Abstract: A scan converter processes an input video signal having a fixed number of an lines per frame, a horizontal synchronization rate and a vertical synchronization rate on an input video line to produce an output video signal having a predetermined number of scan lines per frame and a selected number of pixels per line on a video output line. The scan converter locks to the vertical synchronization rate of the input video signal to make the output video signal have a vertical synchronization rate equal to the vertical synchronization rate of the input video signal. The output horizontal rate is determined by multiplying the vertical synchronization rate by the predetermined number of scan lines per frame in the output video signal. The input horizontal synchronization rate is multiplied by the selected number of pixels per line to produce a WRITE pointer signal for writing input picture lines into a memory.

Abstract: An igniter for solid fuel rockets in which hot gases from an initiator are hanneled to drive a piston against a reservoir of combustion modifying fluid, like ethylene glycol, so as to spray the fluid onto the propellant grain just before ignition. After the piston moves, the hot gases escape the igniter as to ignite the propellant directly or through an intermediate main ignition charge.

Abstract: Process for preparing a high temperature superconductor such as yttrium bum copper oxides, by dissolving suitable proportions of hydrolyzable salts, oxides, or organometallic compounds of yttrium, barium and copper in an acid pH-controlled water-containing organic solvent such as methanol, and subjecting the resulting solution to ultrasonic energy or to an oxidation-reduction reaction, preferably while passing oxygen under a positive pressure through the solution, and precipitating a hydrolyzed precursor material. Such precursor material is then heated or annealed at temperatures between about 300.degree. C. and about 600.degree. C., also preferably in the presence of flowing oxygen, to produce the desired high temperature superconductor material.

Abstract: The new compound diisopropyl stibine is prepared by reacting an diisopropyl antimony halide with a hydride or deuteride transferring agent. The reaction is preferably carried out below about 0.degree. C., in an inert atmosphere, under darkened conditions. The diisopropyl stibine is used as a precursor in forming antimony-containing semiconductor material by chemical vapor deposition.

Abstract: An accelerometer or seismometer has an elastic disk bearing a mass distributed peripherally around the disk. The disk is supported for flexure and for isolation from mounting strain by a stob centrally through the disk. The accelerometer or seismometer has a pair of flat spirals of optical fiber, each spiral being fixedly attached to a corresponding disk side so that disk flexure lengthens a spiral on one disk side and shortens a spiral on an oppositely facing disk side and so that temperature differences between the spirals are minimized. The pair of spirals are connected as legs of a fiber optic interferometer so that the interferometer provides an output corresponding to the flexure. Several of the disks and asociated pairs of spirals may be coaxially mounted to provide increased sensitivity.

Abstract: An error compensated Mach-Zehnder Interferometer wavelength sensor integrd fiber optic chip for scale factor correction of fiber optic gyroscopes. A 90.degree. twisted optical fiber polarizer couples the light from a point in the gyroscope optical fiber circuit where light is found to have traversed the optical sensing coil of the gyroscope in both directions to the input of the fiber optic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer. The light output of the interferometer is converted to electrical signals which are used to servo lock the peak depth of phase modulation of the interferometer and provide a digital output corresponding to the wavelength change sensed by the gyroscope. Temperature and input power variations otherwise adversely affecting the gyroscope performance are thus compensated. Gyro resolution is maintained to within 1.ANG. without temperature stabilization or output conditioning over the entire temperature range of operation.

Abstract: A device for providing crash protection to people aboard a land, air, sea space vehicle. A crash sensor mounted on the vehicle is used to sense a crash, impact or jarring motion. Data from the crash sensor is then transmitted via wireless communication by a signal transmitter to a signal receiver mounted on a harness worn by a crew member or passenger. When a crash signal is received, inflation mechanisms inflate inflatable bladders mounted on the harness, thereby protecting the person wearing the harness.

Abstract: A burster for rupturing a casing containing an active explosive or propelt material of an ordnance device to prevent cook-off has an inert and thermally expansible material in an enclosure defined by a wall fixed to the casing so that thermal expansion of the inert material exerts on the wall a force to rupture the casing and vent the active material. The wall may have a stress riser groove to promote rupture at a predetermined location on the casing, and the volume of the inert material at ambient temperature may be less than the volume of the enclosure so that rupturing force is not exerted until a selected venting temperature is approached.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for actively controlling a combustion process such as a waste incinerator by means of a spatial and temporal synchronized injection of fuel. The improved method and apparatus employs an active control system which controls the intentional formation of large scale, coherent vortices and the synchronized injection of the fuel supply at various locations relative to the formation of the vortices. The preferred apparatus comprises an actuator or similar structure that is adapted for producing and stabilizing discrete, large scale vortices in a combustion device. In addition, another device controls or modulates the injection of the fuel into the vortices at the optimal location and timing relative to the vortex cycle. As applied to an incinerator, this method can be optimized to ensures that the fuel and waste are introduced into the highest temperature locations, were extended residence times are obtained by trapping the fuel and waste inside the vortices.

Abstract: An apparatus for spanning the distance between a fixed first platform and a ovable second platform includes a ramp; a first pivoting junction located between one end of the ramp and the fixed first platform, and a second sliding junction located between the other end of the ramp and the movable second platform. The first pivoting junction accommodates pitch, roll and heave motion between the fixed platform and the ramp and the second sliding junction accommodates elevation changes between the fixed platform and the movable platform. Means are provided to dampening the motion of the ramp. Other means are provided to limit the side to side movement of the ramp.

