Abstract: A method is provided for improving silicide formation, and the electrical ntact provided thereby, on non-planar silicon structures. In this method, a semiconductor device structure is initially formed having non-planar surface regions. A metal layer is deposited on the non-planar surfaces. The metal deposition process step is followed by an off-axis implantation of non-dopant ions, causing a mixing of the metal and silicon atoms at the metal and non-planar silicon structure interface. The off-axes implantation also serves to disrupt the native silicon dioxide layer between the silicon and metal layers regions. Thermal processing is then used to form silicide on the non-planar surfaces of the semiconductor silicon structure.

Abstract: A voltage controlled variable inductor provides a rapidly variable inducte for high power frequency dependent circuit applications. Continuously variable inductance values having a high Q factor are obtainable with the application of only a minimal amount of control power.

Abstract: A system locates the elements of a randomly dispersed, untethered, array of sonobuoys from which are suspended active, transmitting, transducer elets and passive, receiving, transducer elements. The system comprises a data conditioning unit which receives high-frequency element-locating signals from a radio receiver, which may be located on an aircraft, and processes them so that they are quantized at its output. An acoustic delay processor, whose input is connected to the output of the data conditioning unit, correlates a reference signal R received from an active element suspended from the sonobuoy with a corresponding received signal from another element, active or passive, suspended from another sonobuoy.A position tracker, whose input is connnected to the output of the acoustic delay processor, calculates the relative position of each element of the random array from the propagation delays measured by the acoustic delay processor.

Abstract: A wide band phased array antenna includes a radio frequency reflector hav a focal axis, and first and second sides and an m number of transverse electromagnetic transmission carriers, where each of the carriers includes a first conductor which generally transects the focal axis of the reflector and is electrically connected to a first side of the reflector, and a second conductor electrically connected to a second side of the reflector, where m is a positive integer. The RF reflector is located between the first and second conductors for guiding the beam.

Abstract: A method for forming a uniform cavity between electrode substrates of a dlay comprises the steps of patterning a border to define a display area between the electrode substrates, patterning electrode spacers between the electrode substrates, and wafer bonding the electrode substrates to the border and to the electrode spacers to form a uniform cavity within the display area. A cavity comprises a pair of substrates enclosing the cavity and patterned spacers wafer bonded to the substrates to form and maintain a uniform thickness of the cavity.

Abstract: A resonant driving circuit for a laser diode comprises an impulse generator for generating narrow output pulses, a delay line for generating a composite output of reflections of the output pulses from terminations of the transmission line, a laser diode for generating an optical output from the composite output, and a forward bias network to bias the laser diode.

Abstract: An opto-electronically controlled waveguide includes a waveguide; a finline mounted in the waveguide; a photovoltaic switch operably electrically cected to the finline; and a light source for generating an optical signal for modulating the photovoltaic switch. Modulation of the photovoltaic switch by intensity modulating the optical signal allows modulation of the insertion loss of the waveguide without the need for a DC bias.

Abstract: A method for estimating the cell loss rate of an asynchronous transfer mode statistical multiplexer comprises the steps of finding a multiplexer state probability distribution and estimating the cell loss rate from the multiplexer state probability distribution.

Abstract: A single crystal silicon film nanostructure capable of optical emission is laterally 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 method for fabricating silicon-germanium alloy on a sapphire substrate of the present invention comprises the steps of passivating a surface of a sapphire substrate, maintaining a deposition temperature of about 900 degrees C., exposing the passivated surface to a flow of about 1 slm of about 2 percent silane in a hydrogen carrier and a flow of at least 200 sccm of about 10 percent germane in a hydrogen carrier to form a layer of single crystal silicon germanium alloy on the passivated surface of the sapphire substrate, and ramping the temperature down to about 650 degrees C. during the step of exposing the passivated surface to the germane gas.

Abstract: A light emitting photonic structure has a transparent substrate, such as sapphire, supporting a layer of group IV semiconductor material, such as silicon, having at least one porous region from which light is emitted as a response to a stimulus. An example of such a photonic structure is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/118,900. The photonic structure can be used to assess the presence of various fluids. The photonic structure is disposed to be contacted by the fluid to be sensed should it be present. The light emitting region of the photonic structure is stimulated by an appropriate source, and the light emitted by the photonic source is detected by a detector. The light emitting region of the photonic structure will emit a certain luminescence in air and should the light emitting region be contacted by other fluid or fluids, this luminescence can be affected and the corresponding change in luminescence can be detected thus the presence of these fluids can be sensed.

