Abstract: The invention deals with a method of bonding a poly(vinylidene fluoride) solid to a variety of solid substrates, in an application typically using the piezoelectric properties of the material. The bonding method entails surface preparation of the poly(vinylidene fluoride) by a variety of steps including activation of the surface by plasma etching to cause the surface to wet the adhesive used in the bonding process. The bonding method produces bonds of increased strength and having good electrical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to hydrophones which require liquid backing of the sensing plate, and more particularly, to compliance enhancing means for use in such hydrophones. In a practical embodiment, in which a compliant sensing plate in the form of a thin diaphragm is employed, liquid backing of the sensing plate is provided to balance the hydrostatic pressure across the sensing plate. To increase the compliance of the hydrophone, reduced by the presence of the backing oil, and to do so in a linear manner, a bellows is introduced into the backing chamber having the desired compliance and pressure rating. The invention is applicable to hydrophones having either compliant or stiff sensing plates. An improvement in hydrophone linearity and sensitivity is obtainable over a significant range of hydrostatic pressures.

Abstract: A printed circuit board connection system provides multiple voltage level interconnection to each individual printed circuit board of a multiple board system via a common circuit board connector mounted on a backplane. Power supply and logic signals at each required voltage level are supplied to electrically isolated regions of the backplane, and are then connected via edge connectors to process control circuits on the respective printed circuit boards. A circuit board extraction handle includes an automatic disabling switch actuator to facilitate circuit board maintenance while power is on.

Abstract: An optical grating hydrophone employs a dual grating construction and two pairs of optical fibers to provide a reliable output signal without the need for mechanically adjusting the system bias. A bias compensation circuit selects the output signal to be received based upon the output signals from the two optical cable pairs.

Abstract: Surface acoustic wave devices with precisely set frequencies are produced by laser trimming metallization strips on the device while monitoring the device frequency and/or phase shift. The trimming strips may be metallizations added during device manufacture or after device manufacture, or they may include selected ones of the reflecting gratings.

Abstract: Antenna arrays with more than one radiating element often require a calibration or adaptive technique to monitor the individual antenna currents and provide some form of correction. This invention is directed to a system of directional couplers and transmission lines usually placed between the transmitter and element matching network that develops a signal which is proportional to the actual antenna element radiating current. This includes mismatches and mutual impedance effects. A knowledge of the matching network is required. The system can be used in any guided transmission line system (i.e., waveguide, coax, stripline, microstrip, etc.

Abstract: A tape recorder is described which is substantially fully integrated and which performs the required functions of a tape recorder in either the recording or playback mode. The tape recorder is readily converted from the record to the play mode of operation by simple switching means which operate to control selected current sources on the integrated circuit to activate or inactivate the functional blocks of the integrated circuit involved in the selected mode of operation. By the use of a temperature compensated reference in the emitter path of a differentially connected transistor pair to stabilize the current in two current mirrors not simultaneously operated, one may stabilize current sources associated with either mirror. The arrangement thus permits a highly economical method of mode control while at the same time preserving high temperature stability in all of the controlled functional elements.

Abstract: A fabrication technique for monolithic microwave integrated circuits employs silicon-on-sapphire wafers. Active and passive elements are formed together in a series of implant and deposition steps. Electrically isolated islands of semiconductor material are defined upon the substrate. Multiple metallization deposits are employed to simultaneously interconnect the individual circuit elements and form passive elements upon the integrated circuit. The technique allows mass production of integrated circuits with considerable raw material savings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixer for use at high microwave frequencies (typically 21.8.times.23.2 GHz) in a low cost communications application. The invention utilizes low cost microwave components, including a low cost compartmented waveguide, shared by the signal and local oscillator and extensive microstrip circuitry. The provision of a pair of novel 1/4 wave impedance transformers coupled into the waveguide compartments provides efficient antenna and local oscillator input filtering, and efficient coupling from the waveguide sections to the microstrip circuitry. The mixer operation is carried out in the microstrip circuitry, which contains a hybrid coupler, a balanced diode detector, and the required mixer output filter. The arrangement is of low cost, and provides a low noise figure (7 db including the preamplifier), good band selectivity (15 db return loss over the communications band), and low local oscillator radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pipeline processors having testing means for identifying malfunctioning modules and for testing the self-testing means themselves. The testing employs the parity check principle and provides an on-line test of memory modules and an off-line test at the processor clock rate of both memory and arithmetic modules. The means for testing include a parity encoder associated with each module and a comparator which couples parity "comparison values" to a priority encoder, operating at the high speed clock rate of the pipeline processor. The test results are then supplied to a RAM, also operating at the clock rate of the pipeline processor. With the test results in the memory, a microcomputer is provided to search the memory at a slower rate for the highest priority failed module.

