Abstract: The method and apparatus for storing the data base of gridded type data on a plurality of rotary type data memory devices such that data update to a utilization system, e.g., a computer generated imagery (CGI) processor may be more effectively implemented. For the generalized case of N rotary data memory devices and for a data base of gridded type data which may be represented by rows and columns of data elements, data elements of each row are "mapped" to the memory devices in accordance with a repetitive and cyclical pattern. For example, for each row of the grid, the data for each data element of N successive elements is stored on a different one of the N rotary data memory devices and for successive groups of N elements the data is similarly stored in accordance with a repetitive, cyclical pattern wherein each cycle of the pattern includes N successive elements, the data for each of which is stored on a different one of said rotary data memory devices.

Abstract: A modified printed wiring board for reducing the cracking of solder joints used to attach ceramic leadless chip carriers to the surface of the printed wiring board. A relatively thin expansion layer is provided on top of the conventional printed wiring board. This expansion layer is bonded to the printed wiring board except at locations underneath the footprint of the chip carrier and solder joints. This expansion layer reduces the stress of solder joints between the ceramic leadless chip carrier and the printed wiring board due to thermal expansion mismatch, thereby reducing cracking of the solder joint.

Abstract: A process for forming a diffusion barrier on exposed silicon and polysilicon contacts of an integrated circuit including the step of chemically vapor depositing a layer of tungsten in a self-aligned manner on the exposed contact areas. The layer of tungsten is plasma nitridated to form a tungsten nitride layer and to partially form a tungsten silicide layer adjacent the contact areas. The formation of the tungsten silicide layer is completed by thermal annealing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically and remotely removing unwanted organic films from surfaces of vehicles and satellites in space. A particle beam generator (12) draws molecular oxygen from an on-board supply chamber (14) and develops a stream of positively charged oxygen ions (40). These ions are directed towards a surface or component of a spacecraft such as a solar cell, radiation emission aperture, or sensor objective lens (44) which has been coated by an opacifying, organic contaminant layer (42) that impairs the efficacy of the spacecraft. The ions (40) bombard the contaminant layer (42) and remove it by both kinetic interaction and chemical oxidation. Spacecraft surfaces and components may be restored and renewed to their original operational capabilities through this method of volatilizing debilitating occluding residues which have been hardened by solar radiation away from the spacecraft as harmless gases (50).

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive, high efficiency, detachable thrust vector mechanism is provided for addressing the current shortcomings in the art. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention is used in conjunction with a nautical or aeronautical vehicle having primary propulsion means and at least one fin movable, to provide maneuverability, in response to a conventional control system. The invention is a detachable thrust vector mechanism comprising auxiliary propulsion means pivotally attached to the missile through connecting means. Contact means are provided for transferring bi-directional motion of the fin to the auxiliary propulsion means. The mechanism is operable to provide auxiliary thrust for the missile along a thrust vector determined by the control system. The invention is effective to provide missile steerage at low speeds, particularly during initial launch and pitchover.

Abstract: A flexible coaxial cable capable of high frequency signal propagation formed from a multilayer configuration having a plurality of adjacent signal traces etched in dielectric material and surrounded by a protective ground layer. Selected ones of the signal traces are designated to be conducting signal lines. A 360-degree signal return line is formed around each of the designated conducting signal traces utilizing signal traces adjacent those serving as conducting signal lines as part of the return line conductor. A 360-degree shield is also formed around the return line, again employing selected signal traces as part of the shield. The return line and shield are created using photo and laser etching, chemical milling and electroplating techniques. The cable allows electrical signal propagation in the gigahertz frequency range without appreciable signal loss and provides high density packaging. The flexible nature of the cable and its structure combine to provide an even variable standing wave ratio.

