Abstract: A clock synchronization buffer for a counter clock flow pipelined circuit including a cascade of processing modules that receive data from a previous module and provide output results to a following module. The clock synchronization buffer receives a clock input signal and provides clock signals to a local processing module and to the next pipeline stage. The clock synchronization buffer includes a selectable delay stage that receives a clock input signal and a delay select signal and outputs a clock signal having a selected delay. An amplifier connected to the selectable delay stage provides the delayed clock signal to a local processing module that corresponds to the clock synchronization buffer circuit. An inverting amplifier connected to the selectable delay stage provides the delayed clock signal to the next pipeline stage. A clock synchronization controller synchronizes the phases of reference clock input and synchronized clock input signals.

Abstract: A communications system and method for transmitting digital information includes arranging a modulator to have an input bit stream of binary data and arranging a signal generator to generate four orthonormal hyper phase shift keying (HPSK) basis functions that are periodic functions with a duration T. A bit to symbol mapper is arranged to combine the bit stream and the HPSK basis functions to form a succession of 4-bit HPSK symbols for 16-HPSK, 5-bit HPSK symbols for 32-HPSK or 6-bit HPSK symbols for 64-HPSK, and a transmitter is arranged to transmit signals indicative of the HPSK symbols. A receiver is arranged to receive the signals from the transmitter and the HPSK symbols are demodulated with the HPSK basis functions to reproduce the bit stream of binary data.

Abstract: A mixed-mode method for operating a vehicle's propulsion plant to travel at a selected average speed using the minimum amount of fuel. The method involves travelling in one mode at high speed part of the time, and in a different mode at low speed part of the time, in such a way that the average speed is the selected value.

Abstract: Noise effects in a signal for driving a plant are reduced by generating a reference signal from the error signal. A signal generator generates a reference signal for input to a finite impulse response (FIR) filter. The error signal is produced by differencing the transfer function output and a disturbance signal. The error signal is input to the signal generator and to a least mean square calculator. The reference signal is input to a copy of the transfer function that outputs a modified reference signal. The modified reference signal is input to least mean square calculator. An LMS signal that updates the filter coefficients to minimize the mean square error is calculated and the LMS signal and the reference signal are input to the FIR filter with the FIR filter being arranged to process the LMS signal and the reference signal to minimize the error signal.

Abstract: An inductive pulse forming network stores electrical energy delivered from an outside prime power supply in the electric field of a low-voltage, high-energy density network capacitor. Through timed actuation of a series of one or more switches, the energy stored in the electric field of the network capacitor is subsequently converted to electrical energy stored in the magnetic field of a network inductor. The energy stored in the network inductor supplies high-current, high-power electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic launcher such as a railgun.

Abstract: A demountable docking interface mechanism and method for docking and undocking two spacecraft utilizing the demountable docking interface mechanism.

Abstract: A conformal metallic layer is applied to a selected region of a substrate by forming a pattern of electrically conductive lines on the substrate, placing a bead of a selected metal on the substrate at an edge of the region selected for coating, and passing an electric current through the bead and through conductive lines that extend over the region of the substrate selected for coating with the electric current having a current density sufficient to melt the bead so that metallic material therefrom flows over the conductive lines to form the coating. A pair of electrically conductive connectors is placed in contact with the electrically conductive lines, and an electric power supply is connected to the pair of electrically conductive connectors such that electric current passes through the bead, melts the bead to form a liquid metal, and carries the liquid metal in a continuous stream along the conductive lines, coating the conductive lines conformally in the process.

Abstract: A method and system for steganography and steganalytic techniques are provided for effecting embedded communications in a variety of communication environments. One aspect may include an embedded transmitter for inserting embedded data into a packet and an embedded receiver for receiving the packet via, for example, a packetized communication network such as the Internet. Various aspects of the present invention provide robust communications with optimized throughput and may include various error handlers to maximize performance and ensure transfer of incorrupt data. A method for identifying and blocking embedded communications is also provided.

Abstract: An inductive pulse forming network stores electrical energy delivered from an outside prime power supply in the electric field of a low-voltage, high-energy density network capacitor. Through timed actuation of a series of one or more switches, the energy stored in the electric field of the network capacitor is subsequently converted to electrical energy stored in the magnetic field of a network inductor. The energy stored in the network inductor supplies high-current, high-power electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic launcher such as a railgun.

Abstract: An integrated electric gas turbine comprises a compressor that includes a plurality of airfoils. An electric motor is arranged to drive the compressor, and a combustor is arranged to receive compressed air from the compressor and further arranged to receive a fuel input. A turbine is arranged to receive the combustion gases from the combustor. A generator is integrated with the turbine and arranged to provide a power output. A controller is connected between the generator and the electric motor and arranged to direct a portion of the power output from the generator to the electric motor.

