Abstract: The computer hardware executive is a special purpose associative processor hich interfaces to the memory bus of a digital computer to provide high-speed execution of executive functions. These functions include task registration, task synchronization, normal, time-dependent and time-critical event registration and triggering, hierarchical event-to-semaphore translation, and buffer allocation. The programmer invokes an executive function by accessing the address in the hose computer address space dedicated to that function. The data written to or read from that address is the function operated or result, respectively. The hardware executive maintains task and event tables internally within its associative memory. The memory is organized such that the same field bit position of all table entries is accessed in parallel within a microinstruction cycle. Searches are performed by sequencing through the bit positions of interest.

Abstract: An undersea cable reliably transmits optical control signals and data. At ast one optical fiber is axially disposed in an otherwise solid electrical conductor which transmits power the length of the cable. A concentrically disposed dielectric insulating layer prevents shorting with the surrounding seawater and a load-bearing annulus coaxially contains the other elements to also protect them from environmental abuses. During deployment or towing, the load-bearing annulus shares part of the load with the solid electrical conductor and a coaxially disposed sleeve encloses all of the other elements for preventing a leaching action of seawater and to defocus externally originating, concentrated forces.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for annealing an ion-implanted semiconductor sample duces the deleterious side effects otherwise associated with the process. A semiconductor sample, fabricated, for example, from indium phosphide or gallium arsenide, is set upon the fingers of a carrier which is displaced to the interior of an elongate furnace having its internal temperature maintained at the proper annealing temperature. Next, the fingers are rotated and the sample is placed on a number of razor blade-like edges extending up from an internal rack. The carrier is withdrawn and the sample is quickly brought to the annealing temperature for the precise period of time usually no more than 20 seconds. After the exact annealing period, the carrier is reintroduced and the fingers are rotated to lift the sample from the rack and the sample is withdrawn.

Abstract: A wideband antenna with reduced diameter and volume compared to prior art tennas and having non-critical dimensions resulting in ease of manufacture and tolerance to damage in portable applications and during installation. In one embodiment the antenna is comprised of a vertical element, a number of equally spaced, equal length horizontal elements in the form of a disc and a number of equally spaced, equal length round plane elements in the form of a cone. The vertical and horizontal elements are connected to the inner conductor of a coaxial transmission line and the conical elements are connected to the outer conductor transmission line. In a second embodiment of the present invention, the vertical element is deleted and a parallel inductor is connected between the transmission line outer and inner conductors.

Abstract: A hybrid connector is presented whereby both electrical and fiber optic cables are connected to a printed circuit card. The connector consists of a female half which contains a plurality of fiber optic contact inserts molded into the connector, and also female electrical connections. The male half of the connector is an integral part of a printed circuit card constructed to contain male fiber optical contact inserts in addition to the standard plated electrical male type contact points. Both halves of the connector may be fitted with removable and interchangeable fiber optic contacts, radio frequency contacts, and/or power pins in addition to the standard printed circuit car contacts for wire wrap or solder connections. The printed circuit card hybrid fiber optic connector presented here provides normal card installation and removal of fiber optic interconnects from standard card cages or mother boards without threading or other special engaging mechanisms.

Abstract: The improved electrooptic signal processing relies upon matrix-matrix multiplication using twos complement arithmetic. A source of pulse collimated light illuminates two two-dimension spatial light modulators that operate in a reflective mode through a polarizing beamsplitter. Each of the spatial light modulators has a matrix of optically encoded information of numbers in the twos complement binary representation so that a mixed binary representation of signals is generated within the two-dimensioned photodetector array. The mixed binary representation signals are decoded to a twos complement binary representation or a decimal representation to be useful for more conventional processing techniques. The twos complement arithmetic when incorporated with the electrooptic architecture provides for a convenient means for handling bipolar numbers, avoids the need for matrix partitioning when the matrices are real and offers a means to improve accuracy over conventional optical analog techniques.

