Abstract: A stripline transition between two layers of a multilayer microwave stripline assembly. Two stripline layers are sandwiched between metal plates. The metal plates have formed therein complementary curved transition regions and force a stripline to undergo a gradual transition from a first layer to a second layer of the assembly.

Abstract: An autoregressive model simulator is disclosed. The simulator produces time multiplexed samples of a plurality of signals generated from autoregressive coefficients. The order of the autoregressive model is selected by the configuration of identical integrated circuit chips. The autoregressive coefficients for each signal and past samples of the signal are rotated through FIFOs in a manner which enables the simulator to be simply controlled.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package is provided to enclose a microstrip transmission line having a ground plane separated from a strip conductor by a dielectric and a semiconductor device having an electrode contact thereof bonded to the strip conductor by a conductive interconnect, such package having a bottom portion and a top portion hermetically sealed together along a conductive surface, such strip conductor being spaced between the conductive surface and the conductive interconnect. A method of packaging a semiconductor device and a microstrip transmission line having a ground plane separated from a strip conductor by a dielectric with such strip conductor bonded to an electrode contact of the semiconductor device, such method comprising the step of hermetically sealing a top portion of the package to a bottom portion of the package along a conductive surface, the strip conductor being between the semiconductor device and the conductive surface.

Abstract: An improved biconical horn antenna having a broad azimuthal beamwidth and an asymmetrical elevation beam pattern. The antenna comprises two conical sections mounted against a grounded backplane with the tapered ends of the sections facing each other. The sections are of unequal size and have curved edges. The antenna is fed by a rectangular waveguide passing through the backplane between the tapered ends of the sections.

Abstract: A restraining mechanism for a gimbal in a gyroscopically-stabilized seeker in a cannon-launched projectile is shown to consist of a movable latch, so shaped and disposed that relative longitudinal motion between the gimbal and the body of such projectile is prevented during the launching phase, and a release mechanism whereby the movable latch is cleared of the gimbal after the launching phase.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided comprising a bulk substrate of semiconductor material having a first-type doping conductivity in a first dopant concentration. A first layer of semiconductor material is epitaxially formed on the substrate, such first layer having the first-type doping conductivity in a second dopant concentration lower than the first concentration. A second layer of semiconductor material is epitaxially formed on the first layer, the second layer having a second-type doping conductivity opposite to the first-type doping conductvity and thereby forming a P-N junction with the first layer. A plurality of regions, comprising semiconductor material having the first-type doping conductivity and extending through the second layer and a predetermined distance into the first layer, are further included for providing electrical isolation between active devices formed in different regions of the second layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a bipolar transistor comprising the steps of forming a base region in a semiconductor structure and disposing an emitter region on a surface of a first portion of the base region, the emitter region having upper and side surfaces. An active base region is formed in the first portion of the base region and an inactive base region is formed in a second portion of the base region adjacent to the first portion and the side surface of the emitter region. A layer of insulating material is formed over a surface of the inactive base region and over the upper and side surfaces of the emitter region. Portions of such layer are selectively removed to expose the upper surface of the emitter region and a portion of the surface of the inactive base region, and to maintain a region of insulating material between the exposed surface portion of the inactive base region and the side surface of the emitter region.

Abstract: A method of marking metal packages using a laser. The power in the laser beam is set to a predetermined value. The laser is then controlled in a four pass process with the Q-switching frequency of the laser, the speed at which the laser beam is moved across the package and the width of the lines drawn by the laser being set for each pass.

Abstract: An improved differential amplifier having circuitry to enhance the slew rate and to provide a means for nulling the offset voltage during fabrication of the amplifier as an integrated circuit. The differential amplifier comprises an input stage connected to a current mirror. A slew rate enhancement circuit injects current into selected points of the circuit when the input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. An offset trim circuit injects a selected amount of current into the current mirror to alter the current flow between the input stage and the current mirror, thereby reducing the offset voltage. The selected amount of current is dictated by diodes which may be permanently shorted at various stages during fabrication, both before and after the amplifier is enclosed in an IC package.

Abstract: A method of identifying an object from a digitized image is disclosed. One embodiment of the method is particularly applicable to the classification of ships and a second embodiment is particularly applicable to the classification of aircraft. The digitized image of an unknown object is represented as a set of vertical vectors or, in the second embodiment, a set of radial vectors. The vectors are normalized and then compared to a library containing normalized digitized images of known objects. The unknown object is thereby identified as being similar to the known object corresponding to the library image most closely matching the image of the unknown object.

