Abstract: An hydraulic power assembly 10 is provided, including at least one primary hydraulic power unit 20 supplying hydraulic fluid 30 to a hydraulic system 34, and a contingency hydraulic power unit 50 utilizing the orbiter's helium storage tank 52 to power a contingency hydraulic drive 56 to supply hydraulic fluid 30 from a contingency hydraulic fluid reserve 58 to the hydraulic system 34 during peak loading conditions.

Abstract: A turbine blade assembly for a turbine assembly includes a turbine blade having a turbine blade damper cavity formed therein and stranded wire cable positioned within the turbine blade damper cavity. The stranded wire cable is maintained in the damper cavity during operation of the turbine blade assembly. It reduces vibration of the turbine blade assembly during operation by dissipating energy by friction between the stranded wire cable and the internal surface of the blade that defines the damper cavity. It also dissipates energy by friction between adjacent wires within the stranded wire cable.

Abstract: A chip-on-board electronic device includes an electronic device die affixed to a printed circuit board, and electrically interconnected thereto by wirebonds. The electronic device is protected by coating it with a layer of silicon oxynitride and, optionally, an overlying thin layer of a conformal coating such as parylene. Under some circumstances, a protective layer of an organic material may be used instead of the layer of silicon oxynitride. The chip-on-board electronic device may be protected with an overlying layer of the conformal coating.

Abstract: A microelectronic device structure includes a package flange with a body having a body upper surface, a substantially circular body interior sidewall defining an opening in the body upper surface, and a substantially circular inlay made of CVD diamond. The inlay is received into the substantially circular opening and has an inlay exterior sidewall which is adjacent to the body interior sidewall and is brazed thereto. The inlay has an inlay upper surface that is substantially coplanar with the body upper surface. A microelectronic device is affixed to the inlay upper surface.

Abstract: A conformally coated structure includes a component of an electronic assembly, such as a microelectronic device, a part of a package, or an electrically conductive trace, and a conformal coating applied to a surface of the structure. The conformal coating is a cured polymer blend of a base polymer and an electrically conductive polymer. The polymer blend has an electrical resistivity of from about 109 to about 1013 ohm-centimeter. The polymer blend contains from about 0.5 percent to about 4 percent by weight of the electrically conductive polymer, with the remainder the base polymer. The electrically conductive polymer may be a polyaniline, and the base polymer may be a urethane.

Abstract: A traveling wave tube is coupled to an output waveguide by an output coupler. The output coupler includes a single integral hollow termination body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The slow-wave propagation structure of the traveling wave tube is joined to the inner surface of the hollow termination body such that the electron beam of the traveling wave tube passes through the interior of the single integral hollow termination body. The output waveguide contacts the outer surface of the opposite end of the single integral hollow termination body with an interference fit.

Abstract: A redundant microwave system operable to process a microwave signal propagating in a microwave cavity includes a microwave cavity and two microwave processing devices. Each microwave processing device has a transmissive impedance when it is on and a reflective impedance when it is off. There is a separate coupling probe extending from each of the microwave processing devices to locations within the microwave cavity. When a primary one of the microwave processing devices is switched on and the redundant microwave processing device is switched off, its coupling probe reflects energy so that almost all of the energy flows through the primary microwave processing device. If the primary microwave processing device fails and is switched off, its coupling probe reflects energy so that almost all energy flows through the redundant device. No separate active switching device or circuit is used.

Abstract: A spacecraft protected by a coating includes a spacecraft such as a communications satellite has an external surface and a coating on the external surface of the spacecraft. The coating is formed of a binder, and a plurality of pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles, preferably ferroelectric particles, bound together by the binder. Each ferroelectric pigment particle includes a ferroelectric pigment material having a ferroelectric/paraelectric transition. The coating may also include active secondary particles and/or inert particles. The coating may operate in a passive mode or an active mode with the application of a bias voltage to the coating.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a layered semiconductor photovoltaic voltage source, and an electrical conductor structure having two electrically conductive contacts to the voltage source structure. A capacitor is in electrical communication with one of the electrically conductive contacts. The capacitor includes a capacitive paint layer structure comprising capacitive pigment particles dispersed in a capacitive layer binder. A first side of the capacitive paint layer structure is deposited in facing contact to the second electrically conductive contact. A capacitor electrically conductive contact is in electrical communication with a second side of the capacitive paint layer structure remote from the first side.