Abstract: A clock synchronization buffer for a counter clock flow pipelined circuit including a cascade of processing modules that receive data from a previous module and provide output results to a following module. The clock synchronization buffer receives a clock input signal and provides clock signals to a local processing module and to the next pipeline stage. The clock synchronization buffer includes a selectable delay stage that receives a clock input signal and a delay select signal and outputs a clock signal having a selected delay. An amplifier connected to the selectable delay stage provides the delayed clock signal to a local processing module that corresponds to the clock synchronization buffer circuit. An inverting amplifier connected to the selectable delay stage provides the delayed clock signal to the next pipeline stage. A clock synchronization controller synchronizes the phases of reference clock input and synchronized clock input signals.

Abstract: One embodiment the invention includes a method of determining an orientation of a sensor. The method includes measuring a local magnetic field vector and a local gravity vector and using those measurements to determine the orientation of the sensor. Embodiments can include measuring the magnetic field vector and the local gravity vector using quaternion coordinates. Another embodiment includes measuring a local magnetic field vector, a local gravity vector, and the angular velocity of the sensor. These three vectors are processed to determine the orientation of the sensor. In one embodiment the three vectors can all be measured in quaternion coordinates. Another method embodiment includes determining a local gravity vector by providing a acceleration detector, moving the detector from a start point to an end point over a time period, and summing acceleration measurements over the time period. The local gravity vector is calculated using the summed acceleration measurements.

Abstract: One embodiment the invention comprises a method of determining an orientation of a sensor. The method includes measuring a local magnetic field vector and a local gravity vector and using those measurements to determine the orientation of the sensor. Embodiments can include measuring the magnetic field vector and the local gravity vector using quaternion coordinates. Another embodiment comprises measuring a local magnetic field vector, a local gravity vector, and the angular velocity of the sensor. These three vectors are processed to determine the orientation of the sensor. In one embodiment the three vectors can all be measured in quaternion coordinates. Another method embodiment comprises determining a local gravity vector by providing a acceleration detector, moving the detector from a start point to an end point over a time period, and summing acceleration measurements over the time period. The local gravity vector is calculated using the summed acceleration measurements.

Abstract: a plurality of bi-color lights is mounted to the stern of a ship such as an aircraft carrier. The lights are arranged so that they are visible from an escort ship that is following the aircraft carrier while attempting to maintain a selected range and angular position relative to the aircraft carrier. The lights are arranged such that the number of lights of each color that are visible from the escort ship depends upon the angular position of the escort ship relative to the aircraft carrier.

Abstract: An identification friend or foe system for use by a weapon to determine whether a target that has been selected is a friendly target comprises a signal source attached to the target and arranged to radiate encrypted signals. A detection system attached to the weapon includes a receiver arranged to receive the encrypted signals when the weapon is within a predetermined range from the target. Signal processing apparatus is connected to the receiver and arranged to determine whether the encrypted signals identify the target as being friendly. The central processing unit is arranged to decrypt the encrypted signal and produce a disarm signal if the target is identified as being friendly. The central processing unit preferably is also arranged to produce a signal that causes the weapon to perform a collision avoidance maneuver to avoid colliding with the target if the target is identified as being friendly.

Abstract: A system for generating a false target radar image for countering wideband synthetic aperture and inverse synthetic aperture imaging radar systems to prevent a selected target from being detected by such radar systems comprises a receiver system for producing a digital signal that represents an incident radar signal. A phase sampling circuit is connected to the receiver for sampling the digital signal and providing phase sample data. An image synthesizer circuit is connected to the phase sampling circuit and arranged to receive the phase sample data therefrom. The digital image synthesizer circuit is arranged to process the phase sample data to form a false target signal, which is input to a signal transmitter system arranged to transmit the synthesized false target signal so that it can be received by a radar system.

Abstract: A system for producing a decoy to enable a target to avoid a homing torpedo that uses a sonar ping signal for homing in on the target comprises a transducer that operates in a receive mode in which it receives sonar signals and produces corresponding electrical signals and in a transmit mode in which it emits a sonar return pulse. A digital signal processor connected to the transducer is arranged to analyze the electrical signals corresponding to sonar signals received by the transducer and to determine whether they were emitted by the homing torpedo. The digital signal. processor is further arranged to switch the transducer to the transmit mode in response to receipt of a sonar ping signal from the homing torpedo and to cause the transducer to transmit a return pulse that acts as a decoy signal to the homing torpedo.

Abstract: A device for influencing human behavior comprises an audio system arranged to produce a sound wave that may be directed to a selected location and a video system arranged to produce a light beam that may be directed to the selected location. The audio system preferably comprises a frame and an array of sound generators mounted in the frame; The frame preferably is formed generally as a tube having a longitudinal axis, an open end and a closed end with the sound wave being emitted generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube. The video system preferably comprises either a flash tube or a laser.

Abstract: An antenna is formed on a vest by providing a pair of conducting regions on the outer surface. A non-conducting gap separates the conducting regions. A front conducting strip provides an electrical connection between the first and second electrically conducting portions. A feed conductor is connected to a conducting patch that is connected to one of the conducting regions.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to estimate the sediment flux in front of a Coherent Acoustic Sediment Probe (CASP) instrument. Also, described is a newly invented Bistatic Doppler Velocity and Sediment Profiler (BDVSP) device for measuring sediment concentration, sediment velocity, and the resultant sediment transport in a sediment bed, and for the measurement of turbulent stresses and dissipation in the ocean.