Abstract: An integrated circuit incorporating high voltage semiconductor devices which are controlled by low voltage semiconductor devices is disclosed, including a method for making the same. The low voltage devices which are capable of realizing complex logic functions on the same chip are realized with only one simple extra step in the fabrication process as compared with the process used to fabricate discrete high voltage power transistors. The process addition to implant the low voltage device does not significantly degrade the original capability associated with discrete power transistors. Both laterally developed and vertically developed devices are described. The integrated circuit combines I.sup.2 L logic with power Darlington transistors. A large area ion implantation permits one to fabricate both low and high voltage devices on one substrate. The resulting integrated circuit permits a plurality of loads to be controlled by a simple or complex control function.

Abstract: A two-dimensional interpolation of image data is provided for a video display system, in which a one-dimensional interpolator performs the interpolation in both dimensions with data flow control so that images can be transmitted, scaled and displayed in real time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting unit having low and high light levels and employing an efficient arc lamp as the source of light during the high level setting. The unit employs a filamentary light source for the production of light during low light level operation, the filament acting as a resistive ballast for the arc lamp during high level operation. Practical embodiments operate in a conventional three-way light socket with the sequences being off, low, high and low, and off, low, high, and high.

Abstract: Transmission line directional coupler directivity is improved by providing compensation for even and odd mode phase velocity differences. Teeth are added to the edges of the coupler electrodes remote from the coupling region separating the electrodes, so that the phase velocity of even mode and odd mode waves is made similar over a wide frequency band. The compensation approach is applicable to both suspended substrate and stripline type directional couplers, where the uncompensated odd mode velocity is less than the even mode velocity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electron discharge device in which radio frequency energy is generated or amplified by high speed electrons traveling in a beam along the axis of a waveguide and subjected to a periodic magnetic field. The periodic field causes the electrons to travel in periodic orbits producing electromagnetic energy. When suitably adjusted, the energy in the beam is converted into electromagnetic energy of a given frequency. The device herein disclosed has an improved magnetic structure for causing the beam to travel in a helical path and for focusing it as it pursues this path. The helical path is produced by a static, spatially circularly polarized transverse field. Focusing of the beam is achieved by a pair of similar helically disposed axial magnetic fields having mutually opposite polarization.

Abstract: A lighting unit is described utilizing an energy efficient metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source producing light when the arc lamp is being started. The lighting unit is designed as a more efficient replacement for the incandescent lamp. The lighting unit includes means for conversion of 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network, including a ferrite transformer and an intermittently operated switching transistor serially connected with a load consisting of the filament or the arc lamp, or both, to which regulated output power is provided. The operating network produces an output with minimum dissipation adapted to each operating state of the arc lamp, including the provision of a high ignition potential, adequate power for the lamp during the glow to arc transition, warm-up and ballasting. In addition, while the arc lamp is being started, the operating network provides power for lighting the standby filament.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse generator for use at a selected frequency near 100 Khz and having a predetermined duty cycle (typically 20%). The pulse generator is designed for integrated circuit fabrication using a CMOS process. The design utilizes a ring oscillator whose frequency is varied by external adjustment of a single resistance and which utilizes a gating stage responsive to electrical conditions in at least two stages of the ring oscillator to establish the desired duty cycle. The duty cycle may also be adjusted, as by the inclusion of optional stages in the ring oscillator. The design features a low power consumption, and high temperature stability of frequency and duty cycle.

Abstract: A handling system for lowering and retrieving large and heavy objects such as sonar arrays from surface ships and other unstable platforms. A submersible object which normally is suspended by a single cable when at operating depth is retrieved and returned to a surface platform by a messenger device suspended on two or more other cables from the platform and provided with means for guiding the messenger to the object, orienting the object with respect to the messenger and thus with respect to the surface platform, and locking the messenger and object together. The resulting messenger and object assembly then may be hoisted back to the platform with some or all of the weight of the assembly carried by the messenger cables thus at least partially unloading the main support cable during retrieval.

Abstract: A lighting unit is described utilizing an energy efficient metal vapor arc lamp as the main source of light supplemented by a standby filamentary light source producing light when the arc lamp is being started, the filament thereof serving as a resistive ballast for the arc lamp under normal operation. The lighting unit is designed as a more efficient replacement for the incandescent lamp. The lighting unit includes a rectifier for conversion of 60 hertz ac to dc, and a dc energized operating network, including a ferrite transformer and a transistor switch. The operating network produces an output adapted to each operating state of the arc lamp, including the provision of a high ignition potential, a power boost for the lamp during the glow to arc transition, warm-up and ballasting provisions, and means for sustaining the arc during transients which reduce the line voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for reproducing transmitted information which is subject to multipath delay spread effects and doppler frequency-shift effects. The information is transmitted as a series of modulated information pulses of differing nominal frequencies. The nominal frequencies of successive pulses are repeatedly shifted through a predetermined sequence of frequencies. Arrivals of the transmitted pulses are detected at a receiver and are processed to determine the frequencies to which the transmitted pulses are doppler shifted and the multipath delays of each pulse. This frequency and delay information is then used to reproduce the transmitted information from the arrival pulses.