Abstract: A multi-pass, integrating diode pump cavity for an Er,Yb:glass laser is provided. The diode pump cavity comprises two end members of undoped glass sandwiching a center section of glass of the same composition as that of the two end members but doped with erbium and ytterbium ions. The two end members are each provided with a curved outer surface, which is coated with a reflective coating. At least one of the curved surfaces includes a slit through the reflective coating for transmission of pump laser light from a pump diode laser bar into the cavity. The diode pump cavity is small, compact, efficient, and eye-safe.

Abstract: A dual axis beam waveguide antenna system includes a radiator generating a beam, a mirror which directs the beam to a subreflector, which receives the beam, and a main reflector illuminated by the subreflector, which generates a collimated output. The beam waveguide of the antenna system is characterized by an azimuth axis defined by the radiator and the mirror and an elevation axis defined by the mirror and the subreflector.

Abstract: A very compact, high numerical aperture, high resolution, ultra-wide field of view concentric scanning optical sensor. The concentric scanning optical sensor includes a scanning half ball lens having a flat reflective rear surface, outer and inner shell lenses, and a linear focal surface array. The outer shell lens and linear inner shell lens are concentrically disposed about the center of the scanning half ball lens. The linear focal surface array is disposed along a focal surface of the inner shell lens. The scanning optical sensor may also use a full spherical ball with multiple reflecting surfaces to allow for multiple facet scanning.

Abstract: An electro-optical system comprising a turret and a thermal reference source that is located exterior to the turret. The turret houses a detector array and optical elements that provide different fields of view for the detector array. One or more windows are provided in the turret through which energy passes to the detector array. The optical elements and detector are moveable or rotatable so that the detector array may view the exterior thermal reference source for calibration purposes and an image scene during normal operation.

Abstract: A homoleptic polynitrogen ion and salts thereof are described as being highly exothermic in nature and thus give rise to compounds useful for propulsion and explosive applications, among others. Also described are processes for the macroscopic production of compounds containing homoleptic polynitrogen.

Abstract: A hydrogen getter comprising a thin film having a layer of inert material, and a hydrogen reactive material disposed in or attached to the layer of inert material. The hydrogen reactive material may comprise palladium oxide powder, and the layer of inert material may comprise an epoxy resin. Various forms of the hydrogen reactive material may be used including porous composite, or a solid composite comprising a powder coated organic thin film, for example. An alternative gettering system that is operative in an oxygen environment uses a thin film of hydrogen reactive material that catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water. Improved sealed microelectronic packages are also disclosed along with methods of fabricating same.

Abstract: A spinning strip aperture imaging radiometer sensor system and data processing methods for detecting moving objects derived from a plurality of image frames acquired by a strip aperture imaging sensor. A moving object in any individual image frame results in a motion smear signature in the total synthesized image. The motion smear signature is processed to detect the moving objects. One embodiment of the system comprises a rotating strip aperture telescope, a two dimensional detector array that detects images in the telescope's focal plane, a rotation compensation device that prevents rotational smear during integration time of detectors of the array, a signal processor that records a plurality of image frames of a scene imaged by the telescope as it rotates around its optical axis, and that implements method(s) for detecting the moving objects present in the recorded images.

Abstract: An all-reflective optical system includes an entrance aperture, an exit aperture, and a dichroic beam splitter assembly. The dichroic beam splitter assembly includes an entrance dichroic beam splitter and an exit dichroic beam splitter. The reflected portion of the beam from the entrance dichroic beam splitter passes to a first beam processing array having an odd number of powered mirrors. The transmitted portion of the beam from the entrance dichroic beam splitter passes to a second beam processing array having an odd number of flat mirrors. The second beam processing array and the first beam processing array are circumferentially angularly displaced by about 90 degrees of rotation about an optical reference axis. The dichroic beam splitter assembly, the first beam processing array, and the second beam processing array together comprise a single optical unit rotatable about the optical reference axis, and a bearing set is provided to accomplish the rotation.

Abstract: A hybrid two stage expander having a first stage Stirling expander coupled to a second stage pulse tube expander. Both stages are pneumatically driven by a common reciprocating compressor in a typical application. The first stage Stirling expander provides high thermodynamic efficiency which removes a majority of the heat load from gas within the cryocooler. The second stage pulse tube expander provides additional refrigeration capacity and improved power efficiency with little additional manufacturing complexity since it has no moving parts.

Abstract: A variable RF inductor network having a plurality of coaxial cables with their respective outer conductors in electrical contact with each other, thereby forming a common outer conductor. This common outer conductor is connected to an RF ground and an RF source. An RF choke is formed between the RF ground and RF source by winding the coaxial cables around a first of a series of inductor cores. The coaxial cables are then wound serially about the remaining succession of inductor cores to form serial, separate inductors. At each separate inductor core, one of the cables is terminated and the inner conductor of the terminated cable is connected to a PIN diode switch for switching the particular inductor out of the network by shorting the common outer conductor across the core. The inner conductors are connected to a biasing means for individually controlling each PIN diode switch to selectively switch particular inductors in and out of the network.

