Abstract: Solid state optically activated switches in which a plurality of spaced cacts are arranged in a line on one of the broad surfaces of a semiconductor wafer and one or more bridging electrodes are arranged on the opposite broad surface thereof. The two end contacts are the switch terminals. This arrangement directs the electric field and the load current into the bulk of the semiconductor in a zig-zag fashion to provide a high hold-off voltage and a short conduction path. Also the bridging electrode can be used as a control electrode. A novel circuit utilizing such switches is shown.

Abstract: A stress compensated quartz piezoelectric resonator disk. The resonator contains a thin resonant center disk and a thicker integral concentric peripheral support ring. Roughly pie-slice portions of the inner disk are cut away. The remaining bridges between the resonant disk and support ring are positioned and sized in accord with crystallographic theory so that forces applied to the support ring will not change the resonant frequency of the disk.

Abstract: A radiological measuring instrument including an angularly variable radiation sensitive structure comprised of two blocks of material having a different index of refraction with one of the materials comprising a radiochromic substance whose refractive index changes through anomolous dispersion as a result of being exposed to radiation. The ratio of the two indices of refraction is selected to be close to unity, with the radiation sensitive structure being pivotally adjusted so that light is directed into one end of the block comprising a material having the greater index of refraction. This element, moreover, is selected to be clear and transparent with the incident angle being close to the critical angle where total reflection of all incident light occurs. A portion of the incident light is furthermore projected through the clear transparent block without reflection, with the two beams emerging from the other end of the block, where they are detected.

Abstract: A source of radiation is detected by an optical scanning system including a otating mirror and an array of V-shaped detector elements. The detectors are arranged in vertically stacked pairs in a common plane, with the time of travel of a target image between a given pair of detectors determining the azimuth and elevation coordinates of the target. Signals from the detectors are amplified, filtered and passed through a processor which provides the desired information from the time and spatial relationships of the target and detectors. Each pair of detectors covers a given sector of the elevation angle scanned by the total array.

Abstract: A multipoint fiber optical communication system which can carry both voice and data traffic which achieves both full duplex operation and long range with a minimum of apparatus. An active star coupler receives signals from all connected users and provides amplified replicas of all of these received signals to all users. The system may utilize time division or wavelength division multiplex techniques and one embodiment requires only a single optical fiber connecting each user station to the active star coupler.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining control of moving carriage impact dot matrix print eads when subjected to strong external forces such as shock and/or vibration. Position and direction of carriage movement is provided by a photo emitter-sensor assembly and a slotted timing wheel or disc having a plurality of equally spaced slots whose slot width is equal to the slot separation. The slot width is sufficient to frame a pair of side-by-side emitters which operate in conjunction with a pair of side-by-side sensors on the other side of the timing wheel. The order or sequence in which the sensors receive photo energy from their respective emitters indicates the direction of rotation of the timing wheel while simultaneous reception of photo energy by the side-by-side sensors provides an indication of valid rest position of the carriage drive motor.

Abstract: Quartz crystal blanks are chemically polished by thoroughly cleaning the nks, treating the quartz crystal blanks with an etching solution at high pressures in a high pressure vessel while agitating to circulate the etchant and maintaining a uniform temperature throughout the etching solution, cooling the vessel, removing the quartz crystal blanks, rinsing thoroughly with water and spinning dry.

Abstract: A digital data transmission system eliminates the need for coaxial cable or twisted pairs as a means to eliminate noise, interference or cross talk problems. The system utilizes a multi-conductor cable having a plurality of lays of insulated conductors surrounded by an electrically conductive shield. The shield serves as a common ground and one conductor in each lay provides a reference line for that lay. Data is transmitted over lines in at least one lay, the lines for transmitting data being terminated at each cable end by their characteristic impedances with respect to the shield.

Abstract: An improvement in piezoelectric crystal resonators using lateral excitation whereby energy of vibration trapped in a region between the electrodes is provided by the inclusion of recessed electrodes adjacent a relatively raised piezoelectric region on at least one major face or surface of the crystal. The recessed electrodes oppose one another in either a horizontal or a vertical direction to generate a lateral field in the body of the crystal upon excitation. Additionally, curved edge interfaces are provided between the recessed electrodes and the piezoelectric crystal material to reduce field gradients. Tapered electrodes which have the effect of increasing the energy trapping in the gap between the electrodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high power solid state source of microwave and millimeter wave signals is provided by an optically triggered body of bulk semiconductor material selected from the Group III-V compounds including GaAs, Cr:GaAs, and Fe:InP and having a relatively long gap length which is in the order of 0.5 to 10.0 mm as well as having a resistivity which is greater than 1.times.10.sup.7 ohm-cm. The device is further dc biased to a field of between 15 kV/cm and 35 kV/cm. Under such conditions, a very low dc current flows without any oscillatory behavior; however, illumination of the semiconductor body with a fast rising optical pulse having a wavelength suitable for carrier generation causes electrons to be lifted to the conduction band which is accompanied by a rapid reduction of the resistivity.

