Abstract: A vehicular traffic sensor capable of measuring traffic speed and volume in all weather conditions and at a low installed cost. The sensor makes use of multi-path interference of ambient radio frequency (RF) signals. The ambient RF signals can be, for example, control signals constantly transmitted by cellular telephone base stations. As vehicles travel along the roadway, they reflect RF signals in all directions. An antenna mounted near the side of the road will detect signals from the transmitter and signals reflected off the vehicle. Variations in the amplitude of the combination of the two signals can be processed using a method that allows the sensor to determine traffic speed and volume. This information can then be sent directly to a traffic management center. This provides an inexpensive sensor for wide-area traffic monitoring.

Abstract: Polymer matrix composites have a through-thickness-thermal conductivity whose value is realized in applications such as composite spaceborne electronics enclosures where heat dissipation is entirely dependent on thermal conduction to a heat sink. The technique involves interlaminating a high thermal conductivity pitch fiber/epoxy and a low thermal conductivity carbon fabric epoxy within a sandwich of copper foil outer plies. Once the copper is laminated on the surface, it is etched from areas not exposed to the heat. A hole may be drilled transversely through the laminated composite and the walls of the space defining the opening are copper plated. The high thermal conductivity of the copper allows heat transfer from the heat source through the opening to the high thermal conductivity fibers which then transfer the heat to a heat sink.

Abstract: The device assists those who are visually handicapped and, in particular, warns blind or visually impaired travellers that they have entered a potentially dangerous area proximal to the edge of boarding platforms of the type typically found in public railway transit systems. An InfraRed Integrated Information System consists of an array of infrared transmitters and a portable detector/warning device to be held by the blind traveller. The transmitters create a beam of infrared light which bathes the section of the platform proximal to the platform edge. As the traveller moves into the region of the platform covered by the emission, the sensors in the warning device are activated and by audio, tactile or other stimuli alert the traveller of entry into the danger zone.

Abstract: An optical interface incorporated into a multi-channel telemetry device used principally to provide data representing physiological conditions in a human subject. Information is transmitted without the need of a bio-compatible electrical connection via an optical link which conveys calibration parameters and commands to control the operation of the telemeter. The optical link is configured to reside completely on an integrated circuit chip. Of the three channels designed into the chip by means of appropriate electronic circuitry, one of the channels measures temperature and the other two channels are dedicated to develop generic information selectively derived from other physiological conditions. Calibration information that is programmed into the telemeter by means of the optical interface is retrieved by time division multiplexing with one of the generic channels.

Abstract: An algorithm applied in the radiological treatment of tumors which minimizes a cost function which is quadratic in the residual between the prescribed dose distribution and the calculated resultant dose. Possible treatment arcs must be stipulated and the algorithm includes an automatic technique for multiple iso-center selection. One overall strategy can be specification of an unrealistically large number of beams (or arcs) and systematic deletion of those beams having the smallest recommended weights until a practical solution is obtained. Tumor, non-tumor, and avoidance areas can be defined. Constrained matrix immersion results in optimum weights and dosage in the treatment of the tumor.

Abstract: A delay compensated Doppler radar altimeter which eliminates the relative delay curvature associated with the energy reflected by a scatterer located in the along-track direction of an aerial platform for which a most accurate estimation of scatterer elevation is desired. By Doppler shifting each return, the range indicated for each scatterer over its illumination history is equal to the minimum range x.sub.h experienced when the relative velocity between the aerial radar and the ground is effectively zero. Compensating each signal so that its entire along-track history can be used for elevation estimation leads to an advantage of more than 10 dB in gain improvement over existing systems, and less degradation from surface topography.

Abstract: A self-contained, small, lightweight, portable, renewable, modular integrated power source. The power source consists of solar cells that are laminated onto a solid state polymer battery which in turn is laminated onto a substrate containing circuits which manage the polymer battery charging. Charging of the battery can occur via solar energy or, alternatively, via RF coupling using external RF charging equipment or a hand held generator. For added support, the integrated power source is then bonded to an applications housing or structure. This integrated power source can independently power the electronic application. It can also serve as casing or housing by taking the shape of the application enclosure.

Abstract: This invention is a lightweight, portable, quickly assembled, wide band, discone antenna for high frequency ground wave communication. The disk portion of the antenna is formed of telescoping spokes and the cone portion is formed of separate retractable wire elements. Disassembled, the antenna can be carried in a backpack. It can be assembled in less than ten minutes to achieve non-fading, non-line-of-sight communication.

Abstract: A multi-channel circuit for telemetering signals representing physiological values from a point in a human body to a receiver (24) outside of the body. The two signals (S.sub.1, S.sub.2) other than the temperature signal (27') are used to provide two frequency modulated signals (14, 16) summed by an amplifier (18) with the summed FM signal then being applied to amplitude modulate (21) a carrier (8) whose frequency varies as a function of temperature. The resulting FM/AM signal (22) is telemetered inductively outside of the body to an external receiver (24). Appropriate demodulation, filter, and shaping circuits within the external circuit detect the FM signals (14, 16) and thus produce three independent frequencies two of which are the original physiological variables and the third a function of local temperature. Real time plot of the two physiological variables can be obtained using FM discriminators while the temperature dependent frequency is best monitored by a counter.

