Abstract: The fill factor in a Pt:Si imager is greatly improved by (1) biasing the reflector plate as a field plate to eliminate the need for an N.sup.- guard ring along the edges of the imaging diodes; (2) reconfiguring the meander channel to use a single meander channel for two columns of diodes; and (3) using a self-demultiplexing output bus structure which requires no separate array space for clocking buses. Two different types of dual-sided meander channel are described.

Abstract: A novel packaging system for VLSI circuits allows low-cost construction and maintenance of complex high density high-performance devices with low power requirements. The devices can be individually created by software means from a small selection of standardizable IC chips by disposing a plurality of chips in leadless chip carriers in a mosaic on a substrate, and configuring them by software to selectively communicate with other chips of the mosaic or even to individually change their operating function. The immediate juxtaposition of the chip carries in the mosaic eliminates transmission line data skew, and also allows considerable savings in chip space and power requirements by dispensing with interconnection drivers, receivers and bonding pads.

Abstract: The relative intensity of the transmit beam and the local oscillator beam in a ladar diplexer can be continuously adjusted during operation by using a rotatable retardation plate with a slightly inclined "C" axis to turn a polarized laser beam into a composite beam having two components polarized in mutually perpendicular directions. The relative intensity of the components is adjustable by varying the inclination of the "C" axis. The composite beam is applied to the same polarizer element normally used to separate the return signal from the transmit beam. The polarizer acts as the beam splitter which separates the local oscillator beam from the transmit beam. The described configuration also saves one beam splitter and allows improved packaging and alignment of the diplexer.

Abstract: A rugged dual-view arthroscope construction is provided by encasing the optical train in an elongated channel or shoe which is pivotable within the barrel about the barrel axis. The axis of the optical train is offset from the barrel axis. A lens-and-prism assembly projects the image of a first field of view along the optical train axis in one pivotal position of the shoe, and the image of a second field of view along the optical train axis in another pivotal position of the shoe.

Abstract: A repeater for local area networks of the MIL-STD-1553B type allows extension of the LAN to remote terminals. The repeater terminates the dual LAN buses and interfaces them with a single remote bus. Normally, the repeater is transparent to all traffic in the receive direction from both buses of the LAN to the remote terminal. In response to appropriate command words from the LAN, however, the repeater automatically switches direction at the correct time to transmit traffic from the remote terminal to the active bus of the LAN as called for by the LAN protocol, and then switches back. Safeguards are provided to reinitialize the repeater if a message failure occurs or the remote terminal fails to respond to a command word.

Abstract: Consolidation of active and passive detectors (26, 28, 34) on a single coldfinger (20) in a dewar (10) is made possible by interposing between the detectors (26, 28, 34) an electromagnetic interference shield (64, 68) which acts as a waveguide filter blocking any interfering frequencies. The waveguide is formed by a pair of spaced interleaved shields (64, 68) one of which (64) is associated with the dewar envelope and is externally grounded, and the other of which is associated with the coldfinger (20). Photons which penetrate through the waveguide (64, 68) are deflected to the outside of the dewar (10) by a flanged narcissus shield (40) surrounding the passive detector (34).

Abstract: A hot gas control system includes a pressure vessel defining a chamber in which is disposed a body of solid propellant material that has a leading portion and a trailing portion. A first layer of the body of solid propellant material extends between the leading portion and an intermediate region of the body of solid propellant material, and a second layer extends between the intermediate region and the trailing portion of the body of solid propellant material. The first layer is composed of a first propellant composition that produces a relatively clean gas, and the second layer is composed of a second propellant composition that produces a relatively less clean gas.

Abstract: A vacuum dewar for infrared detectors is disclosed, in which unitary Kovar leads are used to reduce heat load and improve reliability and ruggedness. The Kovar leads are encapsulated in the glass walls of the hollow stem which carries the sensor array and supplies cryogenic fluid for cooling the array. The Kovar leads extend throughout the entire length of the stem to form both the electrical feed-through and the contact points at each end of the stem for the attachment of wire leads or cables, and to form a reinforcing structure for the stem. A fabrication method is also disclosed, in which a unitary Kovar leadframe is held under tension while two concentric glass tubes, between which the leadframe is vacuum-sandwiched, are fused together to form a stem encapsulating continuous Kovar leads throughout its length, while preventing excessive oxidation of the Kovar leads.

Abstract: A guidance system for small spinning projectiles which is mechanically simple, has low power requirements, uses relatively unsophisticated electronics, and is capable of withstanding large gas pressures and accelerations. The system uses a one-piece fin assembly which is de-spun so that its guidance fins maintain a constant attitude with respect to the ground. The guidance fins and their hub can be nutated simultaneously and independently in two orthogonal planes by pivoting and translating a single control rod. The hub cooperates with the projectile body to reduce its base drag and thereby extend its range.

Abstract: A moving target detector for spinning bodies such as projectiles or missiles uses a linear detector array so mounted on the body as to periodically scan an arcuate target area during the spin of the body. Compensation for the resulting optical growth of the target area image as the body approaches the target is accomplished by serially reading the image information from the detector elements (in a direction radial of the target area) into a delay element chain at a variable rate, and dumping the delay chain contents in parallel into the image memory at a fixed rate. The readout rate variation is pre-programmed prior to launch, and feed-back loop may be provided to adjust the rate if the image evaluation circuits detect apparent radial movement of evidently stationary objects near the target.

Abstract: A small, unitary, disposable sobriety self-tester of the balloon type in which a mouthpiece and a chemical indicator tube are permanently mounted on one side of an apertured base plate whose other side opens into a balloon sealed to the base plate. The mouthpiece and indicator tube may be sealed and filled with an inert gas so as to avoid the need for desiccants in the system, and thereby improve its ease of operation.

Abstract: In an all-digital telephone system for communication between a central office and widely scattered subscriber locations, means are disclosed for carrying digital service from the central office to various distribution locations over T1-type equipment and from the distribution locations to subscriber locations over ordinary two-wire lines using time-shared bidirectional pulse code modulation.A salient feature of the system is the provision of "smart repeater" means which permit unidirectional or bidirectional access between any digital subscriber line and any channel of the T1 line under the control of the central office. Provisions are also made in the system for the transmission of slow-speed signals suitable for the remote reading information from sensing devices at the subscriber locations and for the remote operation of suitable devices at the subscriber locations.