Abstract: An LC filter structure and method for its fabrication, in which multiple shunt capacitors, multiple shunt inductors and multiple coupling inductors are printed on a metal layer formed on a thin dielectric substrate. The capacitors have first electrodes that are formed as spatially separated regions of the metal layer, and a common second electrode formed by a ground plane on the substrate. The shunt inductors are formed as spiral traces connected to the separated regions and to the ground plane, through conductive vias. The coupling inductors are similarly formed as spiral traces in the gaps between the separated regions, the ends of each coupling inductor being connected to respective adjacent regions of the metal layer.

Abstract: A technique for providing high-contrast images of defects in semiconductor devices and arrays of such devices, by illuminating each semiconductor device under inspection with broadband infrared radiation, and then forming an image of radiation that is specularly reflected from the semiconductor device. Many semiconductor devices and arrays of such devices have a metal backing layer that specularly reflects the illumination back into an appropriately positioned and aligned camera, selected to be sensitive to infrared wavelengths at which the semiconductor device materials are relatively transparent.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a vibrating beam that comprises a nodal point for oscillation in any one or more of a plurality of substantially perpendicular directions for driving into oscillation and sensing angular rate of the vibrating beam. The vibrating beam comprises an aperture that allows a frame to support the vibrating beam near the nodal point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present system encompass: a hemispherical resonator gyro (HRG); digital control loop algorithms which operate in two, distinct modes, Force to Rebalance (FTR) and Whole Angle (WA); and a closed-loop slewing-voltage phase control that reduces quadrature error when the hemispherical resonator gyro transitions from WA to FTR.

Abstract: In an exemplary display system adapted to display an image to an observer using a display where at least one of the display and observer is subjected to physical vibration referred to as jitter, accelerometers are mounted to elements subject to jitter and associated with the observer. A processing system uses acceleration measurements from the accelerometers to calculate an x-axis and y-axis jitter correction factors based on a comparison of the acceleration measurements, and generates a video output in which the visual information is displaced along the x-axis and y-axis based on the x-axis and y-axis jitter correction factors so that an image corresponding to the video output shown on the display appears to the observer as not having jitter.

Abstract: An integrated getter structure and a method for its formation and installation in a circuit module enclosure (24). The integrated structure includes a hydrogen getter structure (10) and selected quantities of a material (20) that is formulated to provide both a particle getter function and an RF absorber function. In one embodiment, the material (20) is placed in discrete quantities over the hydrogen getter structure (10). In another embodiment, the hydrogen getter structure (10) is formed over a sheet of the material (20) and is provided with apertures (30) to expose the material (20).

Abstract: A cell in one example comprises an alkali metal and a coating of parylene on an interior surface of the cell. In one implementation, the alkali metal may be an optically pumped gaseous phase of an alkali metal. The parylene coating minimizes interaction of the excited state of the alkali metal, increases lifetime of the excited state, and minimizes interaction of nuclear spin states with the cell walls.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a die structure that comprises a middle layer, a first outside layer, and a second outside layer. The middle layer comprises a cavity that holds an alkali metal, and one of the first outside layer and the second outside layer comprises a channel that leads to the cavity. The middle layer, the first outside layer, and the second outside layer comprise dies from one or more wafer substrates.

Abstract: A method comprises the steps of providing a nuclear magnetic resonance cell with first, second, and third nuclear moment gases and at least one optically pumpable substance; obtaining first, second, and third measured precession frequencies that correspond to the first, second, and third nuclear moment gases, wherein the first, second, and third measured precession frequencies are altered from corresponding first, second, and third Larmor precession frequencies by a rotational rate and corresponding first, second, and third local magnetic fields; and determining the rotational rate with compensation for the first, second, and third local magnetic fields through employment of the first, second, and third measured precession frequencies.

Abstract: Encircled far field energy is substantially increased by modifying the near field energy distribution of radiation from each fiber in an emitting array. Each beamlet output from a fiber is modified to have a generally uniform cross-sectional energy distribution, using a pair of aspheric optical elements selected for that purpose. The optical elements may be refractive or reflective. The modified beamlets combine to form a composite output beam with a generally uniform energy distribution. Preferably, the composite beam is subject to an array-wide inverse transformation to a near-Gaussian distribution, further enhancing the encircled far field energy and providing a more efficient high power laser source. Further gains in efficiency are achieved by selecting a fiber bundle pattern, lens array pattern and lens shape that together result in a high fill factor.

