Abstract: A damping (or heave) plate comprises a generally flat plate attached, beneath the surface of a sea, and in horizontal orientation, to a structural member subject to being vertically moved in response to passing surface waves. The plate tends to resist vertical movements and has the effect of adding mass to the structure. A vertically extending structure is added to both major surfaces of the heave plate for increasing the volume of water moved by the plate. For minimizing drag forces generally created by use of the damping plate, the vertically extending structure is shaped to include curved hydrodynamic surfaces for minimizing turbulence in the surrounding water.

Abstract: A deformable mirror (DM) embodying the invention includes a reflective layer attached to the front surface of a solid monolithic block of a ceramic material. A plurality of holes is drilled from the back surface with the top end of each hole being terminated a predetermined distance below the front surface. Conductors, functioning as actuators, are inserted into each hole to apply a localized electric field at the top end of the hole. Each one of the electric fields is used to create local deformation of the front surface of the block and the corresponding portion of the reflective layer.

Abstract: A wave energy converter (WEC) for converting energy contained in surface waves on a body of water to useful energy comprises two floats movable relative to one another in response to passing surface waves. Both floats comprise expandable outer envelopes which have been expanded into full and firm shape. In one process, expansion is obtained by filling the floats with fluids, for example, air and water. The fluids can be pumped into the floats, or the floats can be mechanically expanded in the presence of the fluids for self filling owing to pressure differentials. In one embodiment, a float envelope can comprise of plurality of end to end connected length sections in nested or telescoped relationship. Expansion is obtained by pulling the telescoped sections out from one and other, for example, by pumping fluids into the telescoped sections.

Abstract: A superconducting switching amplifier embodying the invention includes superconductive devices responsive to input/control signals for clamping the output of the amplifier to a first voltage or to a second voltage. The amplifier includes a first set of superconducting devices serially connected between a first voltage line and an output terminal and a second set of superconducting devices serially connected between the output terminal and a second voltage line. The first set and the second set of devices are operated in a complementary fashion in response to control signals. When one of the first and second sets is driven to a superconducting (zero resistance) state the other set is driven to a resistive state. In accordance with the invention, the devices of each set are laid out in a pattern and driven in a manner to enable all the devices of each set to be driven to a selected state at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A wave energy converter (WEC) includes a shell suitable for being placed within a body of water. The shell contains an internal oscillator comprising a “reaction mass” and a spring mechanism coupled between the reaction mass and the shell. The shell and internal oscillator are constructed such that, when placed in a body of water and in response to waves in the body of water, there is relative motion between the shell and the internal oscillator's mass. A power take-off (PTO) device is coupled between the internal oscillator and the shell to convert their relative motion into electric energy. In systems embodying the invention, the spring mechanism is designed such that its displacement or movement is less than the displacement or movement of the reaction mass. The spring mechanism may be any device which enables the reaction mass to undergo a given replacement while its displacement or movement is less than that of the reaction mass. This property enables the size of the WEC to be more readily controlled (e.

Abstract: A load tap changer (LTC) having a plurality of windings is coupled to one of the primary and secondary windings of a power transformer in order to regulate the output voltage of the power transformer. The LTC includes a plurality of taps physically and electrically connected to the LTC windings and the transformer's output voltage is increased/decreased by moving along the taps a contacting element whose movement is controlled by a rotating shaft driven by a motor. The tap being contacted is determined by sensing the direction and number of shaft rotations and by checking the number of shaft rotations specified to go from a tap to the next tap being contacted. The time for a full rotation of the shaft is also measured. Also, the temperature of the tanks containing the LTC taps and the power transformer is measured for each tap position.

Abstract: A card embodying the invention includes marks which are randomly formed within a dedicated region of the surface of the card. The randomly formed marks may, for example, include; (a) partial-holes extending a short distance from a surface of the card; (b) through-holes extending between the top and bottom surfaces of the card; (c) burn marks, or (d) ink marks. The marks are of a size and nature such that they are not readily visible to the naked eye. The invention includes illumination apparatus for illuminating the card to reliably sense the optical pattern of the randomly formed marks. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a reader/writer includes apparatus for generating an array of light to uniformly illuminate the back surface of the card so as to pass light through the through-holes or through the partial holes.

