Abstract: A compact collapsible squeegee for wiping fluids from smooth surfaces including a telescoping handle having a hinged joint at one end and a wiper support attached to the hinged joint to pivot from a closed position with the wiper support substantially parallel to the telescoping handle to an open position with the wiper support substantially perpendicular to the telescoping handle. Latches may be used to secure both the telescoping handle and the wiper support in the open position such that the squeegee is substantially rigid in use. Both the telescoping handle and the hinged joint may be spring-loaded to automate deployment of the squeegee to the open position. The telescoping handle and wiper support may be stored in the closed position within a hollow grip attached to the telescoping handle and including ventilation for drying.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatuses and methods of making a micromachined resonator gyroscope, e.g. a disc resonator gyro (DRG), including one or more of the following novel features. Embodiments of the invention may comprise a triple-wafer stack gyroscope with an all fused quartz (or all silicon) construction for an electrical baseplate, resonator and vacuum cap. This can yield superior thermal stability over prior art designs. A typical resonator embodiment may include a centrally anchored disc with high aspect-ratio in-plane electrostatic drive and sense electrodes to create large capacitance. A silicon sacrificial layer may be employed for attaching a quartz resonator wafer to a quartz handle wafer for high aspect-ratio etching. In addition, embodiments of the invention may comprise a low thermal stress, wafer-level vacuum packaged gyroscope with on-chip getter. An ultra-thin conductive layer deposited on the quartz resonator may also be utilized for high Q.

Abstract: A cryogenic propellant storage tank system and method are disclosed that thermally couple LO2 and LCH4 tanks together by using either a single tank compartmentalized by a common tank wall or two separate tanks that are coupled together with one or more thermal couplers having high thermal conductivity. Cryogenic cooling equipment may be located only in the LO2 tank while the LCH4 is cooled by the LO2 tank interface. Embodiments of the invention may employ both LO2 and LCH4 liquid acquisition devices (LADs) for low-gravity use. In further embodiments, only the LO2 LADs may be integrated with thermal cooling equipment.

Abstract: An improved microscale diffusion immunoassay utilizing multivalent reactants is disclosed. In particular, a method for detecting the presence of analyte particles in an analyte fluid is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) providing the analyte fluid comprising the analyte particles; (b) providing a diffusion fluid comprising binding particles capable of binding with the analyte particles; (c) flowing the analyte fluid and the diffusion fluid in adjacent laminar flow through a microfluidic channel; (d) allowing the analyte particles to diffuse into the diffusion fluid and bind with the binding particles to form analyte/binding particle complexes; and (e) detecting the presence of the analyte particles and the analyte/binding particle complexes, wherein each of the binding particles is capable of binding with more than one analyte particle, and wherein each of the analyte particles is capable of binding with more than one binding particle.

Abstract: One or more fixed-orientation fanned laser beams and one or more displacement measurement devices to precisely measure the orientation of a payload platform are disclosed in a metrology system and method. The measurement devices may be distributed at locations across a payload platform such that displacement changes of these devices can be used to accurately determine platform pointing. Laser beam transmitters may be fixed in the same reference block to which a spacecraft attitude sensor is mounted. Fanned laser beams are transmitted from these sources to the measurement devices so that their displacements can be determined with respect to the plane of the fanned beams and thereby with respect to the spacecraft attitude sensor. Only a small number of fixed laser beams are needed to achieve precision measurements at a reduced cost, weight and power, and with increased system reliability and simplified system integration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning the left and right image channels a two-image stereoscopic three-dimensional display is disclosed. A left and right alignment pattern may be shown on the left-eye and right-eye image screens, respectively, pre-computed for any given input imaging geometry. The operator (or alignment processor) then adjust the displays to converge the superimposed left-eye and right-eye test patterns by moving the display elements using display positioning equipment and/or software. This ensures that the stereoscopic three-dimensional display geometry matches the three-dimensional camera imaging geometry in order to produce a minimally-distorted visual depth perception of objects in space. Such precision alignment can be essential for efficient and safe telerobotic operation applications, as in the case of remote aerial refueling operations, for example.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed which apply an excitation-emission matrix (EEM) to a heterogeneous, two-dimensional sample, allowing a considerably larger number of emitting, e.g. fluorescent, labels to be used simultaneously. This may be accomplished by employing a spectroscopic method of excitation-emission matrices which allows discrimination of species with similar emission spectra, and also allows positive identification of energy transfer between emitting species. The methods and devices may employ a novel excitation-light scanning technique which allows imaging of the emission from the heterogeneous sample both in two spatial dimensions (length and width) and in two spectral dimensions (excitation and emission wavelength). This light scanning technique maximizes the throughput of excitation light, increasing the sensitivity and hence the reading speed of the instrument.

