Abstract: A method of using a digital subscriber link unit as a media converter, the method comprising coupling a first signal of a first type to a first port of the digital subscriber link unit, converting the first signal of the first type to a second signal of the second type with the digital subscriber link unit and outputting the second signal of the second type from a second port of the digital subscriber link unit. The first port and the second port are not G.SHDSL ports.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for chemical and biological agent sensing. An example sensing apparatus includes a resonator having a resonance frequency. The resonator includes a coil of a photonic crystal fiber. The photonic crystal fiber has a solid region configured to guide a substantially single optical mode of light having, a cladding surrounding an exterior of the solid region, and at least one hollow core within the cladding. The cladding contains at least one hollow core. The photonic crystal fiber is configured to introduce a fluid that may contain an analyte to the hollow core. The photonic crystal fiber is configured so that the light interacts with the fluid. The resonator is configured to produce a resonance signal centered at the resonance frequency. A predetermined change in the resonance signal indicates a presence of a quantity of the analyte in the fluid.

Abstract: A solid state radiation detector comprises a substrate having a sensing element thereon and at least one heavy metal plug formed in at least one insulation layer above the substrate. The at least one heavy metal plug is located directly above the sensing element and is electrically isolated from the sensing element. The at least one heavy metal plug reacts with a plurality of initial radiation particles to produce a plurality of secondary particles, the plurality of secondary particles having a lower level of energy than the plurality of initial radiation particles; wherein the number of secondary particles produced is greater than the number of initial radiation particles with which the at least one heavy metal plug reacts; and wherein the sensing element is operable to produce an electrical signal in reaction to the secondary particles.

Abstract: A system includes first and second transmitters attachable to first and second vehicles. The transmitters can each transmit successive signals at predetermined time intervals. Tracking stations at different locations are configured to receive the signals transmitted by at least one of the first and second transmitters, distinguish signals transmitted by the first transmitter from signals transmitted by the second transmitter, and determine from the transmitted signals respective position information for at least one of the first and second transmitters. Each of the tracking stations is further configured to be in signal communication with at least one other of the tracking stations. The system further includes at least one processing device in signal communication with at least one of the tracking stations. The processing device is configured to determine from the position information a location of the first vehicle relative to a location of the second vehicle.

Abstract: A method for programming the delay for a node in a communication system is disclosed. The node receives a selected delay value and a signal path delay value indicating a delay for signals communicated to the node. The signal path delay comprises an aggregation of transport delays calculated by each node for segments of the communication system between the node and a host node. The method further calculates an additional delay necessary to meet the selected delay value.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an aircraft with an area on the ground is provided. The apparatus includes an aircraft having an on-board landing system, the on-board landing system configured to record an image of an area on the ground. The apparatus also includes a location marker on the area of the ground, and a stored image showing at least a portion of the area of the recorded image. The on-board landing system is configured to obtain information from the location marker and use the information to align the recorded image with the stored image.

Abstract: A transceiver apparatus comprising a software-definable-radio-transceiver architecture. The transceiver apparatus comprises at least one up-conversion path including at least one configurable micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) transmit filter communicatively coupled to transmit output from a digital-to-analog converter to an antenna, and at least one down-conversion path including at least one configurable-MEMS-receive filter communicatively coupled to transmit signals received from the antenna to an analog-to-digital converter. The at least one configurable-MEMS-transmit filter prevents interference on the up-conversion path from signals transmitted from the antenna. The at least one configurable-MEMS-receive filter prevents interference on the down-conversion path from signals transmitted to the antenna. A plurality of upconversion and downconversion paths can operate simultaneously and on different channel frequencies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for avoiding non-linear behavior of conventional early-minus-late correlator-based code loop discriminators. The present invention provides a model of correlator behavior that takes into account whether both correlators are on the same side of the correlation peak or they straddle the peak. The result is a piecewise solution that can be stitched together quite readily to produce an extended range of linear response, thereby improving the pull-in capability of GPS code loops when closely spaced correlators are being used.

Abstract: A weight and balance system for accurately determining gross weight of an aircraft. The present invention integrates tire pressure measurements with strut pressure measurements to overcome the problem associated with the friction in the strut seals, and simultaneously overcome the problem with the large number of variables associated with using tire pressure measurement to determine load (weight on wheels). An example system includes a plurality of strut pressure sensors that generate strut pressure data for landing gear struts of the aircraft and a plurality of tire pressure sensors that generate tire pressure data for tires of the aircraft. A processing device that is in data communication with the strut and tire pressure sensors determines gross weight and center of gravity of the aircraft based on the received strut and tire pressure data.

Abstract: A flash memory array comprises a plurality of memory cells organized in a matrix of rows and columns. Each of the memory cells includes a floating gate memory transistor having a source region and a drain region, and a coupling capacitor electrically connected to the memory transistor. A plurality of word lines are each electrically connected to the capacitor in each of the memory cells in a respective row. A first set of bit lines are each electrically connected to the drain region of the memory transistor in each of the memory cells in a respective column. A plurality of high voltage access transistors are each electrically connected to a bit line in the first set of bit lines. A second set of bit lines are each electrically connected to the source region of the memory transistor in each of the memory cells in a respective column.

