Abstract: A single aperture opto-mechanical system for transmitting two small-aperture laser beams and single received laser beam. The two pencil-thin transmitted beams are co-aligned within 150 micro-radians in the same direction but have optical axes that are displaced laterally. An in-coming beam is received along a path that is essentially parallel with the path of the transmitted beams within 500 micro-radians. The small-aperture transmitted beams each pass through a hole in a metal mirror beamsplitter that is positioned to reflect the received light energy at a 90 E angle through a narrow band-pass filter and focused by an aspheric glass lens that directs the received beam energy onto a receiver detector. The beamsplitter has indexing features that provide self-alignment of the beamsplitter to the laser mount.

Abstract: A piece of soiled fabric is cleaned by contacting it with a jet of an ionized soil-dislodging gas to dislodge the soil therefrom. The ionized gas and the use of an oppositely charged electrostatic filter aid in preventing redeposition of the soil onto the fabric. The fabric may be agitated while it is contacted with the gas jet. A portion of the piece of fabric may be treated with an electrostatic spotting compound that enhances the effect of the ionized gas and may also enhance the removal of the soil. An apparatus for accomplishing the cleaning includes a container having an interior in which the fabric is received, a gas jet nozzle directed into the interior of the container, a source of a pressurized gas communicating with an inlet of the gas jet nozzle, a gas jet manifold extending from the source to the gas jet nozzle, and a gas ionizer disposed to ionize the pressurized gas passing through the gas jet nozzle.

Abstract: A high purity dielectric ceramic composition is disclosed. This composition provides improved electrical properties in the form of ultra-high electrical Q, a low (T.sub.f) property and a high dielectric constant (K). This composition is also amenable to large scale manufacturing processes and operations. The composition provides a multi-oxide dielectric with BaO--Nd.sub.2 O--Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3 --TiO.sub.2 --La.sub.2 O.sub.3 Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 and ZnO as constituents. The composition materials effectively provide these desirable properties in a custom composition of various oxide materials advantageously including samarium oxide (Sm.sub.2 O.sub.3).

Abstract: Amine adducts comprising a reactive amine curing agent containing an aromatic silane epoxy along with improved coatings made by combining the amine adduct with additional epoxy material. The amine adducts, when formulated and cured with an epoxy material, cures in several hours and gives a protective coating material that cures without blush or CO.sub.2 incorporation. Specific embodiments of the amine adduct contain a bisepoxy compound, such as 2,11-bis(3-glycidylphenyl)-2,11dimethyl-2,11-disiladodocane (n=4), for example, while the amine functionalized compound may be ethylenediamine (90.degree. C., 120.2 g, 20 mol) or aminoethylpiperazine, respectively. A number of chemical compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical parametric oscillator comprising two meniscus mirrors disposed on opposite sides of a nonlinear medium that forms a confocal unstable resonator. A reduced-to-practice embodiment uses concave-convex mirrors in a confocal arrangement disposed on opposite sides of a KTP crystal used as the nonlinear medium. The optical parametric oscillator and confocal unstable resonator of the present invention exhibits improved beam divergence angles.

Abstract: A side-viewing optical system that provides wide-field viewing of image scenes on both sides of a vehicle, particularly in blind areas between the driver's direct peripheral vision and a image scene normally viewed using the rear view mirror. A projected demagnified image from both sides of the vehicle is directed into the driver's eyes from a position straight forward and angled downward so that the forward viewing direction is not blocked while driving the vehicle or requiring driver head motion. The system has left and right side viewers having prisms and Fresnel relay lenses. A roof mirror having left and right mirror surfaces respectively reflect image scenes observed by the side viewers toward the driver. A relay is disposed between the right side viewer and the right mirror surface of the roof mirror. A projector having a Fresnel lens finally projects the image scenes toward the driver for viewing.

Abstract: A window structure includes a housing, a window received into the housing, and a mounting support joining the window to the housing. The mounting support has an outer support ring joined to the housing, where the outer support ring has a coefficient of thermal expansion of about that of the housing, and an inner support ring joined to the window, where the inner support ring has a coefficient of thermal expansion of about that of the window. The inner support ring is joined to the outer support ring by a single-segment or multi-segment ring with a gradation in thermal expansion coefficient, but is not radially aligned with the outer support ring. The result is a large reduction in the stresses and strains otherwise imposed on the window.