Abstract: A test chamber is disclosed for determining the bioluminescent signatures of planktonic organisms in which a light tight chamber has at least one light port, and preferably two light ports, where photomultiplier tubes are connected to the test chamber for detecting and measuring the flash kinetics of marine organisms. A door is pivotally mounted on the light tight chamber for permitting insertion and withdrawal of an organism sample holder. A vacuum tube is connected to the test chamber and to the sample holder via a passageway such that the organism can be excited by means of drawing off the fluid containing the organism. The bioluminescent characteristics of the organisms in the sample holder can then be detected and measured by means of the photomultiplier tubes.

Abstract: A method for annealing semiconductor samples, especially following ion-implantation of semiconductor samples is disclosed. A furnace on a set of rails is passed over the semiconductor sample which is supported on a stationary wire basket made of low thermal mass, fine tungsten wire. The furnace temperature may be about 5.degree. above the desired anneal temperature of the semiconductor sample such that the sample temperature rises to within a few degrees of the furnace temperature within seconds. Utilizing the moveable furnace insures uniform heating without elaborate temperature control or expensive beam generating equipment.The apparatus and process of the present invention are utilized for rapid annealing of ion-implanted indium phosphide semiconductors within 10 to 30 seconds and at temperatures of approximately 700.degree. C., thereby eliminating undesired and damaging movement of impurities within the ion-implanted InP.

Abstract: An inflatable liferaft improves disaster victims' chances of survival, pacularly in cold waters. Three inflatable ribs support a layered canopy from the sides of the raft to assure protection from the elements. A highly reflective coating or an equivalent space-blanket type material is provided on the inside of the canopy to help keep the occupants warm and act as a radar reflector. The inflatable ribs also aerodynamically shape the raft to stabilize it in high wind states and while being towed through the air by a rescue helicopter. A hoisting harness cradles the bottom and sides of the raft and is connected to an enlarged hoisting eye located overhead or floating on the water to assure an unassisted, reliable engagement by a helicopter-born hook.

Abstract: A more clearly defined image is projected onto a distant screen in real-time at video rates to allow for collective analysis of rapidly changing updated data. A laser has its coherent beam modulated in accordance with the images to be viewed. The modulated light beam is scanned across the surface of a liquid crystal light valve to stimulate a photosensor layer that impresses a replica voltage pattern on the bi-refringent liquid crystal. A high intensity projection light beam is reflected from the liquid crystal via a polarizing biprism and, consequently, is modulated by the bi-refringent liquid crystal so that a corresponding image is displayed on the screen. The controllable small spot diameter of the modulated laser beam is capable of greatly improving the resolution as it scans across the liquid crystal light valve.

Abstract: A visual display system detects and continuously displays the location of a breach in a protected building or secure area. Each of a plurality of exclusive OR gates is connected to a separate reed-type sensor switch. Each exclusive OR gate output is connected to a flip-flop network, each of which in turn is connected to a light emitting diode. Activation of a sensor switch results in lighting only of the light emitting diode associated with the area breached. A mechanism is also provided for preventing the generation of false alarms by transients or inadvertent momentary opening of any of the sensor switches.

Abstract: The rotor generator includes an elongated generally cylindrically shaped mework. An elongated rotor is longitudinally aligned within the framework and is rotatably mounted therein. The rotor has a plurality of curved blades which are capable of causing rotation of the rotor when there is fluid flow, such as water or air current. The rotor has a magnetic characteristic which may be provided by attaching magnets to the rotor blades or magnetizing the blades themselves. A plurality of wires are mounted on the framework about the rotor so that when the rotor is rotated electrical current is induced in the wires. Apparatus is provided for collecting the induced electrical current so that the electrical current can be provided for power purposes, such as charging a battery. With this arrangement the rotor generator can be placed on the bottom of the ocean where there is current flow, and utilized for charging a battery which may in turn power oceanographic equipment.

Abstract: An expendable sound source provides a cost effective projection of acoustic nergies in the ocean. A tubular housing contains a d.c. motor that locates its shaft coaxial with the housing. Cylindrically-shaped camming blocks engage spurs in a pair of rigid pistons at both ends of the tubular housing to reciprocate them in accordance with the pattern of the camming surfaces and the motor speed. A flywheel on the shafts and journaling supports assure the projection of arbitrary waveforms and a key-and-keyway cooperation between the housing and prevents the pistons turning in the housings. A self-contained, high energy battery pack is actuated by magnetic reed switch to assure reliable long term projection after deployment. Pressure compensation can be included.

