Abstract: A cost-effective solution is proposed to improve explosive transfer between booster and warhead that is compatible with the existing base of general purpose warheads and flexible to work with new warhead configurations. A booster lens is placed in the fuze well that concentrates the pressure wave to penetrate the fuze well with a peak pressure that exceeds the detonation threshold and detonate the warhead explosive. The booster lens can be configured to control the direction of the concentrated lobe to penetrate the fuze well where the barriers are low.

Abstract: Optical distortion calibration for an Electro-Optical sensor in a chamber eliminates calibration of the mirror controller and allows for calibration while the target is in motion across the FOV thus providing a more efficient and accurate calibration. A target pattern is projected through sensor optics with line of sight motion across the sensor FOV to generate a sequence of frames. Knowing that the true distances between the same targets remain constant with line of sight motion across the sensor's FOV, coefficients of a function F representative of the non-linear distortion in the sensor optics are fit from observed target positions in a subset of frames to true line of sight so that distances between targets are preserved as the pattern moves across the FOV. The coefficients are stored as calibration terms with the sensor.

Abstract: A hybrid strip-loaded EO polymer/sol-gel modulator in which the sol-gel core waveguide does not lie below the active EO polymer waveguide increases the higher electric field/optical field overlap factor ? and reduces inter-electrode separation d thereby lowering the modulator's half-wave drive voltage V?, reducing insertion loss and improving extinction. The strip-loaded modulator comprises an EO polymer layer that eliminates optical scattering caused by sidewall roughness due to etching. Light does not encounter rough edges as it transitions to and from the sol-gel and EO polymer waveguides. This reduces insertion loss.

Abstract: The present invention provides for simple and streamlined boresight correlation of FLIR-to-missile video. Boresight correlation is performed with un-NUCed missile video, which allows boresight correlation and NUC to be performed simultaneously thereby reducing the time required to acquire a target and fire the missile. The current approach uses the motion of the missile seeker for NUCing to produce spatial gradient filtering in the missile image by differencing images as the seeker moves. This compensates DC non-uniformities in the image. A FLIR image is processed with a matching displace and subtract spatial filter constructed based on the tracked scene motion. The FLIR image is resampled to match the missile image resolution, and the two images are preprocessed and correlated using conventional methods. Improved NUC is provided by cross-referencing multiple measurements of each area of the scene as viewed by different pixels in the imager.

Abstract: A system and method for moving target based non-uniformity calibration for optical images. The described approach allows for the use of the same test chamber to perform non-uniformity calibration and moving target tests. The current approach works by scanning a test scene having a target and a background at different intensity levels in an overlapping pattern across the imager FOV and cross-referencing multiple measurements of each pixel of a test scene as viewed by different pixels in the imager; each fully-compensated image pixel sees multiple different scene pixels and each scene pixel is seen by multiple imager pixels. For each fully-compensated imager pixel, an Nth order correlation is performed on the measured and estimate pixel response data to calculate the NUC terms. This approach is based on the simple yet novel premise that every fully-compensated pixel in the array that looks at the same thing should see the same thing.

Abstract: A polymer is formed into the shape of a one-piece composite part and then solidified by curing, setting, hardening or otherwise solidifying the polymer to form a shaped polymer form having a shape that does not draw. Composite material is laid up on the form and solidified to from the composite part. The rigidity required of the form to lay up the composite part can be provided by operating in the polymer form's glassy state, forming the shaped polymer form with a hollow core and placing a rigid insert designed to draw inside the hollow core with the polymer form in its elastomeric state or through a combination of both. In its elastomeric state the form becomes pliable (without relaxing to a different memorized shape) and can be drawn out of the one-piece composite part. Because the shape of the form does not draw, the form deforms as it is drawn. If used, the rigid insert is drawn out prior to removing the shaped polymer form.

Abstract: Ion implantation is used to grow nanotubes out of carbon and other materials. Catalytic material is placed on or in a membrane that physically and possibly environmentally separates an implantation chamber or region from a growth chamber or region. High-energy ions are implanted into the catalytic material from one side to grow nanotubes on an exposed surface in the growth chamber. Ion implantation via the membrane provides for greater flexibility to separate and independently control the implantation and growth processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides for simple and streamlined boresight correlation of FLIR-to-missile video. Boresight correlation is performed with un-NUCed missile video, which allows boresight correlation and NUC to be performed simultaneously thereby reducing the time required to acquire a target and fire the missile. The current approach uses the motion of the missile seeker for NUCing to produce spatial gradient filtering in the missile image by differencing images as the seeker moves. This compensates DC non-uniformities in the image. A FLIR image is processed with a matching displace and subtract spatial filter constructed based on the tracked scene motion. The FLIR image is resampled to match the missile image resolution, and the two images are preprocessed and correlated using conventional methods. Improved NUC is provided by cross-referencing multiple measurements of each area of the scene as viewed by different pixels in the imager.