Abstract: Electrical connection devices and systems for the electrical interconnection of systems and components within an aerospace vehicle, such as a production airplane, are disclosed. A typical quick lock interconnect comprises a manually installed and coupled modular electrical connector. The connector receptacles may be designed to “snap” onto a structural support, such as a stamped and formed or extruded rail, providing an inherent electrical ground path. A typical quick lock production interconnect may be fabricated from thermoplastic materials and plated with a metallic finish to provide for electrical bonding and shielding. The connector device may also include a novel slide latch coupling mechanism that provides a positive visual indication of a fully coupled connector eliminating the need for specialized tools.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing errors that occur in operating system and software applications are disclosed where plug-in problem relief actuators are employed. The plug-in problem relief actuators are small plug-in programs for dealing with software errors. A typical system utilizes a relief manager that loads and invokes one or more problem relief actuators from an available arsenal in response to a request. The initiating request may either be user-directed or automated through software. Operating parameters for a particular error and relief actuator are received from descriptor data storage and/or a user query. Generic problem relief actuators for signaling event completion, subtask termination, subtask resumption, resource release and reserved device release can be used in addition to other custom actuators. Employing such a modular error response system reduces down time and the likelihood of data corruption or loss for critical software and accelerates the problem resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a rectangular waveguide cavity launch are disclosed that enable coupling an electromagnetic wave from the top surface of a waveguide distribution network formed into a conductive plate with the narrow wall of a rectangular waveguide facing the top of the conductive plate. A resonant cavity structure is formed into a conductive plate and coupled to a waveguide also formed into the plate, the resonant cavity structure having a cavity width wider than the narrow wall dimension of the waveguide. The resonant cavity structure includes a conductive block within it having a block width substantially equal to a difference between the cavity width of the resonant cavity structure and the narrow wall dimension. The cavity launch excites and rotates a dominant waveguide mode entering the structure such that the dominant waveguide mode enters the waveguide substantially parallel to the narrow wall dimension.

Abstract: Operation of a planar resonator gyroscope with in-plane parasitic modes of vibration to obtain improved performance is disclosed. A planar resonator gyroscope, such as a disc resonator gyroscope, may be operated with embedded electrodes. The embedded electrodes may be disposed adjacent to the planar resonator and proximate to one or more anti-nodes of a parasitic vibration mode. A sensed amplitude of the parasitic mode is applied in differential signals used to operate the gyroscope. A feedback controller for damping the parasitic mode applies a drive voltage generated from the proportional voltage to one or more drive electrodes adjacent to the planar resonator disposed proximate to one or more anti-nodes of the parasitic vibration mode of the planar resonator. Parasitic in-plane modes may be thus damped in operating the gyroscope with active damping applied through an analog operational amplifier or digital feedback.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to novel techniques for showing the progress of an automated computer process, particularly through a graphical user interface (GUI). Graphical status displays are employed which show graphical time-based information, such as rate and estimated time to completion, as well as a completion portion of an automated computer process. A remaining time indicator can be shown as a time scale for the graphical completion indicator. Instantaneous and historical rate information may be graphically displayed in various novel displays.

Abstract: Typical embodiments of the present invention maintain the cache metadata in arrays, and use vector instructions to process the array elements in parallel. The cache metadata comprises virtual tags corresponding to main memory addresses and physical addresses corresponding to cache memory addresses. The virtual tags and physical addresses may be interleaved in a single array in the cache memory. Alternately, virtual tags and physical addresses may be maintained in corresponding separate arrays. A roving pointer may be used to identify the next block to be ejected from the cache memory.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to precision control system for spacecraft gimbaled payloads. Embodiments of the invention provide an innovative technique of calibrating gimbals disturbances to directly canceling gimbal control disturbances. Such a calibration system includes a receiver for receiving telemetry data for pointing a payload, a processor for calculating a disturbance parameter vector for a gimbal disturbance model with the telemetry data and a transmitter for transmitting the disturbance parameter vector to compensate for pointing error when applied in pointing the payload. The gimbal disturbance model comprises a harness stiffness term, a disturbance harmonics term and at least one friction hysteresis term. The telemetry data may be time matched prior to calculating the disturbance parameter vector.

