Abstract: An apparatus for protecting the image recording media in a tracking camera rom destructive illumination. The apparatus includes a shutter assembly mounted between the lens and the camera and a sensor assembly mounted in juxtaposition with the camera so that a sensor at one end of the tube in the sensor assembly detects destructive illumination before it impinges on the lens. The sensor causes a signal to be passed through circuitry connecting to the shutter assembly, activating a rotary solenoid which moves a blade to an interrupting position between the lens and the camera until no further destructive illumination impinges on the sensor. The shutter blade return to a non-interrupting position when the sensor no longer receives destructive illumination.

Abstract: An optical glass fiber polishing apparatus and method utilizing a slurry prised of water, CeO, glycerin and where needed, a base such as NaOh, to realize transmission loss in the fiber as it is polished towards the fiber core. The intensity of light introduced at one end of the fiber is measured at the opposite end, continuously and without interruption of the polishing, to determine polishing progress through the cladding towards the core.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring peel force exerted on optical fiber being pulled m a bobbin upon which it is wound, the pull being in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the truncated-conically-shaped bobbin. One end of an elongaged lever arm holds the bobbin cantilevered from the bobbin end opposite that from which the optical fiber is pulled so that the bobbin is positioned generally horizontally over a horizontal base to which the opposite end of the lever arm is pivotally attached. An intermediate point on the arm beneath the bobbin is in contact with a load measuring device so that as the fiber is pulled any reaction by the arm upon the device provides a measure of the peel force upon the fiber.

Abstract: An electrically controllable pyrofuze pin device for ordnance device actiion which functionally replaces the mechanical barrier and arming wire or other rigid and removable means used to provide ordnance device activation. The device includes a pyrofuze pin, a connecting ignitor transfer charge, and ignitor, and electrical terminals to provide power from an external power supply, and a weatherproof housing. When electrically activated the pyrofuze pin is reduced to molten by-products which functionally eliminate the mechanical barrier and permits the activation of the ordnance device.

Abstract: A safe and arm device with a thermomagnetic generator sharing a tubular sed shaft with a turbine. Weapon propellant exhaust gas enters the shaft and heats thermomagnets in the generator causing their magnetism to be produced and flux lines to flow from rotor to stator. The gas moves translationally through the shaft and into the turbine. The gas leaving the turbine rotationally is discharged into a radial exhaust tube. A plug in the tube must be removed to permit gas exhaust from the turbine. Only then can the turbine and connected generator rotate causing the thermomagnetically produced flux lines of the rotor to be cut by the stator resulting in an induced voltage out of the generator.

Abstract: A jet vane thrust vector control unit is provided to pitch a missile over to a generally horizontal path after the missile has been vertically launched. A collar affixed to the base of the missile by explosive bolts is utilized to mount the unit so that the unit can be jettisoned after it has done its job.

Abstract: A microwave frequency discriminator circuit useful as a frequency lineariion device includes a microstrip input conductor and a pair of microstrip output conductors, a pair of resistors, a pair of microstrip transmission line diplexer stubs of unequal lengths, a pair of detector diodes, and a quad of microstrip filter stubs. Each resistor at one end is connected to the same end of the input conductor and in parallel relation to one another. Each diplexer stub at one end is connected to an opposite end of one resistor and in parallel relation to one another. Each diplexer stub is open-circuited at an opposite end. Each detector diode at one end is connected to the one end of one stub and at an opposite end to one output conductor. The filter stubs are interposed in spaced pairs in one output conductor.

Abstract: An internal grounding arrangement which minimizes output of current spikes y isolating the switching spikes from the input and output includes an arrangement of separate grounding planes for different functional groups of components, such as high current switching, low current switching and input/output components, with RF chokes and a single conductor line. The RF chokes and single conductor provide electrical isolation between the grounding planes of these different functional groups of components.

Abstract: The data acquisition portion of a data signal processing system has a nonnear data compression and conversion arrangement and a data decompression and scaling arrangement. The non-linear data compression and conversion arrangement employs graduated reference voltage levels provided by resistors having graduated, unequal values, such as values being related as a geometric progression. The graduated form of the reference voltage levels provide a form of data compression wherein large value and small value measurements will have essentially the same fractional resolution. The data decompression and scaling arrangement can decompress previously compressed digital signals and limit the digital data width of such signals in systems which have input dynamic range requirements greater than their output resolution requirements.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system includes desktop computers, external cameras and eripheral apparatus to allow interconnection of two or more terminals to engage in teleconferencing via digital data networks. A frame grabber interfaces each camera with its computer. Signals output from the computer are encoded and compressed before being input to a telephone line via a modulator/demodulator. A decoder is connected between the modulator/demodulator and the computer for decoding compressed video signals received by the modulator/demodulator means from the telephone line so that the signals may be displayed on a video display connected to the computer.