Abstract: Rear and forward reflector shells or dishes (36,38) are independently supported on a dynamically rigid truss structure (12) by means of separate studs extending from the forward nodes of the truss to the two shells. Forward node (22) carries adjustable rear shell stud (52) and independently carries adjustable forward shell stud (80). Both of the studs have flat portions oriented normal to the radius of the shell so that radial shell expansion due to temperature and temperature differential minimize shell distortion.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter system for converting an input analog signal having a wide dynamic range to a digital output has a non-linear function generator for compressing the wide dynamic range input signal to a reduced dynamic range signal, an analog-to-digital converter of limited dynamic range for converting the reduced dynamic range signal to a digitally formatted signal, and a conversion memory for providing a digital value corresponding to the value of the wide range analog input. The digitally formatted signal addresses a word within the conversion memory, the word so addressed containing a digital value corresponding to the magnitude of the analog input signal. Each word of the conversion memory has a sufficient number of bits for expressing the desired dynamic range of the input signal.

Abstract: A double Schottky diode light valve (5) includes a liquid crystal (80) for locally modulating a beam (120) by polarization rotation to produce a modulated beam (121), and a photoconductor (40) located adjacent the liquid crystal (80) for receiving and absorbing a second beam (110). The photoconductor (40) controls the polarization responsively to the optical content of the second beam (110). The photoconductor (46) includes a semiconductor substrate and a pair of Schottky diodes (60/40, 30/40) disposed on opposing sides of the substrate. The absorption of the second beam (110) by the substrate (40) produces photogenerated majority carriers. The pair of Schottky diodes (60/40, 30/40) maintain the substrate (40) substantially depleted of such carriers and also reflects the modulated beam back through the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A simple, less costly prepolarizing prism assembly for a four color liquid crystal light valve image projector is disclosed. The invention is a unitary assembly which provides a combined beam of light having a first component of a first color and first polarization state and a second component of a second color and a second polarization state. The invention includes a first color filter for reflecting, from an input beam of unpolarized white light, light of a third color and transmitting light of the first and second colors in a combined beam along a first optical path. A first prepolarizer is mounted on the first filter for extracting, from the combined beam, light of a second color and the first polarization state. A second prepolarizer is mounted on the first prepolarizer for extracting, from the combined beam, light of a first color and the second polarization state.

Abstract: A carrier and test device for an integrated circuit package is disclosed which comprises a base (30) suitable for receiving an integrated circuit package with unformed leads (20') or formed leads (20), a cover (60), flexible materials (66), such as an elastomeric, disposed between the cover (60) and base (30) surfaces, and a means (40, 44, 68) for maintaining pressure across the cover (60) and base (30). The leads (22) of the integrated circuit package (20, 20') are thereby secured in position by the elastomeric material (66) which forms itself partially around each of the leads in response to pressure applied across the base (30) and cover (60) by the securing means (40, 44, 68). The disclosed invention eliminates the need for separate grooves or nests in the base (30) of the carrier and test device (10) for each lead of the integrated circuit package while providing a means to test the IC package while in the carrier and test device (10).

Abstract: An information bearing signal (the object signal) for use in radar or radar-like circuitry is generated in a digital circuit and then converted through a bandpass matching filter into a corresponding analog signal. The object signal is then first combined in a NAND gate with a blanking control signal. In one embodiment, the selectively blanked object signal is frequency doubled by combining the blanked object signal and its quarter wave length shifted version in an EXCLUSIVE-OR gate. Thereafter, the frequency doubled version of the blanked object signal is combined in a second EXCLUSIVE-OR gate with a biphase modulation control signal which selectively inverts or noninverts the frequency doubled object signal. The output of the biphase modulated frequency doubled signal is then gated through a blanking NAND gate and coupled to the bandpass matching filter.

Abstract: A rate controllable damping mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a chamber disposed within a housing; an element mounted for movement within the chamber; a damping material, preferably a low melting temperature metal alloy, in the chamber for preventing the movement of the element at a first temperature and for damping the movement of the element at a second temperature; and a heater for selectively increasing the temperature of the damping material from the first temperature to the second temperature. Controlled damping is effectuated by heating the fluid material until it reaches a molten state at which the resultant fluid damps the movement of the element in a conventional manner. A novel method is also disclosed for structural stress relief.

