Abstract: An ICR fuser includes a set of fusion rules for combining the outputs of multiple ICR systems. Each ICR system operates on a digital image to extract image component strings and provide a set of multiple candidate character strings and their associated confidence values. Each rule includes a test for determining whether that rule applies to the current ICR system outputs, a membership function for selecting a fused character string, and a confidence equation for assigning it a fused confidence value. The rules partition a decision space into subspaces to reduce the error rate between the fused character string and the image component string.

Abstract: An improved pattern recognition system. The invention operates on a plurality of feature vectors from a single class of data samples. The inventive system estimates a pruning radius for the feature vectors in the single class of data samples and generates a replacement class therefrom based on the estimated pruning radius. This pruning radius is used to train a classifier which in turn facilitates the recognition of a data pattern in raw data. In a specific implementation, the pruning radius is adapted based on current results from the classifier. The invention satisfies the need in the art by providing an automated technique for training classifiers for nonstationary data classes which is not limited by the need for more than one class of data.

Abstract: Self leveling apparatus that includes a frame, a device that is to be leveled, and a leveling mechanism such as a double ring gimbal having an inner gimbal ring and an outer gimbal ring. The outer gimbal ring is secured to the frame and the inner gimbal ring is secured to the device and to the outer ring. The inner ring comprises a viscous or preloaded bearing that allows the device to swing around an inner ring axle to thereby level itself in that axis and prevent spurious movement of the device. The outer gimbal ring and inner gimbal ring are attached by outer axles that comprise a viscous or preloaded bearing that allow the inner gimbal ring to swing around the outer axles thereby level the inner gimbal ring in that axis and prevent spurious movement of the device. A disclosed embodiment of the invention includes a magnetometer sensor that is coupled to signal processing and telemetry electronics and a power source that are leveled to keep axes of the sensor oriented along horizontal and vertical axes.

Abstract: Systems that distribute live television programs to passengers of an aircraft by way of satellites of a direct broadcast satellite (DBS) system when the aircraft is in range of the satellites and distributes time-delayed television programs when the aircraft is out of range of the satellites. The present invention provides for real-time reception and storage of live television programs in a storage medium (in compressed digital format) and presentation to passengers during that time when the aircraft is within the coverage area of satellites. The stored programming is distributed to the passengers later in the flight, when the aircraft is out of range of the satellites. The stored programming includes all channels transmitted by the satellites. Thus, a large number of programs are made available to the passengers on a time-delay basis. A low-cost system is disclosed that distributes a single television channel to overhead monitors and headphones.

Abstract: A telemetry system for receiving data from large arrays of sensors, in which the sensors are located in an unprotected environment, is implemented using fiber optic components. Laser sources, located in a protected environment, transmit light through the boundary separating the protected environment from the unprotected one. The light is then split into a number of beams and fed to electro-optical modulators, where it is modulated in response to electrical signals received from the sensors. The modulated light signals are then wavelength-division multiplexed and transmitted back through the environment boundary, where they are amplified, demultiplexed and converted to electrical signals. Multiplexing reduces the number of boundary penetrations, and the use of highly stable electro-optical modulators eliminates the need for signal conditioning electronics at each sensor.

Abstract: A system that provides live television programming to passengers by integrating direct broadcast satellite services into an in-flight aircraft entertainment system. The present invention is a satellite television system that has an antenna disposed on the aircraft that is pointed at a plurality of satellites that are part of a direct broadcast satellite system. The antenna is controlled by an antenna controller and antenna interface unit that send control signals and process status signals to steer the antenna. The antenna is steered to lock it onto RF signals transmitted by the satellites. The antenna interface unit downconverts the received RF signals to provide left hand circularly polarized RF signals and right hand circularly polarized RF signals that contain different sets of television channels. The downconverted RF signals are processed by a receiver/decoder that decodes them to provide video signals corresponding to different television channels.