Abstract: Parametrically disciplined operation of a symmetric nearly degenerate mode vibratory gyroscope is disclosed. A parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope having a natural oscillation frequency in the neighborhood of a sub-harmonic of an external stable clock reference is produced by driving an electrostatic bias electrode at approximately twice this sub-harmonic frequency to achieve disciplined frequency and phase operation of the resonator. A nearly symmetric parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope that can oscillate in any transverse direction and has more than one bias electrostatic electrode that can be independently driven at twice its oscillation frequency at an amplitude and phase that disciplines its damping to zero in any vibration direction. In addition, operation of a parametrically-disciplined inertial wave gyroscope is taught in which the precession rate of the driven vibration pattern is digitally disciplined to a prescribed non-zero reference value.

Abstract: Described is a method of identifying an immunologically active antigen of a virus that attacks skin, as well as a method of enriching a population of lymphocytes for T lymphocytes that are specific to a virus that attacks skin. Also provided are HSV antigens and epitopes that are useful for the prevention and treatment of HSV infection that have been identified via the methods of the invention. T-cells having specificity for antigens of the invention have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against cells loaded with virally-encoded peptide epitopes, and in many cases, against cells infected with HSV. The identification of immunogenic antigens responsible for T-cell specificity provides improved anti-viral therapeutic and prophylactic strategies. Compositions containing antigens or polynucleotides encoding antigens of the invention provide effectively targeted vaccines for prevention and treatment of HSV infection.

Abstract: A cryocooler is located on a spacecraft bus, such as a bus box, separate from the cryogenic propellant tanks disposed on a separable and distinct propellant cartridge system spacecraft docked to the spacecraft bus. In operation, propellant may be continuously pumped from the tanks through the cryocooler cold heat exchanger and then back to the tanks on the separable propellant cartridge system spacecraft through temporarily couplable lines. After the propellant tanks are depleted, the propellant cartridge system is then undocked from the bus and typically discarded. A new propellant cartridge system spacecraft comprising a full set of tanks may then be docked to the bus and the cryocooler supply/return lines coupled. The remote cryocooler may function as part of a larger space depot for spacecraft resupply, although it is not limited to such applications.

Abstract: A novel technique using an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) as part of a heterodyne interferometer which measures optical path differences between a test signal and a reference signal is disclosed. An array of distinct frequencies are used to drive the AOM, yielding a spatially dispersed array of frequency-shifted subaperture beams of the test signal which are interfered with the wavefront to be measured and then combined with the dispersed reference signal. The frequency shifting of the AOM allows a single detector to collect the beams for signal processing to determine a measurement of the wavefront.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inertial sensor comprising a planar mechanical resonator with embedded sensing and actuation for substantially in-plane vibration and having a central rigid support for the resonator. At least one excitation or torquer electrode is disposed within an interior of the resonator to excite in-plane vibration of the resonator and at least one sensing or pickoff electrode is disposed within the interior of the resonator for sensing the motion of the excited resonator. In one embodiment, the planar resonator includes a plurality of slots in an annular pattern; in another embodiment, the planar mechanical resonator comprises four masses; each embodiment having a simple degenerate pair of in-plane vibration modes.

Abstract: A Multiple Internal Seal Ring (MISR) Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) vacuum packaging method that hermetically seals MEMS devices using MISR. The method bonds a capping plate having metal seal rings to a base plate having metal seal rings by wafer bonding the capping plate wafer to the base plate wafer. Bulk electrodes may be used to provide conductive paths between the seal rings on the base plate and the capping plate. All seals are made using only metal-to-metal seal rings deposited on the polished surfaces of the base plate and capping plate wafers. However, multiple electrical feed-through metal traces are provided by fabricating via holes through the capping plate for electrical connection from the outside of the package through the via-holes to the inside of the package. Each metal seal ring serves the dual purposes of hermetic sealing and providing the electrical feed-through metal trace.