Abstract: A system for detecting leaks in a unit. The novel system includes a first mechanism for injecting a first gas into an interior or an exterior of the unit, a second mechanism for sampling gas from an exterior or an interior of the unit to determine if the first gas has leaked out of or into the unit, respectively, and a third mechanism for controlling a differential pressure between the interior and exterior of the unit during sampling. In an illustrative embodiment, the differential pressure is controlled by injecting a second gas into the exterior or interior of the unit to replace the sampled gas, and using pressure regulators to control the pressures of the first and second gases such that the differential pressure remains constant during sampling.

Abstract: An antenna including an array of N-port receive antennas; an array of M-port transmit antennas; and a plurality of cells for coupling the receive antennas to the transmit antennas, each cell having plural amplifiers coupled between the receive antenna and the transmit antenna thereof. The amplifiers may be replaced with injection-locked oscillators. In the best mode, an arrangement is included for distributing signals between the ports of the receive antenna and the amplifiers and between the amplifiers and the transmit antenna. This arrangement may be a manifold such as a network of power combiners and dividers.

Abstract: A receiver including an analyzer and a detector coupled to the output of the analyzer. The analyzer selects a polarized component of a return beam for input to the detector. The analyzer may be linear, circular or elliptical. Coupled with a laser adapted to output a polarized beam, the receiver provides an active optical target detector. An arrangement may be included for compensating for rotation and ellipticity in the returned beam. In one embodiment, the arrangement for compensating for rotation of the orientation of linear polarization in the returned beam includes a Faraday rotator positioned between the transmitter and the analyzer. An arrangement is disclosed for varying the rotation in the returned beam using a Faraday rotator until a maximum transmittance is achieved. In an alternative embodiment, the arrangement for compensating for ellipticity in the returned beam includes an electro-optical modulator positioned between the transmitter and the analyzer.

Abstract: A reflect array antenna including a plurality of unit cells. Each cell includes first, second, third and fourth patch antenna segments. An amplifier is coupled between said first patch segment and the second patch segment or the third patch segment and the fourth patch segment. At least one of the patch antenna segments of a first unit cell is electrically connected to a patch antenna segment of a second unit cell. The first patch antenna segment of a first unit cell is electrically connected to a third patch segment of a second unit cell. Each patch segment of each unit cell is electrically connected to a patch segment of a neighboring cell. The first and third patche segments are the input terminals of each cell and the second and fourth patch segments of each cell are the output terminals. The output terminals of each cell are coupled to the output terminals of neighboring cells. This provides an output patch antenna, of greater area, fed by multiple cells.

Abstract: A pressure measurement device with protection from long-term loads and pressure shocks. The novel device includes a diaphragm adapted to deform in response to a pressure applied thereto, and a retractable support adapted to support the diaphragm during periods of non-operation. A strain gauge is attached to the diaphragm for measuring the deformation and the retractable support is designed to minimize stress on the strain gauge during periods of non-operation. The support is retracted during periods of operation to allow the diaphragm and strain gauge to function normally in response to the applied pressure. The diaphragm is disposed within a housing to form a first cavity, which is coupled to media to be measured, and a second cavity, which is set at a reference pressure. In an illustrative embodiment, the retractable support is a threaded plug inserted into the second cavity.

Abstract: A system and method for producing spectrally segmented images of object fields. In one embodiment the system includes an optical system that focuses light received from an object field along a focal plane with a field stop positioned within the optical system that has plural apertures for selectively transmitting the light from the object field. A diffractive element is positioned within the optical system to spectrally spread, along the focal plane, the light transmitted through the apertures. The apertures can be parallel slots or geometrically arranges holes. The plural apertures are spaced such that the spectrally spread light transmitted through any given aperture and incident upon the focal plane does not overlap on the focal plane with the light transmitted through any other aperture. The diffractive element may spread light across one or more directions. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a plurality of pixels in a focal plane array.

Abstract: A versatile attenuator. The versatile attenuator includes a first mechanism for receiving an input signal. A second mechanism measures the input signal and provides a signal-level indication in response thereto. A third mechanism selectively attenuates the input signal when the signal-level indication surpasses a predetermined threshold and provides an attenuated signal in response thereto. In a more specific embodiment, the third mechanism further provides attenuation information. An additional mechanism then employs the attenuation information and a computer to selectively adjust an output signal of a circuit connected between the computer and the third mechanism to accommodate effects that attenuation of the input signal by the third mechanism has on the output signal.

Abstract: An adaptive waveform radar system transmits a selected waveform of a family of related waveforms and either phase shifts or bit shifts the radar return signal for correlating with the other waveforms of the family. In some embodiments, phase shifting may be performed to null an unwanted target or clutter, while bit shifting may be performed to enhance a desired target, although the scope of the invention is not limited in this respect. In some embodiments, the bits of the return signal may be either phase shifted or bit shifted to match a bit of each one of the other waveforms of the family prior to correlation.

Abstract: A unique ultra wide band receiver is provided that blends together RF and photonic technologies. The receiver has application as a steering mechanism (600) for a much higher resolution receiver. Some implementations can provide at least four times shorter scanning and processing time than current technology using Bragg-cell technology as a direct replacement for state of the art A/D technology at a high IF frequency conversion rate. The dynamic range offered through use of Bragg-cell processor technology, as used in this IF application, provides greater bandwidth than comparable A/D technology.

