Abstract: A biasing network for use in conjunction with a mixer employing field effect transistors which provides for minimum conversion loss over a range of process and temperature conditions. The biasing circuit includes a first field effect transistor having a small gate periphery which is configured as a current source, a second or reference field effect transistor having a gate periphery substantially equal to the gate peripheries of the transistors in the mixer to which the biasing circuit is providing DC biasing voltages and a voltage divider which is functional in defining operating conditions for the reference transistor.

Abstract: A primary flight display having a vertically oriented linear scale format altimeter therein which includes a non-numbered coarse tape-like image area, for displaying markings relating to altitude and a fine scale tape-like image area juxtaposed with said coarse tape-like image area said fine scale image area for displaying numerals in vertical translational movement and a central current altimeter reading with at least part of the reading disposed about said coarse scale image area.

Abstract: Aircraft rendezvous is facilitated by operating airborne remote aircraft TACAN stations in the inverse bearing mode and using low data rate range interrogation and range reply signals for determining bearing. An aircraft determines its bearing to another similarly equipped aircraft by switching its antenna to an omnidirectional pattern and transmitting range interrogation pulses and then switching its antenna to a rotating directional pattern and receiving range interrogation and range reply signals from the other aircraft. The TACAN station calculates the bearing to the other aircraft using the low data rate signals, thereby obviating the necessity of using a high power base TACAN station.

Abstract: An improved method of forming metal contact bumps for infrared detector array includes depositing a thick layer of positive organic photoresist, and exposing the entire layer to light. A second, substantially thinner layer of photoresist is then applied, and exposed with a pattern of light corresponding to the contact bumps desired. The photoresist is developed to resolve the pattern in the top thin film, and the underlying thick resist is isotropically developed down to the substrate surface and under a portion of the remaining unexposed top layer. the metal to form the contact bumps is then deposited, preferably by evaporative deposition. The overhanging edges of the top layer of photoresist prevent continuous metal step coverage between the surface of the photoresist layer and the bumps formed on the substrate surface in the cavity. The remaining photoresist is then dissolved, and the metal deposited on the surface of the second layer is readily removed.

Abstract: A digital data system which includes a passive coupler from a transmission line and a clock recovery device and a sample pulse generator coupled with the clock recovery device to generate sample pulses in relation to the recovered clock signal and a comparator device for comparing the sample pulse signal with the signal received from the passive coupler.

Abstract: A self-erecting tiltmeter includes a vertical seeking assembly suspended on a gimbals within a housing which contains a viscous fluid. Portions of the assembly outer surface spherically match corresponding portions the housing inner surface, leaving a gap or gaps across which the fluid may transfer tilts to the vertical seeking assembly. Different portions may have different radii or curvature. The fluid is sufficiently dense as to reduce the weight of the assembly on the gimbals. The vertical seeking assembly includes a conductivity difference bubble sensor assembly, signals from which are transmitted to the exterior of the housing through wires which pass through the pivots of the gimbals. An annulus of closed cell neoprene accommodates thermal expansion of the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a polarization mode selection switch for preselected wavelengths using a waveguide having a first array of PIN type diodes mounted in a plane extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal waveguide axis. The diodes are disposed at one-quarter wavelength intervals along a first series of parallel lines which are separated at about one-half wavelength intervals. A second PIN diode array is also mounted within the waveguide in a second plane extending substantially perpendicular to the waveguide axis with diodes disposed at one-quarter wavelength intervals along a second series of parallel lines that are also spaced about one-half wavelength apart. The second plane is substantially parallel and adjacent to the first plane with the second lines being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first lines.

Abstract: A weather radar system having improved display characteristics for rotation and translation of weather data where the rotations and translations are accomplished by converting data in a dedicated polar coordinate memory to display memories. The translation and rotation of the data between data updates is accomplished by referring to the data stored in the dedicated polar coordinate memory and thereby generating new rotated or translated data without requiring a manipulation plate of the data in the display memories.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for cleaning rosin flux residues off of printed wiring assemblies. In accordance with the invention printed wiring assemblies are placed within a processing chamber and a vacuum pump is used to draw a vacuum within the processing chamber. The rosin flux residues are then washed off of the printed wiring assemblies using a solvent for dissolving and removing the flux residues.

Abstract: A nonintrusive flow sensing system (10) and related method are provided for monitoring fluid flow within a conduit (14), particularly such as a liquid flow (12). The sensing system (10) includes an array of ultrasonic transducers (18, 20, 24, 26) mounted on the conduit (14) and adapted to send and receive pulsed ultrasonic signals bidirectionally across the conduit with an upstream-downstream component of direction, and through the conduit in longitudinal and circumferential directions. Signal transit times are processed to obtain accurate measurements of liquid flow velocity, temperature and pressure.

Abstract: The radiation hardened NFET and process of the subject Methods and Structures for Improving Radiation Tolerance of Silicon Gate CMOS/Silicon on Sapphire Devices utilizes boron edge doping of a silicon epi island on sapphire at the island opposed edges in the region which will be the P-doped region of the finished transistor. Multiple boron ion implants are made into the silicon adjacent to the active region and driven-in to provide a uniform edge doping. Alternatively, a furnace containing a source of boron vapor and the sapphire wafer is used to dope the island edges at high temperatures.