Abstract: A portable machine is provided for in-place grinding of an inside ellipti face of an elliptical boiler manhole access with a grinder which has a flat grinding surface. The boiler manhole access also has an outside elliptical face and a conforming elliptical edge therebetween. The machine includes a supporting structure which is adapted to be fixedly mounted in the manhole access and span the elliptical inside edge. A spindle is rotatably mounted on the support structure with its longitudinal axis substantially coextensive with the longitudinal axis of the manhole access. A sleeve is fixedly mounted to one end of the spindle in a direction perpendicular thereto, and an elongated hollow slide means is slidably mounted on the sleeve. The slide and the sleeve are in gas communication with one another so that when gas pressure is applied thereto the slide is outwardly spring biased from the spindle. The grinder is mounted to the slide with the grinding surface engageable with the inside elliptical face.

Abstract: An ambulator which can be mated to a wheeled frame to form a wheelchair is rovided to enable a paraplegic to stand on the ambulator and be separated from the frame for maneuvering in confined spaces. The ambulator has power operated articulated linkage for raising the paraplegic out of and free of the frame to the standing position on the ambulator; the compact base of the ambulator containing a drive mechanism for moving the ambulator in any desired direction through controls conveniently located on an arm rest. When the ambulator is mated with the frame, the linkage is lowered to carry the paraplegic in the sitting position.

Abstract: A moveable wing aircraft including a quick release, attachment mechanism carrying the aircraft on a bomb rack or other carrier and a mechanism for deploying the moveable wing from its captive carry position to its extended free flight position are disclosed. The aircraft includes an elongate fuselage, a portion of the top surface of which is substantially flat in order to accommodate the moveable wing. The moveable wing is positionable between a captive carry position in which it is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fuselage and an extended free flight position. The single, moveable wing is pivoted around a central point from its captive carry position to its extended free flight position such that it is substantially perpendicular to the aircraft fuselage. The quick release mechanism extends through apertures in the wing in its captive carry position and is spring biased to retract through the wing and into the aircraft fuselage when released from the bomb rack or other carrier.

Abstract: A maskless technique is disclosed for shaping semiconductor materials by ming areas that are selectively etchable with respect to the rest of the structure. In one embodiment of this invention, a body of amorphous material is subjected to radiation by a focused energy beam so as to convert a predetermined region of the amorphous material into a region of crystalline material. The converted region etches at a slower rate than the non-converted amorphous material. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a method of selectively etching a metal is disclosed which includes the step of subjecting a predetermined region of the metal to be impinged upon by a shaped ion beam so as to ion implant the predetermined region. A chemical etch is applied to the metal and to the ion implanted region of the metal and the ion implanted region etches at a slower rate than the portion of the metal outside the ion implanted region.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining characteristics of semi-insulating lium arsenide that can be used to evaluate the suitability of the material for semiconductor processing. An n-channel test device formed on a substrate of semi-insulating gallium arsenide is illuminated with pulses of light. The decay in the photoconductance that occurs due to the illumination is measured in order to enable characterization of the shallow acceptor impurities which compensate the deep donors in the semi-insulating gallium arsenide.

Abstract: This invention is a mechanism for connecting a spiral antenna to a wavegu with very low transmission and reflection losses. The invention provides a smooth broadband transition from a spiral, balanced transmission line through a printed circuit fin-line transition and then to a waveguide TE.sub.10 E-plane transition and extends the use of spiral antennas to millimeter wave frequencies.

Abstract: A method of recovering an underwater object wherein a beluga whale wears a ackpack harness, beaches into a boat with beaching capabilities and is transported to an area of work. The beluga whale is trained to then follow small boats, carry attachment hardware using a bite plate connected to the hardware, carry tow lines and buoyancy modules from the surface, dive and then locate and deploy the attachment hardware onto the non-pingered target.