Abstract: A LIBS cone penetrometer comprises a decoupling mirror to separate an excitation signal and a response signal, an optical fiber arranged with the decoupling mirror for receiving the excitation signal from an energy source and transmitting the response signal from a sample surface, and a cone penetrometer probe connected to the distal end of the optical fiber. The probe further comprises a collimating lens arranged with the optical fiber for collimating the excitation signal and for directing the response signal into the optical fiber. An internally reflecting prism is aligned with the collimating lens to deflect the excitation signal and the response signal between the collimating lens and the sample surface through a window in the side of the probe. A focusing lens is aligned with the prism and the window to reduce the spot size of the excitation signal and to collimate the response signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a rapid and long-lasting pH change to a pH dependent polymer or other pH driven reactant is provided by a pH jump molecule in solution. Visible light is used to excite the pH jump molecule. The attendant pH change occurs rapidly (in nanoseconds) and can be maintained by continuous wave light or by an appropriately pulsed light. Heat resulting from the light activation is efficiently discharged by radiative decay through room temperature phosphorescence lifetimes existing on the order of milliseconds.

Abstract: A passive, infrared, guided missile fuze, capable of detecting the presence of a target, having an axis which coincides substantially with the direon of forward motion of the missile, comprising three infrared detectors for detecting three separate beams of infrared electromagnetic radiation from the target, the beams forming angles with the axis. More specifically, the missile fuze detects the presence of a target when two of the infrared detectors simultaneously detect two beams of infrared radiation from the target. In a sophisticated embodiment, the fuze is able to determine in which quadrant of space the target is located.

Abstract: An optical communications transceiver comprises a transmitter for transming a communications signal having at least two wavelengths and a receiver for concurrently detecting the communications signal on each wavelength. The receiver compares the data content of the communications signal received on each wavelength and detects errors in the received data. A display displays valid received data.

Abstract: A system determines the time difference of arrival of a frequency shift kd signal (FSK) source at two separate receiver sites. The system includes a first receiver located at a first site for generating a first series of signal samples in response to detecting an FSK signal from a FSK signal source. A second receiver located at a second site generates a second series of signal samples in response to detecting the FSK signal. A first computer estimates first frequency shift times of the FSK signal in response to receiving the first series of signal samples and a time reference signal, and generates a first output signal representing the first frequency shift times.

Abstract: A circuit for use in anti-radar missile seekers or radar counter-measure eivers to convert the signals received from continuous wave radars into pulse signals so that the signals may be more readily detected and can be processed in the same signal processing circuitry used against pulse radars. The received signal is mixed with a frequency swept local oscillator signal, fed to a dispersive delay line and then detected.

Abstract: A slurry mixture comprising a water soluble resin of the polyacrylamide cs of polymers suspended as a gel in a non-solvent to the resin, but itself water soluble, from a group consisting of (a) the glycol ether type of compounds, or (b) the Tris (tetrahydrofurfuryl) phosphate type containing the tetrahydrofurfuryl ring.

Abstract: A colorimetric red blood cell sensor provides an automatic system for deting and preventing the further mixing of red blood cells and plasma. The sensor includes a processor that controls blue and red light sources so that they collectively generate pulsed blue and red light signals that are directed through blood serum held in an optically transparent container. The red and blue signals are 180 degrees out of phase, and hence staggered, with respect to each other. A photodetector system detects the pulsed red and blue light signals and generates output signals representing the intensities of the staggered signals received by the photodetector system. A microprocessor determines the ratio of the intensities of the red and blue light signals detected by the photodetector system. If the ratio exceeds a limit, the microprocessor generates a fluid control signal that prevents further mixing of red blood cells and plasma.

Abstract: A system is presented for enhancing sonar signals wherein Doppler echoes eived in the time domain from a sonar system are processed by digitizing, shifting to baseband, Fourier transforming to the frequency domain, applying a frequency stretching algorithm designed to expand low Doppler signals, retransforming the signal back to the time domain, reshifting from baseband to original center frequency, converting to analog and outputting the resultant enhanced Doppler time domain signals to either earphones of a sonar operator for audio monitoring or for further processing for visual display.

Abstract: A cover closes off the open end of a missile launch canister. The cover is esigned so as to seal off the interior compartment of the canister to protect the missile or the like contained within it from moisture, contaminants and the conflagration created by nearby fired missiles. The cover is designed to maintain a minimum vapor pressure within the canister for storage purposes and to burst prior to contact by the nose of the missile contained within the canister upon the occurrence of a predetermined accumulation of vapor pressure within the canister after firing of the missile or the like. The cover is formed of a laminate of fiberglass cloths having an electromagnetic interference shield and vapor barrier adhered to the interior surface of the cover. A layer of rubber protects the fiberglass laminate from scratching or puncturing and a polyurethane layer over the rubber layer provides a moisture seal as well as insulation from other contaminants.