Abstract: An electric power usage and reporting system for collecting electric power demand readings from multiple properties which may be either commonly owned or leased by the same company, processing the demand data to generate KWH and KW information on an individual property basis and on a combined properties basis and generating a report including the KWH usage and KW demand information. The report includes information on electric power KWH usage and KW demand in the aggregate and with respect to each property and includes information on coincident KW demand in the aggregate and with respect to each property.

Abstract: A reflect array antenna. The array includes a plurality of unit cells. Each cell includes a first dipole antenna having a first orientation and a first polarization; a second dipole antenna having a second orientation and a second polarization; and an amplifier input coupled inline to said first dipole antenna and output coupled inline to said second dipole antenna. The array further includes N first dipole antennas having a first orientation and a first polarization; M second dipole antennas having a second orientation and a second polarization; and a plurality of unit cells, each cell including an amplifier input coupled inline to a first dipole antenna and output coupled inline to a second dipole antenna. The second orientation and the second polarization are orthogonal to the first orientation and the first polarization. Each amplifier includes a transistor with an input terminal and first and second output terminals.

Abstract: A method for reducing the permeation rate of a permeable species through a polymeric material includes identifying a solubility-increasing species in the polymeric material having a reversible affinity for the permeable species, and removing or altering at least a portion of the solubility-increasing species in the polymeric material. In one application, the permeable species is water, and the solubility-increasing species is hygroscopic. A example of a polymeric material is an elastomeric polymer. The solubility-increasing species may be removed in part from an existing piece of the polymeric material by leaching it out. The polymeric material may instead be manufactured with a reduced content of the solubility-increasing species.

Abstract: An electric power usage and reporting system for collecting electric power demand readings from multiple properties which may be either commonly owned or leased by the same company, processing the demand data to generate KWH and KW information on an individual property basis and on a combined properties basis and generating a report including the KWH usage and KW demand information. The report includes information on electric power KWH usage and KW demand in the aggregate and with respect to each property and includes information on coincident KW demand in the aggregate and with respect to each property.

Abstract: A portable cooler having one or more ice sheets including built-in refrigerant cubes. The cooler comprises an outer fabric shell and one or more sets of spaced apart refrigerant cubes encapsulated in plastic to form ice sheets that are attached to the interior walls of the cooler. The walls of the cooler may also include one or more layers of thermal insulation. The ice sheets provide a visually pleasing appearance to the inside of the cooler suggestive of cooling effects. The ice sheets may be retained along the walls of the cooler by seams sewn along the lanes passing between the refrigerant cubes, by being retained in pockets formed by sidewall liners or be being secured into chambers defined by the cooler's outer walls and a plastic insert fitted into the cooler.

Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing surface imperfections of an article is provided. A data collection system collects data relating to the surface of the article, and a processor operatively coupled to the data collection system analyzes the surface data to determine deviations in the surface corresponding to surface imperfections and pre-made surface interruptions, and distinguishes between the imperfections and interruptions.

Abstract: An input/output (I/O) module has a programmable memory having a first memory address for receiving a module number and a second memory address for receiving a signal direction indicator. The I/O module is for use with a programmable controller system having a master controller serially connected to a plurality of I/O modules. The I/O module has a signal line operatively coupled with the memory. The signal line has a pair of inputs. Both inputs are configured and adapted for receiving a module number signal across a line connected therewith. The other one of the inputs will then propagate the module number signal downstream. A logic circuit sets the second memory address with the signal direction indicator corresponding to the module number signal being received by a particular one of the inputs.

Abstract: An industrial control system incorporating a plurality of human/machine interfaces provides for the identification of an operator using the human/machine interface so as to forward output from an ongoing application tool program to the operator as the operator moves about the factory without interruption of the tool program. Location of the human/machine interface may be used to alter the tool program to refer to data relevant to the particular part of the process near the HMI providing for intuitive and efficient use of software type tools by roving operators.

Abstract: A cryogenic rotary transfer coupling for a superconducting electromechanical rotating machine delivers supply flow from a cryogenic cooler to a rotor so as to cool the superconducting coils. The flow is then returned to the cooler and recirculated throughout the system. The structure includes a relative motion gap between stationary and rotating portions of the coupling. The gap is configured to greatly simplify the manufacture of the coupling while 1) being compatible with cooling systems having both cool return flow capability and warm return flow capability and 2) maintaining a high efficiency for the coupling.

Abstract: A superconducting electromechanical rotating (SER) device, such as a synchronous AC motor, includes a superconducting field winding and a one-layer stator winding that may be water-cooled. The stator winding is potted to a support such as the inner radial surface of a support structure and, accordingly, lacks hangers or other mechanical fasteners that otherwise would complicate stator assembly and require the provision of an unnecessarily large gap between adjacent stator coil sections. The one-layer winding topology, resulting in the number of coils being equal to half the number of slots or other mounting locations on the support structure, allows one to minimize or eliminate the gap between the inner radial ends of adjacent straight sections of the stator coilswhile maintaining the gap between the coil knuckles equal to at least the coil width, providing sufficient room for electrical and cooling element configurations and connections.

Abstract: An electromagnetic operator includes first and second coils wound coaxially. An armature partially surrounds the coils for channeling flux during energization of the coils. The armature may be formed of a bent plate and secured to a ferromagnetic support. A control circuit applies energizing signals to the coils during operation. Both coils are energized during an initial phase of operation. One of the coils is subsequently released or de-energized automatically. A timing circuit removes current from the second coil after a variable time period. The time period may be a function of the configuration of the timing circuit, such as an RC time constant, and of the energizing signal.