Abstract: A method of guiding a missle during the terminal phase of an intercept. Images, successively formed as the missile approaches the target areas, are represented by a set of vectors. As the missile approaches the target, the image of the target appears to grow larger, and an estimate of the growth is computed. One vector is selected as an aim point, and the missile is guided towards that point. In one embodiment, well-suited for use on small targets, a vector is also selected as a track point, and the distance between the aim point and the track point is computed. The seeker head is controlled to keep the track point in the image and the aim point is located by multiplying the distance between the track point and the aim point by the growth factor. In a second embodiment, well-suited for use with large targets, a track point is selected very near the aim point. As the image grows so that the aim point and track point cannot both be in the field of view, a new track point is selected.

Abstract: A discrete coherent chirp generator capable of generating a plurality of coherent sinusoidal signals. The chirp generator comprises a programmable read only memory containing samples of one period of a sine wave. Additional circuitry generates addresses to the programmable read only memory at periodic intervals to cause samples of a sine wave of the desired frequency to be read out of the programmable read only memory. As a particular application, a plurality of frequency modulated signals can also be generated.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming reference images useful in object identification processes where an image of an unknown object is compared to each image in a library of reference images. The disclosed process forms the reference image by combining a plurality of images of objects of the same class.

Abstract: An improved radar is disclosed wherein an array of digital numbers describing a target area is produced. The numbers have values representing differences in ranges between the radar and reflecting points in an area on the ground illuminated by the radar. The values also represent the differences in angles between the radar and the reflecting points.

Abstract: A resistor terminating device is provided comprising: a substrate; and, a plurality of resistors supported on the substrate, such plurality of resistors having a plurality of electrically isolated connecting first ends arranged for alignment in overlaying relationship with a plurality of electrical conductive connecting leads adapted for electrical connection to such resistors.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a printed circuit board is provided having disposed on a surface thereof a pattern of electrical conductors with ends thereof disposed in overlaying relationship with, and electrically connected to, a selected one, or ones, of the first electrode ends of the resistors.

Abstract: An improved differential amplifier having circuitry to enhance the slew rate and to provide a means for nulling the offset voltage during fabrication of the amplifier as an integrated circuit. The differential amplifier comprises an input stage connected to a current mirror. A slew rate enhancement circuit injects current into selected points of the circuit when the input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. An offset trim circuit injects a selected amount of current into the current mirror to alter the current flow between the input stage and the current mirror, thereby reducing the offset voltage. The selected amount of current is dictated by diodes which may be permanently shorted at various stages during fabrication, both before and after the amplifier is enclosed in an IC package.

Abstract: A radio frequency antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array, such array comprising a pair of subarrays of antenna elements coupled to a pair of electromagnetic lenses. Each lens includes a plurality of array ports, the plurality of array ports of the first lens being coupled to the antenna elements of a first one of the pair of subarrays, and the plurality of array ports of the second lens being coupled to the antenna elements of a second one of the pair of subarrays. The first lens further comprises a first set of beam ports, and the second lens further comprises a second set of beam ports, the first and second sets of beam ports being arranged to form corresponding first and second sets of interleaved beams of radio frequency energy.

Abstract: A method of electronically stabilizing a monopulse antenna mounted on a movable body is disclosed. According to the disclosed invention, the monopulse antenna is electronically steered in a fixed direction despite motion of the movable body in relation to that direction. Compensated azimuthal and elevation difference signals are formed by approximately weighting and adding the the uncompensated azimuthal and elevation difference signals formed by the monopulse antenna.

Abstract: A high voltage modulator is shown to be made up of: (a) a square wave generator adapted to produce signals with adjustable duty cycles at different repetition frequencies; (b) a pair of switching transistor assemblies arranged to connect either a high positive voltage or a high negative voltage to an output line; and (c) switch actuating circuitry optically coupled to the square wave generator to produce actuating signals for the pair of switching transistor assemblies in accordance with the signals out of the square wave generator, the switch actuating circuitry further being adapted to reduce to a minimum the time during which the high positive and high negative voltages may simultaneously be connected to the output line.

Abstract: An antenna system comprising a vertical monopole antenna coupled to a first feed on a ground plane conductor and a dipole antenna comprising a plurality of horizontal dipole antenna elements coupled to a corresponding plurality of feeds on the ground plane conductor, the plurality of dipole antenna elements being disposed about the first feed. The vertical monopole antenna comprises a plurality of monopole antenna elements, the plurality of monopole antenna elements and the plurality of dipole antenna elements being alternately radially disposed about the first feed.