Abstract: Apparatus, and a related method, for eliminating the effect of speckle images caused by surface imperfections in a primary mirror of a stellar coronagraph. Depending on their size, mirror imperfections can result in speckles in a field of view that also includes an image of a distant target planet. By generating a traveling surface wave in the mirror surface, and then tuning the spatial wavelength of the surface wave to approximately match that of a surface imperfection, the speckle image corresponding to that surface imperfection is made to twinkle in irradiance. Tuning the traveling surface wave though a wide range of spatial wavelengths causes each speckle image in turn to be identified by twinkling, while the target planetary image remains unvarying. Accordingly, multiple speckles corresponding to different mirror imperfections may be conveniently eliminated by image processing.

Abstract: A communication system, a method of and an apparatus for communicating messages. N messages are transmitted from an originating station to a relaying station in a signal with frequencies within a bandwidth B, with each of the N messages having frequencies within a unique frequency band. Messages with adjacent frequency bands have the same or different bandwidths. At the relaying station, the messages are separated into groups of messages having the same bandwidth, where all messages in any group occupy non-adjacent frequency bands, and the messages of each group are then combined. Each combined group of messages is applied to a separate amplifier. Two or more messages of the same bandwidth may share a common traveling wave tube amplifier. Each amplified group of messages is then separated into separate messages which are transmitted to respective receiving stations.

Abstract: One or more heating elements comprise a heating element. One or more elongated beams comprise an elongated beam. The heating element is coupled with the elongated beam and induces a time-varying thermal gradient in the elongated beam to cause one or more oscillations of one or more of the one or more elongated beams.

Abstract: A positioning boom disposed between a space-based observatory platform and its instrument payload provides thermal and dynamic isolation as well as fine pointing and momentum control. The inventive system isolates a sensitive payload from a warm, dynamically noisy spacecraft, which includes a sunshield. Isolation is required in terms of dynamics and heat flow, both in terms of the absolute level and its variance (thermal isolation). The present invention provides intrinsic control over momentum buildup (which is due to the separation of the center of pressure from the center of mass). The space-based platform also provides a view (field of regard) to at least half the sky (in the anti-sun direction).

Abstract: A passive thermal control blanket and a method for its manufacture, the blanket including a plastic substrate on which is deposited a film that is a homogeneous mixture of silicon and germanium, thereby combining the excellent reflective and electrostatic discharge properties of germanium with the superior adhesion and corrosion resistance properties of silicon. The uniform mixture is preferably obtained by sputtering the two materials simultaneously onto the substrate, using either separate targets, a single mosaic target, or a single composite target.

Abstract: A polyphase power system with a system safety ground supplies a plurality of power phases over a respective plurality of power lines to power a load. A plurality of phase fault detectors of a fault detection component monitor the plurality of power lines, respectively. A phase fault detector, of the plurality of phase fault detectors, monitors a power line of the plurality of power lines. The phase fault detector outputs a threshold voltage with a voltage divider coupled with the power line. The threshold voltage is a line-to-ground voltage relative to a localized ground. A capacitor coupled between the localized ground and the system safety ground provides a direct current offset to the localized ground upon a ground fault condition. The phase fault detector compares the threshold voltage with a reference voltage to make a determination of an existence of the ground fault condition in the power line.

Abstract: An OFF state, maximum attenuation level, for an electro-optic attenuator/switch results when either a first or second control voltage is applied to the control input. An AC generator, coupled to the control input, generates minimum and maximum peak voltages that correspond to the first and second control voltages, respectively, so that the maximum attenuation level of the light beam being switched is provided by the electro-optic attenuator while either of the minimum and maximum peak voltages is applied to the control input. An ON state is achieved by introducing a voltage pulse with a magnitude corresponding to the minimum attenuation level. The ON voltage pulse is added to the square wave. This permits operation of the electro-optic switch in a normally OFF state without requiring a DC bias voltage.

Abstract: In an embodiment of a ring laser gyroscope, a hollow bandgap fiber is filled with a gas or material that will generate laser beams within the fiber upon being excited by an energy source. A detector coupled to the fiber detects a standing wave pattern within the fiber, wherein changes in the detected standing wave pattern indicates a corresponding change in the orientation of the fiber.

Abstract: An NMR gyroscope in one example comprises a support structure affixed within an enclosure, an NMR cell affixed to the support structure, a plurality of permanent magnets disposed about the NMR cell to produce a magnetic field within the cell, and a field coil disposed proximate the cell to produce a modulated magnetic field transverse to the magnetic field produced by the permanent magnets.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises one or more light sources, one or more long period Bragg gratings that are optically coupled with the one or more light sources, and one or more amplification fibers that are optically coupled with the one or more long period Bragg gratings. The one or more light sources send one or more pump optical signals to one or more of the one or more long period Bragg gratings. The one or more of the one or more long period Bragg gratings transmit the one or more pump optical signals to one or more of the one or more amplification fibers. The one or more of the one or more amplification fibers absorb one or more of the one or more pump optical signals and emit one or more output signals. The one or more of the one or more long period Bragg gratings attenuate one or more of the one or more output signals.