Abstract: A wideband balanced diplexer splits an incoming wideband microwave frequency signal into separate upper and lower frequency outputs and possesses a sharp band cut-off to increase effective bandwidth. The diplexer includes a pair of waveguide assemblies for separating the upper frequency band from the incoming signal. Each waveguide assembly includes a tuneable, ridged waveguide phase shifter for shifting the phase of the lower frequency band, a reference waveguide for inserting a delay onto the upper frequency signal in order to compensate for the effects of the phase shifter in the other waveguide assembly, and a high pass filter. The high pass filter includes a ridged waveguide having tapered ends of a shape comprising an exponential function raised to a cosine squared power to increase the bandwidth of the upper frequencies and to provide a sharper frequency cut-off.

Abstract: A sample-and-hold phase detector (30, 80, 90, 100, 110) which includes sample-and-hold circuitry (FIG. 6) having variable efficiency. Specifically, the sample-and-hold circuitry provides a sampling pulse of variable width which is controlled to be wider during acquisition and narrower during steady-state operation. Also provided is protection circuitry to neutralize leakage of the input signal to the output of the circuit when a sample control signal is not present.

Abstract: A LCLV device exhibiting improved performance capabilities fabricated using an amorphous silicon photoconductor layer, a cadmium telluride blocking layer, a titanium dioxide mirror and a sepcial bonding layer which enables attachment of the cadmium telluride blocking layer to the amorphous silicon. The bonding layer includes silicon dioxide sputtered in successive argon and argon/oxygen atmospheres followed by cadmium telluride sputtered in successive argon/oxygen and argon atmospheres. The bonding layer may also be used in other applications to bond a cadmium telluride layer to single crystal silicon or silicon dioxide layers.

Abstract: A fiber optic terminus (11) comprising a body (13) having a passage (15) therein which opens at an outer surface. The passage (15) can receive an optical fiber (19), and the fiber is guided into position by a fiber guide (17). A temperature-activated adhesive (21) is carried by the body (13), and the adhesive (21) is flowable when its temperature is raised to a predetermined level. A force-applying system, including a plunger (23) and a spring (25), applies a compressive force to the adhesive (21). Accordingly, when the temperature of the adhesive (21) is raised to the predetermined level, the adhesive (21) flows under the influence of the compressive force and adheres the optical fiber (19) in the passage (15).

Abstract: The absence of a wire (40) in proper position under the bonding tool (32) of an ultrasonic wire bonder is detected by energizing the bonder transducer (14) while the wire is pulled to break it after the second bond (B) has been made. The pulling of the wire to break it changes the transducer impedance, which is monitored to signal presence or absence of a wire in its proper location.

Abstract: An on-substrate driver circuit for a display line of a liquid crystal display having an amplifier connected in conjunction with an amplifier input capacitor, a sample/hold capacitor and three switches. The circuit operates in a first compensation mode wherein the first and second of the switches connect both a null reference voltage and the amplifier output voltage to the amplifier input capacitor, effectively nulling out or compensating for offset between the turn-on threshold, and hence the output, of a plurality of amplifiers on the display. After compensation, the circuit is switched to an operational mode wherein the first and second switches are open and a third switch connects the analog display signal to the sample/hold capacitor. A second preferred embodiment employing a double buffer including two consecutive, serially connected amplifier stages as described is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple cavity waveguide laser is formed of a pair of face to face contiguous dielectric blocks 70, 72, in the facing surfaces of which are formed pairs of mating waveguide grooves 78, 80, 82, 84, having an electrode partition 92 sealed to and between the adjacent mating blocks to separate one pair of waveguide cavities from another, thereby forming four closely spaced waveguide cavities. In another embodiment, the partition 26 between the two dielectric blocks 10, 12 is thin conductive material, and dielectric partitions 36, 38 are provided between cavities of each pair in a single dielectric block. The internal surfaces 40, 42, 44, 46 of each cavity opposite the common electrode 26 are plated with an electrically conductive material, and suitable electrical connections 56, 58, 18 are made from the internal electrodes to the exterior of the blocks.