Abstract: An improved face seal assembly (10) is provided to prevent fluid leakage between assembled structural components (12), (14) or the like, such as housing components of a fluid control valve or the like. The face seal assembly (10) comprises a metal seal ring (16) defined by a rigid seal base (22) having generally parallel axial side faces (24), in combination with a pair of deflectable seal legs (26) extending generally radially from the seal base as axially diverging continuation of said side faces. The seal ring (16) is sandwiched coaxially between a pair of film gaskets (18) of a selected seal material, preferably such as a Teflon coated polyimide film. The resultant seal ring and gasket stack forms the face seal assembly (10) and is interposed between assembled housing components or the like to deflect the seal legs (26) toward each other into substantially coplanar relation with the axial side faces (24) of the seal base (22).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for performing impedance transformations on the order of 4:1 to 8:1 or more over extremely broad bandwidths. The transformations are performed in an apparatus having a plurality of n distributed amplifiers having one common synthetic transmission line sharing inductive elements and a second transmission line connected in parallel to the other transmission lines. The transmission lines incorporate active elements preferably in the form of FET cascode pairs. In one embodiment, the second transistor of each cascode pair is replaced with n smaller gate FETs to decrease DC power requirements and provide additional doncution paths for impedance reduction.

Abstract: A non-uniform heating system is provided for liquid crystal displays. The system includes structure for applying a greater concentration of heat to the periphery of LCDs. Because mounting structures produce large heat sinks around the edges of LCDs, providing greater heat to the edges results in a more uniform distribution of heat across the LCDs. In another aspect of the heating system, rapid warming may be provided for preselected critical areas of a display to reduce warm-up time, reduce power consumption, and provide mission critical displays in situations such as scrambles of military aircraft on cold weather alert.

Abstract: A holographic optic element collimator and method in apparatus for its manufacturer is disclosed where the holographic optic element collimator consists of a holographic recording medium with an interference pattern recorded thereon from an incident collimated reference beam and an off access coherent object beam which has a variable angle of incidence with respect to the holographic recording medium.

Abstract: A combined solar concentrator and radiator assembly (10) is provided in a relatively lightweight and compact geometry adapted particularly for use in electrical power generation systems in space. The solar concentrator - radiator assembly comprises a solar reflector of the Cassegrain type having primary and secondary reflelctor surfaces (14) and (26) for concentrating incident solar ration upon a thermal powered generator unit (16). The primary reflector surface (14) is formed on one side of an array of interleaved panels (30) adapted for movement between a compact stowed profile to fit within the cargo bay of a transport vehicle, and an extended deployed configuration. The reverse sides of these panels define a space radiator of extended surface area connected to the generator unit (16) by heat transfer members such as heat pipes (34) for purposes of dissipating excess heat to the surrounding space environment.

Abstract: A solid state fiber optical semiconductor ring laser gyro apparatus with nonoptical readout which contains an optical fiber optically coupled with a optical amplifier diode which has a ground electrode and a plurality of non ground electrodes, which are both electrically and spacially separated and disposed across the optically active channel of the optical amplifier diode, the magnitude and direction of rotation of the optical fiber ring can be determined by examining the differences in phase information between the outputs on the plurality of non ground electrodes.

Abstract: The thickness of growing thin film layer is monitored by directing a beam of circularly polarized monochromatic monitoring light into the layer and detecting the portion of the monitoring light reflected from the layer. The difference in phase between the s and p polarized components of the reflected light is measured and those thicknesses of the layer at which the difference in phase between the s and p components is zero are related to thicknesses which are an integral multiple of one fourth of the wavelength of the monitoring light in the layer. An apparatus for monitoring the thickness of a growing layer during the fabrication of an optical thin film includes a source of light for directing a beam of light at the growing layer and a polarizer between the source and the layer for converting the light beam to a linearly polarized beam.

Abstract: A superconducting electromagnet comprising an outer core having an aperture; an inner core having a periphery characterized for complementary insertion into the outer core aperture leaving a uniform gap therebetween and a frame means for coupling the outer and inner cores into a fixed position relation. A magnetizing means, such as a coil on the inner core develops an initial flux field. The flux field passes through the inner core, the first gap, the outer core, across the second gap to the inner core in response to excitation of the magnetizing means. The outer and inner cores are coated on all surfaces except opposing inner and outer core gap surfaces with superconductive material. The superconductive material is applied to the outer and inner cores at regions selected to pass induced magnetizing current. The induced magnetizing current circulating via closed current paths within the superconductive material to support the flux free of energy loss on termination of excitation of the magnetizing means.

Abstract: A fully reticulated pyroelectric imager is made by affixing a first major surface of a layer of poled pyroelectric material to a substrate and polishing a second major surface of the pyroelectric layer to reduce the layer to a predetermined thickness. An electrically conductive electrode layer is deposited on the second major surface of the pyroelectric layer and portions of the electrode layer are selectively removed to define a two dimensional array of front side electrodes on the pyroelectric layer. Portions of the pyroelectric layer are then selectively removed to define a two dimensional array of pyroelectric detector elements on the substrate, with one of the front side electrodes on the second major surface of each detector element. A polymer layer is deposited over the arrays of front side electrodes and detector elements and a portion of the polymer layer is selectively removing over each front side electrode to create a via to each front side electrode.