Abstract: An armored optical fiber cable interconnection and method of making the irconnection with a self-sealing, low-strength joint with relatively low optical attenuation, has an inner fiber carrying jacket, an outer protective jacket, and an intermediate armored jacket of stranded material. The interconnection ends are assembled with a doubled layer of armored jacket over an intermediate protective jacket portion all sealed and held in place with a length of shrink tubing over the jackets and a retaining bead with an o-ring fitting over the assembly and against the shrink tubing over the retaining bead.

Abstract: A system for aiming a selectively aimable warhead (SAW) at a target by exsively deforming the warhead into a shape desirable for directionality. Twenty-four explosive forming charges are located around the circumference of the warhead and run the entire length of the warhead. The proximity fuze selects one sector out of 24 as the direction aim. Having selected a sector in the azimuth, the forming charge in that sector plus the adjacent two forming charges are initiated simultaneously. After a time delay interval sufficient to allow the warhead to deform (about 1/2 millisecond to 1 millisecond), warhead boosters located furthest from the target (or 180 degrees from the forming charges) and on each end of the warhead, are initiated simultaneously. The warhead is detonated generating a high velocity fragment beam towards the target.

Abstract: A high-speed optical fingerprint correlator. The invention uses the unknown ingerprint to produce a matched filter for autocorrelation and detecting and displaying the resultant indicia of correlation, the correlation peaks produced. The matched filter is produced by performing digital Fourier transform on the optically scanned digitized image input of the unknown print. The matched filter is then multiplied with the optically performed Fourier transforms on the reconstructed known fingerprint images provided in digital format from visual or digital storage.

Abstract: A pyrofuze ordnance arming system, for air delivered ordnance, which provs a removable physical barrier to prevent the premature operation of ordnance device arming activation systems. An electrothermally initiated, alloyably removable pyrofuze pin extending from a pyrofuze device is employed as a physical barrier in an arming system to replace the conventional arming wires. The system increases safety and reliability for ordnance arming while decreasing the complexity and labor involved in preparing and loading ordnance on aircraft.

Abstract: A spherical warhead is disclosed which yields a greater than 120.degree. ped charge of preformed fragments and which further permits non-destructive cook-off of explosives to prevent undesirable detonation.

Abstract: An electrically controllable "Pyrofuze" pin device for ordnance device acation which functionally replaces the mechanical barrier and arming wire or other rigid and removable means used to provide ordnance device activation. The device includes a "Pyrofuze" pin, a connecting ignitor transfer charge, and ignitor, and electrical terminals to provide power from an external power supply, and a weatherproof housing. When electrically activated the "Pyrofuze" pin is reduced to molten by-products which functionally eliminate the mechanical barrier and permits the activation of the ordnance device.

Abstract: A multiple quantum well device having a wide well and a plurality of narrower wells spaced from each other and sandwiched between a plurality of barriers and with quantum coupling existing between the wells. Semiconductor substrates and optimal well and barrier widths are selected to yield band gaps and charge localization within the wells such that the energy differences between the ground state of the wide well and the N excited states of the narrow wells correspond to the energy of a photon in the desired spectral range.

Abstract: A power converter unit includes a pair of switching DC/DC converter secti for positive and negative voltages which incorporate a MOSFET switching arrangement in which a pair of MOSFETs are forced to share the output load current equally, a current limiting arrangement which activates shutdown whenever the current threshold limit is exceeded, and an internal grounding arrangement which minimizes output of current spikes by isolating the switching spikes from the input and output. The current limiting arrangement includes a resistor for sensing the voltage between the input and output of the converter and a comparator for comparing the sensed voltage with a reference threshold voltage and being operable to shut down the converter when the sensed voltage exceeds the reference threshold voltage.

Abstract: An impact switch having a housing containing a rigid coaxial conductor ening one end. An inner cylindrical contact extends axially inward from and beyond the in housing end of an outer tubular contact which has a spiral spring extending axially from within a recess therein. The free end of the spring supports a mass spaced from the end of the inner contact. The contacts, spring and mass are enclosed within a flexible shroud spaced from the inner wall of the housing. The space between the shroud and housing contains an electrorheological fluid, the viscosity of which is a function of the voltage supplied by two electrodes extending through the housing and into the fluid. The voltage controlled viscosity permits control of damping of the shroud, mass, and spring movements in response to impact caused switch deceleration and control of time for switch closure and fuze delay by means of mass contact with the inner cylindrical contact, or spring contact with the outer tubular contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing unknown microstructures in samples with known microstructure configurations, both biological and non-biological, by optically correlating the unknown with the known. The apparatus employs a microscope to produce images of unknown microstructures in a sample, a laser for illuminating the sample, a Vander Lugt correlator, including a preselected matched filter for particular known microstructures of interest, for optically correlating the image of the unknown microstructures with preexisting images of known microstructures, a CCD array to detect correlation indicia, and a microcomputer to control positioning of the sample for imaging, orienting the matched filter, and scanning by the CCD array of the indicia resulting from the correlation for reading and counting the same.