Abstract: A flywheel tensile testing apparatus for viscoelastic materials is used for high-rate tensile testing to determine the mechanical properties such as the initial modulus, the stress-strain characteristics, energy at break, and void formation of energetic materials such as solid propellants and plastic bonded explosives under deformation rates in excess of 20,000 inches per minute. The tensile tester is comprised of a plurality of support trestles which are mounted on a common base. A flywheel and a light weight engagement wheel are mounted for rotation on the support trestles. A clutch and rotor assembly is located between the flywheel and the light weight engagement wheel so that when the clutch is engaged, the stored energy of the flywheel is transferred to a rotor assembly which in turn drives the light weight engagement wheel. The flywheel is driven by a variable speed motor. The activation of the clutch and rotor assembly are preferably performed in response to an electronic signal.

Abstract: A valve mechanism for an acoustic modulator which modulates air flowing tugh the acoustic modulator. The valve mechanism comprises a pair of cylindrical shaped members with each member having a plurality of elongated ports. The first cylindrical shaped member is held in a fixed position, while the second cylindrical shaped member is movable with respect to the first member. There is located at the lower end of the second cylindrical shaped member a drive coil which is positioned in a magnetic field such that when the coil is excited by an electrical sinusoidal input signal, movement of the second member occurs, partially aligning the ports of the second member with the ports of the first member which opens the valve mechanism. The sinusoidal input signal causes a frequency "doubling" to occur, that is the valve mechanism of the present invention completes an open-close-open-close cycle during each cycle of the sinusoidal input signal.

Abstract: A neuron for an artificial neural network provides digital weighting of input signals at a common portion of the neuron rather than at each synapse. The neuron is adapted for use of differential signals, and the weighting may be provided by field effect transistors of different widths, by subtracting a plurality of differential signal components from an opposite most significant component, or by subtracting one half of a differential signal component from the opposite next most significant component. The neuron may provide binary sign selection and digit selection by switching input and reference signals at each synapse.

Abstract: A multipurpose bus interface comprising a digital signal processor which eives a clock signal and control signals from a Manchester type encoder/decoder and then processes the clock and control signals allowing for the serial transfer of data to and from the 1553 multiplex data bus, the encoder/decoder and the digital signal processor into an IC memory card for storage in or retrieval from the IC memory card. Software stored in an electrically erasable programmable read only memory controls how the data is transferred and interpreted making it easier to modify the digital signal processor's operation to accommodate its use with different bus standards and data protocols/formats. The encoder/decoder of the present invention formats and protocols data transferred from the electrically erasable programmable read only memory to the 1553 multiplex data bus as well data transferred from the 1553 multiplex data bus to the memory, as appropriate.

Abstract: Chemical vapor deposition process for producing indium-containing semiconductor materials, particularly III/V indium-containing semiconductor materials, using triisopropylindium as the source of indium. In the process a flow of triisopropylindium and a flow of a group V source or precursor, e.g. AsH.sub.3, are directed into a reactor in contact with a heated substrate. The triisopropylindium and group V precursor are at least partially decomposed, depositing by chemical vapor deposition an indium-containing III/V semiconductor material on the substrate. The result is lower pyrolysis temperatures and less carbon impurity incorporation into the indium-containing semiconductor material than when commercially available indium sources are used.

Abstract: An ultrasonic system for determining the quality of concrete under water hout inaccuracies caused by electromagnetic interference from the ultrasonic generator. An ultrasonic generator applies pulses to the concrete. An ultrasonic detector detects the ultrasonic pulses and produces corresponding signals that are indicative of ultrasonic pulses that have passed through the material. Signal processing circuitry processes the signals to determine the transit time of the ultrasonic pulses through the material. The signal processing circuitry is disabled for a predetermined time after application of each ultrasonic pulse to the material to prevent noise produced by the means for applying ultrasonic pulses to the material from entering the signal processing circuitry and causing spurious measurements.

Abstract: The oscillations found to occur in the cavities of an structural frame moving through a fluid are substantially eliminated by the adoption of perturbation elements located at the leading edge of the cavity and reflecting any remaining oscillations out of the cavity at the trailing edge. The perturbation elements may take the form of multiple pins of various shape and geometrical arrangement which prevents the generation and growth of vortices causing acoustic oscillations. The reflection of remaining oscillations out of the cavity may be accomplished by ramping the trailing edge of the cavity.

Abstract: A wire assault weapon warhead preferably for breaching barbed-wire barrics in a battlefield at standoff distances, has a cylindrical shaped projectile having a domed nose cone and a rear bulkhead sized so as to allow the warhead to be fired from a Shoulder-Fired Multi-Purpose Assault Weapon or a similar weapon. The warhead includes a fragmentation tube that fragments upon the detonation of an explosive charge and the fragments expelled into the wire of the barricade sever the wire and breach the barricade.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip for application in a computer for performing h speed arithmetic operations in hardware has hardware for forming a system clock processor circuit, a timer circuit, a program counter and branching circuit; an interrupt processor circuit formed in the chip; an interrupt address random access memory, mathematical computation circuitry and an internal data random access memory. The mathematical computation circuitry includes a circuit for performing combined division and square root operations. The integrated circuit operates on a fixed instruction set and provides the means for performing instruction and operand look-ahead to permit execution of each instruction in a single clock cycle.

Abstract: A single-input single-output control system includes an H.sub..infin. controller having an input for receiving an command input signal and an output for producing an output signal, an electro-mechanical (E-M) actuator connected in series with the H.sub..infin. controller and having an input for receiving the output signal from the H.sub..infin. controller and an output for producing an output signal representative of an action taken by the E-M actuator, and a feedback loop connected in series with the E-M actuator and the H.sub..infin. controller for transferring the output signal of the E-M actuator to the input of the H.sub..infin. controller for combining with the command input signal and inputting an error input signal to the H.sub..infin. controller. The H.sub..infin.