MDAC.

Abstract: A coaxial wideband refractive optical system is disclosed which permits the use of high resolution optical sensors and transmitters in the visible energy wavelengths centered at 0.5 microns to the 12 microns wavelength in the infrared energy band. The system includes a front objective lens of wideband transmitting material such as, for example, ZnS, ZnSe, GaAs, TI-1173 glass or Ge followed by a beamsplitter and two doublet lenses. The front objective lens, which may be a positive lens, can have large color dispersion characteristics (aberrations) not normally associated with front lenses. A front, solid wideband objective lens is provided for receiving incoming electromagnetic energy radiating at about 0.5 micron to about 12 microns wavelength in the infrared for reducing the size of the beam diameter; thus, the size of the beamsplitter and the elements of the infrared and visible optical paths formed by the beam splitter may be reduced.

Abstract: An improved visible and near infrared imaging system, in a first embodiment, has an optical system, chopper, improved detector, improved first and second delta frames, display, and timing and control circuits. The detector is a parallel amplification type detector with the sense lines each including a total subtraction chain. Each parallel amplifier chain is split so that two branches exist, each containing sample and hold circuits and one with a gain of -C.sub.s /(C.sub.d +C.sub.s) times the other. The outputs of the amplifier chains are multiplexed to the first delta frame for storage by frame for summation with the outputs of the next frame for substantially reducing the reset noise. The summed output signals are multiplexed at a 2x rate into the second delta frame for removal of the pattern noise and multiplexed out at a 1x rate for display.

Abstract: A pressure-wave cycled, repetitively pulsed gas laser comprises a laser cavity having open first and second ends, a channel connecting the first and second sides of laser cavity and a lasing initiation mechanism including two electric discharge electrodes. The electrode discharge generates a shockwave and associated pressure ridge. The channel may be a conicoidical channel of which the first and second open sides of the laser cavity form, respectively, large and small entrances for the shock wave and pressure ridge whereby when the wavefronts meet in the channel the energy thereof cancels in proportion to the entry areas and the resultant wave proceeds to the small entrance where it is accelerated by the nozzle action of the small entrance, entrains non-disassociated gases and circulates the gases through the laser cavity.

Abstract: A computer vision apparatus for automatically inspecting printed labels is disclosed. A television type camera views a label under inspection and inputs an image thereof to a pattern recognition and analysis circuit for verification. A monitor with viewing screen, joystick and keypad is connected to the pattern recognition and analysis circuit for operator supervision of the system.

Abstract: An alloy for use in production of electromagnetic radiation detectors comprises (Hg,Cd,Zn,)Te for producing crystals with dislocation densities less than about 10.sup.4 cm.sup.-2. The elements are combined in accordance with the formula (Hg.sub.1-x-y Cd.sub.x Zn.sub.y)Te where x is about 10 to about 90 and y is about 0.6 to about 5.0 mole percent.

Abstract: A thermal energy imaging system includes an optical system for focusing thermal energy emanating from a scene on an array of bulk semiconductor photodetectors. The detector array outputs electrical signals representative of the impinging thermal energy, a video electronic circuit and a pseudo ac coupling circuit interconnecting the detector array and video electronic circuit for reducing the required dynamic range of the video electronic circuit. The pseudo ac coupling circuit includes first and second electrical paths to an sychronous clamp. The first path includes a switch to the synchronous clamp; the second clamp includes first and second integrator circuits and a switch; the switch is connected to the synchronous clamp. The synchronous clamp includes an amplifier, capacitor and grounded switch.

Abstract: In an integrated laser/FLIR rangefinder wherein the laser is injected into the visible optic path for transmission, a laser boresight mechanism comprises a light source for producing a light target, optic means for projecting the light target along the optical path of the laser beam, a switchable laser boresight retroreflector cube for switching into the visible optic path to reflect the light target back through the visible light optic path to the telescope field of view, and manual adjustment means for adjusting the optic means for aligning the light target and the recticle line of sight.