Abstract: An atomic clock having a physics package that includes a vacuum chamber cavity that holds atoms of Rb-87 under high vacuum conditions, an optical bench having a single laser light source, a local oscillator, a plurality of magnetic field coils, an antenna, at least one photo-detector and integrated control electronics. The single laser light source has a fold-retro-reflected design to create three retro-reflected optical beams that cross at 90° angles relative to one another in the vacuum chamber cavity. This design allows the single laser light source to make the required six trapping beams needed to trap and cool the atoms of Rb-87. The foregoing design makes possible atomic clocks having reduced size and power consumption and capable of maintaining an ultra-high vacuum without active pumping.

Abstract: A ground contact switch system comprises a first object configured to contact a ground surface during a stride, and one or more switches coupled to the first object. An inertial measurement unit can be coupled to the first object. The one or more switches are configured to detect when the first object is at a stationary portion of the stride. The one or more switches can also be configured to send a signal to activate an error correction scheme for the inertial measurement unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically shielding electronic components is provided. The apparatus includes a circuit board having a first surface with a plurality of electronic components mounted on the first surface, the first surface having a first region and a second region. The circuit board comprises a ground plane and a trace on the first surface coupled to at least one electronic component in the first region and coupled to at least one electronic component in the second region. The circuit board also comprising a strip of conductive material on the first surface, the strip of conductive material forming a perimeter around the first region of the circuit board, the strip of conductive material coupled to the ground plane, the strip of conductive material defining at least one gap wherein the trace is oriented through the at least one gap. Additionally, a first filtering device is coupled to the trace on a first side of the gap.

Abstract: A method implementable in an audio receiver having an input for receiving broadcast signals including a set of channels and a squelching controller includes converting the signals associated with each channel into respective digital signals, and tuning the digital signals associated with a first subset of the channels. For each channel of the first channel subset, a respective set of amplitudes associated with respective frequencies of the associated digital signal is determined. A random-noise-level value associated with each channel of the first channel subset is determined from each set of the signal amplitudes. If a signal amplitude associated with a first channel of the first channel subset exceeds the random-noise-level of the first channel, a second subset of the channels of the set is tuned. Otherwise, the random-noise-levels are provided to the squelching controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating corrections to a navigation solution based on differential GPS data includes receiving GPS ephemeris from at least three GPS satellites. A PVT solution is resolved from the GPS ephemeris. The PVT solution includes a Circular Error Probable (CEP). Differential GPS data for calculating the corrections to the PVT solution is received. A corrected PVT solution is then based upon the differential GPS data. The corrected PVT solution is compared to an area defined by the CEP. Where the corrected PVT solution is not within the area, the corrected PVT solution is rejected in favor of the PVT solution for determining an accurate navigational solution.

Abstract: A method of providing audio transmissions from an electronic device having internal audio multiplexing is disclosed. The method comprises combining a plurality of received audio input signals for output as a first mode of operation for the electronic device, where the electronic device is configured to output the plurality of audio input signals on at least one audio channel. When a priority audio signal is detected from one of the received audio input signals in the first mode of operation, the method interrupts playback of the remaining audio input signals with the priority audio signal as a second mode of operation for the electronic device and transfers, within the electronic device, the priority audio signal to the at least one audio channel once the priority audio signal is detected.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a chip including an error amplifier, a pulse width modulator (PWM), and an inductor driven by said PWM in series with an output node (VOUT), wherein a load current flows through the inductor. A circuit for sensing the load current includes a first operational amplifier and a sense resistor having resistance RSENSE; wherein a sense current related to the load current flows through the sense resistor. A reference resistor has a resistance RREFERENCE which is a fixed multiple of RSENSE. A set resistor has a resistance RSET. Tracking circuitry sets a voltage across the reference resistor to be equal to a voltage across the set resistor. A function block receives a current through the set resistor and a current through the reference resistor to find their ratio. A current multiplier provides a measurement current which is proportional to the load current divided by RSET.

Abstract: A method for extracting peak information from an amplitude varying sinusoidal waveform output from a sensor is provided. The method includes gating a counter with a keying signal having a keying-signal period generated by a sinusoidal waveform associated with the amplitude varying sinusoidal waveform, receiving high frequency clock signals at the gated counter during keying-signal periods, wherein a clock-signal period is much less than the keying-signal periods, disabling the counter at the end of each keying-signal period, generating a quarter-count value based on the disabling, and outputting a sample pulse associated with each keying-signal period. If a current-keying-signal period is the same as a last-keying-signal period, the sample pulse is generated at a quarter-wave of the sinusoidal waveform. If the current-keying-signal period differs from the last-keying-signal period, the associated output sample pulses are adjusted to the quarter-wave of the sinusoidal waveform in the next-keying-signal period.

Abstract: A receiver comprising at least one micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) antenna-select switch, a MEMS filter bank communicatively coupled to the antenna-select switch and a plurality of intermediate frequency modules communicatively coupled to the MEMS filter bank and the non-MEMS filter array, wherein each independent channel supported by the receiver has at least one associated intermediate frequency module.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system is provided. In one embodiment, a method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing multipoint-to-point communications system comprises establishing communication between a first remote unit of a plurality of remote units and a host unit, the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the host unit in a multipoint-to-point configuration using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing; and adjusting a round trip path delay associated with the first remote unit.