Abstract: A cooled laser mirror (10) with mirror surface (12), forced-convective cooling heat exchanger (14), and substrate (18), includes a monolithic substrate isolator (50) of porous isotropic material having transpiration flow paths (74) therethrough for providing transpiration cooling of the isolator.

Abstract: A universal sensor includes a dielectric substrate, a curved surface capacitive plate mounted to the substrate and responsive to the electromagnetic field (EMF) of an integral coil ignition system, and a rotatable lever arm mounted to the substrate and having wire holders for receiving the EMF of spark plug wires of a distributorless ignition system (DIS)ignition, the arm operable in a closed position to conduct the DIS EMF to the plate, and operable in an open position for securing a standard ignition coil secondary wire between the arm and the plate allowing the standard wire EMF to be coupled to the capacitive plate.

Abstract: A linear actuator (42) includes a housing (44), and a linearly displaceable piston (46) having a shaft (48) with a gradated position scale (60) and a gradated direction scale (62) disposed by ion implantation on a casing (50) of the shaft, in axial alignment (49) with the shaft stroke. Proximity sensors (64, 66) mounted in the housing sense movement in the position of the scales to provide sensed shaft position signals (68) and sense shaft direction signals (70).

Abstract: The bond pads (22) for a ceramic package (10) are deposited on the pre-fired ceramic with the bond pad widths (47) increasing as a function of the distance (49) of each pad from the center of package mass (40), whereby bond pads at the extremity (36) of the package have the largest pad width and pads toward the center (40) of the package have the narrowest width.

Abstract: An integrated optic IO device chip with anisotropic thermal expansion properties is packaged in a material enclosure by first bonding the chip to a substrate having anisotropic thermal expansion properties substantially equivalent to those of the IO device and substrate thickness substantially greater than that of the IO device, and bonding the substrate to the enclosure.

Abstract: The sensor wires (16, 18) of an angular rate sensor (ARS) on sensor plug assembly (12) are mounted to their respective mounting posts (20-23) using dual laser beams (30, 32) spaced on opposite sides of the wire (16) so as to melt the post surface without direct heating of the wire.

Abstract: A leadframe assembly comprises a plurality of bifurcated leads, each characterized by an inner lead end region adapted for connection to the die bond pads and an outer lead end region adapted for connection to external circuitry.

Abstract: Engine timing measurement apparatus receives the engine gear tooth signal, sensed combustion, and a crankshaft index (CI) of top dead center (TDC). The apparatus includes a whole tooth interval counter for providing a whole number count of each complete tooth interval, and partial tooth counters for counting incomplete tooth intervals as the ratio of clock pulses counted in a present incomplete tooth interval divided by clock pulses counted in a preceding complete tooth interval, the partial count added to the whole count to provide a decimal value indicative of engine timing.

Abstract: A fire and security system includes a hierarchical architecture with a central control processor monitoring each of a plurality of multi detector-occupancy-temperature-smoke (MDOTS) sensors mounted in each of the monitored spaces of the building, the MDOTS sensors connected in multi drop fashion in sensor loop networks which are connected to one of a plurality of master controls, each master control monitoring the sensor outputs from one or more sensor loops and reporting the alarm status of any one sensor to the central.

Abstract: Signal units of information stored in electronic memory are arranged in frames which are separated in memory by configurable end of data pointers, each frame stored with a first configuration pointer indicating a present frame, the storing of each present frame changing the preceding frame pointer to a second configuration, whereby loss of frame data due to power interruption during storage is limited to the identifiable present frame.

Abstract: A unipolar signal indication of core position is provided in an inductive displacement transducer, such as an LVDT, as the sum magnitude of the transducer's applied primary winding voltage signal and the transducer's induced secondary winding voltages.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a cantilevered pieozelectric beam mounted to a surface inside a fluid filled chassis with a proof mass attached to the beam's free end. Surface skimming bulk wave delay lines are mounted on opposing major surfaces of the beam and are responsive to strain induced therein by acceleration of the proof mass.

Abstract: A theft alarm system for use in combination with a digital signal PBX telephone system, includes a plurality of electronic tethers connected to individual pieces of protected equipment. Removal of the tether is automatically detected by a local security monitor which reports the condition to a central security controller via the PBX system. The security controller then provides dial-up reporting of the theft and/or sets an audible alarm at the equipment site.

Abstract: Flight parameter data is real time sampled in successive sample frames and temporarily stored in memory for one or more sample frame intervals, the stored sample values are examined to detect extremes in parameter values with time, periodic ones of the temporarily stored sample frames are permanently stored in memory at fixed frame intervals notwithstanding the presence or absence of extreme values in the sample set data, sampled frames intermediate to the fixed frames are stored only in the presence of extreme sample values amoung selected ones of the sensed flight parameters.

Abstract: Redundant sensed position feedback signal samples of an actuator which are provided in each sample period, a synthesized feedback position signal value provided from an actuator algorithm model. The sensed samples are rejected for use in the sample period if the difference magnitude between the sample value and the synthesized value exceeds an accepted magnitude. The number of sample periods in which a sample is rejected is recorded, and if the number is sufficiently high the sensed feedback signal is rejected from further use and the associated position sensor is recorded as failed. If both sensed samples are rejected in the same period a diagnostic routine determines if the fault is in the sensors or the actuator.

Abstract: Periodic digital signal samples of redundant sensed engine RPM signals are rejected for limit exceedance of known performance values, the nonrejected digital signal samples are each compared with a synthesized RPM equivalent signal to further reject any sample which differs from the synthesized value by more than a selected difference value, one of the nonrejected samples are then used for the engine RPM indication, and in the event that both samples are rejected the synthesized value is used.

Abstract: Recurring data sample values of a common parameter are stored in nonvolatile memory at different addresses so as to limit the maximum number of entries at any one location to less than that which results in loss of storage ability.

Abstract: A communications interface exchanges serial bit signals between sources differentially, over redundant, two conductor, primary and secondary channels. The primary channel provides the communications link during normal operation, and is monitored to ensure differential operation. In response to primary channel failure, the secondary channel becomes the communications link.

Abstract: A serial signal communications system includes a central station unit connected through a balanced impedance signal communication bus to one or more remote station units.