Abstract: A delay compensating circuit for equalizing the propagation and processing delays from data sources which are read sequentially by a central data processing unit. Data from individual data sources is multiplexed into a real-time composite data stream which contains data from each data source and in which the final data bit from one source is followed, during the next clock cycle, by the first data bit from the next data source. To achieve this order, the total (propagation and processing) delay from each data source is controlled to a fixed amount by adding a compensating delay to each data source and adjusting delay automatically following each data transfer based on the occurrence of a known data transition in each data frame.

Abstract: Neurological stimulation alleviates chronic pain and other functional neurologic disorders by delivering electrical impulses to the nervous system of a patient. Within this setting, a computer interface optimizes stimulation with commercially available neurostimulators. The computer and interface, in cooperation with a unique graphics input device, deliver arbitrary and unique paradigms of stimulation. The computer interface provides for efficient patient interaction, optimizes stimulation automatically, and reduces the demands imposed on the time of health care professionals.

Abstract: An ionizing radiation detector employs optical fibers as the medium for sensing ionizing radiation emitted by a radioactive source. Light in the infrared region is pumped continuously through an optical fiber located in an area or region where the unintentional discharge of ionizing radiation may be expected, so that such emission is detected the moment it occurs. The source of optical light emits a constant output within a specific wavelength band which changes only when irradiation of the fibers by ionizing radiation causes their internal color centers to change. The output of the fibers is optically coupled to a photomultiplier via a light pipe. A single light source, detector, and associated electronics complete the system. A hand-held unit unique for remote sensing may house these components. Due to safety conditions, these components are located at a point remote from the position liable to become under the influence of the radiation exposure field.

Abstract: High speed automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry, capable of use in pulse or CW systems, incorporates hysteresis for improving the stability and distortion characteristics of the AGC. After a gain setting is selected, the built-in hysteresis feature prevents an adjustment in that gain setting until the amplitude of the input signal varies more than a predetermined amount. Sampling of the amplitude of the input signal and gain adjustments are accomplished by digital circuitry. In one embodiment, AGC is on a pulse-to-pulse basis.

Abstract: An efficient hardware cache manager controls the top-of-stack data underflow/overflow. A processor chip includes a processor, a stack buffer and the invented cache management hardware. The processor chip communicates with a remove overflow stack through an address/data bus. The cache management hardware efficiently manages overflow and underflow to and from the processor chip in such a manner less than 1% of the processor's time is spent managing the stack cache.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved specimen cell for maintaining a scanning electron microscope specimen under nearly physiological conditions during observation when said specimen includes liquids having a relatively high vapor pressure. A cavity in the specimen cell mounts an open or closed specimen module which is scanned by the electron beam through a small aperture. During preparation of the electron microscope for observation, the aperture is closed by a door so as to prevent evaporation of liquids from the specimen. The door is mechanically or electronically opened to facilitate observation thus minimizing the exposure of the specimen to the desiccation and/or destructive vacuum effects. Furthermore, the aperture is sized so as to provide a resistance to vapor flow through the aperture while permitting bidirectional electron flow facilitating the electron microscopic observation of the specimen.

Abstract: A programmably controllable vise has mechanisms for automatic adjustment of orkpiece position relative to three orthogonal axes. The positions of the vise jaws (during clamping) establish workpiece position along a first axis, and stop members (e.g., piston actuated stops) selectively extendable from the jaws establish workpiece position along a second axis. Two levelling bars supported adjacent the jaws by respective servo-actuators (e.g., double-acting piston type actuators) which adjust the bars along the jaws establish workpiece position along the third axis, as well as workpiece tilt about the first and second axes. Because the adjustments may be made automatically, the vise may operate unattended, with workpieces being loaded and unloaded by a robot. The vise jaws preferably incorporate replaceable jaw elements which are constructed for attachment and removal by a robot and which may be machined to accommodate non-prismatic workpieces.

Abstract: Polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties in fish oil are concentrated by transesterifying fish oil glycerides with a lower alkanol to form a mixture of lower alkyl fatty acid esters, and extracting the esters with carbon dioxide under supercritical conditions.

Abstract: An acoustic method for measuring the quantity and installed density of thal insulation includes introducing a sensing apparatus comprised of one or two acoustic transducers which are so placed as to measure the attenuation and/or phase shift of acoustic waves passing through the insulation. The thermal conductivity for a given insulation material may be monitored as a function of insulation depth by relating the acoustic amplitude and/or phase to a predetermined relationship for that particular insulation material. The relationship may be simply a set of tabular guides relating the quantity of insulation to an amplitude or phase value. This method may be applied to material in an enclosed space, an attic for example where remote access would be desirable, or to material in an open space.

Abstract: A diagonal phased antenna array for use as a wind profiler by means of Doer shift measurements comprises a plurality of Yagi-Uda antennas which are oriented in a predetermined direction such that Yagi-Uda antennas have a polarization 45.degree. offset from the principal planes of operation of the antenna array resulting in similar radiation patterns subject to a geometric taper in the array aperture with respect to the principal planes.

Abstract: A Josephson junction amplifier comprising an array of series connected Josephson junctions which are maintained in a finite voltage, mutually electromagnetically phase-locked state. An input signal is applied across a first group of one or more but less than all of the Josephson junctions, and the output is taken across a second group of the junctions which has a greater number of junctions than the first group. Alternatively, two arrays may be connected in parallel to provide stable electromagnetic phase locking.