Abstract: A phase-locked frequency synthesizer (10) having a voltage controlled oscillator (40), a divider circuit (60), and a sample-and-hold phase detector (30, 80, 90, 100, 110) which utilizes gain compensation (90,110) for optimizing phase-locking speed. The sample-and-hold circuit (FIG. 6) also includes circuitry for substantially reducing perturbations at its output. The frequency synthesizer further includes control circuitry (70) and a reference frequency generator (20) for quickly reinitializing the synthesizer in response to a command to change frequency.

Abstract: The output of a noise canceling first or second order electret gradient microphone in a very high noise environment has background noise attenuated and certain phonemes shaped to improve intelligibility by means of a slow action automatic gain control circuit 22 which matches dynamic range of the microphone 10 with dynamic range of the following communication channel, and a fast action automatic gain control circuit 24 in parallel with the first circuit, that reshapes puff noise into plosive, fricative and affricative speech component signals that produced the puff noise.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching separate mode groups comprising an LED (13) and a collimator (C.sub.1) for providing a first beam (19) of collimated light and an LED (15) and a collimator (C.sub.2) for providing a second beam (23) of collimated light. The beams (19) and (23) intersect and form an acute angle A. A light guide (R.sub.1) has a receiving face (27) at the intersection of the beams (19) and (23) so that the beams are launched into the light guide as first and second mode groups, respectively.

Abstract: A protective container is disclosed which includes an integral pocket for holding identification material relating to the contents of the container. The pocket and an associated tab over the pocket opening position the identification material such that bar code graphs or magnetic media mounted thereon can be easily read and accessed without requiring that the container be opened or removed from a stack of containers. In the disclosed embodiment, static protective foam liners are used to support the contents as well as provide an electrical path for any charge accumulated on the contents. The container is formed of an optically transparent material which is also static protective in nature. A viewing means is provided in the container and internal support means so that the presence or absence of any contents can be rapidly determined without opening the container.

Abstract: A lens antenna having four phased array apertures positioned for hemispherical coverage is disclosed. An array of phase shifters is disclosed, each of which is interconnected with four radiating elements, one on each of the four apertures. A feed horn is used to feed the lens and switches in the lens are used to switch the energy received from the feed horn to the phase shifter, and after phase shifting, to a selected aperture for radiation. The switches also perform a reciprocal function by switching energy received at an aperture to the phase shifter and then to an aperture for radiation to the feed horn. In a further embodiment, the mounting of transmitting and receiving components, such as a high power amplifier and a low noise amplifier, with a combination of DPDT switches in the lens is disclosed and results in a solid state T/R type antenna array. In one embodiment, the switches enable the lens to radiate from three of the apertures for a scan angle of 270 degrees from a single feed horn.

Abstract: A multiple cavity waveguide laser is formed of a pair of face to face contiguous dielectric blocks 70, 72in the facing surfaces of which are formed pairs of mating waveguide grooves 78, 80, 82, 84having an electrode partition 92 sealed to and between the adjacent mating blocks to separate one pair of waveguide cavities from another, thereby forming four closely spaced waveguide cavities. In another embodiment, the partition 26 between the two dielectric blocks 10, 12 is thin conductive material, and dielectric partitions 36, 38 are provided between cavities of each pair in a single dielectric block. The internal surfaces 40, 42, 44, 47 of each cavity opposite the common electrode 26 are plated with an electrically conductive material, and suitable electrical connections 56, 58, 18 are made from the internal electrodes to the exterior of the blocks.

Abstract: A fiber optic modular connector system is disclosed which includes a receptacle connector (30) and a locking leaf spring (17) having a locking tang (17c) mounted on the receptacle connector. The connector system further includes a removable plug connector housing (19) carrying a rotatable coupling ring (23) for selective coupling with the receptacle connector. The coupling ring includes external splines (25) for accepting a connector installation and removal tubular wrench (50), and further includes a plurality of notches (27) for cooperating with the locking leaf spring to provide a ratchet mechanism. The notches on the coupling ring and the locking leaf spring on the receptable connector allow the coupling ring to be rotated in a first direction, and prevent rotation in a second direction when the locking tang of the leaf spring is engaged with one of the notches on the coupling ring.