Abstract: A linear electric generator (LEG) includes sections of coils of an induction coil assembly (ICA) disposed along a distance d1 and apparatus for passing a permanent magnetic assembly (PMA) of length d2, where d2 is less than d1, along the coils for generating voltages and power in the coils in close proximity to the PMA. Unidirectional conducting elements are connected between the coils and output power lines to couple the voltages developed across excited coils to the output power lines without the unexcited coils loading down or dissipating the voltage developed across the output power lines.

Abstract: A superconducting analog-to-digital converter includes a superconducting input loop to which is applied an analog voltage to be converted to a digital format. The superconducting loop includes two Josephson junctions for converting said analog input voltage into a single flux quantum (SFQ) pulse stream having a frequency f1 which is directly proportional to the amplitude of the analog input voltage. The loop includes two outputs for distributing the pulse stream in a cyclical and staggered fashion onto the two loop outputs such that the frequency of the pulses along each one of the loop outputs is f½. Additional frequency divider circuits may be coupled to the loop outputs to produce pulse streams on N output lines having a frequency of f1/N.

Abstract: In a linear electric generator (LEG) which includes apparatus for passing a permanent magnetic assembly (PMA) along linearly disposed sections of coils of an induction coil assembly (ICA) for generating voltages and power, a switching arrangement for coupling only selected sections of coils of the ICA across the power output lines of the LEG. The selected coil sections include the sections of coils of the ICA in close proximity to the passing PMA. In accordance with different embodiments, the non selected coils of the ICA may be either short circuited or disconnected (open circuited) from the power output lines.

Abstract: An electric generator includes multiple coil sections and switches connected to the multiple coil sections for selectively interconnecting the coil sections in series, or in parallel, or in a series-parallel configuration across first and second power terminals for producing a controlled AC voltage across these power terminals. The electric generator, with its multiple coils and interconnecting switches permitting reconfiguration of the coils, enables systems subjected to widely varying conditions and forces, such as a wave energy converter (WEC), to be operated with increased efficiency. The generator may also include multiple windings which can be selectively interconnected into a wye or a delta configuration to also control the output voltage produced by the generator and increase the efficiency of the power conversion system, particularly at low values of voltage.

Abstract: A load tap changer (LTC) having a plurality of windings is coupled to one of the primary and secondary of a power transformer in order to regulate the output voltage of the transformer. The LTC includes a plurality of taps physically and electrically connected to and along the windings and a contacting element is selectively moved along the taps to increase or decrease the output voltage of the transformer. The power transformer and the LTC windings are placed in a main tank and the taps are placed in an LTC tank. The temperature in the main tank and the temperature in the LTC tank are monitored by means of first and second temperature probes whose outputs are used to sense the temperature differential (TDIFF) between the main tank and the LTC tank and to determine if the LTC tank temperature exceeds the main tank temperature for a period of time exceeding a specified time period. Also included is circuitry for sensing the rate of change of TDIFF and determining if it exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An ocean wave energy converter (WEC) utilizes the relative motion between permanent magnet and induction coil assemblies to generate electricity. The permanent magnet assemblies and induction coil assemblies are separately housed in watertight enclosures, enabling a wide range of wave energy converter configurations, nearly unlimited stroke and obviating the need for a common magnet/coil enclosure with seals. The magnet assemblies are constructed with surface or buried magnets. The wave motion moves a magnet assembly relative to a stationary coil assembly, or vice versa. Either the magnet assembly or the induction coil assembly are made long enough to provide the generation of electricity over a desired operational range of travel. Various means are provided to maintain the spacing (“gap”) between the magnetic and coil assemblies relatively constant.