Abstract: A compact adjustment mechanism that provides precision linear travel. The drive mechanism has a knob with a paddle at an inner end that is used to transfer torque. A drive screw has a plurality of grooves disposed around an outer diameter, a plurality of threads at an opposite end from the plurality of grooves, and a torque transfer leaf spring that receives the paddle. A drive housing has a bored hole into which the drive screw is disposed. A threaded hole is formed at an end of the bored hole distal from the knob that receives the plurality of threads of the drive screw. A ball spring plunger is disposed in a threaded hole on the side of the drive housing that mates with the plurality of grooves in the drive screw. The drive screw may have different configurations to implement linear straight movement, provide 90 degree linear movement, or drive a pivot lever.

Abstract: Providing triatomic nitrogen (N.sub.3) as a relaxation species to an exhaust gas that includes nitrogen oxide compounds (NO.sub.x) increases the rate of reducing NO.sub.x in a corona discharge apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary fluid coupler includes a first fluid conduit, a second fluid conduit in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit and rotatable relative to the first fluid conduit, and a first fluid conduit/second fluid conduit seal at a joint between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit. A return fluid conduit has an inlet end that receives fluid leaked through the first fluid conduit/second fluid conduit seal, and a return/joint seal that seals against leakage from the return fluid conduit to an external environment. A fluid-pressure biasing source is in communication with the return fluid conduit to move fluid away from the inlet end through the return fluid conduit, and back to a fluid source.

Abstract: Planetary connectors for coupling signals and power between stationary and moving structures. The planetary connector comprises a pressure plate that abuts a conformal pad that in turn contacts a first printed wiring board having a plurality of concentric conductive rings that face the interior of the connector. A second printed wiring board, which may be backed by a second pressure plate, is disposed at an end of the connector distal from the first printed wiring board that has a plurality of concentric conductive rings 18a that face the interior of the connector. A ball bearing retainer that retains a plurality of metal ball bearings is disposed between the flexible printed wiring boards, such that the ball bearings make electrical contact with the conductive rings of the rigid printed wiring boards. A shaft extends through all components.

Abstract: An adhesive and method for attaching a heat sink to a printing wiring assembly that provides a thermal path from electronic components on the printing wiring assembly to the heat sink. The adhesive is flexible and accommodates thermal expansion stresses and is readily reworkable. The adhesive comprises a filler material that is disposed between the heat sink and the printing wiring assembly, and an impregnant that impregnates the filler material, which impregnated filler material is cured. The filler material may comprise alumina particles that have a spherical shape. The impregnant comprises a polymer, typically selected from a group of epoxy resins and their curatives that form a flexible material when cured. In practicing the method, a heat sink is positioned adjacent to and spaced apart from a printing wiring assembly to provide an appropriate spacing between them. The periphery of the printing wiring assembly is sealed.

Abstract: The following class of glycidyl and allyl ethers are found to cure at room temperature much faster than their glycidyl and allyl analogs: ##STR1## where: R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of:(a) an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing 2 to 10 carbon atoms; and(b) a group having the formula ##STR2## wherein n=1 to 3,m=0 to 5R.sub.2 and R.sub.2 ' are each selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an unsubstituted aryl group, and a substituted aryl group, and R.sub.

Abstract: A system that extends the life of bearings that support a primary payload and operate in oscillatory mode. The system integrates the primary payload, a reaction mass and the bearings into a single support structure so that constant hydrodynamic lubrication of the bearings is achieved even during stopping and reversal of the primary payload. This is accomplished by allowing the bearings to rotate continuously in one direction while the primary payload is oscillated. Torque compensation may be provided by applying an opposite torque to the reaction mass to minimize the torque disturbance experienced by the support structure.

Abstract: A simplified missile tracker system that utilizes a single field of view while maintaining both the high resolution required for tracking and the wide field of view required for missile acquisition. The detectors in the acquisition portion of the field of view are clustered or ORed together to provide missile high signals of a weighted command for guiding the missile in elevation while greatly decreasing the required amount of detector signal processing. The bottom group of detectors are not clustered and they provide the high resolution and linear correction required for the accurate tracking of the missile in elevation. The azimuth tracking is provided by a synchronizing system and may be linear or nonlinear depending on the missile requirements.

Abstract: An improved method of providing a protective coating on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloys comprising: alkaline-cleaning the surface using a nonchromated and nonsilicated alkaline cleaner, following by a rinse in hot water; (b) deoxidizing the surface by immersion thereof in a nonchromated deoxidizer at room temperature, followed by a rinse in hot water; and (c) immersing the surface in boiling water for a period of time. Following the immersion step, the aluminum-containing part may be painted, powder-coated, or adhesive-bonded without requiring any wash primers to activate the substrate. Further, the part may be stored indefinitely in an acid-free paper that does not leave any residues. The only treatment required before painting, powder-coating, or adhesive bonding is a removal of any fingerprints in a suitable solvent such as acetone or iso-propyl alcohol.

Abstract: A multi-slit spectrometer is combined with a two-dimensional detector array to enable simultaneous spectral analysis of several objects, improving the signal-to-noise ratio of multispectral imagery. The multi-slit spectrometer includes a multi-slit structure defining a plurality of parallel thin slits, and a first lens for directing object light onto the multi-slit structure. A second lens collimates and directs light which has passed through the slits of the multi-slit structure onto a light dispersing element such as a dispersing prism or a diffraction grating. A third lens focuses light which has passed through the light dispersing element onto the two-dimensional detector array at an image plane. A two dimensional detector array of detector elements is placed at the image plane. The slits are separated by a separation distance equal to an integral multiple of the detector width dimension, where the multiple is equal to (N times the number of slits) plus or minus one, where N is an integer.