Abstract: A satellite television system that provides live television programming to passengers by integrating direct broadcast satellite services into an in-flight aircraft entertainment system. The system has an antenna disposed on the aircraft that is pointed at a plurality of satellites that are part of a direct broadcast satellite system. The antenna is controlled by an antenna controller and antenna interface unit that send control signals and process status signals to steer the antenna. The antenna is steered to lock it onto RF signals transmitted by the satellites. The antenna interface unit downconverts the received encoded RF signals to provide encoded left hand circularly polarized RF signals and right hand circularly polarized RF signals that contain different sets of television channels. The downconverted encoded RF signals are processed by a receiver to provide encoded video and audio signals of different television channels. The receiver does not decode or D/A convert the downconverted signals.

Abstract: Continuous, elongated nickel plated graphite fibers are bound with an epoxy and are formed into a structural shape (11). An area (13) of the epoxy is removed by bead blasting to expose a layer of the plated graphite fibers (14), which are aligned in the desired direction of radio frequency current propagation. The bead blasted area (13) is then silver plated to obtain good contact to the plated graphite fibers (14) and resultant high conductivity from the structural shape (11).

Abstract: A measurement optical fiber is placed into contact with a geological structure, and a reference optical fiber of about the same length is not contacted to the geological structure. An input beam of light is transmitted down the lengths of the measurement and reference optical fibers, and the interference fringes formed between the reflected beams in the two optical fibers are counted to determine the geological displacement, and thence the geologic strain, experienced by the measurement optical fiber. Preferably, multiple pairs of the measurement and reference optical fibers are used, the optical fibers of the various pairs being of different lengths. The difference in displacement measured by any two pairs is a measure of the geological strain in the region between the ends of the two pairs. The multiple pairs are conveniently provided in two optical fiber cables, a measurement cable which contacts the geological structure and a reference cable which extends parallel and adjacent to the measurement cable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for providing a graphical user interface between an individual soldier and a computer-based warfare system worn by him. The graphical user interface is made up of icon-based visual control and information screens that the soldier views on a display and manipulates with a computer mouse-like device. The interface allows the individual soldier to: view information gathered by a variety of sources, including sensor components, radios, and satellites; process information using a variety of input devices and software utilities; and, act on that information using weapons, communications devices, and the like. The graphical user interface organizes information into three distinct "combat task" groups and provides the soldier with easily understood pictorial icons to select. By tailoring the information to a particular situation, the graphical user interface allows the soldier to view critical data without being overwhelmed by too much information.

Abstract: A method for selecting a set of four target bearings from a plurality of bearing measurements to optimize rapidity, accuracy and stability of a target track solution in a bearings-only target motion algorithm. Four bearings are selected to generate the deterministic solution by first selecting a candidate bearing set, then computing a set of "n" solutions from the candidate set and others adjacent thereto. Motion parameters are then computed, and any solution exhibiting parameters outside a user defined deviation from the mean is discarded. The mean target parameters of the remaining solutions may again be computed, and further culling out performed, until the desired distribution is achieved. An optimal solution is chosen as the solution from the remaining sample space that is closest to the mean in target range, course and speed.

Abstract: A method for interactively displaying flight information in an air traffic control system. Flight information lists are displayed relative to associated geographic fixes, and further flight information is displayed pursuant to user selection of an item on a flight list.

Abstract: A processing method and apparatus that process magnetometer data derived from an array of magnetometer sensors and outputs the position or location of a magnetic dipole. In the method and apparatus, (a) a set of actual magnetic field measurements of a magnetic dipole is collected using the array of magnetic sensors. Then (b), a location for the magnetic dipole is hypothesized. Then (c), a set of estimated magnetic field measurements is determined that would be formed by a magnetic dipole at the hypothesized location. Then (d), the actual magnetic field measurements are compared with the estimated magnetic field measurements. Steps (b) through (d) are repeated for all hypothesized locations within the detection range of the array of magnetic sensors. The position or location of the dipole is displayed for viewing on a display.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the properties of the tropopause includes a variable frequency microwave radiometer operating over a range of from about 118.0 to about 119.0 GHz. The radiometer receives as an input a frequency selector signal and produces as an output a measured power level at a measurement frequency corresponding to the input frequency selector signal. The apparatus further includes a feedback controller having as an input the measured power level and producing as an output the frequency selector signal. The feedback controller varies the frequency selector signal to a target frequency so as to produce a minimum value in the measured power level. The tropopause equivalent altitude is determined from the target frequency.