Abstract: An optical system includes a two-stage aberration corrector having a static corrector lying on the optical path and a dynamic corrector lying on the optical path. The static corrector is fixed and is selected to correct the fixed aberration component of an optical beam. The dynamic corrector is controllably variable to correct the variable, angle-dependent aberration component of the beam. The dynamic corrector includes an astigmatism generator, a power generator, and a coma generator. The optical system also includes a window through which the optical path passes prior to reaching the aberration corrector, and a sensor in the optical path after the beam passes through the aberration corrector.

Abstract: A time shared histogram chip (80) implemented in a system for manipulating video signal data. The system includes a processor (82) for controlling system operation and for processing a video signal input into the system. The time shared histogram chip (80) accumulates video signal data in a format readable by the processor (82). The histogram chip (80) is operative to perform histogramming, video line summing and video line grabbing functions. Control means (100) is operatively connected to the processor and enables the processor (82) to selectively control the mode of operation of the histogram chip (80).

Abstract: An all-reflective field-switching optical imaging system includes an optical beam coincident with an optical axis and forming a nominal pupil, a pupil-reimaging mirror array spatially separated from the optical axis and having an incident beam with a first pupil the same size as the nominal pupil and an output beam with a second pupil, and a beam diverter mirror array controllably movable between a first position where the beam diverter mirror array does not intercept the optical axis and does not divert the optical beam, and a second position where the beam diverter mirror array intercepts the optical axis and diverts the optical beam.

Abstract: A boresight mechanism 10 incorporating internal boresight target generator 28 to generate a boresight target signal for properly aligning first and second sensors 22, 24. Beam splitter 52 and corner reflector 60 are positioned along optical path 100 such that sensor 22 and sensor 24 can view either the boresight target signal or a target signal without requiring optical elements to be slued into and out of position to provide a clear line of sight.

Abstract: A system (80) for controlling deformations of optical components adapted for use with laser system aperture sharing elements (16) and deformable mirrors. The inventive system (80) includes a control loop (12, 40, 24, 20, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) for determining a desired temperature pattern. The control loop (12, 40, 24, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) provides a control signal (45) corresponding to the desired temperature pattern to a heat map applicator (18, 46, 47, 59, 60). The heat map applicator (18, 46, 47, 59, 60) applies the desired temperature pattern to the optical component (16) in response to the control signal and the optical component (16) is selectively deformed in response thereto. In a specific embodiment, the control loop (12, 40, 24, 20, 46, 28, 74, 78, 60, 34) is a closed loop control system that includes an interferometer (74).

Abstract: A compressor that uses liquefied gas at high pressure as a hydraulic medium for compressing gas from low pressure to high pressure. The compressor comprises a central liquid cylinder and two gas cylinders disposed adjacent opposite ends of the liquid cylinder that are axially aligned therewith. A piston assembly is disposed within the cylinders that comprises a central liquid drive piston and two compression pistons that are free to slide within the respective liquid and gas cylinders. A low pressure gas manifold coupled to the piston assembly, and a liquid-gas manifold coupled to opposite ends of the piston assembly. A liquid switching valve having a first port comprising a high pressure liquid inlet, a second port coupled to an inlet of the central liquid cylinder, a third port coupled to an outlet of the central liquid cylinder, and a fourth port coupled to the liquid-gas manifold.

Abstract: A thermal shunt comprising flexible graphite fibers for removing heat from components coupled thereto and providing mechanical isolation. The thermal shunt comprises a plurality of stacked layers of graphite fibers secured together at opposite ends to form rigid sections at the respective opposite ends that provide for thermal coupling. Portions of the graphite fibers between the rigid sections are flexible and provide mechanical isolation between components to which the thermal shunt is coupled.