Abstract: An integrated circuit assembly includes a base board, an interposer, and an array of solder balls electrically and structurally interconnecting the interposer and the base board. The interposer has a backbone layer having a backbone stiffness, a first compliant layer affixed to the backbone layer between the backbone layer and the integrated circuit and having a first-layer stiffness of less than the backbone stiffness, and a second compliant layer affixed to the backbone layer between the backbone layer and the base board and having a second-layer stiffness of less than the backbone stiffness. An integrated circuit is supported on the interposer. The integrated circuit includes integrated-circuit bonding pads thereon and a bonding pad protective coating overlying the integrated-circuit bonding pads. An electrical interconnect extends from the integrated circuit to at least one of the solder balls, and a cover overlies and protects the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for saving space and components under detectors for staring array systems by timely combining detector inputs to a common photodiode amplifier, including establishing sequential connections from a plurality of detector inputs to a common photodiode amplifier by selecting a single path to the amplifier from each detector input at different times clamping each path to a source of potential to prevent signal transmission over the paths, and releasing said clamping of the path selected to supply the amplifier.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has electrode leads of different lengths extending from the terminals to the respective plate sets of the cell. The electrode leads have a cross-sectional area which varies along the length of the electrode leads, such that the electrical resistances of the electrode leads are substantially the same. Typically, each electrode lead has a first region having a first cross-sectional area, and a second region having a second cross-sectional area. The relative lengths of the first region and the second region of the electrode leads are varied to achieve the substantially constant total resistance.

Abstract: A microwave stripline signal distribution system utilizes a central conductor that is supported on a substrate, which is itself captured and supported between two foam layers. External ground plane shielding is provided on each side of the foam/central-conductor-substrate sandwich. The metallic central conductor is thin, as are the other structural elements, leading to a lightweight signal distribution system. The central conductor may be patterned to provide a large number of feeds. The approach allows: the inexpensive fabrication of lightweight signal distribution boards, whose inputs and outputs may be combined to provide single-channel or multi-channel combination or division of microwave signals. In a typical application, there is combination or division of microwave signals in an antenna involving hundreds of individual feed horns.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate such as indium phosphide having a trap density which increases with increasing distance from a top surface of the substrate, so that the electrical conductivity of the substrate increases with increasing distance from the top surface. An active device structure is built on the substrate and is disposed adjacent to the top surface of the substrate. A biasing structure has a buried electrode disposed below the top surface of the substrate a distance of from about 0.1 to about 2 micrometers, and an electrical contact at a surface of the substrate and in electrical communication with the buried electrode. A biasing source applies a biasing voltage of from about 0.2 volts to about 5 volts to the electrical contact. The biased subsurface contact protects the active device structure from current induced in the substrate by energetic particles and other radiation.

Abstract: A spacecraft protected by a coating includes a spacecraft such as a communications satellite has an external surface and a coating on the external surface of the spacecraft. The coating is formed of a binder, and a plurality of pyroelectric/ferroelectric pigment particles, preferably ferroelectric particles, bound together by the binder. Each ferroelectric pigment particle includes a ferroelectric pigment material having a ferroelectric/paraelectric transition. The coating may also include active secondary particles and/or inert particles. The coating may operate in a passive mode or an active mode with the application of a bias voltage to the coating.

Abstract: A rotating group for a microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator rotor, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. The turbine, compressor and electrical generator rotor are secured together by a tieshaft. The tieshaft is prestressed such that faces of the turbine, electrical generator rotor and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system.

Abstract: A microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. Rotating components of the turbine, compressor and electrical generator are secured together by a tie-bolt. The tie-bolt is pre-stressed such that faces of the rotating components of the turbine, electrical generator and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system. The tie-bolt includes a thermally less conductive short portion that is secured to the rotating component of the turbine wheel, and an elongated portion that extends through the rotating components of the compressor and electrical generator. The short, thermally less conductive portion of the tie-bolt inhibits heat from propagating from the turbine end towards the compressor. The short, thermally less conductive portion can be a titanium rod that is inertia-welded between the elongated portion of the tie-bolt and the rotating component of the turbine.

Abstract: A microturbine power generation system includes an electrical generator, a turbine and a compressor intermediate the generator and the turbine. The turbine, compressor and electrical generator are secured together by a tieshaft. The tieshaft is prestressed such that faces of the turbine, electrical generator and compressor maintain contact during high-speed, high-temperature operation of the system.

Abstract: A microturbine power generating system includes a primary compressor, an electrical generator and a turbine that can be rotated as a unit. Hot, expanding gases resulting from combustion are expanded through the turbine, and the resulting turbine power is used for powering the electrical generator. The microturbine power generating system further includes an auxiliary compressor that is driven by the turbine power. During operation of the system, a small portion of air can be bled off the primary compressor and further compressed in the auxiliary compressor to provide an auxiliary supply of pressurized air. The heat of high pressure compression is recovered to increase the overall efficiency of the machine.

Abstract: A microturbine power generating system includes an electrical generator and a turbine having a fixed inlet nozzle geometry. Maximum thermodynamic efficiency of the microturbine power generating system is achieved by maintaining the turbine inlet at or near maximum temperature. When power demanded of the system is constant, power is supplied by the electrical generator. When an increase in power is demanded, at least a portion of the entire demand is supplied by a battery or other energy storage device until the electrical generator can satisfy the increased power demand. Conversely, when a decrease in power is demanded, the load on the generator is temporarily increased (effectively putting a brake on the generator and turbine) and such load is absorbed by the battery or other energy storage device.