Abstract: Wave-number-frequency adaptive beamforming using a reduced rank k-.omega. matrix method. A spatial Fourier transform of the narrowband receiver outputs for the sensors in a linear array is taken to enter the wave number space and generate M independent spatial wave number beams w. The spatial FFT outputs are used to form the entries in a matrix of eigenvectors, wherein the k-th eigenvector represents a set of spatial convolution coefficients. The spatial wave number beams are weighted in an adaptation process by the spatial convolution coefficients to form a beam steered in the direction of a k-th signal source.

Abstract: A sequential messaging method for use in a vehicle detector and classification system having a processor and that uses first and second beams to detect transitions of front and rear ends of a vehicle. The method comprises detecting the vehicle when its front end breaks the first beam, assigning a new vehicle ID number to the vehicle, and transmitting a vehicle detection report containing the vehicle ID number to the processor. The vehicle is detected when its front end passes the second beam, and a vehicle detection update report is transmitted to the processor comprising left edge position, right edge position, range to each edge, vehicle height, and vehicle speed, all of which are derived from the beams reflected from the vehicle. The vehicle is detected when its rear end passes the first beam, and a rear vehicle detection report is transmitted to the processor comprising the left edge position, right edge position, range to each edge, vehicle height, and vehicle speed.

Abstract: The automatic gain control loop has an automatic gain control loop filter generating a multi-bit gain control word in response to the power level of the output signal of the loop. A shifter circuit shifts the input data by selected number of bits under the control of selected most significant bits of the gain control word multiplying the power of the input signal. A multiplier circuit multiplies the shifted data output from the shifter circuit by predetermined multiplication factors under the control of the remaining bits of the gain control word. The shifting and adding of the input data under the control of the gain control word maintains the power level of the output signal within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A modular array processor architecture (10) comprising a plurality of interconnected parallel processing node (11)s that each comprise a control processor (12), an arithmetic processor (13) having an input port (22) for receiving data from an external source that is to be processed, a node memory (14) that also comprises a portion of a distributed global memory, and a network interface (15) coupled between the control processor (12), the arithmetic processor (13), and the node memory (14). Data and control buses (17, 18) are coupled between the arithmetic processors (13) and network interfaces (14) of each of the processing nodes (11). Respective network interfaces (15) link each of the arithmetic processors (13), node memories (14) and control processors (12) together to provide for communication throughout the architecture (10) and permit each node to communicate with the node memories (14) of all other processing nodes (11).

Abstract: A tactile feedback switch actuator for an associated force-actuated switch has a key cap linked to a collapsible dome by an optical fiber, all of which are light-transmittable. The actuator is operated by manually applying an actuating force to the key cap which exceeds the modulus of collapse of the dome. In response, the dome reversibly collapses in a tactile snapping action against the underlying light-transmittable switch panel having pressure-sensitive contacts embedded therein to change the operative state of the switch. When the actuating force is withdrawn, the collapsible dome elastically returns to its uncollapsed condition, while the switch remains in its newly-actuated operative state. The actuator and associated switch are structurally integrated and aligned so that light-emitting pixels in an underlying electroluminescent panel provide visual feedback of the operative state of the switch.

Abstract: A high capacity radar plot display with low CPU loading. The display includes a display process (42) which controls a graphics window server (46) to render symbols on a display console by a "walking worm" animation. The current symbol plot as well as several symbol plot histories are sequentially displayed to render the animation. A plurality of color maps defining the colors of the current and plot histories are defined, with a clear color map to clear the display. The clear color map includes black (nonvisible) color for all the current and plot histories. The color map for the oldest plot history has a visible color assigned to the oldest history plot, with all other plot histories and the current plot still in black. Successive color maps for the remaining plot histories and the current plot, from the next oldest to the current plot, have progressively more plot histories in a visible color.