Abstract: A microscope imaging system comprises a tube including a bore and a sidewall having an aperture; an optically transparent window positioned in the aperture; a light source for generating first light signals which are directed at diffuse angles through the window; an imaging system mounted in the bore for detecting second light signals which enter the bore through the window; and a first lens system for focusing the second light signals onto the imaging system. The system may also include a focusing system for changing the distance between the imaging system and the first lens system, and a fluid delivery system for ejecting a chemical indicator reagent from the probe as it is being deployed through the ground. The reagent is dispersed from the tube in the vicinity of the optical window so that it comes into direct contact with the soil outside the tube near the window.

Abstract: Actuating circuitry which may be used with a contact exploder, useful on a orpedo, for example, which is sensitive not only to direct hits but also to abrasive damage or sea water exposure caused by grazing contact, but insensitive to changes in its velocity or momentum or unwanted environmental background, such as shock, vibration and electromagnetic field variation. The exploder includes a normally insulated and shielded wire which traverses that part of the surface of the missile which is most likely to make contact with a target. The wire is so connected into associated actuating circuitry that it will cause explosion if: (1) even grazing contact with a target causes removal of even a small amount of the insulation and shielding of the wire, which causes grounding of the circuitry at the wire; or (2) even grazing contact opens or breaks the wire at any point.

Abstract: A microminiature neutron radiation detector includes an ionization well fed in an electrically conductive substrate for coupling to a bias voltage to establish an electric field, a pressurized atmosphere substantially filling the ionization well for generating ions inside the ionization well from neutron collisions, and a collection electrode coupled to the ionization well for collecting the ions driven to the collection electrode by the electric field.

Abstract: A single crystal silicon film nanostructure capable of optical emission is aterally disposed on an insulating transparent substrate of sapphire. By laterally disposing the nanostructure, adequate support for the structure is provided, and the option of fabricating efficient electrical contact structures to the nanostructure is made possible. The method of the invention begins with the deposition of ultrathin layers of silicon on the substrate. A Solid Phase Epitaxy improvement process is then used to remove crystalline defects formed during the deposition. The silicon is then annealed and thinned using thermal oxidation steps to reduce its thickness to be on the order of five nanometers in height. The width and length of the nanostructure are defined by lithography. The nanometer dimensioned silicon is then spin-coated with a resist with width and length definition in the resist being performed by way of electron beam exposure.

Abstract: A feature imaging and adaptive focusing synthetic aperture processing met provides improved sharpness and easier classification of images derived from radar and sonar echo data by applying adaptive focusing and feature imaging to a sequence of echo data.

Abstract: An optoelectronic switch for switching an input signal comprises two PIN des connected in series with opposed polarity, an input signal choke connected to the PIN diodes for presenting a high impedance to the input signal and a low impedance to a PIN diode bias, and a photovoltaic cell connected to the PIN diodes and the input signal choke for generating the PIN diode bias to switch the PIN diodes between a substantially conductive state while the photovoltaic cell receives optical energy from a light source and a substantially non-conductive state while the photovoltaic cell does not receive optical energy from the light source.

Abstract: A scheduling framework for a heterogeneous computer network comprises a task performance predictor for estimating computation time on each computer in a network for each job input to the network, a performance characteristics database for recording information about each component of the network including the performance history of each computer in the network for each job, an administrative interface for entering scheduling information, editing the performance characteristics database, selecting real-time or simulated operation, and for monitoring network performance, a user interface for specifying constraints on the execution of a particular job, a scheduler for assigning the jobs to the computers in the network, and a controller for responding to network events and for relaying scheduling information to the network and network status messages from the network.

Abstract: A simplified interference suppressor extends the applicability of adaptive ocally optimum techniques to high speed communication systems. Traditional adaptive locally optimum processing amplitude quantity techniques compel baseband sample amplitudes calculation requiring square root operations that could limit the use of these techniques. The simplified interference suppressor utilizes amplitude squared values of baseband samples while maintaining the performance of those processing algorithms requiring the complexities of baseband sample amplitude calculation.

Abstract: A wideband high isolation circulator network reduces or eliminate interfece from a nearby RF transmitted signal in a received RF signal. The network includes a first sampler for dividing a first signal into second and third signals; a circulator for receiving the second signal through a first port, for outputting a fourth signal and receiving a fifth signal through a second port, and for outputting a sixth signal through a third port which represents the vector sum of samples of the second and fifth signals; and a signal processing stage which generates a seventh signal having amplitude and phase characteristics representing the fifth signal in response to receiving the third and sixth signals.

Abstract: The automated charting system of the present invention comprises a computer program for inputting current position from the Global Positioning Syst accessing the Digital Nautical Chart database (DNC), selecting the best available nautical chart data for the current position, and displaying the current position on the selected nautical chart.