Abstract: A reliable and inexpensive attitude control system uses a plurality of pitch-over thrusters to perform rapid and precise attitude maneuvers for a flight vehicle. The pitch-over thrusters create rotational moments that directly pitch and yaw the flight vehicle. The use of very simple thrusters and control techniques provides for a reliable and cost effective solution. The ability to perform overlapping pitch and yaw maneuvers with single-shot fixed-impulse thrusters provides for high-speed maneuverability.

Abstract: Stone Wales defect pairs in a carbon nanostructure are used to store energy. Energy is released by a chain reaction of phonons disrupting the defect pairs to generate more phonons until the lattice returns to its original hexagonal form and the energy is released in the form of lattice vibrations. Devices may be configured as a battery to release electrical energy in a controlled manner or as an explosive to release energy in an uncontrolled manner.

Abstract: Strengthened filaments and fibers are realized by mixing and dissolving monomer and catalyst in a solvent into open-ended nanotubes to form a polymer precursor prior to polymerization in which the open nanotubes are filled with monomer and catalyst. The remaining steps for forming a stabilized filament may follow the conventional sequence. The result is that the nanotubes are “doubly-embedded” in the polymer matrix (bonds to the polymer inside and extending through the nanotube and bonds to other polymer chains outside the nanotube) in the filament. These additional bonds provide additional mechanical strength. The number of bonds may be further enhanced by pretreating the nanotubes to create defects in the nanotubes to form sites along the inner and outer walls for additional polymer-to-nanotube bonds.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting energy from a heat source using photonic crystals with defect cavities generally comprise a photonic crystal, a cavity, and a converter. The photonic crystal is responsive to a heat source and generates an electromagnetic beam in response to incidence with the heat source. The photonic crystal exhibits a band gap such that wavelengths within the band gap are substantially confined within the photonic crystal. The cavity is substantially within the crystal and is responsive to the electromagnetic beam such that the cavity transmits the electromagnetic beam to a specified location. The converter is substantially collocated with the specified location and extracts energy in response to incidence with the electromagnetic beam.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method adaptively compresses the dynamic range of an image from a sensor by rescaling the value of every pixel to fit within the dynamic range of a low dynamic range display while preserving local image contrast and global scene appearance.

Abstract: An all-digital line-of-sight (LOS) process architecture addresses the size, weight, power and performance constraints of a receiver for use in semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic (EM) targeting systems. The all-digital architecture provides a platform for enhanced techniques for sensitive pulse detection over a wide field-of-view, adaptive pulse detection, LOS processing and counter measures.

Abstract: When illuminated with a plane wave a variable cross-coupling partial reflector reflects a specific amount of a cross-polarized field and a specific amount of a co-polarized field and transmits the remaining power with low attenuation. This is achieved with a pair of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) that are rotated with respect to the incident plane wave. The FSSs can be fixed with a given alignment for a particular application or a tuning mechanism can be provided to independently rotate the surfaces and adapt the reflected co- and cross-polarized fields to changing requirements. Of particular interest is the ability to provide a specific amount of cross-polarized reflected power while reflecting no co-polarized field over a certain range of wavelengths. This will be useful to increase power efficiency in, for example, wave power sources that utilize quasi-optical power by causing oscillations in reflection amplifier arrays.

Abstract: An all-digital line-of-sight (LOS) process architecture addresses the size, weight, power and performance constraints of a receiver for use in semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic (EM) targeting systems. The all-digital architecture provides a platform for enhanced techniques for sensitive pulse detection over a wide field-of-view, adaptive pulse detection, LOS processing and counter measures.

Abstract: SAL designation uses absolute time coding of the pulse-stream to disambiguate the designator in a manner that reduces the number of pulses in a pulse-stream and reduces the total pulse energy on the target. This requires timing synchronization between the designator and receiver. For improved rejection of unintended returns, more precise time gating (narrower absolute time window) is required. This can be achieved by removing the path length and or firing time uncertainty errors. Absolute time coding reduces the number of pulses and total energy on target in two ways. First, the designator may only have to transmit the pulse-code once. The “spot” appears for the brief time associated with a pulse-stream and disappears; continuous lasing of the target is not required. Second, the designator can be disambiguated using a combination of pulse-code (relative spacing of pulses) and pulse-position (absolute timing of pulses) modulation.

Abstract: An all-digital line-of-sight (LOS) process architecture addresses the size, weight, power and performance constraints of a receiver for use in semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic (EM) targeting systems. The all-digital architecture provides a platform for enhanced techniques for sensitive pulse detection over a wide field-of-view, adaptive pulse detection, LOS processing and counter measures.

Abstract: An all-digital line-of-sight (LOS) process architecture addresses the size, weight, power and performance constraints of a receiver for use in semi-active or active pulsed electromagnetic (EM) targeting systems. The all-digital architecture provides a platform for enhanced techniques for sensitive pulse detection over a wide field-of-view, adaptive pulse detection, LOS processing and counter measures.

Abstract: A text formatting system parses text and reformats it to establish optimal spacing for readability and reader comprehension. It also reduces the incidence of rivers and therefore enhances the aesthetic quality of the formatted text. The formatting applied to the text by the present invention is based on structure rules that determine key parameters of page layout including for example column width, font, font size, color, leading and kerning.