Abstract: The Beamformer with Adaptive Processors is a practical joint spatial-templ processor suitable for combining multiple antenna signals for a communications receiver. The invention identifies a beam or beams, amongst a discreet set of fixed beams, for which adaptive locally optimum processing will most likely reveal the presence of a weak signal. The invention chooses a suitable form of adaptive locally optimum processing according to the nature of the beam or beams identified. The beam or beams are selected for adaptive locally optimum processing depending on several simple characteristics of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of each beam's output. These are .SIGMA..sigma..sup.2, D, and B (the sum of the squares of the Fourier coefficients, the number of distinct peaks amongst these coefficients, and the total number of coefficients defining the peaks, respectively).

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises a container; an electrolyte held within e container, a first electrode positioned in the electrolyte; and a second electrode having a beryllium compound coating. The second electrode is positioned in the electrolyte and generally centered within the first electrode. The second electrode is made of a material selected from the group that includes palladium, AB.sub.2 alloys, and AB.sub.5 alloys, where A represents magnesium, zirconium, and lanthanum, and B represents vanadium, chromium, manganese, or nickel. The beryllium compound coating is formed by charging the second electrode in the presence of a beryllium salt.

Abstract: A spectroscopic detector suitable for detecting oil spills in an aquatic environment includes a buoyant container having an optical window; an optical energy generator mounted in the container for directing an optical energy beam through the window; an optical detector for generating an output signal in response to detecting a second optical energy beam received in the container through the window; and a beam splitter for directing the second optical energy beam to the optical detector. The generation of the optical energy beam and operation of the optical detector may be time gated to reduce thermal noise and isolate the sampled optical energy from background light. The optical energy beam preferably has UV components which inhibits the formation of biological organisms on the optical window.

Abstract: A solid state 3-D display comprises an array of voxels made of an electroinescent material arranged in a matrix of a transparent material. Transparent electrodes are formed in the matrix to form electrical connections to each voxel. The transparent electrodes are connected to voltage sources outside the display volume for controlling the optical output of each voxel to produce a three-dimensional image inside the display volume.

Abstract: A biorepellent matrix structure comprises a resin and first and second micapsules suspended in the resin. The first and second microcapsules each includes a first shell and a second shell, respectively, containing a biorepellent material that is released upon penetration of any of the first and second shells, as for example, by a biological organism. The biorepellent material, such as capsaicin, diffuses through the first and second shells at different rates. The different diffusion rates of the biorepellent material together provide a biorepellant matrix structure that exhibits long term protection against the formation of biological organisms that would otherwise accumulate on the matrix structure, and deters organisms from gnawing or chewing the matrix structure.

Abstract: A quotient coding modem comprises a modulator that encodes transmitted symbols by the equation ##EQU1## and a demodulator that decodes received symbols by the equation ##EQU2## where q(t) and q.sub.r (t) are functions of time for transmitted and received symbols s(t) and s.sub.r (t) respectively at time t, P.sub.r (t)=.vertline.q.sub.r (t).vertline..sup.2 is instantaneous received baseband power at time t, .eta. is a function of the two smallest symbol amplitudes, and P.sub.max is peak transmitted power.

Abstract: The optoelectronic switch of the present invention comprises two PIN diodes onnected in series with opposed polarity having their intrinsic regions coupled to a light source for maintaining both diodes in the conductive state while the light source is on and in the non-conductive state while the light source is off.

Abstract: The braked linear nipper of the present invention comprises a belt roller, belt, and a belt load for applying a squeeze load along a length of a linear material being pulled along the belt by an object onto which the linear material is being wound. The linear material imparts motion to the belt via friction coupled by the squeeze load. A brake coupled to the belt induces a tension in the linear material.

Abstract: A frequency selective surface integrated antenna is provided which compri a frequency selective surface, including an electrically non-conductive substrate and an electrically conductive layer, mounted to the substrate and having a pattern of apertures; and an antenna integrated in the frequency selective surface.