Abstract: A flexible thermally-conductive epoxy-based adhesive composition and method for making the same are provided. The present adhesive composition comprises (a) a polymer mixture comprising at least one polyepoxide resin having a hardness not exceeding a durometer Shore D reading of about 45, when cured with a stoichiometric amount of diethylene triamine ("DETA"), and a substantially stoichiometric amount of at least one latent epoxy resin curing agent; and (b) a thermally-conductive filler. Optional components include secondary epoxy resins, non-reactive flexibilizers, diluents, and processing aids. The present adhesive composition is rheologically stable for weeks or even months at room temperature and is curable in less than one hour at a temperature ranging from about 100.degree. C. to 140.degree. C., whereupon the cured adhesive composition exhibits a durometer Shore A of less than about 90 and a thermal conductivity exceeding 0.4 BTU/hr-ft-.degree. F. (0.7 W/m-K).

Abstract: The composition of an electrically conductive mixture, such as a mixture of gasoline and alcohol, is measured using a single measurement cell having a first electrode and a second electrode with a measurement space therebetween for receiving a specimen of the mixture. With a specimen of the mixture in the measurement space, the first electrode is alternatively connected to a reference discharge voltage, preferably ground, and to an applied voltage through a resistor. A first operational state encompasses the period when the first electrode is connected to the reference discharge voltage and a second operational state encompasses the period when the first electrode is connected to the applied voltage through the resistor. A first operational state peak voltage is measured during the first operational state, and a second operational state peak voltage is measured during the second operational state.

Abstract: Novel metal acid salt complexes are provided comprising (1) a metal selected from Group IV and Group V metals and (2) a polyether acid, along with a process for making the salt complexes. The process comprises: (a) preparing a polyether acid anhydride from the corresponding polyether acid; and (b) combining a metal alkoxide containing the Group IV or Group V metal with the polyether acid anhydride to form the metal acid salt complex. The resulting Group IV and Group V metal acid salt complexes enable the production of improved thin film, thick film, and bulk ceramic metal oxides and mixed metal oxides for a number of applications, including ferroelectric, electrooptic, paraelectric, and piezoelectric devices, using liquid soluble precursors which are soluble in far less toxic solvents than in the prior art. The soluble ceramic precursors may also be used as reactive binders and shape-forming aids in conventional ceramic processing.

Abstract: A laser pump cavity apparatus with integral concentrator provides uniform gain and high absorption efficiency. The apparatus has a doped solid-state laser medium, a concentrator which has a top cladding layer formed on the top surface of the doped laser medium having a cylindrical focusing surface, a bottom cladding layer formed on the bottom surface of the doped laser crystal having a cylindrical focusing surface, and edge cladding layers formed on the side surfaces of the doped laser medium. Cold plates, each of which also preferably has one cylindrical surface of substantially identical shape, are placed in thermal contact with the cylindrical focusing surfaces of the top and bottom cladding layers to absorb heat. The cylindrical focusing surfaces preferably have hyperbolic or quasi-hyperbolic shape. The laser pump cavity apparatus is preferably edge-pumped with several laser diode arrays focused toward the line foci of the cylindrical focusing surfaces in directions transverse to a laser beam axis.

Abstract: A ship is constructed of a skeleton, including a hull, horizontal decks, and vertical support posts, all permanently joined together. At least some of the interior walls are made of a composite material of reinforcement embedded in a plastic matrix. These non-structural interior walls are semi-permanently attached to the skeleton with attachments, so that they may be readily rearranged to reconfigure the interior of the ship. The majority of the apparatus and infrastructure of the ship is affixed to the skeleton but not to the non-structural walls.

Abstract: A method of packaging hybrid wafers or die that are interconnected using soft metal bumps, such as indium, in a sealed ceramic package. The present invention passivates the hybrid die that are to be interconnected by way of the bumps, so that the metal in the bumps (indium) does not wet the surface of the hybrid die when the ceramic package is sealed at high temperature. Vias are formed in the passivated surfaces to expose underlying contact areas. Bumps are then formed on the contact areas, and the bumped and passivated hybrid die are electrically interconnected. The ceramic package containing the electrically interconnected hybrid die is processed at a temperature above the melting temperature of the bumps to attach a ceramic cover to the ceramic package. The method is performed at a temperature well in excess of the melting temperature of the bumps (.about.155.degree. Celsius for indium), typically on the order of 325.degree. Celsius.