Abstract: A compact lightweight flexible omnidirectional broadband UHF antenna of the fat monopole type is disclosed. The antenna comprises a braided copper sleeve molded inside a truncated cone of neoprene rubber. The antenna is suitable for vehicle or mast mounting. When mast mounted, the antenna may be associated with ground plane rods, each of which is mounted to a common support by means of a pivot with yieldable protuberances. The protuberances yield to the plane face of the support and will, therefore, enter recesses provided in the support in the rotational path of the protuberances. When the protuberances enter the recesses, the associated ground plane rod is locked in either an operational or a storage position.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus to prevent a battery or any one cell of a multi-celled battery from undergoing voltage reversals by disconnecting the battery from a load when the battery or one cell falls below predetermined reference potential levels. Means are provided for comparing the potential levels and disconnecting the load when the decreased potential levels are detected.

Abstract: A fibre optic magnetic sensor is disclosed. The sensor has a thin-walled cylindrical barrel with a mid-section which is elastically radially deformable. A single mode optical fibre is wound about the mid section of the barrel. A magnetostrictive element is located within the center of the barrel and secured to both ends of the barrel. Changes in the external magnetic field in the vicinity of the sensor cause changes in the length of the magnetostrictive element and consequently cause axial forces to be applied to the end of the barrel. The mid-portion of the barrel deforms radially, thus inducing a strain in the optical fibre from which the external magnetic field strength may be deduced.

Abstract: A transverse field interaction multi-beam amplifier device comprising a structure having, for example, a plurality of discrete cathodes cylindrically located in succession along a central axis of RF propagation. In registration with the cathodes are a respective number of annular collectors located within an outer cylinder which also acts as the structure housing. Intermediate the cathodes and collectors are two additional coaxial cylinders, one having a relatively smaller diameter than the other, with the smaller diameter cylinder including respective number of discrete grids, while the larger cylinder comprises a structure preferably having a rippled or undulating slow wave wall surface and a respective number of annular slots formed therein.

Abstract: A wide range radiation dose rate meter for civil defense use, including a iger-Mueller tube used in a continuous counting mode and for measuring dose rates from the natural background to about 30 rads/hr., with an ion chamber arranged to measure higher dose rates up to 10,000 rads/hr. The instrument has a sample and record capability in which the selected radiation detector will have its output connected to a selected storage capacitor for a precise interval of time determined by a timing circuit and the storage capacitor will accumulate and hold a voltage proportional to the dose rate, which can be read by means of an electrometer at a later time. The instrument has a self contained hand cranked power supply and all components are selected for long shelf life.

Abstract: A routing method implemented in the stored programs of a digital computer ich is programmably operated to generate the wire interconnect masks for a two level metallization automated universal array having undefined roadbeds between rows of cells comprised of identical semiconductor device basic units which are further interconnected to provide a particular integrated circuit structure. Conductor routing is provided by a computer aided design system that, among other things, carries out a route analysis process which determines in which roadbed each wire should be tentatively routed in conjunction with generating a routing density profile for minimizing congestion for a particular circuit design and when the roadbed density is exceeded, certain wires are removed under a set of criteria for routing by a pathfinder routing process.

Abstract: A broadband transverse field interaction continuous beam amplifier device mprised of an elongated continuous cathode modulating grid structure, an elongated continuous demodulating grid-collector structure, first or input waveguide transmission line means including the modulating grid for propagating an input RF wave transversely to an electron beam traveling from the cathode-grid structure to the output-collector structure where the electrons are bunched or modulated by the process of transverse wave interaction, and second or output waveguide transmission line means including the demodulating grid for propagating an induced amplified RF output wave resulting from prebunched electrons traversing the demodulator grid. Both input and output transmission line means include slow wave structures which are implemented in the grid structures.

Abstract: An infrared moving object detection system comprising first and second inred detectors and an optical scanning system mounted in an aircraft for scanning along first and second paths on the ground, with the detectors receiving infrared radiation from objects in the two paths. One path is a small angle ahead of the aircraft, and the second path is the same as the first path when the aircraft is directly above it. Electronic circuit means compares the infrared information in the two paths to determine whether "hot" objects are in the same place in both paths, and, if they are not, it is known that one or more objects are moving objects.

Abstract: A pulse forming network with distributed inductance and capacitance is diosed for use in a magnetic modulator. The magnetic modulator has a magnetic core with a primary winding and a secondary winding around it. The pulse forming network includes an inner winding of flattened wire around the magnetic core and connected to one end of the secondary winding for receiving an induced voltage. The pulse forming network also includes a metal foil shield around the inner winding, so that the induced voltage may be stored capacitively between the inner winding and the shield. When the magnetic core saturates, the impedance of the secondary winding drops, so that the pulse forming network discharges through a load. The shape of the pulse through the load is determined by the inductance of the inner winding and the capacitance between the inner winding and the shield.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which permits a high speed waveform, for example n the form of a series of analog data pulses, to be sampled and converted into a series of digital values. Each analog data pulse is applied in parallel to a multiplicity of A/D converters and to one or more level detectors. Each level detector provides a strobe when the voltage of the analog data pulse crosses a reference threshold. The strobes are applied to delay means whose outputs are a multiplicity of delayed strobe pulses which have been delayed by predetermined amounts. Each of the multiplicity of delayed strobes is applied, along with the analog data pulse, to one of the multiplicity of A/D converters. Each of the multiplicity of A/D converters samples the analog data pulse in response to the particular delayed strobe applied thereto and provides a digital value of that sample. The largest of the digital values from each of the A/D converters is provided as the output of the apparatus for each analog data pulse.