Abstract: A thermal energy detecting system includes a closed cycle cooler (refrigerator) having a piston assembly including a piston, a piston housing and a preloaded spring mounted in the piston housing between the head of the piston and the piston housing for substantially reducing any bearing clearances of the piston assembly during the pressure changes occurring above and below the piston during the cooling cycle of the cooler.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the magnitude of a magnetic field in one embodiment includes a .sup.3 He cell having an oscillator connected thereto for producing an electrical discharge for metastable .sup.3 He atoms, a .sup.4 He lamp having an oscillator connected thereto for producing .sup.4 He radiation and an optical path to the .sup.3 He cell including a lens for collimating the .sup.4 He radiation and a circular polarizer. The imaged .sup.3 He atoms and .sup.4 He radiation interact to magnetize a portion of the .sup.3 He atoms in a direction parallel to the direction of the ambient magnetic field. After the cell magnetization, an oscillatory magnetic field normal to the ambient field is established by coils connected to a frequency synthesizer which is scanned over a frequency interval including the free precession (Larmor) frequency. This action rotates the direction of magnetization of the .sup.

Abstract: A forward looking infrared (FLIR) energy imaging device has been found to include components which are required by the receiver portion of a long-wavelength rangefinder. For example, the FLIR collecting lens system which focuses energy from a scene onto a sensitive, cooled detector array duplicates the function which must be performed by the laser rangefinder receiver. Thus an integrated laser/FLIR rangefinder comprises a laser transmitter for illuminating a target, and an IR energy optic channel having a FLIR for receiving IR energy and producing a visible image representative thereof, said FLIR including an afocal lens system for collecting and focusing energy from the target and energy from the laser return having a wavelength compatible with the band pass of the IR optics and detector onto a cooled sensitive detector.

Abstract: A synchronous decode circuit for an incremental encoder is disclosed which comprises analog-to-digital converters for converting in phase and quadrature encoder signals to transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL) compatible signals, a latch for receiving current logic level signals and the previous logic level signals for a gray code, a programmable read only memory (PROM) for decoding the logic level signals and generating clock and direction enable signals, and gating logic connected to the PROM for gating clock and direction signals to counters of the system, the counters are connected to a latch under control of the computer to latch the count of movement in preselected directions for the computer. In another embodiment the PROM includes scaling jumper means or error detection means or both for, respectively, adjusting the range of measurement (scale factor) and indicating error in the logic level signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the position of a vessel in distress and transmitting an auditory distress message containing the position of the vessel. The apparatus obtains the position of the vessel as determined by a LORAN-C type receiver from either a cassette or directly from the LORAN-C receiver and generates a "Mayday" message including the identification of a vessel, the position of the vessel and the nature of the emergency. The "Mayday" message is synthesized into an auditory human or Morse code message. The language of the auditory message is preferably chosen to correspond with the most likely language used by a possible receiver of the "Mayday" message. Also preferably, the apparatus determines whether the primary distress radio frequency is clear; should the primary distress frequency be in use, the apparatus automatically shifts to a secondary frequency and transmits the "Mayday" message.

Abstract: In an integrated laser/FLIR rangefinder a scanner position sensor comprising an LED of the array of LEDs of a forward looking infrared (FLIR) system, a reticle grating located at the image plane of LED optical path, and a silicon detector positioned to receive the light passing through the reticle grating for producing a plurality of signals in response to light passing through each grating slot. One of the signals is selected for the synchronization logic for controlling the charging and firing of the laser. If there is no range return a second signal is selected for adjusting the position of the timing pulse.

Abstract: An auto notch system which automatically "notch" filters up to four interference signals (interferers) in the band from 50 KHz to 150 KHz comprises a signal detector, an adjustable notch filter, a bandpass receiver and a digital controller, plus the software that runs in the digital controller. The signal detector circuit has an antenna, a preamplifier and a group of "fixed" filters. The adjustable notch filters are four circuits, each includes an active notch type filter stage with a DAC (digital to analog converter) in series with the input resistor to allow gain control and another DAC that controls the current through a diode that is optically coupled to a light dependent resistor pair. The light resistor pair is in the filter loop and as the resistance varies the frequency response of the filter changes. Thus the frequency response is controlled by varying the diode current.