Abstract: A system for linearizing the output of a high power amplifier (HPA) designed to transmit an RF modulated signal includes in its transmit section a digital up-converter for processing baseband input signals and generating a desired digital RF waveform, T(s). The desired digital RF waveform T(s) is then fed to a digital predistorter circuit for producing a predistorted digital RF waveform P(s)T(s) which, as modified, may be applied via a high sampling speed high linearity digital to analog converter to the high power amplifier (HPA) to produce an output signal which is a linear function of the baseband input signal. The digital predistorter circuit may be of the adaptive type or of the predictive type. Circuits embodying the invention may include encoding circuitry for converting multi-bit signals to a serial stream of single-bit pulses for enabling simplification in the digital to analog conversion.

Abstract: A WEC system embodying the invention includes a column and shell, arranged to move relative to each other, and a lever-like apparatus having an input end and an output end and an intermediate point, between the two ends, the intermediate point being rotatably connected to the column. The input end is connected to the shell and moves at the same velocity and in the same direction as the shell. The output end moves in the opposite direction and at a rate which is a multiple of the shell velocity. The multiple being a function of the ratio of the length of the intermediate point to the output and input ends. In systems embodying the invention, one of two components (a PMA or an ICA) of a linear electric generator may be attached to the shell and the other of the two components may be attached to the output end of the lever-like apparatus to produce high relative velocity between the two components resulting in higher amplitude and higher frequency output voltages.

Abstract: The invention relates to active impedance matching systems (AIMS) and methods for increasing the efficiency of a wave energy converter (WEC) having a shaft and a shell intended to be placed in a body of water and to move relative to each other in response to forces applied to the WEC by the body of water. The system includes apparatus for: (a) extracting energy from the WEC and producing output electric energy as a function of the movement of the shell (shaft) relative to the shaft (shell): and (b) for selectively imparting energy to one of the shell and shaft for causing an increase in the displacement and velocity (or acceleration) of one of the shell and shaft relative to the other, whereby the net amount of output electrical energy produced is increased. The apparatus for extracting energy and for selectively supplying energy may be implemented using a single device capable of being operated bi-directionally, in terms of both direction and force, or may be implemented by different devices.

Abstract: Documents embodying the invention include a sandwich-like structure comprised of a core layer on which information may be printed using inks, a buffer layer bonded to each surface of the core layer for protecting the printed information and a laser reactive layer on, or in, which information can be written with a laser, bonded to each one of the buffer layers. The core layer may be formed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PC (poly carbonate) material or any other suitable material on which information can be printed. The buffer layer may be formed of amorphous polyester material (e.g., PETG) or any other suitable material which can readily bond to the core layer and the laser reactive layer. The laser reactive layer may be polycarbonate (PC) or may be any other suitable plastic material (e.g., PVC, PET, PC, etc.) which includes a chemical which can react with a laser to produce desirable markings.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed package embodying the invention includes a base member having top and bottom surfaces. An electronic device having multiple electrodes is securely mounted on the top surface of the base member. The electrodes of the electronic device are made accessible to external circuits via wire connection to conducting leads disposed through pre-formed holes extending vertically from the top surface to the bottom surface of the base member. The conductive leads then extend horizontally along preformed grooves formed along the bottom surface of the base member. The holes with the leads passing though them are hermetically sealed. A portion of selected conductive leads extending above the top surface are selectively bonded to selected electrodes of the electronic device. A ceramic cap is mounted over and around the electronic device and the conductive leads and encompasses them. The cap has a bottom rim which fits into a preformed trench running along the outer periphery of the base member.

Abstract: Digital RF correlation based signal processing arrangements allow for the development of software—controlled radio reception without the need for down-conversion to IF frequencies. Various arrangements are implemented using superconducting RSFQ logic enabling the clock and processing speeds required.

Abstract: A substantial amount of publicly available and private information pertaining to buildings in an area is inputted into a computerized data base programmed to produce statistical standards (norms) which can then serve as a basis for subsequent comparison with particular, selected, structures. The information is organized and formatted to facilitate the analysis of various income and expense items (including the taxes) pertaining to selected structures. Various special screens (forms) are used to aid in entering data pertaining to selected buildings and portfolios of buildings into the computerized data base and to interactively assist in the analysis of the data entered in view of the information contained in the computerized data base including the generation and display of significant statistical information regarding the selected properties and the generation of various reports.