Abstract: A rectifying power supply having circuitry for providing AC power, a plurality of capacitors responsive to the AC power for providing DC isolation and for providing capacitively coupled AC power, and a plurality of rectifying circuits responsive to the capacitively coupled AC power for providing respective DC outputs. The outputs of the rectifying circuits are coupled in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A magnetic amplifier including a magnetic core having a primary leg, a secondary leg, and a control leg. A primary winding is wound about the primary leg of the magnetic core for generating a non-saturating magnetic AC flux in the magnetic core, and a secondary winding is wound about the secondary leg of the magnetic core. A control winding for conducting DC current is wound about the control leg of the magnetic core for controlling as a function of the DC current, without saturating the magnetic core, the reluctance of the control leg relative to the reluctance of the secondary leg. By controlling the relative reluctance, the amount of magnetic AC flux coupled to the secondary winding is controlled, thereby relative reluctance, the amount of magnetic AC flux econtrolling the output voltage provided by the secondary winding.

Abstract: A stereo image enhancement system, in which difference signal components in relatively quieter difference signal frequency bands are boosted to provide an improved stereo image, is provided with a stereo input that is synthetically derived from monaural signal (L+R). Simulated sum (L+R).sub.s and simulated difference (L-R).sub.s signals are provided from a monaural input (L+R) by sending the input through a phase shifter and splitter (12) that provides 0.degree. and 90.degree. outputs with a constant 90.degree. phase separation between the two at all audio frequencies. The leading one of the two output signals from the phase shifter is employed as a simulated sum signal, and the other as a simulated difference signal. The simulated difference signal has different frequency components, each delayed by different amounts relative to corresponding components of like frequency of the simulated sum signal.

Abstract: An improved LCMOS display device employing a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having an epitaxial silicon layer lying over an implant-generated dielectric layer. MOS device and capacitor elements used to activate the display are formed and interconnected in the epitaxial silicon. The implant-generated dielectric layer and underlying silicon substrate also serve as capacitor elements, thereby simplifying the structure and fabrication of the display device and providing improved operation through improved isolation of the MOS device elements formed in the epitaxial silicon from the substrate.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed wherein both the emitter and the base electrical contacts for a solar cell are disposed on the back major surface. Holes extend through the back major surface and the base layer to the emitter layer. The walls of the holes are doped to the same conductivity as the front emitter layer. Emitter contacts are deposited on the back major surface of the cell and extend into the holes making electrical contact to the emitter layer for collecting light generated current carriers. The base contacts are also disposed on the back major surface, and antireflection coatings are deposited on the emitter front major layer. Consequently, the front of the solar cell can be made smooth and therefore, a specularly reflective (non-scattering) solar cell results.

Abstract: A catalyst material having a catalyst metal supported on a substrate, wherein the substrate has at least two types of surface atomic sites at which the catalyst metal can reside, and the catalyst metal resides primarily in one of those types of sites. In one catalyst material having platinum supported on an aluminum oxide substrate, the platinum atoms are located predominantly in the substrate sites having the lowest activation energy for catalysis of a chemical reaction. Population of only the low energy type of site is achieved by limiting the platinum content to from about 0.25 to about 1.0 atomic percent.

Abstract: An electronic counter such as for use in the odometer of a motor vehicle is provided comprising an array (10) of m rows and n columns of single flip-flop data latches and a central shifting unit (14). The central shifting unit (14) comprises a row of n data latches arranged to read data from and write data to each of the m rows of data latches of the array (10). In operation, the central shifting unit (14) reads data from a row of data latches of the array, performs a shift operation on the data and an invert operation on one of n data latches of the central shifting unit (14) and returns the data so operated on to the row of data latches in the array (10). By these steps, a counting operation in Johnson code is performed on the data. This invention uses less chip area than known counters.