Abstract: An RF excited gas discharge laser (10) is operated by an RF exciting power supply (12,14) having a frequency established at the selected pumping frequency of the laser. This pumping frequency is displaced from the resonant frequency of the laser itself and is provided via an impedance matching circuit (16) from the output of a high power amplifier (14) to which is fed the relatively low power output of the RF oscillator (12) of the power supply. The required starting voltage, of magnitude greater than the magnitude of the laser running voltage, is provided to ignite the laser by momentarily shifting the frequency of the RF oscillator to a frequency substantially the same as the resonant frequency of the laser and shifting the oscillator frequency back to its normal pumping frequency after laser ignition.

Abstract: A stereo enhancement system (300) is disclosed which provides an enhanced wider stereo image and a wider listening area, and further provides perspective correction for achieving correct stereo sound perspective with speakers at different locations and with headphones. The stereo enhancement system includes a stereo image enhancement system (100, 10, 110) which includes circuitry (11, 13, 111, 113) for generating sum and difference signals based on left and right stereo signals, circuitry (17, 18, 19, 22, 30, 115, 125, 129, 40) for selectively altering the relative amplitudes of the difference signal components, circuitry (17, 21, 30, 117, 127, 40) for selectively altering the relative amplitudes of the sum signal components, and circuitry (23, 25, 27, 119, 121, 123) for combining the processed sum and difference signals with the original left and right stereo signals to produce enhanced left and right stereo signals.

Abstract: A vehicle locating system (VLS) comprises a large number, for example, several million, vehicle-mounted transmitters and several benchmark transmitters; first, second and third signal relay stations and a central processing station at which the transmitter locations are determined, the central station being connected by conventional links to subscriber stations. One hundred microsecond-long RF signals are transmitted by each transmitter in a non-synchronized, mutually random manner. Each signal comprises a 20 microsecond synchronization symbol followed by six, four bit transmitter indentification symbols, each of ten microseconds length. Following the indentification symbols are 10 microsecond message and processing symbols. The control station includes correlation means for correlating the synchronization symbols on each relayed signal against stored data to identify the beginnings of the signals.

Abstract: An RF laser structure (10) is disclosed which includes an elongated laser excitation cavity (27) and an electrode structure (20) for suppressing extraneous RF discharges outside of the laser cavity. The electrode structure includes an electrode (41) adjacent the elongated laser cavity (27) and extending along the laser cavity; a conductive structure (43, 45) adjacent and conductively coupled to the electrode (41) for shielding the electrode and for providing smooth conductive surfaces; and a dielectric filler (47) encapsulating the electrode and the conductive structure, and for controlling the electric field generated by the electrode structure so that extraneous discharges are suppressed. Also disclosed is a method for making a laser electrode structure which includes the steps of forming an electrode adjacent the elongated laser cavity, and encapsulating the electrode with a dielectric potting material.

Abstract: The aft drogue module (18) of the towed sonar array has a body (20) as its main length. The body (20) contains strength member (26) which is covered by an extruded tube (28) of rubberlike material which is covered by braid (30) and which, in turn, is covered by extruded abrasion-resistant cover sleeve (32). At its forward end, the strength member is expanded into the conical interior of coupling (22). The tail (56) is attached to the body and contains fill material (60) which damps and is sufficiently stiff to inhibit whipping during towing.

Abstract: A mask and solder form for mounting of multi-leaded integrated circuit carriers to printed wiring boards during a soldering process is disclosed. The form comprises a multi-layer composite frame-like structure. The top layer is a translucent sheet, and is provided with a solder and flux strip. The top layer is bonded to a divider layer which is slotted to accept the multi-wire leads of the circuit carrier. The bottom surface of the divider layer is coated with adhesive. The transparent top layer permits precise alignment of the leads of the carrier and the printed wiring board lines. The divider layer blocks the flow of molten solder between leads by providing each wire with its own individual slot. The form is well suited to production loading of the circuit carriers on the printed wiring boards for vapor phase soldering.